This is tangential but I think it is sort-of relevant to what you say about not critiquing new hairstyles and whatnot: It amuses me the way men insult one another as a compliment about "punching above their weight" regarding their wives or girlfriends in a way that would never, ever happen if the genders were reversed.

Example: At my former place of work, a male colleague had not met my wife. He considered me a "nerd" and when I told him I was married he said he didn't believe it, and that I still lived in my mother's basement. Typical banter.

Anyway, one day my wife shows up. This colleague met her and afterwards said to me: "There's no way she's your wife. Not a chance. You just pay her to say that to make yourself look less sad."

I thought that was a brilliant compliment, personally. But I seriously doubt a woman would think the same.