Originally Published: 3/27/12
The Case For Well Fitting Clothes: Hooray for staying in shape and all, but put a triathlete in the all-too-common, one size too big, cheap suit you see most American Men wearing these days, and even the triathlete will look like a schlub. Further proof that fit is more important: a well cut suit can make a guy who’s really out of shape look much, much better. The fit of your clothes is more than window dressing. It’s the cornerstone of how you visually present yourself to others. Without a great fit, it doesn’t matter if you’re in shape or not.
The Case For Being In Shape: When it comes to looking your best, being in shape is the trump card. You know how a well tailored yet inexpensive suit can look 10x-more-expensive than it actually is? Put a human body that’s been taken care of in that suit and it’s a whole other ball game. Or in this case, poker game:
- The doughy fellow in the immaculate bespoke suit is a Full House. Impressive.
- But the ripped guy in a fits-pretty-well affordable suit is a Straight Flush.
The best dressed guy in the room is very rarely going to be the guy who’s carrying 40 extra pounds. And it’s more than just suits. Being in shape allows someone to wear just about anything. They can take more risks, or, dress way down yet still look good. You can fork over enough cash to get all of your dress shirts tailored, but it takes something other than money to make what’s underneath those shirts look, and more importantly feel, better than most.
Your turn guys. Both sure seem to be important. But which one tops the other? Leave you take in the comments.
Top Photo Credits: ell brown & _gee_
A well balanced mixture of both
Definitely being in shape. Well fitting clothing is meant to hide flaws in your physique and accentuate the good or flattering aspects. When you’re in shape, you have nothing to hide which allows you to take more risks and allow you to focus more on finding clothing that you like rather than clothing that hides your gut.
However, all the stuff that’s on sale is XX-Large, so there is that.
I don’t think you’re comparisons make for much debate should be:
The doughy fellow in the immaculate bespoke suit is a Full House.
Ripped guy in t-shirt and cargo shorts.
Definitely this. Being in shape trumps all.
Being in shape for sure, not only will your cloth look better but you’ll be able to enjoy them much longer if you take cake of your body/health.
You can dress up a turd, but it’s still a turd.
I went out last year and bought the most expensive suit I’ve ever owned – no one commented on it, no pop at all. Then I lost 45 lbs – and can now only fit into the suit I wore in college, which is definitely not expensive – and I’ve gotten much more positive feedback. Sure, that’s just me, but I’d definitely go with being in shape.
It’s a lot easier to find clothes that fit well when you are in shape.
Not to mention being in shape makes you feel better and more confident, making it easier to pull off clothes that you otherwise might not wear.
In shape. No suit can give you the confidence that comfortable skin can give.
(C)
Have you seen all of the weird clothes that Brad Ptt somehow pulls off in Fight Club, just by being sculpted like a Greek God? Man-crush city.
In-shape rules supreme.
The man wears the clothes, not the other way around.
It goes the other way too. Being slightly overweight, being too skinny, both are not a good look. Both fellas should hit the weight room.
One doesn’t work without the other!
Great post! One I always wandered about! I feel like I’ve always dressed well, even in middle school I’d wear suits for fun. I’ve also always been on the chubby side of the scale…not grossly obese mind you, just chubby. At my peak, I was approx 215lbs, I’m 5″ 4′, so not huge, but definitely not small. Ha. Then I went out and lost 70lbs. I’m walking around at 145. I still feel like I dress better than most of my comrades, but now the compliments are ten times more common. So much in fact, that some of my friends have started to dress better when we go out. They all agree they feel amazing when they’re wearing a suit. Sure I went through a period where my clothes were dancing on me…kinda like a bobble body, and my head was the stiff part, but thru some thrifting and the helpful advice of Joe and all the people that comment here, I’ve finally got a wardrobe that I can be even prouder of my accomplishments in getting fit with! Long story short, being fit, especially if the clothes fit too! Whoo that was a mouthful!
Reminds me of that line from Caddyshack: “‘Oh, uh, there won’t be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.’ So I got that goin’ for me, which is nice.”
Is this really a question? Obviously being in shape wins out. Good threads on a bad product is false advertising. Its like a padded bra- looks great until it comes off
This is a tough one. On one hand, think of models – models are all skinny, chiseled specimens and the main reason clothing advertisements look good is because of them. On the other hand I’ve seen chubbier guys look better than 90% of people around them by knowing how to dress (plus confidence).
Then again why not have both.
As an overweight guy (5’7″, 175lbs) trying to lose weight, let me just say *whimper.* Feels like I’m reading Men’s Health with a bunch of gym rats here. Yikes!
I’ll be the contrarian in the room, and say that well fitting clothes trump physique. I started dressing much better at the same time that I started seriously dieting last summer, and while I’ve lost 10-15 lbs, my wardrobe improvements make me look like I’ve lost 30+.
I’d agree that being in shape allows you to carry yourself with more confidence and bestows quite a few other style benefits, but you couldn’t honestly tell me that an in-shape guy in an ill-fitting (off the rack) suit looks better than I do in my tailored suit.
Possible exception for Greek God physique, but not many of us can devote the time it takes to pull that one off.
I find it to be more difficult. I can barely find any polo shirts that will accommodate my upper arms. Even my Express Signatures fit my biceps like a rubber band (my Bonobos athletic fit and my Sunspel do better, but I can’t afford to dress in those all summer). Not to mention how much more tailoring I have to get done on anything like oxfords, jackets and suits. I find being in the shape I’m in makes clothes way more expensive.
But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The confidence, compliments and looks in the gym make it all worthwhile, as do the health benefits. No contest here.
It depends on who you’re trying to impress.
If they’re other men? I’d say being fit, regardless of tailoring quality.
If they’re women? It’s not about the suit’s cut or your cut at all. It’s all about how comfortable and confident you feel in it.
If they’re clothing shoppers? Please. Models used in clothing stores today don’t even wear clothes.
If they’re zombies? Fatty fatty yum yum.
It depends on who you’re trying to impress.
If they’re other men? I’d say being fit, regardless of tailoring quality.
If they’re women? It’s not about the suit’s cut or your cut at all. It’s all about how comfortable and confident you feel in it.
If they’re clothing shoppers? Please. Models used in clothing stores today don’t even wear clothes.
If they’re zombies? Fatty fatty yum yum.
Within reason, well-cut clothes have the edge. If you’re carrying an extra school bus instead of just an extra child worth of weight, you’ll be hard pressed no matter what, but an overweight guy in a tailored suit will look better than the ripped guy in an off-the-rack 9 times out of ten.
I think being fit is always best, but dressing right for your body is important also. So, for the many of us that aren’t Greek Gods, like you said, having clothes that fit well on you is a great alternative.
Although, I think someone should pose this question to Beth, because I’m curious about a woman’s perspective on this.
This all depends on what levels of both you’re talking about. A great fit will benefit the wearer regardless. If you’re swimming in your clothes, that won’t look good regardless.
Obviously being in shape is better than not being in shape. The truth is that a little bit of both is probably where you hit the sweet spot (assuming you don’t have time to work out / eat well enough to have <10% body fat, etc.). So long as you're in decent shape (I'm talking working out a handful of times a month and not eating fast food every meal), then you probably benefit more from getting a great fit than trying to find the time to go to the gym 5 times a week and eating nothing but grilled chicken and veggies.
Being in shape, for sure. But the two are far from mutually exclusive.
It’s a false choice. Being in shape for most people is not incredibly hard and expensive. Having a bespoke suit, on the other hand, is beyond the reach of many.
I’d take the extra tailoring costs along with being physically fit every time. The health/confidence benefits far outweigh any tailoring costs or difficulty finding clothes. In my opinion, anyway.
I’m with Josh, no contest.
The fat man might have an advantage when both are suited up. Or if his style is *very* on point. But most people don’t walk around wearing suits everywhere, at least here on the West Coast, so Mr. Portly’s advantage diminishes.
But it’s a forced choice. Having a shapely body is more easily had than having amazing, Sartorialist-worthy style. No one is really choosing between being fat and having the money to afford bespoke clothing.
Also, a shapely body has a much broader appeal than great style. Almost everyone accords you respect for a great body, not so for style.
——————————————————–
A more interesting debate would be being muscular vs being slim. Say Hugh Jackman vs Anthony Kiedis, say. Being slim means more high end clothing fits, but muscularity projects strength, confidence, dominance; regardless of whether the muscular man actually has those qualities, people will assume he does, more than an otherwise comparable slim man.
I’d give the edge to being muscular – having more muscle lets you wear clothing that would make a slim man look effete, like a cardigan or a cricket sweater. The contrast of somewhat feminine clothing and an aggressively masculine physique is a powerful but rare combination. People will wonder ‘who is THAT guy?’ Plus, moderate muscularity is not very evident unless you have *very* well-fitted clothing.
Oh, and the brawny guys get laid more: http://magazine.ucla.edu/exclusives/weight-mate-relation/
I like a mixture of both as well, but if I had to pick… I’d say a good fit will go a long way. Well-fitting clothes is like make-up for men — you don’t have to be packing a six pack or a chiseled chest, but pull the clothes off just right and you can still look very presentable:
http://www.gq.com/how-to/fashion/200707/gq-primer-suit-your-shape-slideshow#slide=1
Love this reply, but its such a cop-out, lol. (Its also the truth)
I think this is a good summary, Alan.
Indeed.
If you’re going to invest in good clothing, it’s also important to maintain your body so that you can continue to fit into the wardrobe you’ve developed. I’m not saying you need to be super chiseled, but fit enough to look and feel comfortable in your clothes.
I had built up an expensive shirt collection from London’s Jermyn Street (used to live there) and Boss suits, etc., and no one seemed to pay me much attention. Then a couple of years ago I went on a diet, biked or ran daily, worked out twice a week, and lost 40 lbs (now a 30 waist, 23-24 BMI). None of the old pricey clothes fit anymore, so i had to give the bulk of them to Goodwill, and was forced to buy a new wardrobe. And since this happened so relatively quickly, was forced to stay in budget by buying lower cost items like the kind of tips you get here. Guess what, seemingly every day people pay me compliment, and they definitely seem to be appreciating the style more. Getting in shape definitely trumps everything else.
I agree. My whole attitude towards style changed drastically after I lost 20lbs. and returned back to my college weight. It’s a lot more inspiring to try to paint a masterpiece on a nice canvas than on a bunch of old newspapers taped together….
45 days ago, I weighed 207 lbs. Today, I weigh 192 lbs. I am 5’9”.
This has changed my life ENTIRELY. I bought a MEDIUM shirt and 34-size jeans this weekend and they look great and I couldn’t be happier.
I’ve always tried to dress well because I’m a bigger guy, but getting fit gives you 10x more confidence than clothes ever will.
Being in shape always wins. Every guy should own a pull up bar. They cost no more than $15, 20 at a Ross or Marshalls. Best investment I’ve made in a long time. who needs a gym when your own weight and gravity will do the trick. You can do push-ups all day long but nothing says strength like being able to lift your own weight.
Being in shape. It’s as easy as eating just enough, moving just enough and getting enough sleep. You don’t have to bench a family of four or do the Tour de France either. Style should be from the inside out, so get fit before you get fitted.
Really interesting post that I’ve been wrestling with for the last three years. I started out at about 270ish pounds and so I was the guy that thought baggier the better. Poor self image. But I decided to change that. Did it slowly over the course of two years and now i’m hovering between 178 and 185. I feel great. But it encouraged me to dress better too. I became a suit guy, i learned to love vests, I fell in love with colors and patterns and drawing attention to my outfits. I became confident.
So, ultimately, health is the winner. Not because of just the obvious issues but because being healthy changes the way you feel about yourself. You’re personal sense of style shifts because you become confident to try new things, your ego survives more mistakes, you grow.
Choose health first and then watch and see…. you’ll love the person you become afterward.
Christopher
The-approach.org
I’ve got a bit of a belly but am not entirely unfit. I would say fit of the clothing is more important, but being in shape is also quite important (and something I’m working on). I try to be meticulous in terms of fit and although I am a bit heavy (6’2″, 200 and falling) I constantly am complimented on my outfits.
Being jacked and being fit are two different things in my opinion. My comment was more towards the lean, fit man. Someone who has significant muscle, like yourself usually doesn’t fit the profile of most designers.
Being muscular is more fun at the beach, though!
I’d say both, ala Ryan Gosling in Crazy, Stupid, Love.
This is really interesting as our weekly topic on my blog is the gym. I’d argue that being in shape > good fit. It’s hard to find things that fit someone with a V build, and it’s a real pain looking sometimes, but the fit will come; a healthy body will give you longevity… no comparison. A style enthusiast understands how important the proper fit is and how much work goes into finding it, but I don’t think anyone can debate that it takes more work to get a fit build. I’ll keep to my workouts and having the sides taken in on most of my shirts – it can’t hurt to try for a good build AND proper fit.
Definitely being in shape, assuming both isn’t an option. However, I have a 45in chest and 30in waist and casual shirts that fit are difficult to come by. Not complaining too much though!
I’m realizing how much I take being skinny for granted.
I think being in shape is better, you will be surprised how well off the rack clothing fits when you don’t have as much in the mid section.
Being fit. Style is about the image you’re presenting, and your body is as much a part of that as the clothes you put on it. Worrying about what you’re wearing when you aren’t in good shape seems like putting the cart in front of the horse to me. You should probably pour the foundation and put up the walls before you start hanging drapes and picking out a dining room table. Someone can have the most expensive and stylish drapes in the world, but I wouldn’t live out of a cardboard box for them. Similarly, I wouldn’t trade being in good physical shape to have a wardrobe full of expensive, stylish clothing because what would be the point?
I have to disagree. You can buy an entire summer wardrobe that looks classy, clean, and has style for well under 500 bucks if you’re smart (10 nice shirts from buckle-$200, 4 pairs of shorts-$80, socks, shoes-$100 ) , which almost every American can afford. However, having that Greek god-like ripped physique requires a level of commitment and sweat that the vast majority (99.9%) simply can’t execute for more than a couple weeks.
“I’ve always dressed well, even in middle school I’d wear suits” Dude, part of dressing well is not being way overdressed for the occasion!
“I’ve always dressed well, even in middle school I’d wear suits” Dude, part of dressing well is not being way overdressed for the occasion!
Depends what clothes you’re talking about (and I guess how much of a midsection). When I was in great shape, I found that anything that fit my shoulders was way, way too wide through the body.
And I wasn’t Jersey Shoring it, just in pretty good shape, relative to my current status of “don’t look that fat, but feel like it.”
Sure, I agree! But I’d say being comfortable and liking what you’re wearing is more important than worrying about overdressing. In middle school I was just a kid who watched the way my father dressed and admired it enough to try to emulate it at that young an age. I don’t go around wearing suits to rock concerts or marathons, but part of dressing well is also about looking good even if the occasion doesn’t necessarily call for it. A lot of what this whole community is about is setting yourself apart from others by choosing to dress better…something I’ve been quite fond of since middle school.
I have to admit I’m reading this post while eating a snack sized mcdonalds mcflurry =/
I recently lost about 40 lbs, put on some muscle, and brought my BF down to about 14% and although I’ve had to buy new clothes, it is one of the best things I’ve ever done. I get complimented frequently and that does wonders for self confidence. I feel more comfortable and confident regardless of whether I’m wearing a suit or jeans and a tshirt. No suit can compensate for that.
Well… I would far rather be in awesome shape and have to start from scratch in terms of my wardrobe than own everything bespoke and not be able to climb a set of steps. As they say – all you’ve really got in the world is your health. The rest is just things.
Being in shape definitely.
I agree – having the confidence to pull off your clothes is what its all about!
Someone 20 lbs overweight in well fitting clothes will always look better than someone at ideal weight in poorly fitting clothes. So I will go for good fit.
That being said, being at ideal weight and in well fitting clothes always looks best, and if you’re in shape it’s easier to find clothes that fit well. So the ultimate answer is both.
this shouldn’t even be a debate…hiding your unhealthy self behind clothes is living in denial. your health is everything. period.
hit button 2x, sorry.
That’s awesome man, congrats
I don’t consider models as “fit”, in the traditional sense. Yes, they’re skinny and some have muscles (well kinda, they have muscles due to being skinny not so much of working out), but overall the clothes fit them because they’re made to fit their type of bone structure and weight. It’s a sly way to make people think that’s the standard of beauty.
I think that being fit is better vis-a-vis the confidence you’re granted to take style risks and dress as well as you’d want. When I was 5’11, 190 pounds (not Sandow’s Grecian Ideal, exactly; all fat.), I wanted to dress well, but I never had the confidence to wear a bright/patterned/risky outfit cause I didn’t want too much attention drawn to me. Of course, there are chubbier guys who have all the confidence in the world, and good on them. However, most guys simply won’t dress exactly how they want unless they’re truly comfortable with their body.
Just my two cents.
It’s a matter of extremes – sure, fitness is more important if you’re 50 pounds overweight.
However, I’d argue that for someone who’s generally h/w proportional, fit is more important than being in incredible shape. A six pack and cut biceps do you no good under a billowy shirt and jacket, whereas tailored clothes will make most non-obese guys look similarly good.
To echo what other people have said, I had a good collection of nice suits but was 50 pounds overweight. I dropped the weight and wear lesser quality suits that fit great and I got complimented daily. You make the suit, not the other way around.
Let’s face it, most of us who are in dappered community are neither super fit nor obese. We are here because we want a better quality affordable fitting clothes.
We are not going to be super fit next month/year and some of us struggle with that last 10-20 pounds. Therefore, better fit trumps because it can be attained today. The superfit and everyone else can benefit from better fit today. You want to look your best today, not when you “lose that 10-20-50 pounds.” That can only be attained by better fit, all while you work on “being in better shape.”
Eight months later: It’s as easy as those things… if you’re already in shape. If you’re not in shape, then this becomes something more like “eating too little, moving too much for what you’re eating, and getting enough sleep.” And that’s a lot more difficult — take it from someone who’s lost 50 pounds in the last year.
Kyle, I agree. I think you rephrased and add to my initial post in simpler sentences.
Exercise is king and diet is queen; put them together and you’ve got an empire. ~ Jack Lalanne. I recommend insanity workout plus healthy balanced diet.
The problem is with the question – they’re not mutually exclusive so if you can have both, why not have both?
Why choose? Do both = fit squared
Being in shape is definitely the trump card. You also just feel better when you’re in shape. I dropped 20 lbs this past year and I just feel more confident in the clothes I’m wearing.
Everyone is going the fat route with regards to not being in shape but a skinny guy with good fitting clothes looks better than someone with a good body and ill-fitting clothes.
False dilemma. Any self-respecting man should stay in decent shape. And he should dress himself well, regardless of income or profession. A man who can’t take care of himself physically or otherwise… isn’t.
I’d say being fit. Daniel Craig would look good in just about anything.
Totally agree, and while he usually is a really sharp dresser, he does take some risks and look way cool doing it, because he’s so fit.
Def gotta get in shape
well being in shape myself after being skinny forever, not losing weight but gaining it:
Being built like a UFC fighter now and I was more bodybuilder before, I find women pay attention to it more as it highlights the V taper in a well fitted suit
You have more confidence
Can wear peak lapels and stand out that way
When you were a kid you always analyzed the shape of a present too
All the comments seem to be assuming that the opposite of being out of shape is being fat, right? For me, the opposite of being in shape is being too skinny and weak – really the default position as getting in shape takes effort, so does eating the quantities required to get fat. So what’s the consensus on well-dressed versus bulking up? I’d say dressing to fit…
I say being in shape wins, but I disagree somewhat with the comment below that it’s easier to find clothes if you’re fit. There are decent athletic cut dress shirt options, but any casual shirt, sweater or off the rack jacket that fits my shoulders leaves my midsection swimming in extra fabric.