The Scottish Mail on Sunday - You
His style reset starts here
Let’s face it, most men need help in the wardrobe department and, in my experience, the most effective way to improve their style is to do it without them even realising. While not strictly honest, this method invites the least resistance.
Before your covert operation can begin, you need to chuck out every disgusting thing they possess. However, go slowly: when it comes to change, men scare easily, so start with a few items at a time.
I did this when I moved in with my now husband. His biggest wardrobe offender was an ill-fitting leather jacket that I hated. Out of sight is soon out of mind for men – so discreetly give away anything you don’t like. He didn’t notice for weeks because most men don’t care about their clothes like we do.
This approach ensures they won’t notice that your style operation is well under way. If they do happen to ask where these items are, deny any knowledge of their whereabouts until they forget about them. And they will, especially once the second part of your campaign is under way: systematically purchasing much better replacements for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, etc. Start with shirts, knits and jackets before moving on to footwear. Ensure your children also buy them items of clothing picked out by you for special occasions.
Emotional blackmail is a useful style tool here.
If it’s a gift from the heart, there’s an obligation for him to wear these pieces. Flattery also works. Tell him he looks great in these new gifts because, if they’ve been sourced by you, of course he will.
Without even knowing it, he will subconsciously begin to like looking more stylish because he’ll start getting compliments about the clothes you’ve chosen. And everyone, especially men, likes compliments about their appearance.
If you’re out shopping together, accidentally on purpose wander into the men’s department. Then innocently pick out stylish items, coolly suggesting he do a quick try-on. Another good tactic is to talk about men you think have great fashion sense. Point them out at any opportunity and rave about them.
Over time his old style will be replaced and finally forgotten. Luckily men’s fashion doesn’t change from year to year, so his new wardrobe pieces will last a heck of a long time before looking outdated. And then another operation needs to happen.
Take my advice and very soon you’ll have a much more stylish man standing beside you. And the best bit is that he won’t even realise he’s been transformed by you – it was all his idea. Clever him!