Unlock Your Signature Style: A Guide to Dressing for Your Body Shape
Ever stood in front of the mirror, frustrated with the ‘one-size-fits-all’ fashion approach? It’s time to break free! Embrace your unique body shape, and let’s dive into the art of dressing for success. Just like not all haircuts work for all head shapes, in the same vein, not all clothes styles are for you, Jumong!
Join me as we explore the 5 distinct male body shapes and discover clothing choices that accentuate your strengths, leaving you feeling confident and ready to conquer the world, one step at a time.
Curious to know where you fall in, quickly take this test.
First things first, how do body shapes come about?
Body shapes simply refer to the overall distribution of your weight and mass, which is influenced by your genetics, lifestyle, and fat storage patterns. Most times, you have direct control over how your body appears, but more often than not, genetics most especially kicks in. Knowing this now, naturally leads to the next question.
How do I know my body shape?
This is the first step in choosing the right clothes that suits you. Before we proceed, pause now and go get a full-length mirror, take your shirt off and look yourself in the mirror so you can follow me.
My rectangular folks
You have a rectangular body shape if you have a fairly straight silhouette, like in the image below.
You are typically characterized as having your shoulders and hips aligned in a straight line with no pronounced waistline or belly region. Also, people of rectangular builds are usually tall (taller than most at times) and therefore have an overall slimmer quite sexy build. Some celebrities with this body shape include: Chris Evans, Ryan Reynolds, and David Beckham.
What you should wear:
- Tops:
You should opt for slim or tailored tops that fit you well without being too tight. Choose tops with structured shoulders for a broad upper body appearance. Using layering with vests, cardigans, or unbuttoned jackets helps to add visual bulk to your top. Also, avoid vertical stripes and double-breasted jackets, as they elongate the frame.
- Bottoms:
For your bottoms, it is advisable you go for slim or tapered pants to contrast with a broader top, avoiding baggy styles. Choose darker colors like black or navy for bottom wear to visually slim and define your legs. Opt for mid-rise or low-rise options to avoid emphasizing the waistline, with mid-rise around the natural waist and low-rise sitting lower, closer to the hip bones.
- Accessories:
Exercise caution with belts, using them sparingly to avoid visually cutting your torso in half. Opt for thin belts at the natural waistline and avoid brightly colored ones. Experiment with patterned scarves or bold ties to redirect attention upward towards your shoulders.
The triangular males
The way a triangle slopes on both sides from the top to the bottom, is the same way guys with this body shape look like.
Typically, your neck and shoulder are slimmer and as you go down you find that your waist and mid-line are a bit wider in comparison. Most times this body shape is a natural occurrence especially as you age, other times; you’re just naturally shaped that way. John Boyega, and Jack Black are good examples here.
What you should wear:
Your aim here should be to draw focus away from your mid-section and to your shoulder and chest area to create a balanced visual silhouette.
- Tops:
Here, you should consider V-necks, as they elongate the upper body and draw attention upward. Structured shoulders, like padded shoulders or tailored fits, add width to the top as well and horizontal stripes across the chest visually broaden the upper body. Choose solid colors or small patterns, avoiding large, busy prints that draw attention downward. Wear fitted, but not tight, shirts, and consider layering with a jacket or sweater to add volume to your upper body.
- Bottoms:
A straight or slightly relaxed fit in jeans is a good choice. You should also; avoiding extremes like skinny or overly baggy styles and choose darker washes to create a slimmer appearance for the lower half. Consider vertical stripes to elongate the legs and achieve a balanced look and use cuffed hems to draw attention to your shoes and create a clean line.
- Accessories:
Scarves, hats, or statement necklaces are good additions to draw attention upwards.
Inverted Triangle bros
We just arrived at the doorsteps of our gym bros.
Here the triangle is inverted which means that they have well-developed shoulders and chest — usually as a result of regular visit to the gym and working on an enviable muscle pump- a friend comes to mind when I say this. Anyways, if you are an inverted triangle, your aim is to show forth the body you worked hard for and visually add volume to your lower half while softening your upper body. Check out Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Vaughn Moander and Chris Hemsworth.
What you should wear:
- Tops:
Choose well-fitting shirts with a tapered fit, avoiding extremes of baggy or tight. Befriend V-neck shirts, t-shirts, and sweaters to elongate your neck and draw attention downward. Experiment with patterns like vertical stripes or small prints on the lower half of the shirt to add visual width to your hips. Layering with a thin jacket or unbuttoned cardigan over a plain shirt would help add dimension and balance your proportions. You can consider suits with wide lapels or shoulder padding to emphasize the bulky top half of your body shape.
- Bottoms:
Choose straight-leg or slightly flared jeans instead of skinny styles to add volume to your lower half and achieve a balanced look. Elevate your looks with cargo pants and chinos with a wider fit and pockets to add bulk to your hips and thighs, evening out proportions. Embrace lighter colors or patterns on the bottom to draw the eye downward and balance your figure.
- Accessories:
A well-chosen belt emphasizes the waistline, creating a visual separation between the upper and lower body. Extras like hats and scarves draw attention upward, balancing broad shoulders, but remember to keep them proportional to your body size. Bracelets and wristwatches further divert attention from your broad shoulders to your wrists.
Trapezoid dudes
This is what is usually referred to as the average build which most designers bear in mind while they design outfits.
Often times, clothes off the rack would suit you with minor adjustments. This shape means that you have broad chest/shoulders, albeit, not as broad as our gym bros above, and your waist is the narrowest part of the torso. In other words, this body shape appears to be well-proportioned. Chris Pratt, John Cena, and Hugh Jackman happen to fit in here.
What you should wear:
If you are in this category, there is hardly a need to add or detract from any part of your body, but still there are some housekeeping rules you need to bear in mind.
- Dos:
Show off your shape by opting for well-fitting garments that hug your torso. Embrace fitted tops like crewneck tees, henleys, and tailored shirts. Experiment with patterns, excluding horizontal stripes that emphasize width. Utilize tailoring for a perfect fit in both pants and shirts. Play with jackets such as blazers and bombers that add definition, ensuring they taper slightly at the waist. Smart accessorizing with belts and scarves also help to highlight your waist and add personality.
- Don’ts:
Avoid drowning in fabric as baggy clothes make you appear bigger and bulkier. Steer clear of excessive shoulder padding in jackets, especially if you already have broad shoulders. Skip horizontal stripes and opt for vertical ones to elongate your frame, particularly if you’re shorter. Never compromise on fit; invest in proper fit even if alterations are needed.
Oval shaped
What comes to mind is the shape of an egg.
If you have slim shoulders and hips while the center of your body is wider, with the waist being the largest, then you are a member of this family. Some good examples of oval shaped men include Jonah Hill, and Cedric The Entertainer.
What you should wear:
The focus here is on clothes that do a bit of slimming and framing.
- Tops:
Avoid tight shirts that cling to your midsection, horizontal stripes, and deep V-necks as they can emphasize roundness. Steer clear of shirts that are either too small or too loose. Invest in tailored shirts that skim your body without being overly loose, vertical stripes, crewnecks or henleys, and V-necks that aren’t too deep. Embrace dark colors to create a slimming effect. Long-sleeved shirts can add length. If you like jackets, they should be single-breasted and slightly tapered for flexibility around the waist and a relaxed, slimming fit.
- Bottoms:
Avoid skinny jeans and low-rise pants that emphasize the stomach. Go for straight-leg jeans, dark wash jeans, chinos, and relaxed-fit dress pants. Consider cuffing your jeans slightly to break them up and create the illusion of longer legs.
- Accessories:
Bow ties are an excellent choice to avoid a tie that drapes over your stomach bulge, or if bow ties aren’t your preference, choose a tie that is wide and long enough to reach the belt. You can emphasize your shoulders with structured jackets, blazers, or cardigans for definition and balanced proportions. Create vertical lines with long coats, pinstripes, or vertical patterns to elongate the silhouette. Define your shape with belts at the natural waistline and draw the eye upward with long necklaces.
If you have read to this point without giving up, Kudos to you!
Dressing to your body shape is all about complementing the not so developed areas all the while highlighting your proud areas. It is all about creating an illusion of structure.
As you work tirelessly to be a high value man to yourself and consequently a point of admiration to the female folks, it is important you remember that clothes maketh the man who wears them and while you’re certainly more than what you wear, they play a crucial role in your self-expression and identity. Make your tailors your best friends. For us at JIN SIGNATURE we are building a trustworthy brand that has your body shapes at heart.
It might also be a bit tricky to define which of the boxes you fall into, but regardless discovering the nuances of your body shape is a game-changer for showcasing your personal style . Whether you’re an inverted triangle, oval or rectangle, understanding the contours of your body would help you avoid buying clothes that end up in the coziness of your closet.
If you still have your mirror at this point, I want to say congratulations to you, you have finally clarified your doubts and now know where you stand. At JIN SIGNATURE, we believe in crafting styles that resonate with your body shapes and personal preferences. Join us in celebrating individuality through fashion! The most important thing is to wear what makes you feel confident and comfortable! Experiment. Find what styles flatter you and rock them with your own unique flair, also check out our website for more outfit inspiration.
