Loving menswear, accessorizing, and overall looking sharp aren’t things that come easy when you’re 230 lb. (105 kg.) and have muscles in all the right places. Over the years, I’ve learned what works for me and how to have both, but first, allow me to introduce myself.
I am a Swiss man in my thirties but discovered my love for fashion years ago when I started a professional sales job with a mandatory suit and tie dress code. As a teenager, I began lifting weights for fun and have taken it seriously ever since. Because of my love and dedication for lifting, I’ve gained a fair amount of muscle over the years. To be fair, it’s not all muscle — I enjoy eating, and I have a small belly, but the problem persists — having a muscular physique and still wanting to dress up nicely.
Others with this body type will know the struggle when trying to buy a jacket or trousers, but also when going to buy a suit! Now, I’m not somebody who wants to sacrifice muscle for style, or the other way around, so I’ve learned a thing or two about how to make both work at the same time.
Here are my 5 Style Tips for Muscular Men — Enjoy!
#1 – Look for Fabric with Stretch
This is especially helpful when you are on the lookout for a nice pair of jeans. Before you buy, test the flexibility by pulling the waist and thighs with your hands (without ripping it apart). If it stretches well enough for you, try it on and see how it feels on the skin.
Keep in mind though, this kind of fabric will always feel tighter than normal jeans. To me, it does the job and still looks great. On the other hand, if you have muscular thighs, take this opportunity to show them AND BE PROUD!
Another benefit of this fabric, aside from feeling awesome on the skin, is that you do not have to worry so much when you accidentally drop something and need to pick it up. Trust me, nothing is more frightening than knowing that your trousers could burst anytime you have to crouch or sit down somewhere!
#2 – Wear More Double Breasted
Aside from the very stylish aspect of the double breasted jacket and vests, they have a pretty neat added value for bigger guys!
The cut and button placement is different from a traditional jacket and feels more “open,“ so to speak. It also gives you that extra piece of cloth that makes a drastic different when trying to fit yourself and even a little more space to feel free while still looking dapper.
#3 – Wear More Vests
Usually guys who work out a lot have a very distinct V-shape and therefore need to go up in sizing when trying to shop, especially with jackets. To get around that and turn to something Hugo Jacomet called “another level,” consider the vest or waistcoat.
I just love mine because they not only give you more freedom to swing your arms but also compliments a muscular build. If you’re somebody who has nicely developed shoulders, it’s a very good option for your build.
#4 – Go Made-to-Measure or Bespoke
This is the best way to shop if you just can’t find something fitting off-the-rack and want that nearly “perfect” fit. Now here, in most cases, you can spend quite a bit having these items created. A made-to-measure, or MTM, piece usually costs quite a bit more because of the individual work it takes to alter the garment. Pricing does vary from one country to another, but you can expect to pay a little bit for MTM, let alone bespoke, which can cost even more!
But the most important detail here is that your clothes will definitely fit. So if you have the cash and you are willing to spend it – I advise to always go down this road.
Now, I need to be honest with you here guys, if you happen to be a bodybuilder, these will be your best two options when it comes to suiting needs. And if I can be quite frank, it still will not look like a “normal dude,” but again, be proud of the body you have built!
#5 – The Ultimate Compromise
Last but not least, we have the compromise. Now, I have done this several times, so let’s look at an example.
Let’s say you go into a store and find a stunning jacket for a decent price and you say, “I gotta have this!” But of course, you just can’t quite manage to squeeze in — like always. The sleeves are tight, you can’t button it, and you can barely lift an arm high enough to shake someone’s hand. In other words, you can “wear” it, but definitely feels a bit uncomfortable.
Now, let’s say you will wear this jacket only for a few nice occasions — I say GO FOR IT, just plan on leaving it unbuttoned. I mean, it’s not like you have to direct traffic in that jacket, right?! But that is the compromise — you do have a new jacket that you really like you can wear, but you have to sacrifice some comfort, and if it’s just for a few hours, I say, why the heck not!
