After more than a year of not writing something, I’m going to try my attempt to take advice from my vast blogroll and apply it to how I should act as a husband or father.
In this case, a post from the Art of Manliness about First Dates (http://artofmanliness.com/2011/05/24/what-to-wear-on-a-first-date/). As any married man will tell you, keeping with the flair of youth adds to the spice of age. First up, dress. Specifically, why should I keep the slacks and dress shoes for the wife after a long day at the office, even to just Olive Garden.
- Physical attraction matters – Simply put, women care about appearances and are drawn to healthy, attractive looking men. We can’t just win and drag her along to “this is the way I am”. I have received the MOST compliments from the wife on how I SEXY I look when 1) I’m in the dark, and more importantly, 2) when I have my “business clothes” on.  Light shirt, dark pants, and good shoes.
- Dressing sharp for another shows respect – I have heard the words of the wife when I have changed into a t-shirt and shorts for a dinner from dress shirt and slacks. I don’t think of her, I’m thinking only of me. I think this is probably the single most affront women take from their husbands lack of class, which in this case, is catering to your wife. Simply put, women’s confidence is RAISED when she is seen with her sharp-dressed man, in public, anddrastically lowered when it’s a tee, flip flops and shorts, not matter how they look.
- Dressing well indicates you have social skills as it makes socializing easier. –Think about it, if you’re at a strange place, are you more apt to approach a slouch or a well-dressed man for a conversation? Along with the next item, people decide what they will or WILL NOT do (i.e., talk, share something personal) within a few seconds of looking at someone. Those that look like they can carry themselves, usually size up to “can also carry a good conversation.” You’ll never know who you will meet.
- Dressing sharp puts you in the right state of mind –
This is true of work, sports, or doing things with wives. Your demeanor changes in a suit. With a tie, with dress shoes. You disarm others to speak with you. You’re accomplished. You’re “the guy”. All these things are tied to feelings for the well dressed. You feel as good as you look, and respond with a different purpose when engaged. - It brings your face into focus – Wearing the right clothing keeps your wife’s attention on your face (light colored shirts). She may not realize it, but she will remember why she was attracted to you in the first place. The rest of your presentation just guides her to the why.
- The right clothing can exaggerate healthy masculine traits – Jackets hide the gut, or the alfredo stain. Ties present a geometric line away from the flabby neck. Solid dark colors hide love handles.  Pressed shirts accentuate lines away from the not-so-young features. Women are subconsciously attracted to things that show “this is a healthy man”. Keep her looking at YOU.
- Your wife is watching others size you up. When your wife goes out with you off to the public, it’s a equivalent of “this fine, good looking one is MINE” banner with flashing lights and Michael Bolton blaring in the background. Dress like it. While she may not admit it, she puts a little change in your bank for you when your stylishness and handsomeness are noticed. In that same vein, others’ attention being drawn to you is also being drawn to HER.  And every woman in the world wants to be noticed.
I hope you enjoyed my take on this. I falter in this so frequently, that when I try this, my wife is so pleasantly surprised, that it’s a win.  I tried to add with my own ideas and theories.
Oh, and if you don’t already do this, DRY CLEAN your pants and shirts. I have my cleaned medium-starch my shirts and light-starch my Dockers/slacks. They will not wear near as bad, and a starched, pressed shirt looks SHARP.