Men Who Don't Buy Their Own Clothes

My girlfriend gets mad around the holidays, saying I am very hard to shop for. She says she can't buy me any clothes because I am too picky, I tell her to buy me something else then...

Either way, my mom sometimes buys me clothes for birthday/xmas, usually some basics from jcrew or such... (thermal, blank t shirt), i guess thats okay, she usually gets them a size bigger than i like..

I could never have a girl pickout my wardrobe, it would probably not be up to my standards

Originally Posted by mensimageconsultant

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It's too bad there has been so little explanation of why many men apparently let women buy most of their clothes. (Some of you who voted Yes don't want to make public admissions, eh?) Letting a woman buy socks and underwear while she's shopping is no big deal and probably saves everybody time. Beyond that seems

Although I usually consult with my lady before I make any large purchases (and I appreciate her criticisms), I am largely responsible to for wardrobe decisions. That said, I know that if I ever want a pair of Spectators or Monk straps, I am going to be on my own. Because men's and women's clothing are really fundamentally different, though, I don't think it wise to have women choose items for you sight unseen (granted, there are exceptions, e.g. gifts of shirts, squares, socks, ties, links). It's really a whole different world of clothing. I remember my lady came home from a fashion brand store. In hand was a pair of barely there strappy heeled sandals that cost about $250 or so. I was flabbergasted that some chinese crap such as that would be so expensive! They didn't feel comfortable on her feet, so she returned them (and what a dammed war that was with the sales associates at the store!) However, when I balked at the price, she accused me of having a double standard because I though $200 men's shoes were reasonable (if well made). I tried to explain the difference to her, but to no avail. ...And so goes the battle of the sexes.

Originally Posted by CharlesAlexander

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I can't IMAGINE how some guys let someone else buy their clothes for them.
Unfortunately, I know quite a few men who let their wives, girlfriends, and sometimes even their mothers pick out clothing for them. Most of these men, when shopping for themselves, will only select jeans, sneakers, athletic socks, and numbered football jerseys. Every other article of clothing they own was purchased for them, including, I presume, underwear.

Here are the reasons they give:

1. "I don't care what I look like, and she does. So it makes sense to let her pick out my clothes."
2. "I don't know what's in style, and I don't care enough to learn."
3. "Shopping is for girls. I don't like shopping and would feel funny admitting it even if I did."
4. "I can barely match socks. How can I be expected to put together an outfit."

There's a theme here, no? Apparently, shopping and caring about one's appearance are seen, in at least some pockets of our culture, as being gender-specific traits.

In the days when stores did not open seven days a week and many men worked Saturday, it was practical for the wife to buy her husband's clothes - even shoes.

A suit was the only problem area. So time needed to be made for visits to the fifty shilling tailor.

My wife snickered at my new green pants today. Ha! Shows what she knows! I would never trust her to buy me clothing unless I pre approve it.

In my adult life when I have let a woman dress me it was because (1) I wanted to get laid or (2) she had great clothing sense or (3) I didn't care that much at the time.

Not an entirely terrible idea, within reason. If it makes the wife/gf happy (without me looking or feeling like an idiot), well, why not? And if she thinks I look good, that's half the battle.

-P

IMO, women tend to buy:
--trendy items
--novelty items
--labels they know
--items with lettered sizes (S,M,L,XL)

Women generally shy away from buying:
--men's business attire
--items sized with numbers (42L, 16.5x35, 11.5EE)

As with any survey based statistical data, the results depend on WHO you ask and HOW you ask them.

Ask women, and I'll bet many of them believe they buy most of their husband's/boyfriend's/gay pal's clothes. She may have filled half the closet, but her trendy/novelty items do not represent half the value of the wardrobe.

When women look in a closet, they often see many brightly colored sport shirts, sweaters, and neck ties and overlook the dozen MTM conservative dress shirts, and the half dozen navy and charcoal suits and blazers, and the half dozen simple but expensive dress shoes, and the half dozen simple belts from shoe makers they don't know. To their eye, they bought most of the clothes in the closet because those are the ones that stand out. Well, those are the ones that get worn to her girlfriend's dinner party, but they are also the ones that go to the Salvation Army much sooner than the items a man buys for himself.

She tells the pollster she buys most of his clothes, and he tells the pollster he buys most of his own clothes. Consequently, I am suspect of any such poll results.

Originally Posted by constant struggle

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My girlfriend gets mad around the holidays, saying I am very hard to shop for. She says she can't buy me any clothes because I am too picky, I tell her to buy me something else then...
My girlfriend says the exact same thing to me! She also tells me that I care way too much about clothes...which is true perhaps? Or maybe she should care more...!

My answer for the poll was no. But my wife loves the clothing and SHOES I buy for her.

Until I was about ten my mother and this lady in the best men store in my home town picked my clothes. After that my mother would call the store and tell them how much I could spend and I'd go after school and pick what I wanted. My mother had good taste but none of the women I've met in adulthood know squat about mens clothes. Most of the time they ask me to pick out their stuff.

My first wife had good taste and helped me choose clothes. I did have some input though. My wife now occasionally buys me stuff and chooses pretty well too. But, she mostly lets me choose my own and buy my own. With the economy the way it is, neither of us buy clothes much any more.

On the other hand, i have no idea what to buy for women's clothes and have never figured out what they like. That may be because women's styles are so different and less stable.

BTW, I think pocket square's avatar is great! Is that Monica Belucci?

Originally Posted by bachbeet

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BTW, I think pocket square's avatar is great! Is that Monica Belucci?

Actually, I think he said it was his sister (he offered to introduce her to another forum member).

I'm joining the party late so I feel like I'm playing catch up. Some of the posters have suggested that the question in the poll is confusing and I have to agree with that. Some have also challenged the assertions such as 97% of men let a woman buy their clothes. I think that is suspect also.

It seems like we need to simplify. I don't think we can speculate on what the general population of men does with regard to their clothing purchasing habits. Perhaps some of the retailers/designers for men's fashions have this data. I believe that the data is extremely complex and must take multiple factors into consideration - the ususal stuff like age, ethnicity, disposable income, and other demographic data. As an example, single men, under 30, with white race/ethnicity, and with discreationary disposable income of $20K annual might display certain buying behaviors which would be different that another profile. You see it gets complex and I don't think the people on this forum are experts at marketing surveys and assessing data to determine where the demographic hot spots are. I could be wrong - perhaps we have some experts.

I do know what I don't know. I can't begin to make generalizations about the buying behavior of various segments of consumers. So we need to stick to what we know. The members of this forum I believe are different than the general population of male consumers who wear male clothing (as you know some men wear apparel designed for the opposite sex - we don't want to go there).

What we do know is we are an affinity group. We are brought together by our love of clothes and wearing them to look good. That makes us a unique group. So, perhaps we can comment on our own experiences and leave it at that.

I have been married three times. I have explained to each wife the following: "Please do not buy me clothes of any kind. I say this because I am hard to please. I know that and I confess it. I find it difficult to buy clothes for myself and be happy with I have purchased. If I have trouble making myself happy, how can I expect you to make me happy with your choices. Please, just leave that area of my life alone. I am a compulsive clothes freak who probably needs help - psychological help. I honestly do not need help buying clothes or dressing myself. If you venture into that terriotory, you will do so at your own risk."

So, with that understanding, I have done well in the area of my clothes with two out of the three wives. The first never grasped the concept - probably one of the reasons that she left me.