Have you ever had a boyfriend who tries to tell you what you can and can’t wear? You’re not alone! It’s a common issue many girls face in relationships.
Your guy might freak out if your outfit shows some skin or doesn’t meet his standards. He may claim it’s because he cares about and wants to protect you. However, his controlling behavior can feel annoying and invasive.
No man should make you feel bad for wanting to wear something that makes you feel confident and beautiful! But with compromise on both sides, you can often resolve the “my boyfriend is telling me what to wear” issue.
This article will show why this happens and how to handle it. I’ll give you tips whether you like his input or find it frustrating. The key is setting boundaries so you feel empowered in what you wear while understanding where he’s coming from.
Keep reading for insight into his behavior and how to get him to let you rock your style!
Reasons Why Boyfriends Control Clothes
Boyfriends can be bossy about what their girlfriends wear for so many reasons. The need to control your clothes could come from caring about you but often has roots in his own insecurities.
Let’s explore some of the key reasons behind this common relationship issue.
1. Insecurity – He worries you’ll attract other guys or leave him
Pure insecurity is the number one reason a man tries to restrict your clothes. He frets that other guys will drool over you if you show some skin. Deep down, your dude worries he’ll lose you to someone else.
His controlling behavior comes from fear you’ll dump him for a new man if you attract attention from the opposite sex. The world of online dating makes finding a new partner seem easy. Thus, your insecure boyfriend wants you to cover up and tone down your sex appeal.
2. Overprotectiveness – He thinks clothes are too revealing
Your guy may also play the overprotectiveness card. He argues that your short skirts or low-cut shirts are too revealing.
In his mind, he is just protecting you from creeps by limiting your sexy style. He thinks it’s for your safety to dress more modestly. This usually comes from a good place but can get overbearing fast.
3. He feels you don’t meet his standards of class and style
Your boyfriend may diss your clothes because he thinks they’re too casual, loud, or low-class for his taste. He wants a partner who dresses elegantly and expensively to impress his crowd.
This gap in style standards may be a sore spot if you have different backgrounds. He feels embarrassed if you wear ripped jeans around his preppy friends.
4. He loves you and cares about your image
Your boyfriend may think limiting your sexy style protects your reputation. While sweet, this level of care can go overboard. You still need the freedom to wear clothes that you like.
5. He wants to dominate and control you
Far less healthy is when your boyfriend’s wardrobe patrol comes from a need to dominate. Controlling guys are on a power trip about every aspect of your life. This toxic behavior stems from deep issues like childhood or evil influences.
6. He wants a partner, not eye candy
Your man’s urge to control your appearance may come from seeing you as a long-term partner material. He worries you’ll attract unwanted male attention.
He knows women sometimes dress to impress others. However, your man cares about your self-image as a person beyond just eye candy.
So he’d rather you tone down the sex appeal in public. In a way, it’s a compliment about valuing your inner beauty. But he still needs to let you wear what you want.
7. He thinks you have poor fashion sense
Sometimes, a guy thinks your fashion sense is the pits. If you love quirky clothes, but your boyfriend doesn’t like your style, he may try to control your outfits.
He might mean well to improve your look. But unsolicited fashion advice can hurt your confidence. The right to wear what you want is yours alone.
8. Your clothes make him desire you too much
Certain outfits make you irresistible to your man. When you dress super sexy, he struggles to keep his hands off you!
While flattering, his physical reaction makes your guy anxious. He worries that your alluring clothes will attract the wrong attention, so he asks you to wear more conservatively.
9. He comes from conservative background
If your boyfriend was raised conservatively, he might shudder at clothes showing skin. His family instilled the mindset that revealing outfits is wrong.
He can’t help cringing if you wear short skirts or bare your midriff. This cultural gap is a red flag unless he can broaden his views.
What You Can Do If Your Boyfriend Controls Your Clothes
Does your boyfriend try to boss you around about what you wear? Do you obediently listen to his opinions on your outfits or stand up against his controlling behavior?
How you respond depends on your true feelings about his fashion advice!
If you like what he does:
If your boyfriend controlling your clothes doesn’t bother you, there are ways to oblige his preferences happily:
- Give him the power to dictate your wardrobe and trust his fashion advice. Ignore friends who protest his influence.
- Learn about his style and tastes so you can wear what he always wants.
- Pick outfits you know he’ll look good in when going out together. Send him pre-date photos so he can preview your look.
- Shop together and note what clothes he admires on you. Surprise him by buying those exact items.
If you don’t like what he does:
But if his opinions about your outfits drive you nuts, don’t feel forced to obey his fashion orders:
- Kindly tell your man you want him to be more supportive of your style.
- Explain you need space to wear clothes that you like without his critiques.
- Ignore his demands about “inappropriate” clothes that reveal your best assets.
- If he expects you to dress differently, insist he buy you a whole new wardrobe.
- Compromise by only abiding by his control over your clothes when going out together
Final Thoughts
When a boyfriend tries to tell you what to wear, it often comes from a mix of caring and control. He may think certain items are too revealing or don’t match his taste. But his opinions shouldn’t dictate the clothes you wear.
Finding a compromise so you feel confident while he assures you’ll dress appropriately. Explain you need autonomy over your clothes to wear. With trust and understanding, you can resolve this issue.
Set boundaries about unsolicited fashion advice. But also listen to his concerns and avoid certain clothes in high-risk situations. You can wear what you want by giving each other space while keeping your man happy!
