Men-Friendly Styles? - YouLookFab Forum

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Men-Friendly Styles?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

There have been several references lately on the board about certain styles not being the ones a man would like, etc. Particularly referring to voluminous styles as something men wouldn't like. Does this ring true with the men in your lives? I guess I'm just a lucky girl- my husband likes me best when I feel good, and he is fine with any wacky combination or silhouette that I want to try. Of course, when he met me I was wearing oversized Osh Kosh overalls and Doc Marten boots, so he knew what he was getting into from the start!
Do your men really only like an outfit that emphasizes bust/waist/hips?

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from April

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Bryan is the same way - hair, makeup, clothes...as long as I'm happy he doesn't care.
He PREFERS bootcut or flare jeans on me as opposed to skinnies, but he doesn't guilt me into not wearing skinnies especially since I feel the same way.
He likes dresses, pencil skirts, and jeans, so it's pretty easy to please him when I want to.

Dusty

(website)

Hubby prefers slimmer cut clothing on me, but he can appreciate other shapes. The only things he's ever spoken out against were my leather pants (seriously? how many guys wouldn't like that?) and the blue brocade jacket I got in China Town.

Kristine

Veteran

If he has a preference it's probably for edgier style. He really likes skinny jeans and graphic t-shirts. He likes me in gear over dress clothes. I think he gets nervous when I dress too business casual, because he's afraid it might morph into dowdy (he hasn't said that, I can just pick up on it).

He dislikes scarves when they're tied ascot style, but likes them when they're just looped casually around my neck. He doesn't like bows and ruffles. He's sensitive to patterns and dislikes anything loud or tacky. So casual and edgier would be his preference. I tried on my gala dress for him yesterday though and he was speechless. But he also likes my batwing top and has no problem with volume.

He shakes his head at heels and says he can't believe women still participate in foot binding. He encourages me if I want to order Vans and hiking boots.

He's also said he loves my hair at any length, but the truth is he likes it long.

Maya

Veteran

I would guess most men dont care but do have preferences, which usually involve emphasis of an hourglass shape. It's just embedded into their biology.

I am very sensitive to even the slightest hint of controlling behavior in men and I have no tolerance for it. I would not want to be with someone who ridicules or criticizes my choices. Sometimes I will wear things he nay not like. I'm sure I won't always love what he chooses either. But I always hear my friends and gals on ylf saying how they either stopped wearing or had to restrain themselves from wearing something just because their boyfriends said some dopish comments. That will never be me. I have style preferences for blokes, but I would not impose them on a partner. Just be neat, clean, appropriate, and wear stuff that fits. Unfortunately too many dudes can't even meet that minimum!

Anonymous

DH seldom comments but he has made it known that he hates frumpy mid calf skirts and he also dislikes capri pants so much that he banned them on women in his workplace. To be fair, some were showing up in shorter leggings as pants and bike shorts and saying they were capris. It was his way of dealing with the problem. He also dislikes flip flops and crocs at work.
In my own style he doesn't care for boho or for over 3" heels.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

My husband prefers shorter hair, too- which another one of those things that guys aren't supposed to like.
I guess my man isn't really a man, the same way that I am not really a woman LOL

Louise

Veteran

I know he prefers skirts and dresses but he never comments negatively on anything i wear whether that means he likes it or is just afraid of the telling off he'll get if he does comment negatively remains to be seen x

Dawn

(website)

I know that Alan does prefer certain shapes or looks but being perfectly honest, I rarely solicit his opinion on my clothes. The only time when I consult him about what I am wearing is when we are going to an event associated with his workplace as I wouldn't want to embarrass him by being inappropriate or when I can't chose between two tops or belts. The only time when I have let him have any actual input into my actual outfit was when I had ten minutes between work and a wedding to get ready so I got him to pick out accessories and shoes for my pink dress. I never ever bring him clothes shopping with me because I absolutely hate it when I see couples clothes shopping where the guy keeps telling the girl that she can't wear something because he doesn't like it- UGH!

As for my hair, it took Alan ages to get used to it but I'm not going to grow it out unless I want to grow it out.

Ele

(website)

My bf actually likes volume, at least in shirt and dress styles. What he doesn't like is sleeve volume- puffs and ruching. I'm not sure why exactly but he's quite adverse to that (though he likes my sharp-shouldered blazer, go figure). Also, nothing overtly feminine, like ruffles, bows or lace.

Overall, he likes edgy, modern and avant-garde stuff on girls. He loves me in black, skinny jeans, and simple, strong shapes. Most importantly though, he likes it when I'm comfortable. We both wince if we see a girl in heels walking awkwardly, and I know he hates fussy, tricky-to-wear stuff.

Of course, I still wear stuff that isn't necessarily his favourite look on me, just as he'll wear things I'm not crazy about. But overall our tastes run similar, so it's rarely an issue. In fact, many of my favourite things were actually gifts or stuff he's pointed out when we're shopping.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I couldn't actually say what his preference are. He's so well trained that the only things he will say are positive, but that's good and bad. I would actually take his preferences into account when we are going somewhere together, as I'd hope he'd take mine.

taylor

Veteran

My husband knows what's under those voluminous dresses! I don't wear them often, but he likes them too. He does prefer me in strong classic lines, and well tailored jacket and pencil skirts.

and like Khris's hubby...mine LOVES short hair...He thinks it looks current ,fashionable and updated on women.

My husband is VERY fashion conscious when it comes to how women dress and their hair. He much prefers me dressing my age... classy and ladylike, but fun.

The only time I ever hear him say something negative about how women dress is when women show too much. Too short, too tight, ,too low...* desperately* trying too hard for attention as he says.

Kate

Veteran

haha, my boyfriend would be totally happy if I just walked around naked all the time! He likes being able to see as much as my body as possible - so the tighter and more skin I show the better, at least for him.

However realizes that is rather unrealistic, and will comment on how awful women look if their clothes are too revealing. He really likes when I wear skinnies tucked into boots, dresses and skirts, and fitted clothes with kinda girly or romantic details. He also likes my hair better when it's longer, but is dealing with the bob just fine! He's a bit picky about nail polish colors, but I haven't figure out his method to it. And he likes tasteful eyeshadow.

I think the only thing he's picked out for me was the American Apparel bandeau dress that can be worn a lot of different ways.

rute

Veteran

ah ah Kate you are so funny!

oh.. my Hubby is too picky!! But he has such good taste that I love to ask him for advice!

He loves when I use powerful clothes, a suit and heels (it can be skirt or pants).

Loves when I wear jeans and a colorful top.

Hates denin skirts and flats (don't know why!) and hates when I buy something cheap (he doesn't understand that there are investment pieces and trendy pieces we just buy to wear during one season).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Very, very, very interesting.

Queen Mum

Veteran

He seems to prefer me in figure skimming clothing... at least that is when he will comment. I think he likes my skinnies and sheath dresses best. It's not like he doesn't like me in other stuff, but I guess stuff that shows my figure is what gets him to look twice

like Taylors hubby mine has regular apoplexies when he sees women out in overly revealing clothing... and if they are teenage girls he just shakes his head and says 'it's a good thing we don't have girls because she sure wouldn't be leaving my house looking like that

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I think it's important to remember a man's opinion is just that, an *opinion*. I might agree or disagree with my husband's, or my girlfriend's, or even commenters on my blog or on YLF. I also decide how much weight to give said opinion; whether I weigh it more or less than my own depends on a lot of things. And men like all kinds of looks in women for all kinds of crazy reasons, and in other respects, pay no attention to things we assume they care about. I think it's presumptive to assume men don't like volume outfits, for example; I doubt many even notice what our side silhouette looks like.

My husband has lots of opinions about clothes and shoes, and really good taste in selecting clothes for himself and for me. I think it's surprised him how interested in fashion that I have become over the last few years, and I think he would agree that I've surpassed him at this point. It's a win when I get a "cute outfit!" out of him though.

But he doesn't like patent. Sometimes I think I don't know him at all!

marianna

Veteran

I don't have bust/hips/waist, so... can't really emphasize any of those. My fiance isn't picky about what I wear at all... I wish he cared more! I know he prefers long hair, and he wishes my hair was longer, but that's tough luck for him! I also know he likes when I wear skirts. Other than that, he never really comments on my clothes.

Maya

Veteran

To clarify, I don't think men actively hate volume. Honestly, they probably don't even notice or care. I just think when asked or shown a comparison of a woman in a fitted sheath dress and a sack dress, most would choose the fitted sheath. Nothing wrong with that. As Kristen says, men can have opinions. I just don't like it when those opinions border on hurtful or cause a woman to stop wearing something she loves. It would make me uncomfortable to have anyone have that much control over my appearance.

Ele, I'm cloning your boyfriend! My kind of guy! I approve :p

When I was a teen I used to go for all the edgy, musically-inclined guys--the punks, the ones with their face full of holes, dyed hair, etc. They always liked short punky hair on girls, so there is definitely a market for short hair. I felt boring with my long hair.

elpgal

Veteran

My husband loves it when I wear Indian clothes that emphasize the waist and hips. Similarly, I love it when he wears linen and denim. We will wear clothing to indulge each other a few times a year, usually when we go to summer parties. That is about the extent of influence we exert on each others' wardrobes.

Tansie

My husband is pretty basic in this respect - he would say that he prefers women(including me) in skirts and dresses. I wear jeans/pants about 90% of the time. He doesn't get heels and neither do I, but I do recognize there are times when only heels will do. He really only offers an opinion when asked, and that is pretty rare. We realize that we are both rather daggy and have no expertise - but at least I am trying to imrove!!

Dusty

(website)

Hubby has never told me he didn't want me to wear something (although, he did ask me to not wear the leather pants to certain events), and he's never been hurtful, but he did make his preference against those few items known in a respectful way (and I think that's perfectly reasonable). The only time he was a little less nice about something was when I had my pixie cut. He HATED it. A lot. I couldn't believe how anti that cut he was. He still tried not to be hurtful about it, but he really had issues with it and he just couldn't get over them. I eventually grew it out because I was just tired of dealing with his dislike. He felt bad that he disliked it so much, though.

He had tried early on to tell me what to do with my hair and I cured him of that - he didn't want me to cut it and I had two feet cut off one weekend while he was off skiing and left it for him in a baggie on his desk. It was still shoulder length so it wasn't short at all and he eventually got used to it.

Ele

(website)

Dusty, your hair must have been super-long before that epic chop! I love that you left if for him

Maya, ha! I've actually toyed with the thought of cloning Andrew for you before- I think you two would get on like a house on fire He is after all a tea-swigging, well-groomed, fashion-conscious, gentlemanly designer who can rock a Ben Sherman suit like nobody's business. (Though he did think your purple one was "too purple" when he tried it on- I guess you can't win 'em all.) I'm sure there are others out there, though. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Itari

(website)

Heh, I love your thoughts! I like it that you don't wear clothes you don't like because of somebody else's opinion, be it your husbands or boyfriends. I can't write much on the topic, though.

crwilson

Veteran

My husband is very strange when it comes to clothes. He doesn't care for anything too "busy" (i.e. prints) or colorful, which might be why he wears the same thing every day - jeans and a black t-shirt. Therefore, I don't base many fashion decisions on what he likes/dislikes. He has said that he likes outfits on me that are less "Ann Taylor" and a bit edgier, but honestly I don't think he cares much about what I wear one way or another.

In terms of silhouette - he likes volume. One of his favorite dresses on me was a maternity dress that I wore when I was pregnant with our first daughter. I've finally gotten rid of it because I'm too tempted to wear it (because it's so comfortable) even though I'm not pregnant anymore.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Ben is unable to see hanger appeal at all (it's very hard to go shopping with him) but when I put the item on and style it with the rest of clothe the item that was ho hum suddenly becomes his new favourite. Also because I don't do it very often he really likes it when I wear a casual yet pulled together look such as jeans, knit top and flats.

Ben has only once said he did not like an item of clothing on me (once in ten years).

Maya

Veteran

I think you are trying to make me jealous here Ele. And it is working.

Anonymous

My Arnie is very generous in realizing that my style is an expression of myself. He doesn't care one bit about fashion so leaves it up to me what I wear and what he wears. He did look at me kind of funny when he saw me wearing a black leather moto jacket but then he just became used to it and never said a word. I'd say that he is learning about style as he watches me learn about style. It's a new field for both of us and he knows it makes me happy.
If Arnie said that he really hated something I would not wear it, just as if I would hate for him to get a bunch of tatoos, I would expect that he wouldn't do it. Or maybe he'd compromise and get a more modest set of tatoos. After all, in a marriage a couple must compromise.

Debbie

Veteran

My husband doesn't say much. Which sometimes is very annoying. I wish he said more about the way I look but his thing is you look fine to me.

Jill

Normally my husband doesn't give an opinion on what I wear (which on most days is a T-shirt and jeans, or a T-shirt and pajama pants given the time of day). But I notice the times when compliments come flying out are when I show more skin. If I lounge around in my T-shirt and jeans/pj pants, nothing. But if I switch that T-shirt to a tank top I get "Oh! You look cute!" and he comes over to touch my arm. I've also seen his eyes light up when I wear a skirt.

Poor man, I am not a prude but I just don't like showing off a lot of skin either. I'm getting better with age but I've always been so self-conscious. I value his opinion on my clothes a lot because there is a bit of me that dresses just for him. I like catching his eye like old times.

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