When Your Partner Has Poor Dress Sense

Most people believe that appearances play an important role in the choice of a partner. But even those who rank inner qualities higher than external looks would admit that after months of seeing a partner in torn tees and crumpled shirts, a makeover would be welcome. Similarly if you are tired of your partner’s poor dress sense, here are some tips on ensuring that he/she is in sync with the fashion of the time.

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Drop a few hints

For starters, you can drop some hints about what your partner would look better in. For instance as you both browse through a shopping mall on a Sunday afternoon, stop in front of a window display and comment to your partner that such and such cut or dress would look so nice on him/her. Gently coax him/her to try on the look and when he/she appears out of the trial room, express your appreciation in enthusiastic terms. It is not necessary that he/she pick that outfit then and there – the purpose is to make your partner subconsciously realize that he/she can look good in things other than what he/she normally wears. At other times you can praise a look in a magazine and ask your partner why don’t they try out that color. With some tact you can drop hints about something your partner should avoid – for instance using too much glitter in her makeup or wearing shoes that clash with his suit. However in this case you will need to proceed very cautiously and couch a remark on what needs to go between compliments on what looks good on him/her.

Buy him/her clothes

If your partner does not care much about what he or she wears then the most sensible thing you can do is get him/her clothes that you think will look good on your partner. Most guys hate shopping anyway so you do not have to bring them along. In case you are trying to set your girlfriend’s fashion sense right, brightly suggest that you will be taking her out shopping – she might be so happily surprised that she would readily agree to whatever clothes you suggest. The trick however is to zero in on the clothes that you think will suit your partner better. Consider his/her physical features like height and body type. Keep in mind basic fashion mantra about stripes, checks, big and fine prints. Also choose colors which will compliment your partner’s complexion as well as color of hair and eyes and not clash with them. However, do not push your partner if he/she does not want to wear the clothes you bought. Leave them at his/her place as presents and wait for him/her to try on at a later date, when of course you could praise your partner lavishly for looking gorgeous or sexy.

Again if you know that your partner isn’t into clothes and is not sentimental about what is in his/her closet, you can explore the chances of giving his/her wardrobe a makeover. Subtly get rid of clothes that you don't approve of and replace them with outfits you like. However this process is best avoided for people who are extremely attached to old things, whether a five year old denim shirt or the remnant of a pair of socks from college days.

Look deeper

In addition to this, you can go deeper into the source of your partner’s poor fashion habits by addressing their personal issues. If you suspect that your boyfriend or girlfriend has issues with the way he/she looks, try to coax them into telling you about their insecurities. For instance though slim jeans are in fashion for guys almost all over the world, if your boyfriend is rather reluctant to get into them, probably there is a reason for that – he could think he is too fat for slim jeans. Similarly if you like women in feminine skirts but find your girlfriend lounging about in pajamas or going out in trousers only, maybe she does not like the way her legs look. Before you can even hope to get your guy or girl to change the way they dresses, you will need to understand how they perceive themselves and their surroundings. If you are with someone who you think dresses badly, don't impose your opinions on him/her right away but rather try and understand their point of view. Assure them that they have nothing to be ashamed of and point out the importance of looking good and feeling good about one’s self. Above all don’t forget to be sensitive when pointing out their poor fashion sense. Even the guy you think couldn’t care about his frayed jeans and purple striped jacket can get mighty upset when his aesthetics are questioned.

Pay compliments

One of the most effective ways to bring about a change in the way your partner dresses is through positive reinforcement. If your girlfriend takes pains to style and set her hair, praise her lavishly. Likewise when you notice that your guy tried something new, compliment him and make him feel that you appreciate the effort. More importantly be specific about what it is about his or her outfit that you like. Like if she’s got on a dress that really flatters her waist or if he is wearing a color that flatters his complexion, casually let them know that you like those things. It may subconsciously influence their style choices down the line. Paying your partner pleasant compliments when they take a step towards good dressing will help them to understand what is it they should be wearing instead of merely being told what to avoid. Above all, your nice words will help boost their confidence and whether man or woman, everyone likes to be told they look good by the person they love.

If you are in a pretty confident place in a relationship, you could even play to partner’s desires in your exercise of improving his/her wardrobe. Since he/she is already attracted to you, incorporate the idea of trying out better looking clothes as part of enhancing his/her sex appeal. No sane guy or girl will want their partner to be less attracted to them when there is such an easy solution at hand.

Help out with the context

In case you respect all other aspects of your partner’s personality but find yourself puzzled at his/her dress sense on some occasions, perhaps he/she is not getting the context right. It may be that your partner is unaware of what’s sartorially expected of them. For instance, maybe they don’t know that at the particular restaurant you’re going to, a suit is more appropriate than a pair of jeans. Or that this party is a bit more casual than the last one you went to. Helping your partner out by outlining the fashion context may lead him/her to choose outfits which are appropriate to the venue and occasion.

Finally accept your partner for who he or she is. Unless your partner is consciously dressing in a manner to offend you and other people, be a little flexible in what he or she likes to wear. If the person is right for you in all other aspects and you both feel like soul-mates why should something little as an orange shirt or rubber footwear come in the way of true happiness?