Flattering Men’s Fashion: Round Guys
It’s easy to believe that slim and svelte would sum up the ideal build for men’s fashion. Plus size options are rare, and style-friendly collections are rarer still. One might think that all hope is lost if you don’t fit into the Dsquared description, but there’s a way to work – and dress – around your roundness.
‘Proportion’ is the more accurate term for what’s usually called ‘size’ in fashion. If the dimensions of whatever you’re wearing are in sync, you’ll look sharp and well-dressed no matter your width or height.
True to Size
One of the first steps to creating style with a plus-size physique is to acknowledge that you are indeed working with a plus-size physique. Forcing an XL body into M clothes is never a good approach for complementing your body via fashion.
Get your size. If the fastenings on your shirts and pants strain when you do them up, get the next larger size. If the clothes don’t sit right on your body, don’t get them. Nothing is as disastrous for a big guy as an outfit that doesn’t fit you right.
This goes for every part of your outfit. Since you’re getting shirts, pants and jackets that are as big as your body needs, get your accessories the same way too. Neckties, shoes and belts are now being made in a variety of sizes and widths. This is good news for the plus-size man because these style pieces are infinitely better for complementing your figure. In terms of your tie, heavy set (especially tall men with a larger neck size) should consider extra long ties. Best are ties in normal width (3.25 – 4 inches) as skinny ties will look a bit disproportionate to a heavier set frame.
Darkness and Depth
As depressing as the heading sounds, it summarizes a very effective strategy for dressing to complement your gut. Dark colors like black or gray are perfect for hiding the extra silhouette created by your curves. A similar effect can be done using deep and rich colors like burgundy, aubergine or navy.
The fringe benefit of this style strategy is that you always look dressed up, even when you’re not wearing a necktie with your shirt and jeans. Dark colors tend to seem more formal than lighter ones, so you give off the impression of being perpetually put-together.
As with many other things in fashion, this is a strategy that can be taken too far. An outfit that’s entirely dark will make you look like an 80’s hipster in mourning. Break up all the strong colors with something light like khakis or light-wash jeans; you don’t need a full ensemble of dark pieces to achieve the effect you want.
Patterns Plus
Look at any larger-than-ideal television show host and you’ll notice that they wear a lot of patterns on-screen. TV folks with a gut like chef Tyler Florence know that the right kinds of patterns will flatter their figure, helping the viewers at home focus more on the show than on their silhouette.
What’s the ‘right’ kind of pattern? Look for small and subtle repetitive patterns against a dark ground; a gray check against a black or dark blue ground is a great example. The size of the pattern keeps the observer’s eye from noticing your curves, focusing instead on the lines and paths of the pattern. Geometric prints are particularly good at creating the desired effect.
Dressing for a non-model body is more about knowing the strategies for your body type than merely wearing whatever fits. You can still look sharp and dapper with the right pieces; you just have to change the way you think about fashion and your wardrobe.
Other Suggested Readings:
Tips to Match Eye Glasses to Your Face
Faux Pas with Dress Shoes
Your Cheap Neckties Team