Photo Credit (Pixeles)
I recently filmed the video above, which offers some advice on how to dress if you’re a bigger guy. I thought I’d go into more detail about it for this blog post.
Being a larger guy makes it more difficult to find clothes that fit properly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still look good—there are just a few extra things to consider. Fit is crucial regardless of your size, and it can be even more crucial if you’re large.
If you’re a larger guy and would want to go shopping or have any questions, please contact me. I hope this post was useful.
Since your waist is probably the biggest region of your body, wear accessories at either end of it rather than in the middle. Steer clear of belts with large buckles or contrasting designs. Instead, accessorize with a hat, scarf, pendant necklace, fantastic glasses or sunglasses, and contrasting shoes or boots. Additionally, since it won’t matter if you gain or lose weight, you can spend more on accessories. Wear square or rectangular frames to make your face appear less round, and if you have a beard, trim it at the sides to make your face appear thinner. To make vertical lines, drape scarves freely or hang them down.
If you’re larger in this area, wear darker colors, especially on top, as most larger men will be. Darker hues will make the area appear smaller, so if your legs are noticeably thinner than your top, you might want to wear lighter-colored jeans or pants to make up for it. However, darker hues aren’t limited to black and navy; you may also attempt deep burgundy, brown, eggplant, or dark forest green.
Wear fabrics that are mid- to heavy-weight. I realize this is more difficult to achieve, especially since bigger guys tend to be hot, but if you can find a fabric that has some weight and drapes, it will skim over your curves and not cling as much. Generally speaking, smoother textiles are preferable to ones with a lot of texture, which could add bulk. In addition to being more comfortable, you could discover that materials with stretch fit you better! Jonah Hill’s suit makes it simple to look decent, but you could pull off a similar smart-casual ensemble with a button-down shirt, dark trousers, a navy jersey jacket, and black sneakers.
Pay attention to how your jeans fit; if you’re short and large, wear jeans that are tapered or slimmer, and make sure the pockets aren’t too low. A long time ago, I had a customer who was 40″ in waist and 30″ in inner leg. He was thrilled to discover that he could wear slim-leg jeans, which he thought looked much better on him than the standard cut, which made him appear short and wide. Go easy on the turn-ups if your legs are significantly shorter than your body. If they are too little, no more than an inch, or if you don’t wear them at all, your legs will appear considerably shorter. I’m not sure how tall he is, but I appreciate how his pants have a tapered fit; it looks stylish and contemporary.
Wear coats, shirts, and overshirts with chest pockets; stay away from ones that are at the hip or waist. The stomach area doesn’t need any additional layers, so draw emphasis to the chest instead. This will make the chest appear larger, which will make the stomach appear smaller. Another way to achieve this would be to use color blocking at the shoulders and chest, such as a sweater or t-shirt with a darker color on the stomach and a lighter, brighter color on top.
Avoid tucking anything in and, if at all feasible, wear jackets unfastened. Since your stomach is likely the largest region of your body, as I’ve already said, tucking anything in would make a horizontal line across it, emphasizing it even more. If you leave your jacket open, it will give you the vertical lines you want and won’t make a “pouch” like James Corden’s bomber jacket would have. If a more formal look is required, wear a blazer or outfits with comparable top and bottom colors and a belt that doesn’t be too noticeable. For instance, a blue shirt and pants with a black or dark brown belt (the same color as your shoes) or a white shirt and beige pants with a sand-colored belt.
As I stated in the video, vertical lines visually divide you in two, giving the impression that you are taller and slimmer. Wear layers to generate these lines. Both this coat and the khaki shirt above, worn over trousers and a darker shirt, are excellent examples. You can keep the attention moving up and down your body with simple styles like this overcoat, which end where your legs are slimmer. Regardless of your size, clothing that hangs down to your finger tips is never a nice appearance, so if you need width but not height, be sure you get coats and jackets trimmed at the cuffs so they’re the right length.
Do you need assistance putting your clothes together? Click the button below to schedule a shopping trip if you’ve been intending to lose weight but know it’s not going to happen. This way, you can feel good about your clothes NOW rather than waiting for a day that might never arrive.
“After much deliberation, I finally pulled myself together and made the decision to update my outfit.
Spending a day shopping with Sarah is a wise purchase. We spoke over the phone before our meeting, and I completed a questionnaire that enabled her to arrange for me to try on a variety of clothing items at many stores. She had a notebook full of thoughts and ideas that she wanted to attempt.
The day was enjoyable, educational, and—most importantly—I left with a variety of new garments and ensembles that I adore. Sarah emailed me a document the next day that included a list of combinations I could make using both my new clothes and things I already had.
I won’t think twice about asking Sarah for assistance once more when the time comes.”
