Pop culture: “want” vs “like”

Self-tutoring about the evolution of the English language: the tutor mentions a trend.

“Wear whatever you like,” I was told. Thirty years ago, they would have said “wear whatever you want.”

“Like” has been replacing “want” in such phrasing for a few decades. They seem to be synonymous there, but the meanings aren’t really the same: in my opinion, “want” is better. The reason is that you may “like” many outfits, but only “want” to wear one right now.

I would imagine that “whatever you like” comes from another language rather than English. Such changes in everyday usage you notice when you’ve lived half a century.