Men’s Fashion Tips

If your shape has shifted slightly from what it was when you were younger, David Schottenstein of Astor & Black Custom Clothiers has some expert tips on how to best handle the shapeshifting. 

"As we age, our bodies change," notes Schottenstein. "Some lose height, some gain weight in one or more areas, and some experience all of the above." He offers a few pointers on how to offset the changes.

• For someone who is shorter: you typically want to stick to 2-button jackets and pinstripe pieces. These elongate the frame of a shorter man's body. Wearing any jacket a bit shorter than standard also makes a man appear taller. A slim cut that tapers in mid-waist adds to that effect. Thinner neckwear will complete any dress or business look.

• For someone on the heavier side: a 3-button roll to the 2nd button (the top button of a jacket is hidden under the roll of the lapel) in a more fitted type of cut can hide a heavier midsection, or "beer belly." The focus then turns to how well cut the suit is and how nicely fitted it is vs. "how did that guy get that paunch." Pinstripes and darker fabrics are going to look best on the heavier person. 

• Peak lapels and pointed collars are also key — they give the eye a focal point above the mid-section, so the size/weight of a person is less noticeable. The heavier man should also be wearing button-down shirts with a large British spread (a British spread collar is taller in back, with longer points in the front. It has more dramatic dimensions than other collar styles). This will make his face appear thinner in proportion to the collar spread.

• For pants: Always go no pleats, no cuffs. Both add bagginess to the pant, which make the man look bigger. For shorter guys, wear pants slightly on the short side. It gives the impression you're longer and taller. Always wear a more tapered leg; again, it makes you appear thinner and taller.

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There's a funny scene in Bridget Jones's Diary (a film most men reading this article probably did not see), where Hugh Grant while rolling around on the floor attempting to undress Bridget/ Renée Zellweger, discovers she's wearing rather large compression underwear. "They're nothing to be embarrassed about. I'm wearing something quite similar myself," he quips.

He wasn't, but now he could be!

A recent New York Times article discussed the retail hit shapewear for men has become:

While women tend to gush about what has been called the "flesh-compressing miracle of Spanx," men are more likely to point to how super-tight tees relieve their back pain. Robert Hytner, a 51-year-old former defense contracting executive in New York, turned to Equmen shirts after a back injury, and then got hooked because they improved his silhouette. "Whatever garment I put on top, I had a tight look," he said of his 10 Equmen undershirts. He says his back pain is gone, too."

OK, so maybe there are multiple benefits, but looking good in clothes is certainly one of them. This works particularly well in leisurewear, when you don't have the cut and cover of a suit to give you a sleek shape. So instead of a T-shirt, try something like  Leonisa Shapewear for men.

If only Seinfeld's Kramer had thought of this ... instead of the manzier.