SINGAPORE: A local man has triggered a heated online debate after questioning why some men in Singapore put so little effort into how they dress when going out with their girlfriends or wives.
In a post on r/asksg, the man said that as a fellow guy, he finds the trend hard to understand. He shared that he has lost count of how often he has seen couples on dates where the woman looks neat and well put together in a nice blouse, skirt or dress with her hair done, while the man next to her wears slippers, shorts and a faded oversized T-shirt with a stretched collar, as if he had just gone downstairs “to buy cai png.”
He said he feels sorry for the partners because they clearly tried to look presentable while the men looked like “they could not be bothered.”
“I'm not saying you need to wear a shirt, trousers, and leather shoes every time you go out. There's nothing wrong with shorts and sandals either, but there's a difference between dressing casually and looking sloppy.”
Seeking perspectives on this matter, he asked, “Guys, do you even bother making an effort for your partner anymore? Or once you're attached/married, you simply stop caring? And ladies, this doesn't bother you, or am I making a big deal out of nothing?”
‘Are you that superficial?’
The post undeniably caught the attention of fellow Singaporeans, who were quick to weigh in. Several of them admitted they found the sight equally irritating.
One wrote, “I always thought it's basic etiquette and respect to match your partner in their attire. Casual? Casual. Formal? Formal. For the life of me, I can never figure out why men (usually, but I have unfortunately also met women like this) tend to undress with their partner. Like, bro, respect your girl a bit.”
Another said, “As a man... agreed. Singaporean men dress [badly]. I’ve got a colleague come to work with his clothes all kiam chai. Like 5000 wrinkles.”
A third commented, “Nah, definitely not just you. They're literally like Beauty and the Beast. It's like for guys, ‘I don't need to impress anyone.’”
Others, however, felt the original poster was making a fuss over something that was none of his concern.
One asked him, “Why not? Who really cares? Are you that superficial?”
Another shared, “My wife and I simply don’t care; we dress sloppily wherever we go unless it's a really special day like an anniversary or the restaurant requires proper attire. Everywhere we go, I wear a dry fit, NS admin shorts, and slippers, and then she'll just wear a dry fit/casual t-shirt, long baggy pants, and slippers.”
A third added, “I dress up for myself. I don’t care how my partner wants to present himself.”
Read related: ‘He wants to go Dutch but expects me to doll up’: Singapore woman questions dating double standards
In other news, a domestic helper has appealed for advice online after claiming that her perfectionist employer refused to let her transfer to another household, despite her struggles to cope with the demanding working conditions.
In a post shared on Thursday (Oct 14) in the Facebook group SINGAPORE TRANSFER (No Fees/SD), DIRECT HIRE & NEW HELPER, the helper said she could no longer work for her employer because “the system in the house is very difficult” for her.