Dressing the Man You Love: A Woman's Guide to Purchasing, Coordinating, and Caring for His Classic Wardrobe

A well-organized, non-intimidating resource, “Dressing the Man You Love: A Woman’s Guide to Purchasing, Coordinating, and Caring for His Classic Wardrobe,” pushes aside the curtain marked “for men only” to explore the world of men’s time-honored fashion.With sections on how to assess a man’s clothing needs, the best suit cut for various body types, the right colors for different complexions, surviving the men’s department experience, the important elements of a quality garment, how to work with salespeople and tailors, as well as simple rules for successfully mixing and matching apparel, this book is an invaluable tool for any woman looking to improve the appearance of any important man in her life.Also included are “secrets of success” shared by other women with similar challenges, as well as the author’s extensive suggestions for preserving his newly acquired assets, including tips for laundering, mending, polishing, and storage.With over 150 illustrations, an easy system for helping him maintain his look even when she can’t be there, as well as an extensive glossary and index, this book provides a one-stop guide that is both accessible and fun to read.

Betsy Durkin Matthes is a former actress, singer, dancer and song lyricist who, early in her performing career, learned the importance of “dressing for the part you want.” She developed a reputation for this unique ability and was often sought after for advice by fellow actors.The idea of translating this skill into a book came about when Joan Jaffe, an actress and comedian who was teaching a course at the Screen Actor’s Conservatory, asked Ms. Matthes to do some research for her class. In the process, Ms. Matthes became fascinated with the subject of men’s classic clothing, its rich history, its attention to detail and the long-standing traditions that made it so different from the fickle world of women’s wear. Thus was born, “Dressing the Man You Love.” Before turning her talents to the subject of men’s clothing, Ms. Matthes appeared on Broadway, in numerous Off-Broadway productions, daytime dramas and national touring companies, working with stars such as Lauren Bacall, Jon Voight and Peggy Cass. She has over 100 television commercials to her credit, as well as 13 recordings by major artists. Her songs have been performed on “Search for Tomorrow,” “As the World Turns,” and “Texas.” Ms. Matthes was born at Fort Benning, Georgia, where her father was in training to be a paratrooper. Her mother’s hospital room looked out on to the tower where the trainees practiced. At the age of three, Ms. Matthes jumped off the top of a flight of stairs, certain she could fly just like her father. Later on, she remedied this problem by learning to fly Cessna aircraft. After graduating high school, Ms. Matthes received a scholarship to the American Theater Wing and also studied at The School of American Ballet in New York City. It wasn’t until much later in life, however, that she fulfilled her dream of getting a “real” education and enrolled in Marymount Manhattan College as a “mature student.” She graduated in 1996 as the Valedictorian of her class with a major in International Studies and a minor in Women’s Studies. Ms. Matthes is married to Jack Cortner, a music writer and arranger who has written the themes for “Monday Night Football,” “The Edge of Night”, “Search for Tomorrow” and numerous other television programs and long-playing commercials. She has a son, Peter Matthes, who is an assistant director for television commercials in New York City. She and her husband reside on Shelter Island, New York and in New York City.