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How do you not give off dad energy?

DonJefe19

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With me being in my late thirties, I'm realizing that there are some assumptions people make about me. I guess when you're an older dude that's put together everyone assumes I have kids. I never been married, nor, I ever had kids. However, most women I encounter that I like seem to call me out on the dad vibes. I don't like this because it's not I imagined what my late thirties would look like >.<

What sort of persona am I supposed to embody for a guy like me who's in his late thirties and was never married? What places am I supposed to be hanging out at? What are things and hobbies I should stop doing so I don't look like a divorced dad?
 

Divorced w 3

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Idk but you make me feel a lot better about my lot in life

Thoughts
Be more fun
Be more confident
Get better with women
Have better conversation skills
Learn better non verbal communication
Dress less seriously
Get in better shape
Have friends that enjoy going out and are good with women
Have a more full lifestyle
Listen to more modern music
Go to modern places
Spend time with more successful people and learn how to own your age professionally and personally
Allude in no way, shape or form to your avatar or anything remotely in the time in life or social sphere of that avatar
 

Clockwerk50

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Don’t have a dad bod, quite the opposite: be fit and muscular.

Wear clothes that fit you properly. Leave one or two buttons of your shirt undone. If you want a younger look, wear a baseball cap.

Be confident. Have a personality of your own. Be a leader not a follower. Have hobbies. Don’t be afraid of your urges.
 

DonJefe19

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Don’t have a dad bod, quite the opposite: be fit and muscular.

Wear clothes that fit you properly. Leave one or two buttons of your shirt undone. If you want a younger look, wear a baseball cap.

Be confident. Have a personality of your own. Be a leader not a follower. Have hobbies. Don’t be afraid of your urges.
Do you have any suggestions on style? I really suck as fashion. I've reached out to female friends and they like it when I wear conservative stuff but it's like asking women for dating advice, they'll tell me exactly what they want not necessarily what other women want.

Have a personality of your own
Ah yes, this is a bit ambiguous :(

Have hobbies. Don’t be afraid of your urges.
What hobbies should I explore?
 

Tell her a little about yourself, but not too much. Maintain some mystery. Give her something to think about and wonder about when she's at home.

Quote taken from The SoSuave Guide to Women and Dating, which you can read for FREE.

SW15

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With me being in my late thirties, I'm realizing that there are some assumptions people make about me. I guess when you're an older dude that's put together everyone assumes I have kids. I never been married, nor, I ever had kids.
I am in a similar spot as you at a similar age. I do not give off dad vibes in any way. I have no gray hair and minimal recession/balding.

However, most women I encounter that I like seem to call me out on the dad vibes.
No woman has ever called me out on the dad vibes. I think this is because I exercise and have no interests that a typical dad would have. I also rent an apartment in a central city neighborhood. That's not dad vibes either.

What sort of persona am I supposed to embody for a guy like me who's in his late thirties and was never married? What places am I supposed to be hanging out at? What are things and hobbies I should stop doing so I don't look like a divorced dad?
I tend to spend time in areas with mainly unmarried and childless women. If you live in neighborhoods that tend to be 20s/30s unmarried and childless, that helps.
 

Clockwerk50

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Do you have any suggestions on style? I really suck as fashion. I've reached out to female friends and they like it when I wear conservative stuff but it's like asking women for dating advice, they'll tell me exactly what they want not necessarily what other women want.



Ah yes, this is a bit ambiguous :(



What hobbies should I explore?
It’s late at night, I just got back from a party, and I have to work tomorrow—so I’m letting AI fix my grammar:

You can shop at Old Navy, Gap, or Banana Republic. These stores have clothes without big logos, so you don’t look like a walking billboard. Most of their pieces are wardrobe essentials, but they come in a variety of colors.

To start, I’d suggest picking up jeans, sweatpants, shorts, T-shirts, polos, and long-sleeve versions of those shirts. After that, you can add layers like an oversized jacket, a button-up, or a cardigan.

As for shoes, start with a pair of boots, sneakers, and dress shoes. Begin with the basics, and once you’ve got those down, you can take more risks.

But here’s something important: dress your age. Don’t be in your 30s, a grown adult, and dressing like a teenager—wearing Crocs, a fanny pack, sunglasses indoors, and shirts covered in logos.

However—and this is a big however—what really matters is how well your clothes fit. The only way to make clothes look truly good is to have a body that fits them well. That means going to the gym and lifting weights.

So what are your stats? How much can you bench press, deadlift, and squat?

Honestly, if women are saying you give off “dad vibes,” it might be because you’re missing sex appeal. And sex appeal often comes from having a well-built body: a defined upper chest and broad shoulders. Keep in mind, when people say “dad bod,” they usually mean someone chubby with a bit of a beer belly.

Lastly, get a haircut. You can take inspiration from contestants on dating reality TV shows—they’re usually well-groomed and styled to look attractive on
camera.

IMG_2710.png


As for personality, read Chapter 11 of Psycho-Cybernetics. The idea is to say what’s on your mind. It ties into the metaphor of unbuttoning your shirt—being emotionally open. Seduction involves openness, even if it’s partly a performance. If you can’t open up, you probably struggle to give in other ways too.

In terms of hobbies, there are tons you can explore: cooking, woodworking, gardening, team sports, swimming, programming, beekeeping, motocross, hunting, beer/wine making - you name it. The key is to find what you enjoy. Don’t copy me. Follow your own values and integrity.

Sounds like you’ve got some reading—and maybe some working out—to do.

IMG_2711.png
 
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BeExcellent

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Advice from the old lady:

Dad vibes means some variety of out of shape & frumpy. Not sexy.

The guys are right, you need to get fit & get clothes that fit.

Dress like Abercrombie & Fitch and be in shape & this feedback will stop.

Hobbies should be things you are interested in and enjoy. Don't ever do stuff for the sake of appealing to women, it will make a weird vibe if you do that. Hobbies are for YOU.
 

DonJefe19

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You can shop at Old Navy, Gap, or Banana Republic. These stores have clothes without big logos, so you don’t look like a walking billboard. Most of their pieces are wardrobe essentials, but they come in a variety of colors.

To start, I’d suggest picking up jeans, sweatpants, shorts, T-shirts, polos, and long-sleeve versions of those shirts. After that, you can add layers like an oversized jacket, a button-up, or a cardigan.

As for shoes, start with a pair of boots, sneakers, and dress shoes. Begin with the basics, and once you’ve got those down, you can take more risks.
But here’s something important: dress your age. Don’t be in your 30s, a grown adult, and dressing like a teenager—wearing Crocs, a fanny pack, sunglasses indoors, and shirts covered in logos.
That's the thing "dress your age" I don't know what that means. Like the description you had above I would never wear because I think they look retarded. But when it comes to common styles, I don't know what most 30 year old dudes who look good are wearing.

So what are your stats? How much can you bench press, deadlift, and squat?
I'm kinda weak:

Bench Press = 1x5 285lbs
Deadlift = 1x3 430lbs
Squat = 1x5 380lbs (although that was several months ago)

My weight right now is 220lbs. When did my body comp last my lean mass was 172lbs and my body fat percentage was 21%.

Honestly, if women are saying you give off “dad vibes,” it might be because you’re missing sex appeal. And sex appeal often comes from having a well-built body: a defined upper chest and broad shoulders. Keep in mind, when people say “dad bod,” they usually mean someone chubby with a bit of a beer belly.
Definitely don't have a belly but not anywhere near super lean as you can see above. It maybe mannerisms and my clothing style (or attempt to style)
 

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BaronOfHair

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That's the thing "dress your age" I don't know what that means
You and most of the male population throughout The Anglosphere these days, hoss. Start by getting rid of the cartoon character and ironic Ts, and declare a moratorium on cargo shorts, for starters. More button ups and polos when out among the public
 

Clockwerk50

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That's the thing "dress your age" I don't know what that means. Like the description you had above I would never wear because I think they look retarded. But when it comes to common styles, I don't know what most 30 year old dudes who look good are wearing.

I'm kinda weak:

Bench Press = 1x5 285lbs
Deadlift = 1x3 430lbs
Squat = 1x5 380lbs (although that was several months ago)

My weight right now is 220lbs. When did my body comp last my lean mass was 172lbs and my body fat percentage was 21%.

Definitely don't have a belly but not anywhere near super lean as you can see above. It maybe mannerisms and my clothing style (or attempt to style)
Well, you’re obviously strong as hell and part of the 900-pound club. With 172 lbs of lean mass at 220 lbs, that’s a solid frame to work with. It also seems like you’ve got your finances in check. I can’t speak to your status or personality, but based on what you’ve shared, you already have some important foundations handled.

That said, I don’t know you well enough. I don’t know your personality, social scene, tastes, friends, or the type of woman you’re trying to attract in order to give you a fair assessment. My main point was simply that you shouldn’t dress like a 17-year-old TikToker. The brands I mentioned, paired with a good haircut, your physique, and your financial situation, give you a strong base to dress well and present a blank canvas for women to project their fantasies onto. From there, you can layer in more expressive pieces, like from Zara or Jack & Jones, to show more personality: think jewelry, jackets, cargos, coats, facial hair, etc. But context matters:
If you’re into country or rock and want to attract a woman with those tastes, me advising you to dress like a hypebeast wouldn’t align.

At the core of it, style is an extension of personality, and that includes posture, vocal tone, eye contact, and overall energy. That’s how you avoid the “dad vibe,” which signals protective, overly agreeable, non-sexual energy, and too much of a goody-two-shoes that wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Here are some pictures of guys with good fashion sense you might draw inspiration from. YouTube is full of channels dedicated to this stuff too. Again the more casual the more outgoing and open you are. But honestly, the fact that you’re asking “what hobbies should I do” suggests there’s something deeper going on than just clothes. Wouldn’t you agree?

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DonJefe19

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Well, you’re obviously strong as hell and part of the 900-pound club. With 172 lbs of lean mass at 220 lbs, that’s a solid frame to work with. It also seems like you’ve got your finances in check. I can’t speak to your status or personality, but based on what you’ve shared, you already have some important foundations handled.
Really? I didn't think those numbers were impressive. We got some stronger guys in the crossfit gym I go to that have some larger numbers and I'm nowhere near what they do. But I agree, I'm stronger than the average guy my age but definitely striving for those big lifts.

I'm in the black every month for the most part. So, the finances are golden (no pun intended)

That said, I don’t know you well enough. I don’t know your personality, social scene, tastes, friends, or the type of woman you’re trying to attract in order to give you a fair assessment.
...
If you’re into country or rock and want to attract a woman with those tastes, me advising you to dress like a hypebeast wouldn’t align.
That's fair, not much go of from the limit detail I provided. I really like fit and smart women: dancers, yoga practitioners, gym bunnies, etc.

My previous girlfriends and FWBs were pretty fit. Even in high school, I always crushed on the athletic chicks. College was even better. So, that's the type of chicks I like.


But honestly, the fact that you’re asking “what hobbies should I do” suggests there’s something deeper going on than just clothes. Wouldn’t you agree?
I got hobbies. Some of them are more solitaire than others. Like programming. I do it for a living but I also program outside of work. Occasionally, I'll help volunteer at a conservation club that I've been apart of since I was a kid. So ever once and I awhile when I have time I'll go target shooting. But a lot of time outside of work is taken up by ballroom dancing. It's something I like and I'm trying to get better at because there's social aspect of it. Hell I even travel for it when I'm competing in ballroom competitions.

Although I want more hobbies but I want to focus on hobbies that help me get better sociably.
 
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Clockwerk50

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Really? I didn't think those numbers were impressive. We got some stronger guys in the crossfit gym I go to that have some larger numbers and I'm nowhere near what they do. But I agree, I'm stronger than the average guy my age but definitely striving for those big lifts.

I'm in the black every month for the most part. So, the finances are golden (no pun intended)



That's fair, not much go of from the limit detail I provided. I really like fit and smart women: dancers, yoga practitioners, gym bunnies, etc.

My previous girlfriends and FWBs were pretty fit. Even in high school, I always crushed on the athletic chicks. College was even better. So, that's the type of chicks I like.




I got hobbies. Some of them are more solitaire than others. Like programming. I do it for a living but I also program outside of work. Occasionally, I'll help volunteer at a conservation club that I've been apart of since I was a kid. So ever once and I awhile when I have time I'll go target shooting. But a lot of time outside of work is taken up by ballroom dancing. It's something I like and I'm trying to get better at because there's social aspect of it. Hell I even travel for it when I'm competing in ballroom competitions.

Although I want more hobbies but I want to focus on hobbies that help me get better sociably.
I think you’ve got your life more in order than I do. Maybe the whole “you give dad vibes” comment was just a **** test and you may need thicker skin but at the same time, it seems like you slayed before so you can slay again. Regardless, you could experiment with athleisure wear and maybe even get into something like essential oils as a hobby for the social aspect.

Either way, just like psychologists believe that patients need to come to their own conclusions, it seems like you’ve reached yours when it comes to mannerisms and clothing style. And again, there are tons of YouTube channels out there dedicated to fashion and personal style.
 
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