Big Guys Dressing Well & Establishing Rapport With Your Clothier
July 30, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Clothing, Living Large, Self Image
I’ve always enjoyed dressing well – however when I was younger, it was usually jeans and t-shirt or something similar because I didn’t really know about clothes for big men. As I got older, I had to refine my clothing but always shied away from buying the latest because of cost.
However as I built rapport with the various clothiers I’ve used over the years, I’ve been given bigger and better discounts. Typically I get 10% off (as does EVERYONE) because I gave the company my e-mail address – however whenever the manager is in he’ll go one step further and see when the items I’ve purchased are set to go on sale and if it’s going to be on sale within 3 months time he’ll give me the discount then instead.
Most recently I purchased three pairs of dress pants, very good quality and priced at over $175.00 per pair. There was a 25% discount but the manager bumped that to just around 50% after adding in my 10% plus what appeared to be a “loyalty” discount – so I paid around $90.00 for $175.00 pants — and these are not end-of-season items either! It’s regular stock.
The same with shirt – I purchased 15 new shirts that would have cost me about $1,000 for around $300 – some were end-of-season and a few were meant for the cooler months but all were brand new, were heavily discounted and when they added my 10% discount — well, the deal was great.
I managed to buy pants, great dress shirts and dress shoes (the latest styles from Stacey Adams) all for under $1,000.00. This included lots of socks, plus accessories like a ties and belts.
One thing that I’ve found is that when you purchase from a clothier — whether they are independent or large national chain, they appreciate your repeat business and when you combine that with getting to know the staff that work there the shopping experience is that much better plus you get in on special deals.
When I bought the pants, there was someone in front of me that bought the same pair and he paid the sale price which was around $131.00. I managed to score an additional $25.00 discount.
I still see too many b-i-g and large-ish guys that don’t know how to dress well and the clothes that they do wear are clearly too tight…
If you are a professional – whether that means someone that sits at a cubicle all day or you’re out and about working in Sales or something similar if you are a big guy it is VERY important to dress well and look the part otherwise you will be discounted by your peers and the public.
Take care!
Mohamed
Where Can I Learn About Dressing Well As An Overweight Man?
Interesting question sent to me the other day, the answer of course is right here.
If you’ve been following the series of posts that I have made on personal hygiene, you will remember that I did post about how to dress well as an overweight man.
Here is the link to the post, that post then contains links to the individual posts that I’ve made over the last few weeks.
You should check out Casual Male XL.
They sell brand name products and great prices – these are not your typical polyester pants and gaudy shirts – but clothes that will make you look stylish and give you the image that you want.
You will find products from…
Plus many, many more!
It has never been easier to buy the right clothes and learn how to dress well as an overweight man.
A couple of items that I bought when I was in LA recently and found to fit very good and look nice:
Harbor Bay® Water-Repellent Poplin Jacket
Stand collar with hidden hood, placket hides a zipper, hidden zipper pockets, adjustable cuffs and inside pockets. Fully lined. Polyester. Machine washasble. I purchased it in the grey color. It’s listed for $55.00 on their site – but paid about half-that as it was on sale at their outlet store.
You can click on the jacket to find out the current price and look for other items on their site.
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They have an excellent collection of sports coats in addition to suit separtes when priced together are comparable to what you would expect to pay for a full-suit.
They also have a clearance center where I spotted a couple of great buys, like this:
Fossil® Mason Leather Messenger Bag
Smooth glazed leather has antiqued brass hardware, an adjustable shoulder strap and multiple interior pockets that help you stay organized.
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The only problem with clearance items is that you may not always find the right size or color – but it’s always worth the look.
So if you would like to dress well as an overweight man (until you lose all that excess weight) then you should definately visit Casual Male XL.
Mohamed
Living Large – For The Big Man or Woman
June 22, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Clothing, Living Large, Self Image
How often have you walked into WalMart, Sears or just about any department store to look for basic essentials – simple things like towels or robes and while most everyone sells these basic items if you are a kingsized man, or full-figured woman you know all to well that most just won’t fit you.
Even most clothing stores that cater to the big crowd don’t carry some of these essential items.
What to do?
You could buy two towels and sew them together. No. Not a option.
Why not just buy one?
Supersize Towelsâ„¢
At 70″ x 35″ and weighing almost 2 pounds, these 100% cotton towels are significantly larger than most standard bath towels. Plush, warm and ultra absorbent, they add a touch of luxury and efficiency in the bathroom. These are machine washable and are made in USA. You can purchase this item by clicking on the image above (item #X1182).
Have you ever been to a spa? Or how about a 4 or 5 star hotel? Like their robes? Wish you can have one of them, and don’t want to have to resort to umm… borrowing one? Here is something that you will love.
Terry Cloth Spa Unisex Bath Robe
Heavy and luxurious Turkish cotton creates a spa-grade robe that’s extremely absorbent and comfortable. Features include plush cotton, cuffed sleeves, shawl collar, patch pockets, belt loops and belt, and a mid-calf length. It is also machine washable. Click the link above to get prices, or purchase!
Finally for the passenger who needs just a little extra when it comes to the seat belt on the plane. Why ask the steward/ess for an extender and embaress yourself in front of a fully loaded plane? Bring your own! If you are a frequent (or even infrequent) traveller this is the ideal convenience item for living large.
For a comfortable flight and a safe, secure fit. Tested to the FAA-approved specifications that airlines use. Model B fits Southwest® Airlines and some business jets.
Want more Living Large items? Why not visit Living Large and search from their huge online store that caters to individuals that are living large!
Mohamed
How Your Undies Track The Recession
May 28, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Clothing, Personal Hygiene, Weight Loss
OK I got quite the chuckle on a story that appeared on Sympatico/MSN Finance section titled “How your undies track the recession” – here are a few excerpts but you should read the full story (by Michael Brush) – link below…
“To help predict a recovery, economists such as Alan Greenspan look to men’s underwear sales. Here’s what those and other unusual economic indicators say about the road ahead.”
…
“If you’re like most men, you’ve got more than a few skivvies in, well, less than perfect condition.
If you’re put off buying replacements — and your significant other hasn’t done it for you — then guess what? The recession probably ain’t over yet.
In fact, right now men’s underwear sales suggest that things have bottomed but not started to recover.”
…
“Greenspan reasons that because hardly anyone actually sees a guy’s undies, they’re the first thing men stop buying when the economy tightens. (He told this to National Public Radio’s Robert Krulwich years ago.)”
…
“Folks such as Greenspan don’t seem to look as closely at women’s lingerie — reasoning, perhaps, that women are more sensitive about wearing worn undergarments.
But Cohen says a pickup in sales of bras, as well as denim and footwear, will indicate the economy is on the mend.”
…
Read the entire article – http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/investing/michaelbrush/article.aspx?cp-documentid=20040810
Guys this goes to the series of articles I am posting on Personal Hygiene for Men (introductory post) and the first in a series Personal Hygiene for Men – Showering.
Enjoy!
Mohamed
Personal Hygiene For Men
May 26, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Clothing, Personal Hygiene, Weight Loss
Over the next few days/weeks I’ll be presenting a set of posts on personal hygiene for men – really, it’s meant for overweight men – but the topics covered will be of interest to others as well.
Being a big guy – big men are often judged on how they are dressed (and if you are in a long line up) how good (or bad) you smell and your general appearance.
Guys – appearance counts to everyone: your family, friends, the public, your employer, your co-workers – no matter what, people judge everyone by the way they look (whether they are the right weight, overweight or underweight).
Hygiene is not just about smell – it’s about personal grooming as well, things like getting regular haircuts, if you wear a beard ensure it’s trimmed nicely, making sure your fingernails are clean and cut (and yes, if so required going for a manicure), using an anti-perspirant (most have deoderants included), wearing colognes (evening) or using aftershave (during the day), taking care of your teeth (regular dental appointments, brushing, flossing).
It’s also about washing your clothes regularly, changing under clothes often (a couple of times per day if so required) or even changing a shirt twice per day. It can even include removing excessive hair on your body (under your arms and groin — don’t make faces! If you’re an excessive sweater, and have seen a doctor they will ALSO give you that advice).
Guys – it’s the COMPLETE package! This is not only to make you look good regardless of your size, but so that you look attractive to the opposite (or same sex, depending on how you swing), and when you’re at work you’re not looked at as the “big guy” – but as part of the crowd because you do take care of yourself.
You may be thinking that this is “girly” – after all most women can easily spend hours on personal grooming (women reading this – no I’m not stereotyping you, and actually admire women who do take the time to ensure that they look good).
So stick with me over the next few days, and weeks and you’ll be treated with some practical advice on staying fresh, and looking good!
Mohamed
Tips For Overweight Men Dress Clothes
May 17, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Clothing, Weight Loss
How Should Overweight Men Dress?
Guys – especially if you’re a career guy that is working in an office and overweight. PAY ATTENTION. Here are some tips for overweight men and their dress clothes.
You need to dress for success, no matter what your size. That means frumpy is out, slobby is out.
I see many guys who are borderline overweight, and they dress like slobs. Old or outdated shirts, or shirts that are a little too thin so you can see every hair on their chest. Not nice to look at, especially if you have to deal with them daily.
I also see a lot of overweight guys that wear shirts just too small (in body) for them. So much so that you can see their (eeeeeewwwwwwww) hairy belly-button. Guys, guys, guys – NOBODY wants to see that. If you’re trying to impress the boss, I’m sure that they are NOT impressed.
Wear clothes that are a good fit for you – don’t buy clothes TOO BIG but just right. I’ll give you my example. I like slightly larger clothes, and although I am a 3x, I may buy a 3XLT or 4x. What’s the difference? 3x is normal, 3xlt is LONG/TALL – so the body will be slightly longer as will the arms. The LT always means LONG/TALL.
If you are a 3x, consider a 3xlt but not 4x. It will make you look much bigger than you are.
Now I’m not a style expert, but I think I dress well – I do have the advantage of a spouse that insists I dress well when I am at work so she will come out with me when I buy dress pants, or shirts and she is pretty fashion conscious.
Now mind you buying clothes when you’re BIG is expensive. My pants will cost on average $80.00 so I tend to look for deals, and see if the store offers some type of customer incentive (the store I use offers a 10% discount all the time provided you subscribe to their flyers).
Most stores will offer this, though honestly they don’t have to. Some will even run sales where you can stack the savings – for instance, I purchased 5 pairs of dress pants of very high quality that were $95.00 each. They were on sale at 50% off and on top of that they gave me an additional 10% – I actually asked if there was any other discount available (if you’re keeping track, those $95.00 pants are now $42.75) and the store manager checked and said that the pants would be on clearance in a few weeks and would be marked down an additional 10% – he gave it to me right then instead.
So you just had a lesson in economics – BARGAIN when you can! Kidding – the store manager knows me well as I buy a lot of clothes from them and rarely return anything.
Although I like to stay in-fashion, I’m not one that cares whether the color is summer, spring, fall or winter. Bah – a pant, is a pant is a pant – I will pay attention when it comes to shirts though… you’ll see why later on. I will however be very cautious with material as a heavier material in summer is a sign of disaster because you will sweat like a mad man! Nothing is ickier than a fat, sweaty guy.
Look for shirts with some type of pattern to them, and if possible look at Oxfords. I like them because of the button down collar, it looks very professional and if you’re working in a business casual environment it is a perfect fit.
If you must wear tie and suit to work, look for dress shirts that might use a slighly heavier material and if you must wear solids, opt for darker colors instead of whites or brights. Honestly, white shirts on BIG guys or lighter colored shirts on big guys looks very, um… dorky — more so if you’re someone who is much lighter in color and doesn’t darken during the summer (yah, I’m talking to you white guys out there!).
Now although you should wear a slighly heavier shirt – pick and choose wisely. You don’t want to be walking around with your pits drenched or your shirt looking soaked. We’ll get into personal hygiene as this is even more important for the big guys out there in a later post.
Typically shirts that I buy are very business casual and will cost between $20 and $80 depending on what I find, and the type of material used.
When you’re looking for clothes – think it through ALL THE WAY – this includes under clothes as well, not to mention socks! While white will keep you cool – white socks on dress pants is a no-no. ALWAYS, always, always wear dark socks on dress clothes – even business casual. Also consider the type of underwear you wear. Boxers are nice, but will be a bit warmer. Most undergarments are cotton, or a cotton/poly mix or some type of cotton mix so don’t fret too much about this. You can also find silk undergarments or silk/mix undergarments… anyway enough about undergarments.
Socks. You can never have enough. All I can say is pick and choose wisely. I prefer a lighter material regardless of the time of year and will usually look for a cool cotton blend. As I said earlier, with dress slacks or a suit always, always pick a dark color usually black. If you must coordinate with your pants, pick the closest color possible BUT NO WHITE SOCKS! Say that to yourself 1,000,000 times – NO WHITE SOCKS WITH DRESS CLOTHES. You will look like an idiot.
Now have I missed anything… pants, shirts, socks, undergarments… Nope, think I’ve got it all covered. If you have some ideas that you would like to share, I’d love to hear from you! Comments are open and though you may not see your comment right away – I check and approve comments daily.
Here is a quick summary of what we discussed, plus a few additional points:
- Wear clothes that fit well now, not what fit well 5 years ago. Styles change, and you will look silly if you wear worn out clothes or stuff that’s just a bit too small.
- Don’t buy shirts that are HUGE and BAGGY – you will look bigger than you actually are.
- If you have trouble keeping your shirt tucked in – look for LT or just T on the label – like 3XL or 3XT the L or T specify LONG/TALL.
- If the pants fit, but feel too baggy – get them altered, otherwise like the shirt you will look bigger than you actually are.
- Wear shirts with some type of design – but preferably not horizontal stripes or designs – you’ll look B-I-G-G-E-R. If you like stripes, choose thin vertical stripes.
- I’ve been advised not to wear pleats, but I look very bad in pants without pleats. Hint – try them on and see how you look. I prefer pleats, as it looks more professional and much nicer.
- DON’T stuff your clothes with things – like cell phone, wallet, keys, money etc., but at the same time, please don’t buy one of those waist wallets – fat guys look dorky with these on. Also don’t buy a male purse that you swing over your shoulder – again, fat guys look dorky with these. What I do when I come to work is keep all those items in a soft carry bag – like a laptop bag. This looks very professional.
- Light colors attract, darker colors detract.
- and YES – there are TIES for big guys; don’t wear a tie that makes your stomach look bigger than it is! I’ve seen so many men wear a small tie when it clearly doesn’t look good. Invest in a few good ties that are “king size”.
Some resources for you:
- http://www.guyweekly.com/dressing-tips-for-tall-short-and-fat-guys/
- http://www.lifeclever.com/how-to-dress-like-a-mac/ - some great tips on how to dress like a Mac (as in Apple Mac from the commercials) – though meant for skinny guys, if done properly this won’t be too bad on a larger guy
- http://dethroner.com/2006/09/28/damn-you-mom-style-tips-for-fat-men/
- http://artofmanliness.com/2008/10/30/mens-fashion-well-dressed/
- http://buzz.chillx.com/career/how-to-dress-to-work-clothes-that-define-you
Do you have any other fashion tips for big guys? If so, I’d love to read them! Simply comment on this post.
Here is to your health!
Mohamed
