REAL Men Wear Real Clothes

We were asked this question by a young lady:

"This is an appeal from a lady of the realm sojourning overseas. I need advice for a guy who'll be accompanying me on my return home. He currently lives in jeans and t-shirts because he's scared of fashion clothes shops with their stick-like assistants. He's a creative soul and I know this look isn't what he wants. Buildwise he's a little like Jack Black in his heavier days. We have three months to develop a style for his Hoxton court debut. What are your preferred looks on the rotund artistic gentleman?"

First of let me say this to your male friend - you are a REAL man, these skinny little creatures that work in boutiques and high end clothing stores are usually mere boys not honest-to-goodness chunks of manhood! So don't be intimated. I would suggest you stick to department stores where the customer base is less niche than say a Chanel store for example, as department stores are more likely to stock a good range of sizes.

Secondly I'm going to make 2 assumptions, as I've never seen the chap in question:

• He's below the age of 40
• He's looking for something that's less boring than a suit, but wouldn't want to be totally avant garde.

Clearly everyone, no matter what their size, should always wear what they are comfortable in, but no-one should just settle for a look because they think their size dictates it. If you are 20 stone and love wearing skin tight white jeans, go for it if that truly is you. I get the impression this chap doesn't want to wear white skinnies though!

So here's my advice, Queen Marie may tell something different as she has a different style to me, therefore her outlook may be the opposite of mine, but for now, here's mine.

OK, firstly I think men of your friends build look great in classic with a twist. By this I mean wearing classic items but not in their usual way. For example: a smart blazer worn with jeans; smart, loosing fitting trousers worn with sneakers; a cashmere sweater over light t-shirt (not shirt); wear brown with black. It's about subtly breaking the 'rules'.

Farrah Is Your Friend
The farrah trouser will serve you well when it comes to smart trousers. The flat front means there is a nice smooth line at the waistband and the crease down the front elongates the leg.

Don't Revert To Black
Heavier people nearly always wear lots of black. Head to toe will only make you look like a big person dressed in black - you won't suddenly disappear or become less obvious or 10 stone lighter. Go for a nice mixture of darker neutrals, broken up with some stark white and flashes of unexpected colour.

Look Away!
If you are really self conscious about a specific area of your body, say for example your belly, then draw attention away from it. I'd go upwards, towards the face, and let people focus on that handsome fizog!

I'm a great believer in the power of the scarf. 1/ It's a great vehicle for adding the flash of colour 2/ It draws attention to your gorgeous face and 3/ It gives most outfits a casual edge.

Right, I'm going to show you two men who I think look fantastic and I think their look will translate well into a heavier built chap.

This chap has all the little 'rule breaking' components down pat. He looks fantastic. Quirky, casual yet smart and self assured.

This next fellow is arty perfection. He's got it all going on! The light layers, the neutral colours, the edgy glasses and shoes. Individually the pieces are very conservative, but together the mix is eclectic without being totally eccentric.

Both these men see the power of the scarf to relax their outfits. Scarves can be a way to express your individuality, until you build up the courage to be more expressive.

Here are the type of basics you can use to mix and match to show your creative heart without being over -the-top.

You can still wear jeans, perhaps make them black or solid indigo without fancy washes and unnecessary details, or wear garbadine trousers instead.

Invest in a blazer. It's doesn't need to be a traditional colour like black. Perhaps go for subtle checks, navy, dark grey and perhaps try different fabric like linen.

Make your shoes do some of the talking. Your shoes can be a nod to the latest trends. Right now brogues and winkle pickers are big, big, big news. Go for white if your feeling brave!  Wearing sneakers with your super smart trousers looks very cool and laid back. It's a great contrast.

Don't ditch the t-shirts. Wear them under the softest cashmere sweaters for some light layering. You can swap your t-shirt for a light short sleeved shirt to wear as an alternative.

Invest in a cotton overcoat (like that chaps beige one). A nice black one is a classic.

At the end of the day, the best advice I can give you is to be yourself. And if you feel uncomfortable about your weight, then get a bit of exercise in because shedding a few pounds can make all the difference to your confidence. Oh, I'd also like to add that the other two items in your armoury should be a great haircut and some cool shades - I always think aviators look very sexy!

I hope this helps in some way and at least gives you a starting point.

Queen Michelle

Photos of the men from The Sartorialist

Comments

[Blue Floppy Hat]

Go Queen Michelle! I've always loved talking about fashion with my guy friends (maybe because so few of them are interested in it), but I'm always a little baffled when they ask me what to wear. I shall push them this way now..

[Queen Michelle]

I don't normally dish out advice at all - it's actually quite hard! I'd have all boys wear a shaved head, cool jeans, a vintage leather bomber jacket and great sneakers if it were up to me!!

[Queen Marie]

And I would have them all streched on a rack to make them tall and skinny with long hair and a big nose. After that they can wear a paper bag for all I care!

[etoilee8]

HOT. Must I hang out in a snooty wine bar to find men like this? (sigh).

[Queen Michelle]

Well, to bag yourself a chap like one of these specimens, I'd suggest anywhere where there are a lot of art galleries and graphic design agencies! So I suggest you develop an interest in art...for art's sake of course...

[ambika]

Minus the scarves, this isn't a bad approximation of my 'manbitch.' He's very much a v-neck sweater over Italian button-up kind of guy--which never fails to surprise me because he's just not into clothes really.

I'll have to work on the scarf bit.

[Queen Michelle]

Mmmm, got yourself a hottie huh Ambika?