My wife laughed out loud last night when I read the thread to her.
A couple of weeks ago she was getting ready for a costume dinner based upon a Paris in the 20s theme. She had dug out four dresses my (then ) teenage daughter had for her part in a pageant. There were two in particular that stood out and she said she made her choice by the light in my eyes.
Best
Les

Just shove a Twix in your mouth. :p

Update/debriefing/discussion:

The take home message I am getting from feedback is the following:

When confronted with this scenario in the future- DO:
1.Look up from the computer.
2.(Not stated, but implied)- Look at the dress and make eye contact BEFORE answering.
3.Say "That looks GREAT honey"

DO NOT:
Say "Your arse looks big because your arse is big."

Fortunately, last night's dinner was great. It was a beer/food pairing and if there were any problems, the 9% ABV concentrations of the last two beers put an end to any concerns.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1473620645.jpg

As a final FWIW, I did have some success after my moment of hesitation to pull a comeback move. As she went in to change, I put on a 20 year old Sport Jacket that came from the era of "flashdance." I popped in, and enthusiastically asked her if it looked "Okay" and that I had other sport jackets if it wasn't any good.

She told me to "F#$ off". -so I think it worked. :D

Good save!

In future work on your "nano second peripheral glance pause" that's where you appear to still be focusing on whatever (computer, book, etc) but you're really assessing the situation (battlefield) with your peripheral vision giving you precious milliseconds to craft a reply before loss of head, testicles, or whatever is in the line of fire...

Thought you were supposed to look at her like you are judging the attire. Ask her to turn around. Tell her to stop when she is facing away from you. Smile real big and wait for her to turn around or look around on her own and see yon looking at her smiling real big. If she says anything, just say, "But you didn't let me finish?"

I am not married so maybe you can use my standard response for the women I spend most time with. When asked THE question I always respond with some variation of... eyes growing slightly wider followed by "day-um baby you're gonna make me fight our way outa the restaurant tonight!".

When my wife asks me my opinion on her dress, both work and play, she expects honesty. I respond in kind. Even though my dress code is Levis and polo shirts, I actually have a fashion sense she values.

She hasn't gained ten pounds in almost twenty-six years of marriage, looks better than the day we met and has never pushed back when I say, "not a good look for you".

I can't do passive aggressive. Don't ask if my opinion isn't valued.

You should have grabbed her by the waist, and spun her around professing your love for her. That way you don't have to answer !

Your first mistake was being on the computer. She would have preferred that you were hanging out with her while she got dressed, with a bottle of champagne in your hand to top off the glass in hers. Talking to her, not surfing the net. God help you if you were surfing something like Pelican at the time. Or porn...

Your butt was toast before you even knew it.

JR

To the OP I think your wife is being overly sensitive. If my wife asked me what I thought about her outfit I could say fine and there would be no consequences.

LOL, I answer that question like this:

"you learned long ago not to ask me questions like that".

Just smile and ask if she wouldn't rather just stay home and go to bed early...

Yep. Usually my wife already knows, she just wants to know if anybody else will notice what she thinks is off.

I'm in the honesty camp. She cares what she wears to the grocery store, but I tell her the truth, and mention she should look at some of the other people. I really don't care for fashion, and usually the response is that it would be nice if you wore nothing at all. She usually wears something comfy.