Petoskey — What do women want? That’s the million-dollar question. Men have been trying to figure out the answer to this ever-perplexing question since the dawn of time. Back in the caves, sitting ‘round the fire, men scratched their heads with their clubs as they pondered possible answers. “More mammoth meat?” Through the stone age, the dark age, and the modern age, men have found themselves trying to crack the code in hopes of finally, once and for all, knowing with certainty what the fairer sex desires.
Well, the truth is women want lots of things, and one of those things is a man who dresses well. In the age of pajama pants, athleisure, hoodies, graphic T-shirts and a whole cohort of men who think clothes don’t matter and that it’s only women’s job to dress decently, the situation is critical. It’s fair to suggest that, perhaps, in our time of near universal slobbishness, women literally only want one thing: a man who dresses well.
I know all the coping and seething that’s going on as guys read this. I’ve heard all the arguments and all the protestations, but they fall on deaf ears, and it doesn’t change the fact that women like when a man dresses well. They appreciate when the man they are out with puts effort into what he is wearing. If a woman spends time on her hair and makeup why wouldn’t she want the man she is meeting to look decent? If she took time to put on something nice, why wouldn’t she want him to do the same?
There are, functionally, no women that prefer a man to look like a slob. Yes, of course, different women have different aesthetic preferences, and women tend not to like when a man “outdoes them” when it comes to clothes. But the chance that a man, in 2025, will outdo his girlfriend or wife when it comes to clothing is extremely unlikely. So unlikely in fact that it’s not a point of consideration.
Women like when a man dresses well for a multitude of reasons. It demonstrates a kind of competency. It shows care and consideration. It’s a sign of being capable. Those are attractive traits in a man. It also shows respect for himself and respect for others. It shows that he is a grown man and not a boy. It shows he doesn’t need his mommy to dress him. It’s a sign of strength and confidence. The pajama-pant wearers may not want to hear it, but every woman thinks a man in a suit and tie looks stronger, and more like a man, than a guy in a hoodie and sneakers.
The situation is bad today. Few men know how to dress well and the others have all but given up. And, in turn, many great traditional men’s shops have closed, leaving a world of cheap gym-wear in their wake. But never despair. There are still real, brick-and-mortar shops that sell the kind of stuff men should wear, the kind of stuff that women wish men wore.
Mettlers in Petoskey is one of these hallowed shops. Way Up North, on the shores of Little Traverse Bay, right downtown Petoskey, Mettlers is a little sartorial oasis. The front doors are framed by two American flags flapping in the wind, the vibes inside are stellar. In early December, music from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” played as I skulked around the store with my camera. Mettlers stocks sport coats, blazers, pocket squares, overcoats, ties, shirts of every stripe and style, sweaters, belts and just about anything else a man might need to fill his wardrobe. A guy could start from ground zero, visit Mettlers in the afternoon, and be dressed the way he ought by evening.
I first wandered into Mettlers one summer afternoon. As a writer who often opines on menswear and style, I saw wonderfully dressed mannequins in the window and had to see what was happening inside. Amid the incredible collection of clothes I found and a nice little selection of St. Johns Bay Rum fragrances next to the front desk. As a connoisseur of preppy style, it was a lovely surprise. I was able to restock my bathroom and sample a new summer scent I hadn’t tried yet.
We are so used to buying everything on the internet that we forget the value of the real store. We forget what it’s like to be able to go in and try something on. Or smell a new scent. Or not worry about shipping and handling. Or browse without a screen. It’s nice; really nice. When I was in Mettlers last week, a couple workers were telling me about how many men’s shops there used to be in Petoskey. There used to be a lot more, back when men dressed like men.
And that’s all women want: for men to dress like men. It’s not a Herculean task. Every guy can make it happen if he wants to make it happen. Start with a couple Oxford shirts and go from there. Grab some chinos and a pair of boat shoes, then a jacket next. Go online and find a deal, or better yet, go into a store and see what they have in stock. Try stuff on, ask them questions, they will help. Stop in Mettlers when you are Up North.
We’ve spent countless hours over the centuries investigating what women want. Our conclusions may have changed over the generations, but in 2025 the answer is pretty simple. Women literally only want one thing: a man who dresses well.
O.W. Root is a writer based in Northern Michigan, with a focus on nature, food, style, and culture. Follow him on X @owroot.
