We’ve all been there. We’ve all stared into our boyfriend’s gorgeous aqua eyes and perfectly chiseled nose…just so we could avoid looking at his over-sized t-shirt, baggy jeans and basketball shoes. With their muscled shoulders swimming in an extra large tee when they should be wearing a medium, no handsome guy could possibly look attractive, let alone worthy of being your arm-candy. But a guy’s ego is a fragile thing, and to take over what was once (until very recently) their mother’s job of clothing them can be a rough transition. So here’s what you can do to subtly change his look:
1) Compliment, compliment, compliment: Think about how you’d want someone to talk to you about your outfit. No one likes to hear criticisms so approach it as a compliment first. For example, “I love your shoulders, so I feel like a more tailored shirt would really show them off more.”
2) Gift them: Come his birthday or Valentine’s Day, buy the t-shirt in the correct size or the shorts in the right length as a gift. When he doesn’t have to pay for it himself, he’ll be more willing to try something new.
3) Physically try it on: Guys have an unspoken bro-code of what’s uncool to wear and many let these arbitrary rules keep them away from potential options. If he’s chronically opposed to leather jackets, deeming them “douchey,” have him try one on at a store “for fun.” When there’s no pressure to purchase it and you play it off as just a joke, you can get him to try on things he never would otherwise.
4) Make sure he likes it: Ultimately, forcing your way through the matter will only make him resent the notion of changing up his style even more. So take little steps, make small changes one at a time, and with every suggestion make sure he has a say in it…at least a little bit.