Dressing the heavyset man is not much different than dressing anyone else. Keeping a few tips in mind will enable you to maximize your wardrobe, confidence and image. It’s not about your body, so much as it is your presentation.
Before we get into tips on how to dress for your build, it needs to be said:
Dress for how you are now, not for a future ideal body.
Don’t wait until you are an ideal weight before investing in quality clothes. Shop for the body you have, not for the body you’re working towards. With the right clothes, you look like you’re in charge of your appearance now. Accept your body as it is. The function of clothes is to present your body in the best light possible. You don’t have to reduce your body weight to achieve this illusion. Instead, use these smart clothing choices as a reference point: Avoid saggy, low-formality and flesh-revealing clothes.
It’s easy for your body to look shapeless in loose t-shirts, tank tops and 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 are those that give a clean, clear and defined shape to your body. Your wardrobe should be well stocked 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.
SUITS & BLAZERS
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Fit
Heavyset men should instead seek out fabrics with a good, clean drape and wear their jackets and trousers slightly loose. Get a jacket that accentuates your shoulders and makes then appear wider than your waistline, if possible.
Fabric
Avoid heavy fabrics; they accentuate your size and tend to trap heat and cause excessive sweating.
Color
Putting a neat frame of unbroken cloth on either side of your midsection, in a dark color, is particularly slimming. Navy, brown, black and charcoal gray should be your preferred base colors. If you choose to wear other colors, keep them dark. For instance, a dark olive green is more suitable than a lime green.
Pattern
Avoid clothing with busy patterns or graphics. Complement your heavyset 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.
Buttons
Choose jackets with three buttons, since three elongates; making us appear taller and thinner.
Tapering
A slight taper a the waist of a jacket helps draw the eye up toward the face rather than keeping it down on the chest — avoid untapered jackets, which will produce a decidedly boxy effect. If your waist is wider than your shoulders, add padding to shoulders to broaden them.
Vents
Vents should always lie flat and closed when walking. The (vent) material should never be stretched or pulled apart, since that indicates your jacket is either too small or the cut is too tapered.
SHIRTS
Collar
Wear dress shirts with spread collars: A broader collar suits your broad face. The larger spread between the collar points allows you to tie a large necktie knot, making your face look proportional.
Fit
No gaping button holes – even when sitting. If fabric pulls around the button, your shirt is too tight. The placket on your shirt should lay flat and not pull apart.
Go Long
A major issue with heavyset guys wearing their pants under their gut is the hem of their tucked-in shirt making the trip all the way under the belly on the outside of their pants. Sometimes it doesn’t quite reach and becomes untucked, adding to a slovenly appearance. The worst case scenario is the two sides of your shirt, past where the buttons end, spread apart revealing your undershirt or even the skin of your stomach. Err on the side of caution and choose a longer shirt measurement.
TROUSERS
Higher Waist
Trousers should be worn high, on the natural waist, so that they drape cleanly over the belly rather than squeezing tightly beneath it. Nothing looks worse on a heavyset gentleman than his stomach extending over his belt buckle. Avoid Dunlop’s Disease by buying pants with a waist size and rise large enough to pull up to right below your navel, and then wear them like that.
Additionally, raising your waistline has the added bonus of elongating your legs and shortening your torso, resulting in a more balanced appearance.
Cut
Tapered or straight-cut trousers are your friend. Slimming your legs helps to lengthen your appearance and balance your midsection in proportion to the rest of your body.
ACCESSORIES
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. Suspenders will help get a more comfortable fit and keep the waistband of the trousers from bunching unattractively.
Belts
If you prefer belts, make sure that you buy a long enough one. I think some heavyset guys pride themselves on squeezing into a certain size pant, but if your size 40” waist pants make your belly looked pronounced, you are the only person who thinks it looks good.
Wider ties
If you are a big and tall guy, look for ties that are wider than average. A skinny tie will only hinder your efforts.
Proportion
Since proportion is important for a large man, keep your accessories in proportion to 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 hefty fountain pen are some accessories that count as power items. They convey the strength and presence of a man of your size.
FINAL SUGGESTIONS FOR THE HEAVYSET GENTLEMAN
Vertical lines and dark tones create the illusion of a tall and slim silhouette. A single vent, two button jacket and lightweight materials will also streamline your silhouette.
FIND YOUR PERFECT FIT
We invite you to discover a new world of bespoke, where clients have the opportunity to design every detail of their garment. Select each element, from the fabric to the color of the stitching on your buttons, with a drink in hand – the way it was meant to be.
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