The Better Half is a no-holds-barred question and answer session with Maria, the resident expert on all things from a woman’s point of view. Maria answers all types of questions related to men’s fashion, grooming, lifestyle, interests, and advice on maintaining the mantra: happy wife, happy life. Maria is a sassy, organized, and accomplished 20-something bibliophile with a Master’s degree who knows a thing or two about improving the lives of men.
If you have a burning question that you want answered, go ahead and ask Maria.
—
Q: “Grown men and digital watches- acceptable or not? If not, what’s the cutoff age for when someone is too old to wear a digital watch? If you, as a woman, saw a 30 year old with a digital watch, would you judge?”
– Ron G. from Sacramento
A: To answer your question bluntly: yes, I would judge you. From age 15 and onward, analog watches are almost always more acceptable than digital watches. There are a select few who can get away with wearing a digital watch on certain occasions. Rock climbers, hikers, runners, and deep sea divers (and so on and so forth) can go digital provided they are wearing the watch during physical activity. Most digital watches are more durable and have features such as timers, alarms, and GPS systems that analog watches don’t, which makes them appropriate for the active man no matter what age he is.
However, your daily wristwatch should never be digital. You’re an adult. You know how to tell time on a regular clock, and you don’t need all the bells and whistles of a digital watch in your day-to-day life. If you’re worried that analog watches look too formal, then take a look at the Timex Weekender watch. It has a classic, clean, masculine look that isn’t stuffy.
Q: “My skin care routine aggravates my girlfriend. I clean and wash my face daily, I exfoliate every 3 days, and once a month I go in for professional treatments. It all works, and my skin is really good. My girlfriend said that no guy should ever groom more often than she does. Who’s right here? Can a man excessively groom?”
– Matt B. from Brooklyn
A: It’s certainly possible for a man to excessively groom. It’s possible for anyone– man or woman- to spend too much time on their appearance. However, from what you’ve described, I don’t think you’re overdoing it. Most men think facial care consists of scrubbing their face with a bar of soap. While there is something to be said for simplicity, there are much better alternatives out there. A bar of soap usually won’t cut it for most men. If your routine works for you (and you aren’t obsessive about it), then just explain to your girlfriend that you want to look your best around her.
Obviously, it’s a problem if you’re staring at a mirror all day worrying about every little blemish. But to me, it sounds like your girlfriend just isn’t used to dating a guy who cares about his skin. She’ll most likely come around eventually when she realizes how good you look compared to everyone else.
XOXO
-Maria
