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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How much input do you have in your partners wardrobe/appearance

117 replies

User09678 · 18/01/2025 12:27

AIBU to wonder how much input you have in how your partner dresses and presents themselves?

Do you have none at all? Down to not even expressing preferences (yes/no stubble, nice shirt, where are those shoes?) do you compliment what you like, ignore what you don't. Do you even notice? Like if they totally let themselves go at what point would you say something or they maybe went in some weird direction...

Or are you quite active in encouraging them to wear what they like, assuming they do too. Are they quite happy to accept suggestions, do you buy them clothes, do you buy ALL their clothes?!

And vice versa I suppose!

OP posts:
SlapTheMelon · 18/01/2025 21:50

Zero input. But lucky for me he looks good in a casual way and I don't hate his choice. He's also incredibly low maintenance, he still wears the same trousers he's got 8 years ago. He made more effort when we just started dating for sure, twenty years ago.

Lyn348 · 18/01/2025 21:45

Yeah I veto most of his choices, he'd dress like a fucking clown otherwise. I failed when it came to the shiny, green, puffer style jacket from Lidl though.

User09678 · 18/01/2025 21:25

BBQPete · 18/01/2025 13:26

@User09678 Are you going to tell us what you and your partner do?

I leave mine to it. He hates buying clothes and will even wear work clothes on his days off. I say nothing, but I always appreciate a stylish looking person.

OP posts:
golemmings · 18/01/2025 19:08

DH lives in jeans and hoodies. Dd and I nick his hoodies.
If he dresses up I complement him and tell him he looks fabulous.

He has a beard. I encourage a goatee occasionally, but it's not my face. Or my time shaving.
He encourages me to buy clothes, and sometimes pays if we're shopping together. I'm bad at buying nice clothes for me.

We're not too bothered about what things look like. We prefer substance over style.

neverbeenskiing · 18/01/2025 19:00

I wouldn't tell DH what to wear, but he likes to ask my opinion on clothes anyway and if I compliment something he's wearing he will be more likely to choose similar items in future. I don't really need to have much input tbh as he takes care of himself and dresses well.

DontNeedAnyMoreClothes · 18/01/2025 18:56

He's quite stylish and always makes an effort to wear tidy clothes that properly fit and suit him. We do regularly ask each others' opinions but don't necessarily take them on board.

YouAgainDamnIt · 18/01/2025 18:53

If he asks which shoes go with his outfit etc I’ll offer an opinion and I often buy him clothing as gifts. The only time I’ve ever felt compelled to speak up was when he started wearing a luminous yellow beanie hat for some reason. It was really awful and soon turned into a joke and started appearing in all kinds of places for me to find.

TheReturnOfFeathersMcGraw · 18/01/2025 18:49

We compliment each other when we look really nice (doesnt have to be smart, just a well put together outfit). Other than that very little - I have bought him jumpers for xmas before when Ive seen something that was very much his style, but only occassionally, and I wouldnt buy something that I like but know he wouldnt be fussed by

curious79 · 18/01/2025 18:45

0 input but we do compliment (and critique!) what the other is wearing

YankSplaining · 18/01/2025 18:44

Between my husband’s birthday and Christmas, our parents get him a lot of long sleeves for gifts. He buys his own t-shirts based on movies or games he likes. Trousers, he’ll wear until they’re absolutely falling apart. He doesn’t wear suits because he works from home. I occasionally buy him socks or underwear.

CrushingOnRubies · 18/01/2025 18:36

No input on what he's wearing. If asked I might offer opinion if he's deciding on what to buy in a shop.

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 18/01/2025 16:46

No input as such although I do usually buy him nice clothes as Christmas presents. This year I bought him a pair of Celtic & Co leather boots which were slightly different from his usual Timberlands. But I know his style pretty well and I always choose for him in line with that. I would never try to change how he looks. I realise that resolution might be sorely tested if he looked a fright. But he doesn’t!

Worldgonecrazy · 18/01/2025 16:39

Lots of input both ways. We trust each other’s judgement about what looks good as mirrors can be deceiving. He has great taste in clothes and always looks great, but still asks me what I think when buying.

Ineedanewsofa · 18/01/2025 16:34

He hates clothes shopping and always asks for clothes for xmas/birthdays so I have quite a lot of input 🤣
He doesn’t have any say in what I wear but will offer the occasional opinion knowing I’ll ignore him

GildedRage · 18/01/2025 16:34

he rarely buys his own clothing including underwear/socks but will comment when he want new. Or while doing laundry I’ll notice he needs new.
when it comes to trousers/shorts and shirts, I get him to try them on and agree or disagree.
decades ago he bought trousers that looked ridiculous on him, horrendous fit. I’m not willing to take that chance. He also doesn’t believe in brand sizing and refuses to understand how Levi’s sizing 33x34 isn’t universal.

sotif · 18/01/2025 16:25

Quite little

SpaceJamtart · 18/01/2025 16:20

We don't tell each other what to wear but he is more fashionable than me and has probably chosen the majority of our clothes just because he tends to buy them.
He is better than me at picking jeans, it's great.
We do talk with each other before doing anything drastric, but not asking permission.

Plantmumfailure · 18/01/2025 15:56

Close to none! I'll tell him if his hair looks too fluffy or if he's got a rip in his jeans or something, but that's it.

He doesn't really comment on my appearance either. I have to facetime my sister for that or ask my 10yo dd for an opinion if I want one other than my own.

Editing to fix stupid autocorrect related typo.

biscuitsandbooks · 18/01/2025 15:55

None, just as he doesn't have any in mine.

Sometimes he'll ask about outdoor clothing but only because I used to work in that sector.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 18/01/2025 15:55

I give my opinion on something if asked, I buy the odd thing for him but otherwise none. He's an adult and I'd hate to be told what I can or can't wear.

MifsBr0wn · 18/01/2025 15:53

Zero

DilemmaDelilah · 18/01/2025 15:52

Very little. He likes clothes and likes to look good... But he has recently discovered Temu and has bought some awful things! I compliment him when he looks good and if we are doing something which requires a certain type of clothing then I might make some suggestions, but that's about it.

DelphiniumBlue · 18/01/2025 14:23

I have some input into DH's wardrobe, but it's quite subtle. He has quite fixed ideas about what to wear, and usually frequents the same shops. I'm currently trying to get him out of very slim jeans ( he's not very slim, and never has been!) and into a slightly more current and flattering shape, or even 'not jeans'.
So he got some cords in a jeans cut for Christmas, and his usual winter style shirt ( lumberjack tartan style) , but in colours I prefer on him.
In summer he has a penchant for pale loose shirts that look terrible with a beer gut , so I try to push him towards darker linen shirts that suit his complexion better ( he looks fab in dark colours, and wishy washy in pale ones). I have been known to put the shirts I don't like to the bottom of the (vast) ironing basket, knowing he'll never get that deep down, but I would tell him him where they were if he asked, and I wouldn't go as far as throwing them out, which I feel would massively overstep a boundary. I have known people do that, though.
So I do buy him clothes, but usually from his his preferred suppliers in the styles I know he likes, I'll just sometimes try to get him to up his game marginally.
I don't like him him wearing his smelly old work anorak when we're out anywhere other than on a walk where he needs a waterproof, but he doesn't always take any notice of that!

LindtCurves · 18/01/2025 14:22

Of course I notice!! And compliment.

But they can of course be their own person, there have been dodgy longish hair and moustache stages, and you just let them get on with it.

But if they are wearing something I particularly love or they look very good, I always mention it - same as I would for a friend. I wouldn't critisise unless it's inappropriate, e.g. holes or pet fluff on job interview clothing.

My ex really hated smart clothes so I helped him out in that department, helping him dress for suit occassions and buying the odd smart shirt/ pointing him to fashionable shops. He still shops in those now if he needs that type of clothing.

Current man works in fashion and his dress sense attracted me to him, so defo not my place to advise, just tell him 'you look very good today' makes a difference though. He slightly takes offence, going 'are you implying it's not usual for me to be well put together', as a joke of course. We do praise each others' style and it's nice.

Gowlett · 18/01/2025 14:16

Usually get him socks & jocks at Christmas. Didn’t this year.
He got a Christmas jumper from DS. A nice jacket from me.

If I see something good in M&S Sale, I’ll get it for him.
I’ll gift him sheepskin slippers, leather gloves, a wool scarf.

He buys nice quality clothes, likes Levi’s, Dr Martens etc…
He’d get me a watch, scarf, that sort of thing, as a gift.