The easing of lockdown restrictions can be daunting for some. Especially if, like us, you’ve put on some extra lbs to get through lockdown. It’s hard enough knowing how to feel confident in clothing as a big man, but we’ve been eating biscuits all year and now suddenly we’re back in the beer garden with clothes that don’t fit. Yikes.
We asked our friends at BigClothing4U, experts in clothing for big and tall men with clothing up to size 10XL, to help us figure out how to feel confident in our clothing.
BigClothing4U’s tips for how to feel confident in clothing as a big man
Body positivity isn’t natural to most men as society and the rise of Instagram has taught us to be ultra-critical of our bodies and the incredible things that it does for us.
Development in diversity in the past 30 years can be seen mostly within women’s fashion. In recent years, the call for the fashion industry to represent plus-size male models has slowly begun to pick up speed. However, the acceleration of this movement is important now more than ever to help more men feel confident in the skin they’re in.
By learning to love our body and how we look in clothing as big men, we can help support the reduction of mental health issues some may feel as a result of feeling insecure.
So, what can we do to feel more confident in clothing?
Always check the size guide
Rule one of shopping as a big man: always check the size guide. Most reputable big and tall clothing stores will have size guides for brands and ranges that they stock, including BigClothing4U.
Don’t simply choose the size you would usually go for, as many brands will have different size guides. Please don’t feel disheartened if you fluctuate between sizes – this isn’t down to putting on any excess weight, but down to the brand’s sizing specifications!
Choosing the right size ensures that the clothing fits as it was designed without looking too baggy or too tight. When clothing fits properly and as it was designed, you will feel more confident.
Not sure how to measure your body? Check out this size guide.
Shop at a specialist brand or retailer
These are clothes that you are going to wear every single day, so you should buy your clothing from stores or brands that cater for and understand the physique and build of larger men, not those that have created their XL sizes as an afterthought.
Big and tall clothing is specifically designed to have extra room in the chest, waist, hips, and sleeves. Specialist XL and big men’s clothing manufacturers understand that a shirt that fits a larger man around the torso might not fit in the sleeves.
Manufacturers also create big men’s jeans or formal trousers with features to make the clothing as comfortable and non-restrictive as possible.
High street and conventional fashion brands are becoming more and more disconnected with how real (or “normal”) bodies look, which is reflected in their inaccurate sizing. Rather than being disheartened that a well-known shop doesn’t stock your size, understand that there is a whole industry of big and tall clothing brands that cater to your needs.
Get rid of clothes that are too small
We all have those smaller clothes that have been in our wardrobe for years, putting pressure on ourselves to lose weight to wear them again.
Give them to the charity shop, burn them – just get rid of them! Fill your wardrobe with clothes you can wear, this will naturally brighten your mood and stop you from feeling pressured to lose weight.
If you feel better in yourself because your clothes fit and make you feel good, you’re much more likely to treat yourself well, leading to eating better and moving more.
Start adding more colour to your wardrobe
The key to finding plus size clothing comes down to fit, not colour.
Choose colours that you wouldn’t normally go for, because why not? White doesn’t make you look larger, just as black will not make you look smaller, especially if it doesn’t fit properly.
There are no rules when it comes to colour. If it floats your boat, go for it!
If you are nervous about jumping straight in, start slowly by giving black a day off once a week. Don’t swerve bright colours completely. Start with some block sections like a colourful pocket or stripe and go from there.
Embrace your body, don’t hide it
Don’t assume that you need to hide your body and drown it with excess material. Try and feel empowered and choose brands that aim to help big and tall men feel confident in the skin they’re in.
At BigClothing4U, we recommend Uptheir, Duke or Kam. These brands create clothing that fits well and are bang on trend, helping you learn how to feel confident in clothing as a big man.
Pre-lockdown clothing might not fit quite right anymore, which can only inflate your feelings of “help, people are looking at me!” (trust us, they’re not).
Treat yourself to some new clothing from BigClothing4U and use the discount code MANVFAT for 12% off.
BigClothing4U also offers free UK 100 day returns, so if the clothes you choose are not quite right, you can send them back for a fuss-free exchange or refund. Perfect.
*Discount code excludes Kam.
