What do you think is the best way for a 27-year-old single male to dress every day in order to get a woman’s attention?— Jason, Manhattan
First, get yourself a subscription to GQ! It’ll give you great pointers on the different trends and tell you where to buy hot items that won’t break your bank account in the process. Mostly, though, you need to master the art of dressed-down-dressy. By this I mean looking put together without trying too hard. Invest in a few great pairs of jeans. Get dark, because they go with everything. Also, get a few button-down dress shirts for after-work drinks or dates. I’d also invest in two great pairs of semi-dress shoes (brown and black) along with matching belts.
As far as designers or stores, try Brooks Brothers, Pink, Banana Republic, Gap and even H&M. The trick is to find the brand (and style) that looks most flattering on your body type. You don’t want it too baggy, so also look into finding a great seamstress just in case you need to take items in. (Trust me: That extra care will give your outfits the final tailored look that you should be aiming for.)
Oh, don’t forget to tuck in your shirt! And don’t even think about having it unbuttoned halfway down your chest. One to two buttons undone — depending on the shirt — is enough. Lastly, don’t forget to smile. That looks good on everyone.
A couple of years ago, I helped my parents purchase their first home. Due to the recent slump in the economy, however, they haven’t been able to keep up with the mortgage payments, so I decided to move back in to help. I’ve explained this situation to a number of single women I’ve dated, but many were turned off by the idea of a single guy in his early 30s living at home with his parents. I want to continue helping my parents live comfortably, but at the same time it’s hampering my social life. What’s a good way to approach this situation?
— Victor
The girls who are turned off are only after one thing: money. The reason I say this is because you won’t be living with your parents, helping them out forever, right? Those aren’t the girls you want to date. You want someone who will stick it out with you and understand that the situation is temporary — and honorable! In fact, you should be proud.
Regardless, it’s putting a damper on your social (and therefore sex) life, so we need to figure out how to work around the situation. I suggest putting the facts out there up front. After meeting someone, come flat out and say, “Look, because of the economy my parents were going to lose their house. Rather than allow that to happen, I moved in with them so I could help them pay their mortgage. If this is a problem for you, I’d rather know now then beat around the bush and waste both of our time.” If I were the girl, I’d think you have strong family values and even find something sexy about your selflessness! But if she’s not into it, onto the next. You shouldn’t change what you believe in for anyone.
If you find someone who does understand and is willing to ride it out with you, send your parents to dinner and a movie on a night you’d like to “entertain at home.” It’ll buy you a few hours of alone time to enjoy each other’s company in your own space.
Have a question? E-mail AshleyDupre@nypost.com and follow her on Twitter at @ashleydupre.