One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Still

Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 52 seconds.

Toxic expectations and standards around masculinity, whether in broader society or interpersonal circles, prevent many men from voicing frustration when it comes to their body image even though 30 to 40 percent of men are anxious about their weight. Glorification of svelte and muscular male body types, seen through professional athletes, Hollywood representation, and familial upbringing, can be a difficult barrier for a man to overcome alone.

The average menswear brand takes a rudimentary approach to size diversity. They start out by designing a garment, let’s say a Medium, based on the measurements of their fit model – the real-life mannequin whose dimensions are as close to what the brand believes its customers are in real life. Then, in order to design bigger and smaller sizes to complete a size range, most manufacturers will simply add or subtract inches while maintaining the ratio, failing to consider the fact that that’s simply not how bodies work, really.

So, there is no reason to feel bad about that garment not fitting, which is completely fine. You could be six foot tall, weigh 209 pounds and have a healthy BMI of just under 20 per cent and still find an XL shirt strains like a crop top.

Still, according to society, if you can’t squeeze into certain brands’ size ranges, then “fat” is exactly what you are. Which doesn’t seem fair, particularly if most of your weekday evenings are spent squatting in a gym, not scoffing shawarmas.

Or you could be a five foot six, weigh 275 pounds and have a not-so-great BMI. But, as long as you understand and acknowledge that one size doesn’t fit all, there is always a solution.

But don’t you fret, it is okay to be big, and you could definitely look smart, if dressed right.

Go get that shirt you like from your favorite brand. We here at Big&Tall carry every garment you need; in the size you need. Our portfolio over 40 fine international brands to suit every fashion palette.

Brands like Cutter&Buck for casual wear, Leneveu Couture, Luigi Morini for your pants, Milano Italy for fine dress shirts, Lindenmann for your handkerchiefs and XMI Platinum for your ties, are sure to put a smile on your face. Afterall, we all come in difference size and shapes.