How to Dress for Your Body Shape

While men may not be as shapely as women, men’s bodies still come in all shapes and sizes. Therefore, it’s important to ensure you’re wearing clothes that flatter you, not fatter you.  To help, we’ve put together this handy guide which depicts five common body types and offers advice on how to dress to impress for your body shape.

Shorter

For those that are not blessed with the height of John Corbett, the key is to take attention away from your smaller frame by keeping your outfits simple. By avoiding unnecessary details and sticking to a color scheme that is monochromatic or loosely tonal, you will create a look that offers the illusion of height. Try to draw the eyes upwards by teaming dark trousers with a light T-shirt, or by matching your socks with your trousers to lengthen your legs. It’s also a good idea to visit your local tailor and get measured. By understanding your size, you can avoid wasting money on clothes that don’t fit or compliment you.

Taller

While being tall has its advantages, those blessed with height can also face a number of challenges when dressing their best. Perhaps the most common is appearing lanky. The solution? Break up your silhouette by creating an obvious distinction between the top half of your body and the bottom. This way, you’ll keep everything in proportion. Avoid skinny jeans that elongate your legs, (all rugged males should avoid skinny jeans!), pinstripes that emphasize a long torso, and v-necks that will lengthen your neck.

Skinny

The trick to making the most of a skinny body shape is to avoid pieces that will bring attention to your slender frame. Try bulking out your silhouette by layering or wearing pleated trousers to add some shape to your legs. Maintain a balanced look by keeping everything in proportion and try buying tops and jackets that are slim-fitted (rather than regular), as this will help give the illusion that you’re bigger than you actually are.

Muscular

You’ve put years of hard work into creating a body you can be proud of — so you should show it off with super-tight T-shirts, right? Wrong. But you shouldn’t hide it all away either. We suggest wearing clothes that compliment your assets, such as fitted suits instead of skinny. Or slim T-shirts instead of oversized. Purchase clothes that have a bit of stretch, as this will help show off your muscles and accommodate your proportions. A shirt that doesn’t need ironing will help avoid any creases that may emerge from your ripped biceps.

Well Rounded

Those that are typically larger around the waist and hips often make the mistake of trying to hide their silhouette with baggy garments; or alternatively, opt for clothes that are super-fitted in an attempt to ‘tuck’ everything in. However, by selecting pieces that drape your figure — rather than hug or swamp it — you’ll be able to find a middle ground that will not only disguise problem areas, but make you appear slimmer than you actually are. To achieve such, select pieces that offer a little more room, but are still in proportion with your torso. For example, when buying a formal shirt, choose a classic fit style instead of slim. Or, when buying jeans, select a regular fit instead of skinny. As for colors, darker shades will help to create the illusion of a slender frame.

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