You are working hard to keep yourself looking fab! You are dressing stylish and appropriately, you are keeping your hair and makeup modern. Of course, you dress your kids in the cutest clothes you can find and while, on occasion, they run around with a messy coif, they always look like the most stylish kids on the 
block. Now, what about your man? You know, that sweetheart of a guy that dresses, shall we say, like a geek? Or a jock? or a slob? Yeah, him. It’s time to makeover your man!
Happy Housewives Club is hosting a Hot Hubby Makeover Challenge!
Show us his gorgeous transformation and one lucky hubby will win an indoor putting green! Not a clue how to make him over? Follow these tips! Let’s get busy!
First things first- there are some ground rules to making over someone. There are even more rules when we are talking about making over a man! Listen up!
1. He has to think it is his idea.
2. The expectation can’t be so high that he won’t keep it up! He’s not going to look like that gorgeous model in GQ everyday no matter how hard you try! (Just like you are not going to look like the cover girl on Victoria’s Secret…)
3. The new style needs to fit his personality
4. Determine your motivation for the makeover. Is it a selfish reason or are you really looking out for him? Do you want to help him score a major job 
promotion by going to the interview looking really great? Do you want him to feel good about himself? The purer the motivation, the better the results.
5. Convince him (remember, it has to be his idea) that a new hair cut would prove beneficial to his overall look. Products should be considered and tried- they are not just for “girls”. Look to celebrities for style inspiration.
6. Don’t ask for a whole new look when really all you want is neat and clean. Maybe just better hygiene or a haircut will do the trick.
7. Evaluate his wardrobe. Throw out any excessively worn, stained or ill-fitting items. Do this together so you don’t get reminded for years that you threw out his favorite team tee.
8. Don’t forget the basics: underwear, socks and undershirts. These need to be replaced with clean, fitted styles.
9. Help him determine his true size. Often men will wear their shirts too large which makes them appear larger than they are.
10. Let him keep his team hat to wear on weekends. It is after all, an extension of his head.
11. You need to continue giving him a healthy dose of compliments after the makeover. This is very important for his ego. Get everyone you know to compliment him on how great he looks.
Here are four classic examples of a man’s style and how to make it over:
The Jock
What He Wears: Tennis shoes wherever he goes. Majority of the time he is seen wearing workout pants and logo tees. His head permanently has a hat attached.
The Fix: If you ask him why he sports the look he does, he’ll tell you comfort. He’s an active man, whether it is shootin’ hoops or clickin’ the remote and he needs to be comfortable. Keep this very important factor in mind when selecting a new look for The Jock. You’ll want to buy him some key pieces and help him select a hair cut that will be easy for him to maintain (teach him the power of gel) so he won’t want to cover his hair all the time!
What to Buy:
Replace old logo tees with new high quality t-shirts. Look for basic colors to be use
d for layering. Encourage him to branch out from the black, gray and white tees. Allow him to replace a couple of his logo tees with unstained new ones in the appropriate sizes.
Purchase casual pants to replace the workout pants. Try cargo, khaki, or denim. Keep the fabric lightweight so it has the same feel as the workout pants and he shouldn’t have too many complaints! Compliment his butt and he’ll be hooked!
Purchase leather sneaker in dark brown to replace the traditional cross trainers he wears all the time.
The Geek
What He Wears: pants slightly too short, button down shirts buttoned all the way up, black socks and old man shoes. He’s just clueless and doesn’t care. Find out WHY he doesn’t care. Maybe he just doesn’t know what looks good and it sounds too scary to learn so help him solve that problem with information that will make it easy for him to get dressed each day (ie: what a good fitting pant is).
The Fix: UPDATE! This man needs some modern day clothes. He probably has not shopped for himself in years! Buy him some cotton, not polyester. Measure his inseam and waist before shopping or take him to a store that can help you with that. His hair style should be intentionally messy so it’s easy for him to maintain.
What to Buy: 
- Replace outdated button up shirts with cotton, casual ones. Look for shirts with great detail like diagonal stripes for a fresh look. Teach him how to layer it over a tee for a really cool look. He’ll be covered and looking good!
- Buy pants that are the right length. Jeans should be straight leg in a modern dark wash.
- Buy this man some stylish loafers for comfort and ease of slipping on.
The Surfer Dude
What He Wears: Much like The Jock, this guy is very casual. He however takes the casual to the next level wearing the majority of his clothes mismatched, baggy and shoes are most often flip-flops. His hair is messy and you are sure to find him sporting an odd pair of sunglasses. Surfer Dude is a huge fan of tees with sayings, most of which are not as funny as he thinks they are.
The Fix: Teach this dude a thing or two about mixing patterns and how to look like a free spirit without looking like a bum on the street. A good hair cut will go a long way in cleaning up this guy just make sure it is on the mid to long length. A style with a shag cut will allow him to still feel like himself!
What to Buy:
- Modern tees with graphics detail to replace the tees with sayings, polo shirts, with pockets- to layer over tees and sweaters with stripes or interesting texture. It’s easier to wear a variety of textures than it is to wear a variety of patterns.
- Long Shorts in khaki or plaid. This free spirit needs color and pattern to express himself so teach him that a great pair of madras plaid shorts looks hot with a tee and polo layered on!
- Find some canvas tennis shoes and leather flip flops to complete his outfit and replace the rubber ones he currently sports.
The Traditionalist
What He Wears: Khaki and button down shirts, day in and day out. He typically wears loafers with it and may throw on a crew neck sweater on chilly days. His hair is often a
very classic barber shop cut.
The Fix: Khaki is good but not everyday. Let’s add some color into the mix and just for fun, how about some denim? Look for button down shirts that are a little less classic in either print or fabric. Discuss with him hair options like a retro look or go even shorter with a short spiky cut.
What to Buy:
- Dark denim trouser jeans. This style has the fit of a classic khaki but is far more hip and modern. When selecting more casual pants, avoid more khaki. Instead look for navy, black or olive. Corduroy is a great alternative as is cargo like the picture at right. Buy flat front for the most sleek look (pleats add bulk and are dated).
Button up shirts with patterns and color unlike what he currently owns. Polo shirts and henleys are good options. With The Traditionalist you aren’t going to get him to wear cool rock tees but you might get him to wear a green button up. Baby steps…- Since loafers are his shoe of choice, help him make the switch to something a bit more fun like a boot or oxford.
A Word About Grooming: Encourage your man to comb his hair, brush his teeth, use skin care on his face (see previous post for skin care tips for men) and wear cologne. Mmmm, a freshly groomed man is just so yummy! If your guy is Mr. Hairy, suggest grooming the brows, nose and ear hair. A nail scissors works well for this.
Remember, the key to a Great Makeover is not to completely change who a person is but to enhance who he naturally is. Find the EMOTION behind his choices in dressing and take the components that he loves (fun or comfort) and show him how to create a better look for himself but still get the same “feel”. Get going: go shopping, start him on a great skin care regimen and get his hair cut then snap some pictures and send them in! Good Luck!
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