Back in January, most of us had hopes that by now we would’ve traded in our Cookie Monster pouch for a Killmonger 6-pack. And why not? We all want to be able to wash a full load of laundry on our abs... Right? Unfortunately for most of us, It’s probably safe to say that we won’t be tossing out the washing machine just yet! Still, there’s no reason you can’t look great in your clothes, regardless of your shape. So don’t worry; whether you’re rockin’ out with a 6 pack or 2 pack (not 2pac), you’ll leave here today with some great tips to dress for your body type.
To start, there are three main body types to which all others fall under, ectomorphs, mesomorphs and endomorphs.
Ectomorph—Sponge Bob
These are the guys that a lot of people envy. Mainly, you eat what you want and you stay the same size. A rapid metabolism keeps these guys looking the same year round. Key characteristics are the symmetry between the width of the shoulders and waist, forming a square. Think Sponge Bob Square pants (no offense fellas). While many ectomorphs can wrap themselves nicely into a slim fit suit, there are still some that struggle with creating dimension and that desired “V” line from the shoulders down to the waist
Body type breakdown (square shoulders, leading straight down to a square waist)
Creating the illusion of the V shape will take some creative thinking and some slight of hand. Starting from the top of the V and working downward. Up top, the structured sportscoat is your friend. Creating definition. In the shoulders further accentuates they V line from top to bottom. Layering some pieces under the sportscoat or suit jacket will also crest some bulk up top. For the cooler months, a great waistcoat (vest) will do the trick.
Next, create a distinct break between upper and lower body, by showing your waist some love. Belts can serve both functional and aesthetic purposes here. Make sure it matches your shoes and some extra style on the buckle will draw people to your waist.
Finally, at the bottom, go for slim or skinny cut pants. Slimming down your leg will streamline your bottom half. The slimmer you get your bottom half to look, the wider your shoulders will appear.
Mesomorph—Incredible Hulk
Mesomorphs are most comfortable at the beach, the gym or pretty much anywhere that doesn’t require wearing much clothes. Try to take this guy suit shopping and he might sound like Buddy Love from the nutty professor. “I want spandex! Allll spandex!”
Body type breakdown (broad chest, slim legs or larg legs)
Broad chest— Outside of dry fit t-shirts, broad chests can be challenging to style. Because most of the rack options assume a more subtle transition of width between shoulder and waist, it’s difficult to find a shirt without the blousy bottom half. You’ve worked hard for that shape, why not shown it off! Go for an athletic, slim fit or tailored cut shirt and suit. If your're still left with your sides flapping in the wind, tailor at the sides to better contour your shape. Another tip, unstructured jackets will leave you looking less like Frankenstein and more like wear larger prints to scale your upper half to your lower half.
Slim legs— This can get tricky. If you’re an upper body workout type of gent, you’ve got skinny legs; and the last thing you want to do is make them disproportionate to those broad shoulders. Avoid skinny fit bottoms. Instead go for a slim or straight fit and taper at the ankle, which produces a tailored look without giving you the lollipop effect (big top/stick bottom).
Large legs-The struggle is real here gents. and it's one that I go through myself. For those with large legs, it can be hard to find a suit combo that works for both your top and bottom half. Suits combos where the top fits you perfectly, will often pair you with pants so tight, you can take your blood pressure. Reach for suit separates instead, which give you more versatility to cater individually to both. Your suit bottom should allow for free movment in thigh area (without clinging) when you walk. The rest of the pants (the waist and seat) may need some doctoring up, to ensure a neat fit all around. Aside from suiting, wearing pants with a pattern will also create a minimizing effect for your massive legs.
Endomorph—Homer Simpson
Endomorphs are usually of the larger variety of gent. If you look at a slice of pizza, you gain weight. Your ideal football position would be lineman. You will usually opt for large clothes to hide their stomach, but usually end up hiding everything else too!
Body type breakdown (sloped narrow shoulders, large hips, large belly, large rear end, Average/slim legs)
Sloped narrow shoulders- When it comes to your top half, shoulders are the basis for how everything else will fit. The standard rule is if you can get your shoulders into a shirt or sport coat, then everything else will fit accordingly. So naturally when your shoulders aren’t the widest point of your torso, it’s not as simple. Instead opt for a structured jacket with some padding in the shoulders to build out that inverted triangular shape.
Large belly/large waist- Be certain that the the jacket can close comfortably over the midsection. Portly cut suits will account for your stomach and allow for some breathing room, literally!
Large rear- this isn’t only the only body type that’s affected, trust me! This problem area can be a pain in the butt when finding pants that fit right (pun intended). You’ll need bottoms that offer more room in the seat, crotch and thighs. Size your pants according to your waist size. Don’t be afraid to go up a size to accommodate
Average/slim legs- Be careful here, as too much of a taper can have have you look like a candided appel on a stick. instead, keep the leg cut, gradual and more relaxed here.
Whether, you've already got your ideal body or just starting the process, remember to dress for the body type that you have, not the one you want. Feel good in the skin that you’re in!
Stay SUITABULL guys.