Plus Size Style & Shopping Tips for Men!

Written by Ed Golding,

Since turning 40 and discovering the joys of satellite television and the £2.99 Express Take-away, my pending belly tyre seems to have increased at rapid speed, once an innocent bicycle tyre, now a fully fledged “I’m not going anywhere mate” tractor tyre! I mean I’m not an unhealthy guy most of the time, I exercise weekly and my wife is a rabbit food fanatic. But when it comes to finding clothes that fit and look good, I’ve had my fair share of fashion disasters. Over the years I’ve gathered together a few handy hints that all men should remember when shopping for new clothes.

• First things first! Guys, try your clothes on BEFORE you buy them. OK, I know it’s a right pain and you might think a waste of time even, but how many times have you bought a t-shirt only to get home and find it’s a size too small or big even. Then before you’ve had time to collect your refund, it’s been commandeered by the misses as a night shirt. Hmm…? So not only will trying clothes on before you buy save you money, it might even steer your partner away from frumpy night-wear into something a little more to your liking. You never know, miracles could happen! Ha!

• Don’t buy a size too big! I know how it feels being a larger man myself; it can be easy to go  for the bigger size for comfort and convenience. But wearing over-sized clothes  will just make you look bigger. Don’t be scared to try different sizes on (again before you purchase).

• Don’t be afraid to use the sales assistants! They’re there to help you. You can ask for different sizes and styles as many times as you like, it’s their job to run around after you! And another point to remember is a lot of these assistants will have great knowledge of what does and doesn’t look good, so if you’ve got the confidence, ask for their opinion.

• Exceptions! When wearing smart shirts, it’s OK on most occasions to leave your shirt un-tucked; it’s one of the great benefits of being big! But please, please, please keep your shirts nicely ironed. There’s nothing worse than seeing an un-tucked, un-ironed shirt flapping about on the larger man.

• Which shade? When choosing colours and styles of clothing, dark is always best. Dark colours will slim your figure, whereas light colours will frame it. Although don’t over do it. A nice black shirt with a pair of jeans is a great look for men with a bigger figure. If you wear black trousers to work with a white shirt, always go for a dark tie.

• Which shape? If like me, you seem to have developed a perfectly shaped double chin, round necked t-shirts can enhance this misfortune. Instead go for a V-neck, it will draw attention away from your chin and to persuade you even more this style is also very fashionable at the moment!

• Empty your pockets of unwanted rubbish! Invest in a slim wallet and keep this either in an inside jacket pocket or the back pocket of your trousers. Bulging side pockets will just draw attention to your waistline.

• My last point gentlemen is: Grooming! A well groomed man will always stand out from the crowd no matter what his body shape. Keeping your hair cut and beard trimmed will frame your face to its best. Wash everyday, being a large man will mean you sweat more and have a larger skin surface-area for nasty-smells to flourish. Grooming not only improves your appearance, but it should increase your confidence and make you feel a lot better about yourself in general.

If my scribbles of wisdom have inspired you to chuck out the shell suit and bag yourself some quality threads then you really should check out the 100% People Directory. With a list of over 300 companies stocking clothes, footware & accessories for people on the larger side of life, your’re sure to find something to show off your new fashion-know-how!