If you are preparing to go to an event to which your SO was invited, do you dress to please your SO or yourself?

Question

I try to please my girlfriend when we are going somewhere other than work. I ask for her approval on what I select because it's probably more important to her than it is to me, and especially if we are going to meet some of her friends for lunch or dinner. But I have had partners who didn't show me that same consideration; they just wore whatever they wanted to wear. . . and one of them had a very limited sense of fashion! How do you handle getting dressed for an event for your partner's work, family , or friends? Please them or please yourself?

musicbrain5 · Accepted Answer

I think option C is the best answer for me. First, I find out what kind of event it is, if there’s a dress code or certain expectations, etc, and I go from there. I also think about what is appropriate, if there is no strict dress code. For events, we generally get ready together, so he can see my outfit as I’m putting it together. My husband knows that I don’t particularly enjoy wearing dresses or skirts - he has never asked me to wear one. That being said, I often deem them more apt to wear to things like weddings, funerals, and more formal work functions.

We have a good understanding of each other’s fashion sense in general. As long as we each determine what we are wearing is appropriate for the function, we’re happy.

midnightmoon05 · Accepted Answer

We both enjoy dressing nicely on weekends when we go out on our date nights. neber thought if it’s was for him
or for me… just have always been that way with me. Dress well, professionally for work. however, I have been out down at work by other co workers saying I dressed too nice for the job… some go in in sweat outfits nowadays…
with my partner, always our accessories, his nice watch, nice outfits, and a nice restaurant.
when we see my/his family… we can be comfortable or dressed nice depends what we are doing.

GoodManDave · Accepted Answer

Overall, I’d probably decide on what I like or feel comfortable with and balance it with dressing to impress others, including a significant other. She wouldn’t be my only concern on who to please, but her ideas on what I should wear (if she had any) probably be a huge consideration.

I would think there would probably be something that we could both agree on that would look decent, she’d like it, and I would like it. I doubt it’d be a big deal or there’d be a lot of arguing over what I should wear. My fashion sense isn’t terrible.

If she was wearing some special color, like for a theme, I would probably try to coordinate in some way, and not just do my own thing.

lightbulb27 · Accepted Answer

I said dress how she wants, but I pick what I want and she comments to make adjustments. She makes good points I don't always think of. Generally speaking, I dress for my own comfort not theirs but I have to consider other people are the ones looking at me:)

WalkingInTheRain7 · Answer

If I went to an event with a SO, I would dress to look good, period. If she didn't like it because of personal taste, but I still looked good overall, that isn't a big deal to me. If there was a dress code, I'd dress within it as long as what I was dressing up in was right, and looked good. I wouldn't try to impress her, no, since that isn't necessary. She's supposed to be dating me to get to know me as a person and see whether or not we're compatible in a relationship together, not for me to try and impress her. She'll get to see me for who I am, and I don't want to give her a false impression.

Wester1967 · Answer

I ride cold baby. No woman is gonna out match my style sense. None on this planet any way. She'll bring me too far down bro, so I want zero part of it. I'll have a cut suit tailored. White starched shit. Cuffs. Purple or blue solid silk tie. Matching pocket scarf. Cuffs on the trousers. Purple or red socks and cut leather shoes. Sunglasses at night. Step to these and figure it out. Cold and smokin. Go date a "rapper" you redneck hoochies.

MTC29 · Answer

For the New Year's Eve party, I took the path of least resistance:

The SO walks into my closet and looks around: "Wear this shirt, these pants, these shoes and this belt."

Everything was resolved in 60 seconds, and with no possibility of my making what could have been a catastrophic wardrobe mistake (she's a drama queen).

hahahmm · Answer

I mainly consider the level of dress (street casual, business casual, average suit, high end suit). I will go with the level she deems appropriate for her event but I pick the actual clothes. I have no problem color coordinating if she wants that too. Not a big deal.

I picked, "If it is his or her event and I am the plus one, I try to dress in a way that will satisfy both of us" -- but it leans heavily towards the wife if it's her event.

sunflower00 · Answer

I dress for myself but I like to look good for him too. So, I basically wear something that I feel happy and confident in that I know he will like! But he has never said anything bad about the way I dress and when I ask his opinion he always says I look good in anything 🥺

EmbraceThePain · Answer

Well, both.

If my SO likes what I’m wearing and thinks it looks attractive or good on me, the chances are that I also like what I’m wearing are a near certainty.

We all dress to impress someone else besides us/ourselves.

If you feel good about what you’re wearing, it’s due to the fact that you feel you look good to other people’s eyes.

It’s never about simply impressing ourselves in a vaccuum.

OpenClose · Answer

Hienstly I went with A. Though "satisfy us both" is probably more accurate. If I'm wearing something my girl finds sexy, I feel sexy, so I'm good to go. Her style preferences are probably more specific than mine. And chances are, I'd love what she picks out.

Lliam · Answer

I dress for the occasion. I don't ask my wife. I might say "How do I look?" But even if I don't ask, she'll tell me if she has a problem and might make suggestions.

I don't tell her how to dress. It's not that big a deal to me. I really don't give a fuck about the opinions of people we are going to meet.

Anonymous · Answer

one time a few years ago i was at a charity fundraising event dinner for leukemia with an ex friend not ex girlfriend just an ex friend and she usually dressed like a slob jeans or dresses with food stains on it and i had to tell her to wear something nice for this event to pick something up nordstrom or nordstrom rack i was just surprised she managed to dress appropriate for that occassion needless to say she spent the entire night hanging out with her friends and she was pigging out on what had to be 100lbs of food just by herself alone

Moose304 · Answer

When I get invited to an event that by the nature of the event does not dictate how to dress. For example, a wedding means formal. Going out to shoot pool or throw darts means casual. I will ask, formal, Sunday best, casual dress, or Jeans. Most of the time this is not an issue for me.

Anonymous · Answer

I never had a SO, but I'd ask what the dresscode/manner of dressing in that setting is and find something I like close to that category. Sometimes I like to dress a bit down or more like up. I am for example often more colourful and wear a bit prettier clothes than the average.
Maybe I'd ask for his advice/opinion if I had difficulty deciding myself but I don't see why my SO should really have a say on how well dressed I should be, it is the setting which is a deciding factor for me.

HighlyVolatile · Answer

Typically the way I think is suitable for the event. If I'm not sure how to dress suitably for it though, then I might ask my wife for ideas. For example, I had to attend a funeral and I hadn't attended many funerals before. I knew I should wear black but I didn't know exactly what. So I asked my wife if she thought what I wore was suitable and she helped me to figure that out.

Lisa_maybel · Answer

Person if you ask me I have the right to wear what I feel I'm most comfortable in. However, depending on situations we should take in others opinion too. If your so suggests you to wear something because the place has some elderly or his/her clients dress appropriately. At the same time this has to be applied for both partners like don't let just one person decide everything for you.

Blonde401 · Answer

I like my own sense of style. I’ll accept someone’s opinion but it doesn’t mean I’ll listen to it every time. And I’m a grown woman - I can usually decide what is or isn’t appropriate

KatieB713 · Answer

If it is my partner's even (like a dinner when his boss near Christmas) I dress in a way that looks good to make my so look good, but also have my own flare in terms of fashion

spartan55 · Answer

I like to think I know how to dress appropriately for different types of events. I don't know if it would be to please either myself or her? I know I'm giving a non-answer... apologies.

Abc12356 · Answer

Umm for me its more dressing appropriate for the event but also not losing my style. It's not about pleasing myself or him. But still pleasing myself would be the priority.

TacosRAwesome · Answer

It's a bit of a mixed bag. I'll make sure dress for the occasion and I'll try to dress in a way my partner is happy with but at the end of the day, unless I really need buy somerhing new to I'm using what's already in my wardrobe.

Subarugirl · Answer

I'm the one who has to wear the cloths so I am going to wear what I deem to be appropriate to the situation... since he doesn't have much of a fashion sense, i'm usually the one picking out his cloths too lol

ShaTTeredMasterpeace · Answer

I dress for ME. In a relationship or not, it's about my comfort. Now will I be open to suggestions? Sure.

ItsMeElliana · Answer

I'd love to wear something that pleases my S. O, and is appropriate enough for me to be comfortable in it

AdithyaR · Answer

I've never had an SO but I'd dress according to the event. I'd ask my SO how I'd be expected to dress and I'd do that, with maybe a touch of my own style cause I need a bit of myself in it.

pleasestopthis · Answer

Somewhere in the middle. I'd pick something I like but also ask for his opinion on my outfit, the idea is to wear something that looks good and that doesn't reflect badly on my partner.

Andres77 · Answer

I'll dress to compliment my wife. It's her professional event so I'd dress in a way to make her look good, to be supportive. She'd do the same for me.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

I dress to impress so my girl feels like she has a trophy boyfriend

TwinkleLily5 · Answer

Yourself but be respectful of your significant other, like not dressing to provocative

luvstoned4him · Answer

I voted C but usually I dress appropriate and for occasions so my dressing shouldn't be a problem

RedStiletto88 · Answer

How I dress reflects both of us so I keep that in mind with what I wear.

amyisme · Answer

It's a important event for him I want him it be happy and inpressed

slatyb · Answer

I'm happy to wear whatever my wife prefers. She dresses for me all the time.

Citizenkirk · Answer

I would want my SO too feel comfortable inviting me too thier event 😉.

Massageman · Answer

I will generally dress to fit the situation, which is typically at least as "formal" as my wife will be dressing.

Ninania · Answer

I dress for me. If he likes it too, that's definitely a bonus.

Likes2drive · Answer

I try to make them happy but I don’t want to look or feel uncomfortable either so hopefully it’s something we both are comfortable with

douride2 · Answer

I always dress for comfort & to please myself. I always dress appropriate for the event though.

Loveisgirthy · Answer

Please both when possible. But I'd go more for pleasing her if she also did the same for me.

JohnQue74 · Answer

I usually dress better than my SO. I try a little to get her to occasionally wear something other than jeans and t-shirts.

cookiecrusher · Answer

As a man 100% for yourself. But a man also knows when to be classy.

FreyaRed · Answer

My clothes, my body, my business.

Mediterraneansoul · Answer

Everyone who says they dress for themselves is a liar lol

Michael82 · Answer

I'm just looking for a girl friend to teach me on how to dress in that kind of scenario

tsper · Answer

Find a happy median. ALWAYS DRESS FOR YOURSELF but with consideration for your SO as well

AviatorTom · Answer

I chose A. It's always a good idea to please the SO and keep her happy.

FiguringItOutGirl · Answer

I dress to make my SO look good.

BCRanger10 · Answer

Neither. I dress appropriately for the event.

Phoenix98 · Answer

I would dress appropriately for the event.

Uptowngirl88 · Answer

No, I dress to please myself

Iron_Man · Answer

I’ll go in a pair of overalls 👍 lol

Anonymous · Answer

I'd try to make both her and me happy

SecretGardenBlood65 · Answer

I came to read the comments.

Guido · Answer

I dress to the higher end for the event.

more_than_a_guy · Answer

For respecting us both

If you are preparing to go to an event to which your SO was invited, do you dress to please your SO or yourself?

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