By NASA MARIA ENTABAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my

THERE are heaps of misconceptions our brothers, fathers, guy friends and essentially just about every male in our lives have when it comes to women and their lifestyles.

It’s true, we pay a lot of attention to beauty, health and fashion, but they don’t rule our lives and aren’t personality-altering evils we need to be exorcised of.
So this week, we’re going to address some of the more common misconceptions our straight male friends have about fashion, health and beauty, because there seem to be a lot of them floating around.

We put ourselves at great risk for fashion

Remember that scene in The Wedding Planner when Jennifer Lopez gets her heel stuck in a manhole cover in the middle of the street, panics but successfully removes her foot from the shoe before running off to safety, only to dart right back onto the path of a runaway dumpster.

No woman in her right mind would put herself at such great risk. Also, we don’t drive in our five-inch heels.

Driving + stilettos = disaster

Most gals have ‘driving shoes’ – they are hidden under our car seat, in a paper bag in the backseat, or in the trunk. We don’t drive in the five-inch heels you see us in – that’s really dangerous and we are well aware of that.

The next time you get into a woman’s car, look around a little (discreetly!) and you’ll probably see a pair of ballerina flats tucked away in a corner. Be smooth and don’t ask her what they’re for. And if she doesn’t take off her sky high heels to drive, maybe you’ll want to figure out a way to give her a little safety tip (in a nice way of course).

We regularly go on crazy shopping sprees

Most women are quite clever when it comes to shopping – we know how to prioritise, and to recognise good deals. So while we talk and talk about designer and luxury brands, the majority of women probably only own a few good pieces.

I adore Karen Millen but that doesn’t mean I have 50 Karen Millen dresses in my wardrobe, and though I own heaps of Aldo heels I’ve bought most of them on sale.

There are many ways of getting around labels without having to pay through your nose – overrun and slightly damaged designer wear prices are often sold at up to 70% off in select stores.

We know how and when to get our sale on

We don’t walk into luxury stores and buy everything in sight – most women I know will either a) wait for the item to go on sale b) pick the item up online for a discount c) wait til they travel overseas where there are major warehouse sales or d) look for a replica.

We have to dress sexy to look fashionable

Short and tight does not always translate to stylish and fashionable.
Have you heard of the new “sopan” wave of fashion that has hit blogs, boutiques and essentially anyone who wants to look stylish without showing too much skin?

Long skirts, long sleeves, loose-fitting tops and covered shoes have found a way to co-exist in the same ensemble and look fantastic at that.

We’re indecisive about our clothes

Yes, we spend more time getting ready than you do – but it’s not because we haven’t made up our minds or we are scatterbrains. Imagine having to pair shoes to outfit, outfit to accessories, accessories to bags, the whole ensemble to makeup, and making sure all the proper undergarments are washed and ready to wear.

That’s a whole lot of coordinating to do – it’s an event in itself!

To get the combo just right, we need time to try stuff on and look in the mirror from all angles.

We’re not all on a crazy diet

If I had a ringgit for every time a guy has said “diet ah?” whenever I order a small serving of food I’d be rich – one friend even began “chirping” every time we sat down for a meal (chirping because I used to eat like a bird, geddit?).

I’m not saying we don’t watch what we eat, but that not all of us eat only egg whites for dinner and reward ourselves with a single grape for dessert. (probably none of us – that stuff only happens in the movies)

We like our food

Years of being conditioned to be polite, pleasant and lady-like at all times has affected everything we do, right down to eating habits. Ordering a large plate of food and chowing down like there’s no tomorrow just seems unacceptable, so most a time we hold back when we’re dining with the opposite sex.

When we’re dining together, my friends and I order starters to share, main dishes and sometimes even dessert ! (*gasp* NO!) We like food, we just don’t show it. That’s what Facebook, Twitpic, and food blogs are for!