Replace ‘Husband’ with the appropriate word for your situation – still I want to know do you shop and buy clothes for yours?
Within three months it is my birthday, our wedding anniversary and Mr PS’s birthday. Of course my birthday is always something I look forward to, but I am beginning to dread the other two events. Don’t get me wrong I love a good celebration – but my Husband has become such a great gift/card giver over the years that I am under immense pressure to step up my game.
You see Mr. PS is quite difficult to buy for. He has very few clothes in comparison to me – well that’s the case for most men isn’t it? So I always think it would be a great idea to track down some fabulous items for him to diversify his wardrobe a little – there are so many gorgeous men’s items to choose from. But it’s not quite as simple as that.
Mr. PS has VERY SPECIFIC styling requirements. He is in my eyes one of the new metrosexuals. He doesn’t even glance at high street brands. He wears Hermés aftershave, Diesel boxers, Nudie jeans, and Gucci loafers, though he did buy a couple of JCrew t-shirts this year much to my relief. For the recent wedding he attended he surprised me by wearing a Zara suit, though he spent more on the Hermés tie he bought to wear with it. He knows more about brands, especially classic and upscale brands than I do, and his mantra is always ‘quality over quantity’. Even when he was a student he loved unique, original shirts that he bought from Cheltenham, from the guy who went on to create Superdry. He used to only wear red high top converse – red of course because the Byzantine Emperors wore red shoes – like you do. He loves a good investment piece – which is obviously beneficial for me come birthday and Christmas, but it makes it a nightmare for me when I start thinking about gifts for him.
I still cringe over the plaid TopMan shirt I once bought him, or the brown birkenstocks that I packed lovingly for Christmas for him one year. After those two disasters I basically gave up buying clothes for him. But if you don’t get clothes what else do you buy a man whose passions are reading, watching football and travel? Okay so yes I could buy him a flight to Hong Kong, but I’m talking about stuff that still leaves me enough for the rest of my A/W wish list:) He does wear jewelry – and I will buy him a bigger diamond stud one year (my one and only success was a Tiffany stud I bought for him) – but I keep telling him that he is no NFL player so it can’t be too big. He loves his David Yurman beaded bracelets that I have bought for him – but I can’t just keep buying them in every color, can I?
So this year I asked him for some direction to help me with brands. Have you ever had a list like this from your man? I swear I have not made this up – I can forward the email he sent for proof.
Knitwear – YSL/Marni
Blazers (cotton) – Lanvin/Boglioli/Rag&Bone
Blazers (wool) – Gucci/Lanvin
Boots – Gucci
Loafers – Gucci
Brogues etc. – John Lobb
Slippers – John Lobb/Bally
Shirts – Budd & Co/Turnbull&Asser/Charvet/Sid Mashburn
Pants – Kolor/Marni/Lanvin
Sweatshirt/t-shirts – Nudie/James Perse
Ties (really?) – Drakes/Hermes/Charvet
Socks – Paul Smith (stripes)/Corgi
Polos – Sid Mashburn/Billy Reid/Sunspel/James Perse
Sneakers – Lanvin/YSl
Urban walking boots – Diemme (Roccio Vet)
Scarves – Etro/Lanvin/Hermes
Belt – Prada
Collar stays/collar bones – TM Lewin (mother-of-pearl)
Card case – Commes des Garcons (Flurio)
Tote – Marni
Mac/coat – Macintosh/Barbour/Aspesi
And obviously anything by Balmain.
dx
———————————————
So at least I have some help now! But ‘collar stays/collar bones’ – WTF – he never wears shirts! And ‘tote’? Don’t even ask – I know what you are thinking. Would your man ever give you a list like this? I just need to sell a kidney now and open an account with MrPorter.com.
As for what I’m wearing – it’s been a wet, dreary weekend in Atlanta so it called for casual, comfortable clothes – with sleeves too! In August? Crazy!
Shoes – Adidas Gazelles // Jeans – Primark (old) // T-shirt – Gap (old) // Shirt – J.Crew (old) // Scarf – H&M (old)
Related articles
Poppy's Style 
Nope, Mr. Sadle is happy buying stuff at REI and Kohls. It makes it easy to shop for him.
My dp is as awkward to buy for but luckily his preferred brands arent quite so pricey. Hes an old mod at heart so fred perry etc but throw in some boss and armani and hes happy.
I think my husband is the complete opposite of yours – he wouldn’t know a label if it came up and bit him!! Quite happy in his jeans and t-shirts and when we head out somewhere special he requires me to not only buy the appropriate clothes but lay them out on the bed for him! I guess they are the two ends of the spectrum of male clothing behavior!!
Your husband has good taste :), those definitely say quality. I’ll say go get him one. I do like Bally and Marni for their simple style. I don’t think you can go wrong with that. My husband do not wear the same brands, but he does have an eye for quality. If the material, design and craftsmanship has quality, he’s good with it.
Good luck in your hunt.
Wow, that’s some list! I thought hubby’s passion for Gant was bad.
Count yourself lucky, my partner AND dad have similar lists! I have to save for a long time for Christmas!
Ouch – I couldn’t afford to keep your hubs. I’ll have to stick with my Grumps. He used to have a much higher shopping budget and then he took me on (bang went his dreams of the Porsche).
Hilarious! I loved this post; made me laugh! I wouldn’t DREAM of buying clothes for my OH. Anything I’ve bought in the past has always been returned .. even the jersey for his chosen rugby team, wasn’t quite right!! They really are difficult creatures to buy for, aren’t they?!
Well, my hubbie just wouldn’t have a list like that. His Levi’s, flannel shirts, and t-shirts are his staples. And, don’t ever think of getting him anything until it’s completely worn out — holes, rips, and what-not. He has briefcases, card cases, leather portfolios that are new, but that are patiently waiting for his others to turn to dust. Thank goodness he dresses for work, but if he didn’t ever have to see clients, he just might resort to his “weekend” wardrobe! Good luck with the list!
Pingback: Arm Candy | Poppy's Style
Sounds like a dude too concerned with trendy brand names rather than feel, fit and function. This from another guy that loves his style as well.
Personally, I’m always looking for value in clothing and I have a very simple motto; splurge on classics, go cheap on trends. My logic is simple. Classics can be worn for a long long time, so buy quality. Trends on the other hand might not go past this season, so why spend a lot of money on them? With that said, I don’t buy Gucci. It’s overpriced and trendy IMO. If i’m spending a pretty penny on shoes, it’s going to be for a pair of Allen Edmonds.They would run circles on anything Gucci has to offer and they are classic that you can wear forever and ever. For boots, Timberland and Wolverine make boots that are 1/4 the price of a pair of Gucci boots and my Timberland boots are still looking and feeling great after 8 years, so why spend more? As for the collar stays…..who gives a damn? I’ll buy those things at Walmart if they had them, because quite frankly………it’s a collar stay!! who is going to see them?
As for your outfit, you look great. I love the Gazelles. They look 10x better than those clunky Lanvin sneakers your husband wants.