Believe it or not, I literally transformed a small portion of my fiercely feminine retail store into an actual “man cave”, complete with TV, magazines, drinks and oversized recliners. Guys could kick back and relax while their ladies shopped at a much more leisurely (and beneficial!) pace. Not only has this unorthodox combination resulted in considerable local attention and proved highly beneficial for sales; it’s also provided me with eye-opening revelations and influenced my own interactions with the opposite sex — forever.
Lesson 1: To them, the ‘latest trends’ are generally less than appealing
When it comes to trends, if we see celebrities wearing them, we’re typically already sold, so when we ask “how does this look?” we aren’t asking for your input on the style itself.I’m not quite sure what it is, but for some reason the top seasonal trends that really resonate with women, are often outright reviled by men.
Case in point: Last spring and summer, crochet lace shorts were all the rage – I could not keep these things in stock! If you’re not familiar with this product because your significant other somehow wasn’t among the masses who managed to snag a pair somewhere, let me explain. They predominantly came in ivory and the most popular style consisted of a super-wide elasticized waist band with 3-4 tiers of horizontally cascading lace all the way around. Women wanted them, and men adamantly admonished them. So much so, in fact, that they became affectionately known in our store as ‘curtain shorts’ thanks to some creative labeling.
My advice to men: When it comes to trends, if we see celebrities wearing them, we’re typically already sold, so when we ask “how does this look?” we aren’t asking for your input on the style itself. Instead of providing your opinion on the article, focus instead on how it looks on her body (shouldn’t be hard to do!). Is it flattering from a figure perspective? Let her know how it looks on her, as opposed to how it just looks (particularly if happens to rather robustly resemble those gaudy curtains you recall from your grandmother’s kitchen).
