How Should a Suit Fit for Muscular Men & Bodybuilders?
It shouldn't be a tarp, it should taper with your frame
Bodybuilders and muscular men wearing suits can be hard to look at. They work so hard at the gym but when it is time to attend a formal event they are lost at where to buy a suit that fits. They either don't know bespoke clothing exists or they believe the myth that it costs a ton of money. In this post we will tackle the fit, colors/patterns, personalization's and accessories you should be wearing.
The Fabric & Fit
The fabric is important because most bodybuilders and muscular men run hot so choose a Super Wool, which basically means 100% wool) instead of a wool blend that has polyester in it. Super wools come in all different types but opt for a Super 110-150 wool. These will be lighter fabrics but also won't crease easily. When it comes to fit, here are some key tips:
Fit is key, if you don't get this right it will ruin your whole outfit. It doesn't matter if it is a $500, $5,000 or $50,000 suit, fit is crucial. Here are the main areas you will need to focus on:
Tapered in the waist and pants, fitted in the shoulders and chest.
Proper length in the shoulder, sleeves and pants. See the below photos for a perfect guide on this from The Art of Manliness.
Your issue will almost always be buying something that is too big to compensate for a larger chest or thighs, making everything else too baggy.
Custom will be the best option for your sizing
Learning Proper Fit
If you are a competitive bodybuilder like some of our clients you may have to have two different outfits, one for your lower weight and one for your competition weight. We did this for a client, who has a 3 month wardrobe and a 9 month competition wardrobe.
Colors/Pattern
Bolder colors and patterns will usually be a bad look for you. When you enter a room most eyes will be on you anyways, you do not need to go overboard here. This is our suggestion, and you can do what you want, so we will leave that up to you but here are our general guidelines.
Choose subtle patterns or solid colors like navy blue, charcoal, olive, brown and in the summer, light grey or even a light pastel blazer (light blue for example) with neutral dress pants.
As for fabrics choose lighter Super 120-150 wool or cotton so you do not add more bulk and size.
Personalization's
These touches will make the look and tie everything together.
Wide lapels (the lower collar spreading across the chest) will bring the right attention to your broad shoulders. Having skinny lapels, a skinny dress shirt collar or a skinny tie will leave you looking disproportionate and silly.
Your jacket will be a larger size so little additions will help. Adding a ticket pocket (a small pocket above the right flap pocket) takes up the space which makes sure there are no large unoccupied spaces on the jacket.
Accessories
As mentioned above anything skinny will look terrible on you.
Go with a wider tie, think 3.25" at the very least. If you are much larger go with a 4" tie and keep your dress shirt collar larger and jacket lapel width to that or 3.25" at the lowest as well.
Wear a pocket square for the same reason you would wear a ticket pocket, it draws the eye upward naturally and breaks up a large space in the jacket.
Wear less layers. No sweaters or heavy materials that will add bulk.
Conclusion
A custom suit is your best option at the end of the day. You can choose the fabric and personalization's that fit your body style. You do not need to worry about the cost of alterations or buying something way too big for you.
If you are wanting to work with what you have, find a highly recommended tailor in your area to taper and hem your clothing. They can also take out the shoulder pads which add a lot of bulk.
If you have any questions or would like to use us for your next outfit, please do not hesitate to reach out to us or check out our amazing offer to get your essential bespoke navy suit and white dress shirt for $988. That's $571 in savings!
Derek Burbidge
Owner/Founder of Cardero Clothing
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