Big primpin'
We know that all women take an extra five minutes more than they tell you to get ready for a big date.
We figure it into our planning. If the movie is at 7, we know that it has to be factored in, even though you will just sit in the dark for two hours. In fact, the tendency for a guy to be late may be a conditioned response from generations of mutual lateness.
And as ladies have some requisite get-ready time (what are they doing in there?), so do guys.
That, for me, takes 15-20 minutes, tops, from shower to shoes. Unless it's some huge deal, like a friend's wedding or a big date, then I might spent another minute or two. In the words of Andre 3000: "You know you've got company comin' over, so do scrub extra hard."
Despite what my prior posts may appear to say, I do appreciate cleanliness. But this isn't about that.
It's about the time spent doing so. Gals -why bother fussing over that one little eyebrow hair? We won't notice, I promise. Why spend so much time getting ready? Yes, you look good, smell nice, and we guys like that, but why not figure that time into getting ready? Is the intention to make a guy wait before the date, build tension and all that?
Or is it just 5 minutes of unaccounted-for freaking out that's spent on deciding what to wear?
Comments (3)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
I'm guilty of chronic lateness when it comes to dates. And, mostly, I think it's just my nature to be doing too many things and rushing from one place, appointment, or date to another.
Depending on the circumstances, yes, a lot of that can be because I took an obscene amount of time to get ready. If I really like a guy - and it's still a getting-to-know-you kind of date - then I'll probably prep Bridget Jones-style.
That includes cutting back on food all day - and sometimes the day before - so I feel better about how my clothes fit (even though I know it's just water weight). It includes shaving, extra attention to my hair and face and sometimes even a pedicure. And then there's inevitably at least 30 minutes spent figuring out to wear - which ends with a huge pile of clothes on the bed and my settling, usually, for the first thing I tried on and rejected.
The whole thing takes hours. Just a couple weeks ago I spent 45 minutes trying things on and rejecting them, then had to rush through every other part of the process to make it to the restaurant in time for a reservation.
For guys I'm more skeptical about, though, I'll typically spend less than an hour. Sometimes a little more, if I have a dynamite idea for doing something with my hair.
That said, I'm not sure whether guys notice all that much. It seems I have better success meeting guys out at a place like Natty's or Fisher's, in jeans and a t-shirt, than I do if I put a ton of effort into how I look and go to a club downtown or a higher-end restaurant or bar.
Posted on September 17, 2007 2:22 PM
Aside from being in a more liad-back atmosphere, you may be having more success with good ol' jeans and a t-shirt at Natty's or Fishers because other places can ratchet up the pressure for both fellas and the gals. Though that kind of pressure can lead to a more instant gratification. ;)
Posted on September 18, 2007 8:16 AM
True Wingman, the extra primpin is usually due to not wanting to go home alone that night.
Ginger- I agree completely with you about girls and primp time. One thing I've noticed though, is that in my early twenties, I spent way more time getting ready for a night out- hair perfect, took my time picking out a cute outfit. Now in the twilight years of my twenties, I'm more comfortable with being not so dressed up, wild mane a flowing. Do you think this is a common trend as we age? Do men feel this way too?
Posted on September 19, 2007 1:44 PM