You spent years dealing with cringe-worthy online dating disasters and countless unreturned text messages-from both sides. But after everything, you finally met a diamond in the rough and he ticks all of the boxes: he's smart, kind, has a great job, loves your mom and even likes your crazy friends. Well...okay, he doesn't tick all of the boxes. Turns out, your dream man has awful style and thinks khaki cargo shorts with zip-off pant legs are cool. Fret not! You can easily revamp his closet without hurting his feelings if you follow these easy steps.
Really Get to Know Him
You can't give your guy a makeover if he is bound to immediately reject it, which means you need to know him well enough to know what he would be willing to try. You need to work within a realm that he can still feel like himself in, not a realm that you feel like yourself in. If he feels the most comfortable in baggy jeans and sweatshirts, you probably don't want to gift him red skinny jeans and a scarf. Remember, he is your partner, not your doll.
Man Crushes?Does your guy have any celebrity crushes that are men? Men are feeling increasingly more comfortable owning up to having a "man crush" nowadays and their crush is usually reflective of the type of guy they would most like to emulate. Think about it, most men will admit to finding Ryan Gosling handsome-Gosling just so happens to have a very well-tailored wardrobe that hearkens back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. If your guy has a thing for an actor or musician, suggest wardrobe alternatives that align with the way that celebrity dresses. Not only will your man be more open to testing out clothing items he already associates with being cool, he will probably be pretty pumped about it too-especially if you continually reinforce how amazing you think he looks. Need a little help gathering Hollywood-worthy threads? Check out TrunkClub and have stylish pieces delivered to him every month.
Find New JeansNow, back to the guy who loves to wear baggy jeans. Since skinny jeans are probably out (and as they should be, since it's not a good look for anyone over 19), you should suggest styles like straight-legged jeans, as they aren't skin-tight or super baggy. Go for a classic brand, like Levi's, and pick a solid dark blue that will match everything. Stay away from anything that is too trendy, like those awful fake-mud styles with ripped knees.
The great thing about shoes is that they are incredibly versatile and most guys would love to have some dressier options sitting beside their sneakers, they just don't know where to start. While some guys can pull off wearing Jordans one night, motorcycle boots the next and penny-loafers the night after that, not all of them can. And the wrong pair of shoes can kill an otherwise impeccable ensemble - like sandals (keep them on the beach, guys!). When encouraging him to branch out, take the same approach as you did for jeans and go for classic looks and brands. Check out Adidas, Nike and Converse, all offering a bevy of options that work for any casual look. Once he's ready for some dressier options, make sure he goes with other definitive looks and cuts. Think Clark Gable, not Mick Jagger.
Be Patient, But SneakyDrastic change is not going to happen overnight and if you try to change too much too fast, you can easily hurt his feelings. Instead, tackle one thing at a time and make sure you factor in his own comfort level and style when you can. If you know that he would revolt at the idea of a style makeover, you may want to approach it slyly. For example, you can ask him to go with you to help you pick out a new watch and while you are shopping, encourage him to try something new and give tons of positive reinforcement. Like maybe he should check out one of those new dress watches that he doesn't need to know you already picked out online. If you do this enough times, you can slowly begin introducing new items into his wardrobe that will make him feel confident and secure.
