Love + Sex

Sunday, November 8, 2009

My 4 Visual Deal Breakers

Nosferatu

http://vcotidiana.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html

A few weeks back I had a great time working on an upcoming "Man in the Street" feature for Marie Claire. We asked women what makes a guy dating material, and the most common answer was: someone who has it together, and has goals/ambitions.

"Having it together" goes beyond the mental aspect. I've realized that women can take one look at me and size me up as someone who doesn't have it together, and may have no ambition. My disheveled appearance could stand some adjustments. Here are some elements that I should work on to look more "together":

My Posture

I walk around as if I'm auditioning for the lead role in a Nosferatu remake. My shoulders are rolled forward, and I'm hunched over. I can't tell whether I'm tired, too relaxed or what. But there's one thing I do know, women like tall guys. I'm cheating myself with my bad posture. If I stand up straight, I'm 5'11" (well, 5'10 and .99999999 inches); nothing to write home about, but it is over the average for the American male (5'9"). I should take advantage of anything above average about me. Standing up straight will also make me look more confident.

Holes

You've read about my moth holes in my clothes, but there are other places where holes pop up...

Great Depression

http://raford.wordpress.com/2008/09/

Assuming that women don't notice my shoes is na ve, considering their love of all things shoe-related. I get everything I can out of a pair of sneakers. Plus, I'm too lazy to go out and buy new ones. My current sneakers are literally wearing away to nothingness. I could act as a visual aid for one of those old guys telling stories about the Great Depression: "in my day we used cardboard boxes for shoes." My friend Margaret, the other day, stuck her finger into the bottom of my shoe and struck foot! She declared that my porous shoes were responsible for my bad luck with the ladies. If only it were that simple...

Hair

This "hair" refers to cat hair. You know you're in trouble when someone takes a look at you and asks: "do you have a cat?" I'm always running late, so I don't have time to apply the lint roller before I leave my apartment. Cat hair has a mind of its own and silently floats around and attaches itself to important spots on clothing.

Fingernails

I chew my fingernails to the hilt. In addition to being a dirty habit, it makes my hands look terrible. My fingernails are so low that people sometimes cringe when they look at them and ask me how bad it hurts. We all know I'm an anxious person, but wearing that anxiety on the outside in the form of jagged/bleeding fingernails is not going to attract many women. I've been trying to kick the habit for a while, and when I do maybe I'll look like I have my life together more...or at least I'll look like I'm not eternally nervous.

It never occurred to me that women might see me and think I don't care how I look, and then make the connection to me not caring how my apartment looks, and not caring about my life-goals/aspirations. I've let my apathetic attitude permeate my appearance, and that's not good.

Things are going to change. The other day, Margaret forced me to buy a wallet. So, I'm no longer walking around with random cards in my pockets and forgetting/misplacing certain cards (like that easy-to-fake paper social security card that is impossible to replace). The wallet is a symbol for me pulling it together. All of my cards, once allowed to roam free, expanding away from me like a little universe, are now neatly organized in one place. As Margaret says: "No girl likes it when a guy buys them a drink with a balled up wad of bills."

Would you ever consider a guy who has holes in his shoes, or cat hair on his person? What's the most important thing on my list I need to work on? Do women make the connection between a guy's appearance and other parts of his life like apartment, aspiration, and having his life together? Are any of these things on my list deal breakers for you?


Posted by Rich


Related from Marie Claire:

How to Spot Your Soul Mate
Diary of a Hook Up From heck
5 Ways You're Sabotaging Your Relationship
50 Cheap Date Ideas
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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 37
  • None's Avatar
    Posted by None Mon Jul 6, 2009 10:16am PDT

    Hey don't stress, I chew my nails too, get this, sausage fingers and no nails to make them appear longer, bad i know, bad habit from years!

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  • None's Avatar
    Posted by None Mon Jul 6, 2009 10:17am PDT

    Appearance isn't everything, there are tons of millionaires here who dress like bums and drive a junker, yet they are wallowing in green.

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  • freedom's Avatar
    Posted by freedom Mon Jul 6, 2009 12:28pm PDT

    Ummm YES you should work on all of them now!! Apperance isnt everything but it does say alot about you are. Sorry to say but the quirks you described above would be a turn off to some women. Congrats on getting a wallet because your friend is right No girl and i mean no girl likes it when a guy buys them a drink with a balled up wad of bills. Only bums and little children keep there money all balled up. Good Luck!!

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  • freedom's Avatar
    Posted by freedom Mon Jul 6, 2009 12:33pm PDT

    Ummm YES you should work on all of them now!! Apperance isnt everything but it does say alot about you are. Sorry to say but the quirks you described above would be a turn off to some women. Congrats on getting a wallet because your friend is right No girl and i mean no girl likes it when a guy buys them a drink with a balled up wad of bills. Only bums and little children keep there money all balled up. Good Luck!!

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  • KittyKat's Avatar
    Posted by KittyKat Mon Jul 6, 2009 6:07pm PDT

    I dont know why you are so hard on yourself. You act like there is no girl on this earth for you when there may be if you quit being so hard on yourself. So what. My boyfriend chews his fingernails down past the quick spot and I often tell him does that hurt cuz it looks like it might but I dont think it makes his fingers look ugly and he probably has the worlds shortest and smallest toe nails. His hats have plenty of holes in them. Appearence isnt everything cuz if a girl is totally into appearence than she is a very shallow woman.

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  • ginny's Avatar
    Posted by ginny Mon Jul 6, 2009 9:42pm PDT

    i agree to the last comment. stand stright and proud walk with confidence,women will notice.doesn't matter if you moneys balled up( you make money)or if You have cat hair (unless allergic),it could show your a lover of animals.CONFIDENCE is very attractive to women. So stand as tall as you are you will always look taller. Lot's of guys chew or rip their nails to the quick. nails are not a deal breaker insecure is

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  • Marie's Avatar
    Posted by Marie Tue Jul 7, 2009 12:13am PDT

    Do'nt worry, a few little quirks can be charming in a man and make women more relaxed in his precence. If a man is too perfect in his appearance I worry that he is a neurotic or that he will judge my own little quirks to hard.

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  • Rae's Avatar
    Posted by Rae Tue Jul 7, 2009 12:42am PDT

    Hehe,I think all you need to do is let your lady friend hold the cards and bills (one that you TRUST) and get a good set of clippers a nail file and a platinum worry ring to twist when you are nervous and as far as the holes go remember that ted bundy, and jeffery dhamer(sp?) and adolph hitler and countless others who looked like they have it together went out of thier minds BUT Einstein couldnt get a decent haircut, brilliant people have forgotten thier pants or to tie thier shoes or cant eat or sleep right, so if your friends suggest it is time to make a few changes then listen, but dont forget to still be you from time to time. I personally love stephen hawking but any effort to impress the girls is appreciated because the secret is that nobody really has the reins. :D

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  • chet's Avatar
    Posted by chet Tue Jul 7, 2009 3:23am PDT

    First impressions do really apply for women who want to find a guy they want to date... It doesn't mean that a guy should be really neat. Be smart and presentable. Some men are fashion conscious...

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  • chet's Avatar
    Posted by chet Tue Jul 7, 2009 3:53am PDT

    First impressions do really apply for women who want to find a guy they want to date... It doesn't mean that a guy should be really neat. Be smart and presentable. Some men are fashion conscious...

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Comments 1-10 of 37

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