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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wish my dh understood why I would like him to make an effort more with his clothes? Or explain it to me ?

342 replies

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:06

When I met dh many moons ago , he dressed very well , on a limited income.
Fast forward , he does not make an effort with his clothes .When I do - most of the time - he says I look pretty etc.

Being a very visual person … I love clothes, colours, shapes .

He says that it is simply not important to him .
ive asked him over the years to ger a few bits - it does not register in his priorities.. tho he does know how important it feels to me.
He could look good v easily on a minimal effort.

as he knows its important to me - i do wonder if its resistance - as he could do it if he wanted to on a small amount of money. He has spent 3k on a bike .

whilst i recognise we are people with different priorities- totally fine - i cant understand why he declines to invest just a small amount of his energy and money into something that he knows is important to me ?
like for eg our son in law wears lovely aftershave - as he likes to smell and look good for himself and others - wereas dh - feels no social pleasure in doing similar
it feels to me that he feels these socilatal norms - to me - dont apply - my family always liked to look smart and i dont get it . Help !

OP posts:
DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 18/05/2026 18:59

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:44

think that you might possibly be taking something that is primarily about him, and making it about you, and getting unnecessarily

good point! I guess I try to look nice for me and him - and struggle to understand why the same does not apply the other way round.

but he is brilliant in many other ways . i just hate looking at clothes some other men wear ( or women) in a genuinely appreciative way - the thought etc . I guess fabric is my thing!
i will try to accept that its not important to him .

And again ALL about you. He gets a brief mention, then it all about your art. Your live if fabric, your....
he's his own person!

maybe he needs to find someone who loves him for HIM. Not a clothes horse!

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:58

tiramisugelato
thinking about it , yes , I need to engage with the fact he is comfortable.
I also would find him more attractive if he dressed a teeny bit differently- and i am sure the would , underneath like that too .!
i will let go of it .

OP posts:
ymemanresu · 18/05/2026 18:58

I get it totally. I like to look at nice things too. Gardens, pretty flowers and architecture. Colours and surroundings can change my mood. I’m really really picky about cars, i can’t stand some types of wheels or lights. Can’t watch a film or series if the couples don’t look right together either. Maybe hide the clothes you hate ( i’ve done it a few times) I would happily get rid of an item of clothing too if i was told it didn’t suit me or look frumpy etc .

I grew up with my mum saying she couldn’t leave the house looking a mess incase she bumped into someone she knew and they thought she’d let herself go 🤣 Still looks amazing at 71

tiramisugelato · 18/05/2026 18:56

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:54

Ok I get that many of you dont get it . I just wish x2 a year he would buy some clothes that ( other tban t shirts ) are not from the charity shop. Its shallow many of you are saying to enjoy seeing someone who takes pride and expression in their appearance.

You just sound very self-centred - why isn't it more important to you that your DH is happy and comfortable? Confused

DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 18/05/2026 18:55

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:40

ginasevern

yes - he is a good husband- i love art and fabric and stuff - i really appreciate it when humans dress pleasingly - just as i love art- i just find it attractive.

It really is all about you!

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:54

Ok I get that many of you dont get it . I just wish x2 a year he would buy some clothes that ( other tban t shirts ) are not from the charity shop. Its shallow many of you are saying to enjoy seeing someone who takes pride and expression in their appearance.

OP posts:
Confuserr · 18/05/2026 18:53

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:49

i cant really just go and by clothes for him - exept for his t shirts and two jumpers- he only buys from charity shops.

So? Have you been banned from your local charity shop or something?

Maray1967 · 18/05/2026 18:52

SleepingStandingUp · 18/05/2026 18:20

sorry but this doesn't work for looks. for special occasions, yes you can ask him. but expecting him to dress up every day to please you is unreasonable

Yes, I insist on a certain level of smartness for eg son’s graduation, niece’s wedding, but nothing else.

CoralOP · 18/05/2026 18:51

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:47

Ok - when we first met he made and effort. I still do .
i guess i feel he has stopped .

I think a lot of people dress up more when they are younger but as you age and mature people realise its not really important, there's no one you need to impress and there is more important things to think about.
It's fine if you still dress up as part of your personality/as a hobby but if it isn't as deeply important to him he's not going to carry it on as he get older.

FlyingApple · 18/05/2026 18:51

He says it's not important to him, it's his choice.

tiramisugelato · 18/05/2026 18:50

Thechaseison71 · 18/05/2026 18:49

Who said he wants his partner to dress up? Maybe he doesn't care

...woosh!

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:49

i cant really just go and by clothes for him - exept for his t shirts and two jumpers- he only buys from charity shops.

OP posts:
DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 18/05/2026 18:49

SleepingStandingUp · 18/05/2026 18:23

seei think op is being unfair, but barring mental health or medical issues, yours would be a deal breaker for me.

I agree.

Thechaseison71 · 18/05/2026 18:49

NotMajorTom · 18/05/2026 18:08

Men who want their partners to dress a certain way even when the partner doesn’t want to are called controlling on here…

Who said he wants his partner to dress up? Maybe he doesn't care

tiramisugelato · 18/05/2026 18:48

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:37

PuppyMonkey
Sorry no - he likes my dresses and says i look nice - i just like people to make an effort. -like my mates dh - likes a nice outfit - he loves it when he gets compliments- dont we all at times ?

Why do you keep comparing him to other men? Confused

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:47

Ok - when we first met he made and effort. I still do .
i guess i feel he has stopped .

OP posts:
ByRoseBiscuit · 18/05/2026 18:47

I’m not interested in fashion and much prefer to be comfortable. I would not appreciate my husband telling me I needed to buy and wear different clothes. I also can’t imagine having any input in what he wears, being that he is a grown man who can wear what he likes!

DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 18/05/2026 18:46

Sirzy · 18/05/2026 18:23

You sound very shallow.

& fucking annoying! I'd have told you to shut up about how I dress a long time ago. He's clean, he's presentable. He's not a doll for you to play dress ups with.

wearing a dress when he's wearing jeans is not an issue fgs.

Boomboomi · 18/05/2026 18:44

think that you might possibly be taking something that is primarily about him, and making it about you, and getting unnecessarily

good point! I guess I try to look nice for me and him - and struggle to understand why the same does not apply the other way round.

but he is brilliant in many other ways . i just hate looking at clothes some other men wear ( or women) in a genuinely appreciative way - the thought etc . I guess fabric is my thing!
i will try to accept that its not important to him .

OP posts:
Notmeagain12 · 18/05/2026 18:44

Random321 · 18/05/2026 18:12

I think most people manage it by buying clothes for birthdays/Christmas etc and ensure plenty of women (their sisters/friends) tell him he looks "great", "very dapper", "scrubs up well etc".

This is one of the reasons I don’t have a good relationship with my mum.

like the o/p, she would like me to dress “better”. Wear make up, get my nails done, get my hair cut short and styled, wear “nice” clothes.

she does not approve of my jeans and a hoodie with trainers style.

years of not so subtle “ooh you look lovely, you should wear dresses/make up/hair like that more often” comments if I wear anything different or that fits her “what a female should look like” view.

years of getting “nice” skirts, handbags, make up, vouchers for nail appointments for every Christmas and birthday. All unused/given away/charity shop. I can’t remember the last time she bought me a gift I actually wanted.

and I’m very ungrateful for not appreciating her expensive presents.

so yes, if my dh started on at me to dress better we’d soon not have a relationship either.

Summerishere123 · 18/05/2026 18:44

My DH wears sports shorts that he has owned for 14 years! I have often joked that he can afford to buy a pair of trousers and he did a few weeks ago but hasn't even tried them on yet! It does mildly irritate me but I don't discuss it beyond encouraging him to buy things when we go out.

missmollygreen · 18/05/2026 18:43

ThisCandidMintGoose · 18/05/2026 18:29

YANBU

I think it's important to make an effort for your other half, they deserve it.

It doesn't mean changing your style or be someone you are not, but when you know your partner prefers something, you make an effort occasionally. You would do with your friends (no one turns up at a wedding in a jogger), so why wouldn't you do it for the most important person?

Easy solution is to gift him a couple of tshirts/ shirts you like - and that he doesn't hate - so he can wear one when you go on a date.

Someone keeping fit and active is more important to me than clothes, but we do things based on our own partners, don't we

Something he doesnt hate.... what a lucky guy

PuppyMonkey · 18/05/2026 18:43

he likes my dresses and says i look nice -

Could be just sparing your feelings…

CoralOP · 18/05/2026 18:43

" i really appreciate it when humans dress pleasingly"
What a wierd thing to say....

DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 18/05/2026 18:43

cheddarcheeseontoast · 18/05/2026 18:22

Ah sorry then OP. Changing my answer. Not all of us express self through style. If he's presentable societally (clothes fit, clean, smell good) then he's meeting his obligations IMO. It sounds as though you're asking him to dress himself in a way that matches your individuality rather than his - which rather defeats the purpose of style as self expression .

This.