5 Style Tips Every Plus-Sized Man Needs

Over the years, the notion that bigger guys don’t care
about their appearance has been an underlying
misconception rampant among the menswear
industry and society at large.
Still, according to this same society, if you can’t
squeeze into certain brands’ size ranges, then “fat” is
exactly what you are. This doesn’t seem fair,
particularly if most of your weekday evenings are
spent in the gym instead of eating that large pizza or
scoffing on some burgers.
Stating the obvious, there are still a certain
percentage of men who struggle to find clothes to
suit their body shape, whether because they’re too
big, small, round, narrow, etc. Also, this isn’t hugely
surprising when you think about the fact that, owing
to biological diversity, we really do come in all shapes
and sizes – something most clothing manufacturers
who produce on a huge scale simply don’t take into
consideration. Or perhaps more accurately, can’t
afford to if they want to make a profit. In other
words, size and fit are two very different things, and
not all brands and retailers have the expertise or the
money to design with that in mind.
The average menswear brand takes a rudimentary
approach to size diversity. They start out by designing
a garment, probably a Medium (typically a 38-40-inch
chest), based on the measurements of their fit model
– that is the real-life mannequin whose dimensions
are as close to what the brand believes its customers
are in real life. Then, in order to design bigger and
smaller sizes to complete a size range, most
manufacturers will simply add or subtract inches
while maintaining the ratio, failing to consider the fact
that that’s not really how bodies work.
Luckily, the millennial generation is pushing to
completely break this cycle by keeping up with the
movement of inclusion of all body sizes and types
into fashion. No more discrimination and body
shaming; every plus size man deserves to be loved
and be given an opportunity to “rock” any trendy
outfit.
A perfect example of a plus size man in such situation
is Zach Miko; he was never exactly a shoo-in for the
entertainment industry’s body ideals. However, he
became the very first plus size model to be signed to
a major model agency IMG in 2016, thereby sparking
so much of the debate around male size diversity –
mostly for being the first ‘plus size’ male model to
appear on American retailer Target’s online store. A
lesson every brand should note and emulate.
That being stated, there’s still a simple rule of thumb
here for every ‘big’ man: the better the fit, the more
comfortable you will feel and the more body
confidence you will have when wearing your outfit. If
an item is ill-fitting and has strains, bulges, sagging, or
wrinkles it is unfortunately amplified on big men’s
clothes.
One of the biggest mistakes that a [slightly] chubby
man can do is buy clothes that are several sizes too
big in a bid to disguise his shape. If your clothing is
too big you will draw attention to your weight, add
bulk to your body, and give off a sloppy impression.
Instead, you want your clothes fitted – not tight –
which means touching your body but not being too
tight or too loose. You want your clothes to ‘frame’
your body shape, not hide it or hug it. The best option
is to buy an item that is slightly large and then have
it professionally altered by a tailor.
However, the aforementioned can be narrowed into
the following style tips to help boost the confidence
of any plus sized man:
Know Your Body
As we know, bodies vary significantly, from the
length of our arms to the width of our calves, and
everything in between.
You might have narrow shoulders, for example, but
the thighs of a skinny girl (not in transit). Or your
stomach might be disproportionately large in
comparison to the width of your neck. So, to properly
dress, or more specifically flatter your body, you need
to get an accurate idea of it. That means taking your
measurements and looking for clothes in sizes that fit
those measurements.
Try Before You Buy
You might be pressed for time, but if whatever you
grab and purchase off a rack on your lunch break
makes you look like a bag of rice then you are in for
a major wardrobe malfunction. So make sure you
take just a few minutes to quickly try something on
for size and study how it fits in the mirror. It’s worth
it. And if at all you buy off an online store, ensure
you must have read and understood its return and
exchange policy.
Tailor To Fit
Buying off the rack is a relatively modern approach to
having your wardrobe be up to date with the latest
style trend. But, on the other hand you might not be
able to afford to have your entire wardrobe custom-
made, but enlisting a tailor to make such outfits is
needed and can make all the difference to store-
bought style.
Pay Attention To Patterns And Prints
Stripes, florals, etc, all of these patterns and prints
instantly draw the eye. Which means it pays to know
when, where and how to deploy them. Reserve
punchy patterns, prints and even bright contrast
colours for the parts of the body you’re happy to put
on show. Wide horizontal stripes, for example, will
only accentuate an already large belly – which is cool,
of course, but only if that was your intention in the
first place.
Know What To Pass On
This goes for everyone really, but particularly for men
who aren’t exactly model-build. Get to know what
suits you and stick to it.
That’s not to say you can’t incorporate a fashion trend
now and then, just make sure that trend works with
your body, rather than against it. For instance, Cuban
collar shirts? Great for everyone. Bare-chested suits?
Nahh, pass!
source:


http://tushmagazine.com.ng/5-style-tips-every-plus-size-man-needs/