Girls, let's talk. Do you sometimes want to rip your boyfriend's clothes off - because you just can't stand them? You're not alone. Many guys are clueless when it comes to fashion. But there's help. If your man is a walking fashion emergency, you can perform CPR (Clothing Preference Resuscitation) on him, thanks to these tips from fashion school experts. You may be surprised at how well he cleans up.
Pants. Men are creatures of comfort, so many gravitate towards pants with "relaxed fits," which is just another name for sloppy. All that extra fabric in the pants is not flattering. But some guys just can't stop there in their crimes against fashion design. They also wear pleats, which add unnecessary bulk around their hips. And then there's the matter of cargo pants. No man has ever looked good in them. There, somebody had to say it. Have your guy try on a flat-front pair of pants in a straight leg style, and compliment him on how great he looks. (Boys need flattery and encouragement to do what you want them to do.)
Jeans. When it comes to pants, jeans are the number one favorite, but does your guy wear the right style? First of all, if your man's jeans are the color of the sky, they need to go. (And if the denim finish looks like clouds, that's even worse.) Get him a pair of jeans with a uniform dark finish, which looks great even for dressier occasions. And make sure the jeans fit him correctly. They should sit at his waist, not down at his thighs like gangsta rap attire or above his belly button like dad jeans.
Shirts. Men tend to wear their shirts too big, and part of the blame goes to retailers who size them roomier to accommodate the girth of average Americans. But all men, skinny or heavy, look better when their shirts fit them properly, i.e., the shoulder seams rest at the outer shoulders, not below them. You won't go wrong getting your guy in a classic solid or striped button-down long sleeve shirt for a dressy look, or a plaid short-sleeved shirt for a more casual vibe. What about t-shirts? A clean, solid t-shirt is perfectly fine, and in fact looks great under a sport jacket. But stay away from oversized t-shirts emblazoned with logos, flames, skulls, or weaponry.
Shoes. Guys can go years before buying a new pair of shoes, so all the shoes in your boyfriend's closet are probably past their expiration date. Take him shopping and make sure he has at least these three basic styles recommended by our fashion school experts: a pair of lace-up oxfords, a pair of loafers, and a pair of sneakers. Now, a word about those sneakers. He may very well have some new athletic shoes for the gym or the basketball court. These do not count. Sports shoes tend to look clunky when worn with long pants. He needs a casual pair of sneakers, like classic Chuck Taylor All-Stars, that don't have all the athletic embellishments.
Colors. Because many guys are unsure about the latest trends in fashion design, they are rather conservative when it comes to colors, sticking with neutrals like black, blue, grey and brown. It's up to you to punctuate your boyfriend's wardrobe with some color. Don't scare him away with chartreuse or orange right off the bat. Ease him into color with muted reds, greens, and violets. As long as they're not too bright, he'll get used to wearing color. Again, tell him how great he looks: "That color really brings out your gorgeous eyes, honey."
With these fashion tips, your guy is bound to up his hottie quotient. But don't worry; you'll always be the cute one in the relationship.