Dress For Your Body Shape
Knowing your own body type can be finding flattering clothing, looking your best, and honing your own personal style. While men may not have as many choices to make as women do (with petite, regular, or plus sizing), variations in clothing sizes and styles do nevertheless exist, and knowing how to navigate them is key.
If you are tall and thin:
Avoid vertical stripes. Horizontal stripes will be much more flattering on you. You may want to look for a traditional “rugby” style polo shirt, which has one broad horizontal stripe across it. Choose fitted clothing. Your instinct if you are very thin may be to wear oversized clothing to hide your slim figure. Make sure that the shoulder seam of your shirts hits the top of your shoulder, and the crotch of your pants hits your anatomical crotch. Well-fitted clothing should skim your skin without hugging it too closely.
Wear square-toed shoes. Rounded ones may make you look unbalanced or disproportionate; while square toes ones add shape and balance.
If you are bulky:
Dress in monochromatic or similar shades. If you dress in starkly contrasting colors, such as black pants with a white shirt, this looks blocky and can make your middle section stand out. A well fitted blazer or sport jacket does a great job at hiding a bulky midsection.
Avoid busy shirt prints. If you have a bit of a belly, this will call attention right to it. Instead opt for a smaller print that is spaced far apart. Don’t wear turtleneck sweaters. Instead, opt for a v-neck sweater, which is elongating and slimming. Wear a strong, broad tie knotthat matches your stature, such as the Windsor knot.
If you are short:
Opt for small prints rather than large ones. Very large prints can be overwhelming to your frame. Pay attention to the rise of your pants. Pants with a small rise (meaning the distance between the crotch of your pants and the waistband) can help to elongate your legs and define you from behind. Choose a slim necktie. Larger ones may look disproportionate.
