The age-old question: What do the ladies want men to wear?
I’ve done the research and the ladies have spoken.
Whether they’re married or single – women have certain expectations when it comes to the way men dress. Even if they don’t like to admit it, most women will judge a man on his appearance.
To save you time and one heck of a headache, in today’s article I’m providing you with the definitive guide to the 10 things women love to see a man wear.
Read carefully gents, because some of these might surprise you.
#4 surprised even me.
Let’s get to it.
1. A Fitted Suit
We all know the purpose of a suit — clothing that projects high standards in business and formal settings. Nowadays, suits aren’t commonly worn on first dates. However, the ladies love them when worn appropriately.
Women like it when you dress to impress for special occasions like your wedding anniversary. Wearing a suit shows you are willing to put in the effort and look your best.
Trust me – the ladies appreciate a thoughtful man who goes the extra mile.
However – whenever you wear a suit, it’s got to be the right fit. A suit should make you appear to have a trimmed waist, broad shoulders, and large hands – helping to promote the instinctive attraction women have to the classic “V-shaped” body type.
2. An Impressive Watch
Owning an impressive watch doesn’t just make you look wealthy – it also portrays you as thoughtful in social settings where a cellphone may not be appropriate.
Many of us use smartphones to tell the time. Don’t get me wrong – I love the convenience of my smartphone, but using it around friends and family can often be considered rude.
Try checking the time with a subtle flick of the wrist and a glance at your timepiece – those around you will recognize your efforts to remain polite and chances are you’ll catch the eye of a few ladies looking to find a thoughtful, well-mannered gentleman.
If you have a well-styled and occasion-appropriate timepiece on your wrist – it catches their eyes and helps to improve their first impression of you.
After all – watches say a lot about a man’s personal style. What’s more – they make great conversation starters with women you choose to approach.
3. A Signature Scent
A pleasant scent is often the #1 factor for women choosing a potential partner. I bet when you asked yourself “what do the ladies want men to wear?” you didn’t put fragrance at the top of your list.
Listen up, gents. Researchers in Europe have published a study in the Personality and Individual Differences journal about the factors that contribute to a woman’s “mate selection” process.
In short – the study reports that women rate olfactory (smell) cues as more important than visual cues. Basically, gents, a lot of women consider your scent more important than your look.
What can we take away from this? It’s simple – don’t underestimate a woman’s sense of smell. She uses it far more than you think.
With that knowledge – your goal should be to find the perfect fragrance for your personal style. You may have to try a number of samples before you find one that truly works.
4. The Color Pink
Pink has an appeal that goes far beyond the socially constructed views of masculinity. In the 21st century, it takes a lot of confidence for a guy to wear shades of pink.
Gents – I want you to remember the basic rule of dating. Women love a confident man!
Wearing pink is a great way to show women that you’re a step above the rest when it comes to confidence in your masculinity. You’re brave, bold, and you know you can pull off a pink garment when the time is right.
Pink is also associated with positive emotions. French researchers at the University of Poitiers conducted a study about the color pink in 2014. Their findings revealed that wearing pink helps accentuate happy faces and portrays positive emotions.
Keep this in mind, gents. After all, every man knows the ladies respond well to good vibes and positive energy.
5. Boxer Briefs (Not Y-Fronts!)
The best of both worlds: boxer briefs combine the shape of boxers with the close-fitting feel of briefs. They’re not prone to chafing, they don’t leave your manhood hanging down, and you can wear them comfortably at the gym or whenever you go for a run.
A Men’s Health study shows 58% of women prefer their men in boxer briefs to other underwear types – but why do they love them so much? Believe it or not, women love clothes that perfectly fit a man’s body (ie. clothes that don’t seem too large or small for him.)
Boxer briefs do just that – they help to show off the lower part of your abdomen and flatter your physique – as long as they fit you just right.
6. Stylish Jeans (Not Dad Jeans)
Jeans are timeless – period. Regardless of age or body type, every guy needs a good pair of jeans in his closet. Why? Just look back through recent history.
Denim jeans have always been a part of American pop culture – from modern action heroes to the iconic cowboy characters that dominated Western films. Many masculine icons have worn denim jeans – from Jim Stark in Rebel Without A Cause (played by James Dean) to Bruce Springsteen’s blue-collar persona throughout the ‘80s.
Women have loved men in jeans throughout the last 100 years – and it appears this trend will only continue through the 21st century and beyond.
However, jeans that fit perfectly aren’t so easy to find for a lot of body types. There are many brands and cuts and styles – so you’ll need some trial and error before you settle on the right fit for your body type.
7. High Quality Shoes
Regardless of your style or profession – every man should own a good pair of clean shoes to show that he pays attention to the small details.
They say the eyes are windows to the soul. I say that shoes are the windows to your style.
The fact is – women can interpret many things about you and your personality simply by looking at the shoes on your feet. They’ve got you worked out before you even start talking.
I’ll be brutally honest here, gents. Flimsy shoes make you look cheap. Worn-out and dirty shoes make it seem like you don’t take care of yourself. No shoes at all? Well, let’s not even go there.
Stylish shoes, on the other hand – Oxfords, Monk Straps, Italian moccasins and so on – not only show you have excellent attention to detail but also prove you’ve got fantastic taste and style.
Remember that the type of material also plays a part. In general, suede shoes go well with social settings while calfskin shoes suit slightly dressier events. If you opt for sneakers – the keyword is minimalism. Plain white sneakers can work well with smart pants in some situations.
8. The Cashmere Sweater
Cashmere is lightweight wool that offers excellent insulation. Compared to regular sheep wool, it makes a sweater more functional and fashionable. It adds a lot of softness to your style, and women love to touch it.
They love guys with a warmer, “sensitive” side that contrasts their everyday manliness.
The same Men’s Health study that showed women’s preference for boxer briefs also had a survey on textures of clothing. The results show that men who wear cashmere sweaters attract more women than those who wear other types of fabric.
So even though cashmere costs more (as cashmere goat hair is limited in supply), you should seriously consider its long-term benefits.
Purchase a neutral-colored, cashmere sweater ready for those winter months and cold rainy days when you want to get up close and personal with the lady in your life.
9. The V-Neck T-Shirt
The one thing that gives V-necks an edge over crew neck outfits is the power of the V shape. It’s more versatile and it is less likely to be mistaken for an undershirt.
The shape also makes your cheekbones appear wider than your jawline, which helps to give athletic guys an even stronger appeal. V-necks bring out the most masculine aspects of your body – from your cheekbones to your chest.
The v-neck t-shirt is a safe bet for most occasions. However, avoid V-necks that go too low and overexpose the chest. Many women state that these are “too much” and may become a turn-off rather than a turn-on.
10. A Great Smile & Fresh Breath
This last item requires no shopping or searching in your closet. It has everything to do with your face – especially your mouth.
A 2013 journal article published in Cognition & Emotion proves how effective smiling is. Their research shows smiling is the simplest and cheapest way to make someone appear more attractive.
To passers-by, those that smile appear to have better health, openness, and trustworthiness than those who do not.
A beautiful smile is the result of a well-structured grooming routine that makes men attractive to women.
So say cheese all the time, don’t forget to brush your teeth, floss regularly, and drink lots of water. Use breath mints regularly and visit your dentist every six months.