Unfortunately, not all men are born tall and handsome with naturally built physiques. Nevertheless, while you may not have won the genetic lottery, clothing and grooming choices can go a long way in helping you make the best of what you've inherited. This fashion tip focuses on skinny and fat men because both body types can alter their wardrobes in order to flatter their images and feel more confident in their skin.
If your body type falls into one of these categories, read our fashion tips for skinny and fat men to learn how to best complement your physique.
tips for the skinny man
Many men spend a lot of time dieting and working out to achieve a slimmer physique, all while harboring serious hate for their skinny counterparts who can eat whatever they please without
gaining weight. Because society tends to equate being lean with being attractive (and even healthy), it's easy to forget that being too thin is a real problem that some men face. And by "some men," we're not referring to waif-like teenage boys or
hipsters who live on skinny jeans, but men who
want to shed their skinny physique.
When it comes to
fashion, just as overweight individuals find it tough to buy clothes that are flattering for a larger body, skinny men experience difficulty finding clothes that fit well and complement their smaller frames.
One way to bulk up is to join a gym and start
lifting weights, alongside eating more protein and other foods that will add
muscle mass to a bony body. However, don't worry if you hate exercise or can't seem to fit it into your day, because we've put together a collection of fashion tips for skinny men that will help you create the visual illusion of being larger than you truly are.
Buy blazers with small shoulder padding
To make your upper body look more muscular, purchase
blazers with light shoulder padding. Be warned that bigger is not better here, as small shoulder pads will give your back and chest a visual boost, but massive padding will make you seem like a small boy lost in a man's jacket in addition to cheapening your look, even if your blazer is pricey.
Avoid slim-fitting shirts
Slim-fit, yes; skinny, no. Avoiding skinny dress shirts and
T-shirts is an important fashion tip for skinny men. Instead, opt for tops that are fitted and allow some movement from your midsection, as these will hide a small ribcage. In addition, avoid clingy fabrics. Check the labels on your tops to make sure they don’t contain too much elastic. Don't buy your tops too large, though, as excess fabric will make you seem like you’re swimming in your shirt.
Tailor your blazers
Only wear single- or
double-breasted blazers and make sure to tailor them so they fit properly throughout your entire body. Avoid any loose fabric under the arms or in the shoulder area. Also, a key fashion tip for skinny men is to keep consistency in your tops and bottoms, so don’t wear oversize blazers or sweaters with fitted pants (or vice versa) or your thin frame will be glaringly apparent.
Wear jackets at the right length
When it comes to jackets, make sure they all fall right under your buttocks. A shorter jacket will emphasize your height as well as your skinny waist, arms and legs. A longer jacket, on the other hand, can make you look like a blanket-covered stick. Thus, strike the right balance.
Wear flat-front pants
Your pants should have a classic cut and remain simple with a flat front. Go for straight-leg or slightly boot-cut shapes and steer clear of tapered trousers or
skinny jeans. Pockets also add a bit more volume to your shape, as do cuffs, but wear pants with the latter feature only when it is in fashion. Don't be afraid to wear pants with lines or patterns because these add volume, although you’ll want to banish pinstripes from your closet as they will make you look like a beanpole.
hoose heavier fabricsChoosing heavier fabrics for all of your clothes is an important fashion tip for skinny men. When in style, thick corduroy pants can beef up your legs. During the colder months, skip out on trends like fitted, grandpa-style cardigans in order to avoid resembling a schoolboy, and try chunky, knitted wool cardigans instead. As far as dress clothes go, select heavier wools for your suits and cotton dress shirts with a higher thread count. Whether you’re dressing up or down, always
dress in layers as more clothes means you appear to have more mass.
Wear turtlenecks and crewnecks
When you’re a skinny man, wear turtleneck or crewneck sweaters in chillier weather. V-neck sweaters will expose your neck and thin features. Pay attention to the collar when you’re buying dress shirts and pick ones that have spread collars as they will make the upper portion of your chest seem wider.
Fashion tips for fat men
The best way to look great in the long-term when you’re overweight is to
lose excess weight with the help of a proper diet and exercise program. Once you start dropping pounds, your clothes will fit better and your confidence will increase along with your motivation to try new fashions and styles.
Since there’s no reason to put off looking good until you reach your goal weight, we’ve put together a few
fashion tips to help you make the most of your shape right now and create a slimmer-looking physique.
Ensure your clothes aren’t too tight
Your clothes should fit perfectly. Garments that are too tight will reveal all the lumps and bumps you’d rather not draw attention to. On the other hand, while very loose clothing will hide your problem areas, it will also make you look larger than you actually are. Take care when shopping to choose pieces that skim over your body and smooth out its surface.
Don’t wear tops with sloped shoulders
Avoid tops with naturally sloped shoulders as these tend to draw the eye down to your midsection. Instead, check to make sure that all your tops have slightly squared shoulders as these will concentrate others’ attention on your body to your chest and face.
Don’t wear bold patterns
Avoid loud or bold
patterns as they will make you stand out in addition to drawing attention to the upper half of your body. One pattern you should wear, however, is vertical lines; they create optical continuity and will help elongate the look of your body. Dark, solid colors are also your new best friend as they are an instant physique fixer and will make you seem 10 pounds thinner.
Wear low-rise bottoms
Instead of wearing trousers and
jeans that hit at your waist, invest in low-rise bottoms that sit on your hips. Low-rise trousers have a shorter distance between the top of the waistband and the crotch of your pants than regular trousers. Also, ensure that the waistband of your pants is large enough to accommodate your midsection so that your belly does not stick out over your pants. A stomach that protrudes over your pants lengthens your torso and shortens your legs -- not exactly the most attractive combination. Rotund individuals should also avoid pants with pleats as they will make your pelvic area look bigger. In fact, pleats should be avoided for
all body types.
Empty your pockets
Don’t carry around excess baggage. Emptying your pockets of unnecessary items like bulky cell phones, overstuffed wallets and electronic devices will take the focus off a large midsection. On your pants, have any bulky side pockets sewn shut or removed by a good
tailor. Doing so won’t cost much and it will make your hips appear smaller.
Wear V-neck shirts
V-necks are a great way to create the illusion of a slimmer neckline, particularly if you have a double chin, as they place emphasis on your chest area instead of on your neck. When it comes to
dress shirts, choose ones with very pointed collars to focus others’ attention on your face. Avoid turtlenecks completely as they will make your neck disappear, meaning that you’ll look shorter and, therefore, bigger.
Wear three-button blazers
Avoid one- and two-button blazers. Instead, go for blazers with three buttons. They are just as classic as two-button blazers, but they will elongate your body and make you appear taller and, therefore, thinner. As well, always leave the top button on your blazer undone as it will stop your clothes from pulling, particularly in the area around your middle, and consequently, your movement will seem less restricted.
Stand up straight
It’s a tried-and-true tip: Work on your posture. Standing up as straight as possible will make you look like you just dropped 10 to 15 pounds and will also make you feel and act more confident -- a trait that most people find quite attractive. To appear even slimmer, buy shoes with a small heel of about half an inch to one inch.
Avoid bulky blazers
Avoiding bulky fabrics means that chunky wool sweaters are a big no-no. To stay warm in the winter, go crazy for cashmere as it provides warmth without adding bulk to your figure. Or, try a dress shirt and V-neck sweater vest combination as the sweater vest will keep you warm while also smoothing out your midsection and love handles. For suits, choose softer wools so that the fabric is as thin as possible. Invest in high-quality, lightweight wool
suits if you can afford them as these will be the most flattering suits for your body and you’ll feel and look like a million bucks when you put them on.
Wear pants with a longer hem
Wear your pants long to seem taller and thinner. They should hit almost at the ground to really lengthen your body. If you’re wearing shoes with a slight heel, the bottom of your pants should hit about a quarter to a half inch above the heel, no more.
What to wear
Whatever your
body type, play up your best features and de-emphasize those you don’t love quite as much. Dress to flatter your physique, but don’t try too hard as you don’t want to look like a bald man who uses a comb-over to hide his flaws -- only to emphasize his problem areas.
Source :
askmen.com
8/23/2011 02:55:00 PM
