Own Your Body Type

Growing up I was always on the chubbier side of the scale and was never conscious about what I chose to wear because of the mess I thought that it would look like. I'd always see these clothing ads with the latest fashion that I really liked. I'd then beg my parents to buy the outfit for me and when they finally did, I'd try it on and immediately be disappointed. By the time I'd reach the mirror the outfit would look terrible. It wasn't the style of clothes, but the way that they would fit. This applies for any person whether they are chubby, slim or muscular. The key to pulling off the perfect fit every time is to know your body type and find the right clothing suited for your type.

Body types are defined by the shape of your upper body going downwards to your waist and as a result, there are three main shapes that apply to the clothes that you should choose. I'm not at a Trevor Stuurman or Maps Maponyane level of style (YET),but I've experienced all these body times at some stage of my life and have learnt at every stage how to dress a lot better, so I hope that the lessons I've learnt from my inexperience can help you understand your body a bit more and propel your overall style to the next level because, in essence, DDB is all about keeping you a step ahead of the game.

1. TRIANGULAR

This applies to my chubby gang. I was once part of this unique squad of gents and I always used to bash myself about it. There is no need to be ever ashamed of your body type. Confidence is key and if you exude it to the fullest you'll be able to have fun with your style choices and in fact, make yourself appear to be a whole lot buffer. The key to this category of gent is to create balance throughout the body.

Vertical Striped Tees: The options here are endless and is my favourite type of pattern because it gives you a more slender and elongated look and if height is an issue, it helps you appear a lot taller. [DDB highly recommends a vertical striped Cuban-tee]

Dark Solids: Your body type is generally has a smaller chest width than your waist therefore, it's essential to increase or balance out the width of your chest with what you wear. Jerseys and crew neck tees with a dark colour panel across the chest or dark completely throughout are essential to creating this effect of extra width. These include your dark greys, greens, and blacks.

Your body type is usually larger at your midsection, therefore, avoid wearing skinny pants because although your legs will look slim, the tightness brings a person's eye to your mid-section and won't necessarily look aesthetically pleasing. When choosing shirts, tight fitting shirts are a no-go zone, instead look for shirts that are only tight around your arms to appear more muscular.

2. INVERTED TRIANGLE

This is catered to more muscular and fitter gents. I currently fall under this category and it is for gents that have a wider chest than their mid-section. I've realised that this category allows for more freedom in the choices of clothing, but there are always a few tweaks that can be made to create a crisp outfit that shows off the body you've worked for.

SLIM FIT EVERYTHING: Slim clothes that fit tightly around your body will make certain areas look bigger and more muscular than they are in reality. So shop in this section excessively but, try not to buy things that are super-skin-tight, that just looks weird (shirts, jackets, suits and polo shirts). If you have a smaller leg girth than the average, it's not a must to get a straight-leg pair of pants to cancel out the difference in widths; you can get slim fitting pants and cancel out the appearance of small looking legs with high-top sneakers.

Striped Tees: The direction of stripes define the direction of accentuation. In simple terms, to increase height you should opt for vertical striped shirts but, to increase your already wide chest appearance, horizontally striped tees are the answer.

(This body type can literally wear whatever they choose. Please no bootlegs though, EVER, in ANY category.)

3. RECTANGULAR

A somewhat average body type that's accustomed to the everyday male. If you are part of this category you have the balance that other previous types don't.

Horizontal Striped Shirt: Your only worry is to create a tight midsection in relation to your upper body. This can be achieved by falling back on the old-reliable horizontal striped tee to create the appearance of a wider upper body.

Layering: A simple trick that goes a long way to creating contrast. All you do is pair a regular solid coloured shirt with a button shirt, flannel shirt or jacket to add bulk and hence create a wider upper-body look.

Prints: Prints are a big deal especially in the warmer seasons and are what this body type should target all year round. Prints that provide focus on the shoulders going upwards are what you should get to improve your upper body appearance.

Create a v-type appearance by adding bulk to your upper body and slimming down your legs by wearing slim fit pants. The slimmer the better but, know your limits.

Closing thoughts…

Body shape over fashion trends. Take time to know your body and how it cooperates with certain styles. It's all about trial and error.

Make the local tailor your best friend. You won't always find the perfect fit for your body type, so befriend your local tailor to give you the fit every young king deserves.

Dress for your present body. Shopping for the future weightlifter body you want is pointless. Always shop for your current body to save money.

DDB