According to research published by research analyst’s Mintel, by 2010 the plus size
men’s fashion market in the UK reached a turnover of £1.9 billion, indicating there are
a good number of larger-framed gentlemen out there in fashion need. While there is
quite a good selection of Large men’s clothing now available on the high street and
online, building outfits for large or tall men can be difficult. This is because men are not
necessarily built with large proportions all over – for instance, they may appear tall but
have only a long body or long legs. Similarly, they may at first glance seem broad, but
in fact have a wide chest but a relatively slim waist.
With this in mind it is often easier to buy clothes for large and taller men in stores
that specifically cater for their needs. Here you will find ranges that take length as
well as width into proportion, rather than simply sizing in small, medium and large.
Before purchasing any item of clothing, make sure you have a good idea of yours (or
your man’s) measurements. Using a tape measure take down all the essentials such
as waist, chest, neck and inside leg. This will ensure you select the most suitable size
using the retailer’s size guide.
Before choosing items, take a realistic view of the overall shape you are working with.
It’s fine to have preferences for more casual or smarter more tailored clothes, but you
don’t want to opt for something too baggy or too fitted if it is only going to negatively
accentuate a large tum.
Too often men who find it trickier to source clothing in their size will just buy anything
they come across that does fit – regardless of the fabric. Before making a purchase
you should always consider both the material and colour used in the piece. If you have
a larger stomach you may want to avoid shirts that crumple easily as this can draw
attention to larger areas. The same tactic can be applied to trousers for those with larger
thighs and bottoms. If you are looking for a slimming colour you may want to play it safe
by sticking with darker shades such as navy, charcoal and grey, but there are no hard
and fast rules about avoiding colour. The one colour combination rule that should be
remembered, is that wearing contrasting fabrics together will draw the eye to where the
two colours meet, so if you have a large waist you may want to avoid monochrome or
other contrasting colour combinations at this point.