A Concept Men Need To Get Behind
For many years, the concept of dressing for your shape has been much left to the ladies and their varying curves. However, this concept is important for men to embrace as well. The male body form varies just as much as its female counterpart. Before you can understand completely what clothing styles and fashions look best on you, you must first have an idea of how your body is actually shaped.
In the end it isn’t about what looks good, it’s what looks good on you. There’s really nothing more unflattering or uncomfortable than ill-fitting clothes. So, be honest with yourself when it comes to your size and your shape. Most men fall into one of five body shapes: trapezoid, inverted triangle, rectangle, triangle, and oval. Keep in mind that all bodies are unique and if you don’t happen to fall into one of these categories, that’s okay. Seek advice from your favorite tailor to get individualized attention regarding your shape.
The Trapezoid
If you are lucky enough to dawn broad shoulders that taper down to the waist, you’ve got what they refer to as the “average build”. When it comes to dressing for your shape, you have probably not experienced too much adversity. The trapezoid body shape is ideal for experimenting with new trends and wearing bold prints. The one general rule for this shape is to avoid stripes in the case of appearing stretched or widened.
The Inverted Triangle
This shape is similar to the trapezoid though the hips and waist are more narrow. It’s an athletic shape with broad shoulders and a big chest. If you associate with the inverted triangle shape, you must pay special attention to the imbalance between the upper and lower body. For example, avoid the super skinny jeans as they will leave you looking like you skipped leg day. Unlike the trapezoid shape, stripes work well with the inverted triangle as they broaden the figure. When it comes to suiting, opt for double breasted suits and straight-leg trousers.
The Rectangle
This shape has shoulders and waists at generally the same size. People who identify with the rectangle shape can come off appearing narrow or lacking muscle definition. Therefore, the goal here is to use clothing to create an illusion of structure where there is none by widening the shoulders and tapering from the top down. Layered looks, prints, and neatly tied scarves are all pieces your shape can utilize to expand dimensions. Although you should avoid shirts that feature prints or block colors which mimic a rectangular shape. When it comes to more formal looks, avoid the double-breasted jackets and opt for a single-breasted style with structure.
The Triangle
This body type features a waist and chest that are bigger than your shoulders and chest. This will make you appear larger in the lower half of your torso area. Having this body shape can be frustrating at times as many clothes are designed to fit the exact opposite body shape: inverted triangle and trapezoid. You should aim to fix this imbalance in the torso by focusing on well-fitted clothing tailored by a professional. Button-down shirts will help streamline and balance out the torso. Men with a triangle-shaped body should choose darker colors, especially on top, as they are more flattering and can make you appear thinner. As far as formal wear goes, avoid the bulk of double-breasted suits and opt for a single-breasted design.
The Oval
The oval shape is round at the center of the body with shoulders and legs appearing smaller. Men with oval-shaped bodies should attempt to decrease the intensity of this shapes’ negative attributes. To do this you’ll have to add width and depth to the shoulders in order to square them off and slim the body. Vertical stripes or pinstripes can help streamline and lengthen the body. Pay special close attention to the length of your sleeves and trousers. If there is additional length on these parts of the garment, it could cause bulking and gathering which will appear to shorten the limbs. Avoid double-breasted jackets for the same reason. We don’t want to add extra bulk to the oval-shaped body.
So there you have it – a quick run-down on the most common body shapes and some tips to go along with them. Though our last piece of advice will be the same as always: Get your clothes tailored! We can’t preach it enough. A well-fitting garment will do wonders for whatever body shape you are. The professionals at Damanino are more than happy to help you identify your body shape and fit your clothes accordingly.