If you're taller than 6'4 and weigh more than 250lbs, you've probably been called slow or lazy. Or told you have no self-discipline.
You know that none of this is true so don't give ANYONE an excuse to pigeonhole you.
Dress sharp and shut them up.
In this article, I explain how to dress well for big guys.
You will learn:
- Don't Wait For A Future Ideal Body
- Get The Fit Right
- Wear Light Weight Fabrics
- Choose The Right Color & Pattern
- Swap Your Accessories
- Groom Your Facial Hair
- Avoid OVER-Wearing Shorts
- Slip Into A Longer Coat
Large Men Style Secret #1 Don't Wait For A Future Ideal Body
Don't wait until you are an ideal weight before investing in quality clothes and learning to dress well for large men. Shop for the body you have, not for the body you're working towards attaining.
With the right clothes, you look like you're in charge of your appearance. Accept your body as it is. The function of clothes is to present your body in the best light possible.
Your primary goal could be to lose weight in the long run. But for now, your style aim is, “how not to look fat.” You don't have to reduce your body weight to achieve this illusion.
Instead, use these intelligent clothing choices as a reference point. How to dress as a big guy:
- Avoid saggy, low-formality, and flesh-revealing clothes. It's easy for your body to look shapeless in loose t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, and most athletic clothing. The low formality of these clothes slots you right into the ‘slob' category. Save them for the gym.
- The best clothes for you give a clean, clear, and defined shape to your body. You should well stock your wardrobe with suits, blazers, sports jackets, long sleeve tops, trousers, and formal styles.
If you lose weight down the line, you can always get your clothes adjusted by a tailor.
Large Man Style Secret #2 Get The Fit Right
Almost your entire body is covered with clothes. The wrong fit can make you look saggy, sloppy, and unkempt.
A smooth, clean line through your outfit makes people think “solid” instead of “fat.” A crucial element for any man. But especially if you are a large man.
Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you need to dress skinnier. Wearing smaller sizes makes you look like a stuffed sausage.
Balance, proportion, and comfort are critical factors in getting the right fit.
Your clothes should rest lightly on your body. Avoid anything that hugs you tightly or hangs off your skin with folds of extra cloth.
What should big guys wear?
Suits, blazers, and sports jackets are your allies in achieving a proportional look. Your torso appears framed and balanced in a jacket. This is integral to learning how to dress well for large men.
Single-breasted suits that button low look better on heavyset men. The deep V shape makes you look leaner and more prolonged. Ensure that your jackets are loose enough for you to raise your arms comfortably. And they should be wide enough to hide your backside when you stand.
Select jackets that feature larger details, such as more oversized pockets or wider lapels. A double-vented jacket adds flexibility and shape to your appearance.
Non-pleated trousers with no taper give a smooth, clean front, making you look less bulky.
Add a long overcoat to make a solid impression with your whole body in winter.
Your chances of finding clothes that fit perfectly off the rack are slim. Find a good tailor and build a friendship with him. You can make simple adjustments for $10-$20, like taking a shirt in at the waist or hemming your trousers so they don't look oversized.
Large Man Style Secret #3 Wear Light Weight Fabrics
There are two reasons to steer clear of thick and heavy fabrics:
First, they accentuate your size, making you look bulky. Second, heavier fabrics can add weight to your already large frame.
Heavier fabrics tend to trap heat and cause excessive sweating.
Avoid these issues by selecting smooth, light fabrics that make you appear slimmer and drape your body in clean lines. Minimalism is essential for a man with a big frame.
Overdressing can have an overwhelming effect on your already intimidating presence.
For instance, a pair of fine wool trousers are much lighter than thick denim jeans. As a result, the wool trousers drape better and fall in a smooth line.
On the other hand, the denim creates extra folds, pulling the eye of an observer down towards your lower body (an undesirable consequence of wearing ill-fitted clothes).
You need to understand the difference between tropical weight wool and worsted wool. And why lightweight cottons are better for layering than thicker cotton.
Understand the different lightweight fabric options available to you and make sure that you start including them in your wardrobe over time.
Large Man Style Secret #4 Choose The Right Color & Pattern
Patterns are a great way to enhance an outfit, but you need to keep it simple.
Heavyset men look best in medium-sized patterns. Avoid clothing with busy patterns or graphics.
Complement your shape by using solid patterns, lightly striped shirts, paisleys, or even repeated crests. Try to avoid heavy or horizontal patterns. The horizontal lines in a windowpane, plaid, or checks will accentuate your wide frame.
Large men tend to look better in dark colors. Navy, brown, black, and charcoal gray should be your preferred base colors. If you choose to wear other colors, keep them dark. For instance, dark olive green is more suitable than lime green.
Large Man Style Secret #5 Swap Your Accessories
The next time you're out shopping, keep these tips in mind:
- Swap belts for suspenders – belts tend to slip right off the tapered shape of your round stomach. Suspenders are a better alternative because they let the trouser front fall in a smooth line instead of bunching up at your waist.
- Wear a hat – if you are a heavyset and short man, wearing a hat adds vertical space that spreads out your weight.
- Wear dress shirts with spread collars – A broader collar suits your broad face. In addition, the larger spread between the collars allows you to tie a large necktie knot, making your face look proportional.
- Wear wider ties – If you are a big and tall guy, look for wider than average ties.
Since proportion is essential for a large man, keep your accessories in balance with your frame. The bigger you are, the bigger your accessories need to be. - A watch with a large dial, a thick and wide necktie knot, and a big fountain pen are some accessories that count as power items. They convey the strength and presence of a man of your size.
Large Man Style Secret #6 Groom Your Facial Hair
Add structure to your soft facial features with a trimmed beard around the jawline and chin.
Well-groomed facial hair is always going to look more stylish than a wild, untamed beard. But, on the other hand, a heavyset guy with fuzzy patches, stubble, or a curly beard is going to be mistaken for a slob.
If you want people to take you seriously, tame that beard and maintain your facial hair.
Not a fan of beards? A neat little goatee can sharpen your chin, and a trimmed beard line along your jawline makes your cheeks look more square.
There is good news if you are a heavyset man. Your weight and body shape shouldn't hold you back. Instead, a few wardrobe tweaks can have a positive influence on how people perceive you. Use this to your advantage and start shopping smart.
Large Man Style Secret #7 Avoid OVER-Wearing Shorts
If you're asking “dress well for large men” – don't over-wear shorts. Wearing shorts is an unattractive style on large men and will never flatter a heavyset body shape.
If you carry weight in your lower body, wearing shorts will make your legs appear soft and fleshy.
If most of your weight is in your upper body, wearing shorts will make your knees, shins, and calves look spindly compared to the rest of your frame.
Longer shorts that extend to your calves are no better. Instead, they make the lower part of your legs look disproportionately skinny, giving you a top-heavy appearance.
Avoid this style by always wearing long pants.
Large Man Style Secret #8 Slip Into A Longer Coat
A short coat draws attention to your large midsection.
Swap shorter coats for a long overcoat. This effortless style upgrade prevents your body from looking divided.
Most outfits split the body into two halves at the waist – shirt on top and pants on the bottom.
Most jackets end at the waist. By switching to a longer overcoat, you eliminate most outfits' halving effect, and now your body appears in one long, lean shape. A woolen overcoat without a belt works best to produce this illusion.
A trenchcoat isn't the best option because of the belt. Instead, a duffel or toggle coat is better suited to your body shape.
Add a colored or patterned scarf to complete the outfit. A loosely draped scarf draws the eye upward, away from the excess weight around your torso.
