Dear reynoldskt:

If having a well groomed spouse supports your professional career- then let him know you are likely to earn more money if he dresses nicer and treats his acne. Take out the nice clothes he has, or shop for some, and place them in a clear area in the closet for the purpose of those professional occasions. This is about your career, earning power and that is something I hope he is motivated to support (It is beneficial for him after all).

Regarding his acne and clothes outside your professional needs, before going out, take out what you would like him to wear and ask him right before he is about to get dressed to wear those. Make it a right-here-and-now option for him: here is this shirt, please wear it? Here are these pants, please wear them?

Make sure the nice clothes are comfortable for him, that they FEEL comfortable, nothing that feels itchy to him or …”just doesn’t feel right”. If it is comfortable, like his jeans and shorts, he is more likely to wear them. Also, nothing too fancy, just nicer. Maybe you can gradually work on getting fancier, one step at a time.

Same with the acne treatments, place it in front of him, right by his toothbrush so it is available to him as he brushes his teeth.

anita

You are welcome, reynoldskt. Right beside his toothbrush, huh? Maybe tape it to the mirror in the bathroom (a bit humor may do it for him?)
anita

I don’t know if you’ll make more from your SO dressing better or not. My boss married a guy who does construction… I don’t think that affected her (personal) income much if any. Of course, he is/was good at what he does/did, so he made a decent amount of money from his business. I don’t think he owns a single suit.

If it really bothers you that much, could always just flush the relationship and move on. If after three years you haven’t convinced him, highly unlikely that he will have an epiphany any time soon.

Can’t imagine why he wouldn’t want to treat the acne issue. I had acne problems, not fun to put up with.