Tight pants are at the top of the "Fashion Don't" list, followed closely by baggy pants. Speedos and short shorts aren't favorites, either.
"I can't stand shorts above the knees and tight bathing suits," said Tara Balch, 20, standing in front of H&M on Walnut Street.
"I hate anything too dressy. I love everything comfortable," added her friend, Christina Smith, 23, who lives in Warrington. "I'm over cargo pants, too. They are so bulky. I like to see legs."
It was harder for women to talk specifically about men's fashion because the articles of clothing themselves are so simple. Pants and a shirt, casual; suit jacket and tie, dressed up. Their complaints were not about trends.
Instead, most described how they liked men neat and clean-cut, with clothes that fit well. Generally, women don't want to be embarrassed. Get the basics down, guys, before you go flair. Women want men to take some time with their fashion, but not be overindulgent.
All women despised pleats. Most hated tapered pants. Pleats and tapered pants together? Big no!
Most women leaned toward basic colors: navys, olives, tans and blacks. Striped polo shirts in bright colors: out. But a soft orange or lavender dress shirt looks great.
"I don't like loud colors," said 60-plus Bernice Zazow of Center City. "Polo shirts are nice. I don't like loose pants. I'm conservative in my style."
And women love manly looking men. Beards and mustaches are OK, as long as they are groomed. There is no need for guys to tweeze their eyebrows or get facials and manicures.
Feet, however, are important.
"Men definitely should get pedicures in the summertime because by the time they need them, they are horrible," said Heather Pinnock, 34, who was visiting Philadelphia for a convention. Pinnock is originally from Jamaica.
"And I don't like socks on a guy," said Alison Abbedessa, a sales clerk at the Walnut Street shop Knit Wit.
