How To Dress For Your Body Type: Thin/Slim

For those thin men out there (like Dorian!), you can probably just walk into most stores and find something that generally fits your frame. But, understanding how to properly dress for your body type when you’re thin is more than just wearing the right size. And, since a great fit is probably the biggest factor in making you look your best, we’re going to dive in on some specific tips for those of you who have thin or slim builds.

For item-specific fit tips, be sure to check out all the different Fit Guides we have available!

General Tips

Thin men can struggle to find things that fit trim enough and often just settle for wearing oversized clothes; don’t do it! It can be tempting to wear clothes a bit big to feel like you’re adding mass to your frame but actually, it’s the opposite. You want clothes that fit properly and highlight your shape.

Since a “slim fit” can vary widely across brands, it’s really important to try lots of brands and find the one with the right slim fit for you. Then, it’s important and to find a good tailor to make the tweaks you need to your wardrobe.

Shirts

Say no to v-necks, they’ll only make your neck look overly long and this isn’t flattering. Focus on crew neck t-shirts, polo shirts, oxfords, and dress shirts. You can wear all patterns, stripes, and prints. Vertical stripes are fine but horizontal stripes will add some visual width. Make sure shirts and tops are tapered in the waist to give your body some shape. You don’t want things to hang off your frame in any area as baggy fits will just enhance your slim frame.

Fit Guides: T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Dress and Oxford Shirts

Jackets/Suits

Bomber jackets and blazers are best for a thinner man’s frame. Just make sure you have them tailored if necessary to fit you in the sleeves and body. Any suit style will work for you but just make sure you have the proper size and a slim fit. Try a double-breasted suit or blazer to add a bit of size to your torso.

Fit Guides: Suits, Blazers, Jackets

Sweaters & Cardigans

Shawl collar sweaters and cardigans can add some size to your shoulders so we highly recommend them as a good option for your frame, but stay away from standard cardigans, they can hang off you too much. Crewneck sweaters will also look great and can be layered with a t-shirt or a collared shirt. But, if you’re going to wear a v-neck sweater, make sure you only wear it with a colled dress shirt or oxford underneath. Like a v-neck t-shirt, it’s going to accentuate the length of your neck in a bad way without a collared shirt underneath.

Fit Guides: Sweaters, Cardigans

Pants/Jeans/Trousers

For jeans, trousers, and chinos, a slim fit with a tapered leg will look the best. Stay away from straight or relaxed fits and avoid super skinny or tight pants, they will only enhance your slim legs. Pants should be fitted at the waist and in the seat. Tailor if there’s too much fabric in the seat. From there you can focus on tapered fit from the knee down – straight leg or no taper will give your leg the incorrect proportions. Again, try on a bunch of different brands to find one that works best for you.

Fit Guides: Jeans, Chinos, Trousers

How To Dress For The Gym With Steve Cook

There’s definitely a right way and a wrong way to dress for the gym. Sure, you’re there to get your sweat on but that doesn’t mean you should just wear a ratty old t-shirt and some sweats. Plus, you want to find functional items and fabrics that will wick moisture and provide performance benefits. For this video Ashley was joined by our friend and fitness guru, Steve Cook, to discuss how you should dress for the gym.

Performance Fabrics

Look for technical fabrics with performance benefits. There are many better options than an old cotton t-shirt and those heavy sweats can catch on things and restrict movement.

Watch Your Fit

Yes, there is such thing as too tight and nobody wants to see everything, so find a balance with your fit. Sleeveless is ok, but don’t be the guy in the tiny tank top showing excessive nipple. If you are going to be wearing base layers or tights, we recommend laying shorts and shirts over them.

Stick With Simple Colors

Keep it basic, stick to foundational colors like black, navy, grey, white. A pop of color or pattern is definitely welcome, so don’t be afraid to have some fun with your gym style. You also don’t need to feel the need to match everything from head to toe, have some variance in what you’re wearing.

Logos

As we’ve discussed before, keep your logos minimal and try not to mix different brand logos, especially if they’re large and noticeable.

Have Gym Wardrobe

It can be tempting to just wear your old t-shirts and shorts to the gym. But just because you’re working out and getting sweaty doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cultivate a well-put-together look. That being said, no need to overthink it. Keep it simple, functional, and easy-to-wear.

Gym Style Picks

Tops:

Bottoms:

Don’t forget to check out our companion video over on Steve’s channel!

Extra special thanks to Steve for joining us, for more, check out his channel and site:

Youtube

Instagram

Website

How Shirts Should Fit A Muscular Man With Steve Cook

Finding the right shirt fit can be a challenge, especially when you’re very muscular up top and have a narrow waist. We’re excited to be joined by our friend and fitness guru Steve Cook to discuss Ashley’s shirt fit tips for all of you fit, muscular guys!

In terms of fit details, there are four main areas you want to focus on in terms of a good or bad fit.

Chest/Shoulder Fit

Make sure you’re buying your appropriate chest/shoulder size. Focus on this area first and foremost as other areas (sleeve, waist) can be tailored much more easily. Look for trim/fitted but not tight. You don’t want button-up shirts pulling at the chest or riding up into your armpit. When you’re shopping, look for slim fit or athletic fit t-shirts for the ideal starting point. From there, test out a bunch of brands so you can figure out which ones work best for your body type.

Neck Fit

For dress shirts, make sure the neck isn’t squeezing or tight, you should be able to insert a finger or two between the collar. For t-shirts, I recommend going with a v-neck as it will highlight those neck and shoulder muscles you’ve worked so hard on in a really great way. Just make sure the v doesn’t extend too low, it should hit just above your armpit line. This rule goes for scoop neck t-shirts as well. In terms of polos and casual button-ups, you can mimic a v-neck by unbuttoning one or two buttons (but not too many, don’t be that guy!) and highlight those muscles we spoke about before.

Sleeve Fit

Again, trim and fitted (depending on preference) but not skin tight is what you want. You want the sleeves to lightly hug your bicep but not pull. For short sleeves, I also recommend keeping an eye on sleeve length. Your sleeve should hit midway down your bicep, you don’t want too short of a sleeve. If your sleeves need a bit of taper, a tailor can help.

Waist Fit

As with other areas, you want your clothing fit to accentuate the v-shape you work so hard for, and the waist area is a hugely important spot to keep an eye on. If the shirt fits your chest and arms properly but is loose and baggy around the waist it’s time to visit a tailor. Ideally, you want to be able to pull 1-2” max from the sides of your shirt, any more and it’s probably too baggy. The great news is, this is a simple alteration that a tailor can make, and trust me, it’s money well spent, even for t-shirts.

Don’t forget to check out our companion video on pants fit for muscular men over on Steve’s channel!