I tried to give a spouse some gear and they kept it in their inventory is it possible for them to actually wear it?

If you pick-pocket the gear onto them, then yes. Don't worry, they won't go hostile.

That's how I gave my spouse some bad-ass Imperial Armor. Nothing like selling goods and cooking food in a STEEL SKIRT.

You can use console commands to force them to equip.

Ok so I enter sneak mode and then put my gear into their inventory basically?

I am sad that I am on 360 or I would use console commands, I should have have made that clear sorry.

Yep. It only works if you use armor, though. Fancy clothes won't work, because they'll only equip stuff that has more armor than their current clothes (most spouses have zero armor, but armored spouses have more so you'll have to make sure the armor you want them to wear has a higher defense rating that their current armor/clothes).

Thanks, so it only affects armor even if they are wearing clothes that svcks but thanks I was wondering why it was not working.

My wife Mjoll is wearing superior Orcish armor and helmet that I upgraded for her.