that's what i men-t

so we all know that men and ladies are fundamentally different but exactly how do they differ when it comes to fashion and shopping? well, i thought it would be nice to look at the degree of difference before we go into the whole routine of do's and don't in the week to come.

image from foxy lady

taken from a paper by susan o'bryne:

much larger percentage of women have placed greater emphasis on what they wear as an expression of who they are, than men. the vast majority of men with whom i have worked and observed wear some variation of the professional ‘uniform’ – suits, shirts and ties – while women are a much more varied bunch, with a significant number more likely to wear ‘statement’ clothing as part of their expression of self. men may experiment at some level with their dress but in my experience it tends to be low key and not designed to distract from their work skills. 

Hollywood couples: note the difference in fashion

women’s statement clothing is more likely to be designed to make another person notice the clothes and/or the body first. this type of clothing can be designed: to stand out from a sea of grey-suited men with a splash of vibrant colour; to reinforce a sense of individuality; to showcase a figure; or to indicate that the wearer is up to date with the latest fashions. like a peacock, this show of feathers can be an overwhelming and distracting part of the first impression formed in a professional situation, particularly in the world of communications and public relations, where understanding the impact of visual image is an element of the job. It can also make gender a far more prominent part of the first impression.

from another study by pisey chea:

shopping is considered as female activity. to keep a sense of masculinity, some men avoid go shopping. the difference view of shopping between women and men construct the different shopping behaviors. men’s shopping is driven by the need. women’s shopping is motivated by reasons of enjoyment and relaxation. there is clear preference between women and men in shopping. women like going shopping for fashions cosmetics, clothes and accessories, while men like going shopping for electronic and high-tech devices. 

men shopping: a rare sight?

thus, women spend more time than men in shopping. however, men tend to spend more money in shopping than women in the context of comparable activities. men’s shopping activities can happen when the existence of need is established. men think that window-shopping and browsing is a waste of time. although men concern with price; however, they would rather give more value to time than money. instead of spending time visiting many retailers and comparing price and products, men prefer to pay higher price to keep shopping time to a minimum time.

Men versus Women

so now you know how men are wired!

fash'on... BAM!