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Slimming Colors & Patterns for Men

If you're a big guy, you're probably skilled at manipulating your body language and picking clothes that complement your size. You know that standing up straight makes you look slimmer. You know that wider-spread collars make your shoulders look broader, which isn't what you're going for. And of course you avoid pants that have pleats or are tight fitting.

You're also probably keyed into what clothing helps your silhouette. Certain trousers that take the focus off of your midsection. Slightly oversized jackets that hide problem areas. V-neck sweaters that create the illusion of height.

But what color schemes and patterns work best to streamline your look?

The darker the better

Light-colored clothing draws the eye, making the area it's covering appear more prominent. Whereas dark-colored clothing diminishes the appearance of whatever it's covering, making it seem smaller.

So steer clear of bright colors like yellow and pink that attract attention and add pounds. Instead, embrace darker colors like gray, purple, brown, and navy that give you a cleaner waist and provide a slimming effect. Black is the ultimate flattering color.

Go monochromatic

Generally, dressing head to toe in a single color will give you a trimmer look. People will view you as a straight vertical line that doesn't emphasize any particular areas. Contrast this to wearing two or more colors, and the eye goes to where the breaks are, which are often around your midsection. For instance, wearing light colors on top and dark pants, or vice versa, visually cuts your body in half, making you appear shorter.

Line up

Vertical lines draw the eye up and down, rather than side to side, giving you a taller and narrower look. Think of vertical striped shirts and pinstriped business suits, though we wouldn't recommend wearing these together. As a rule, the closer the vertical lines are, the slimmer the look. On the flipside, avoid horizontal lines altogether.

Smaller, simpler patterns

For shirts, large, bold, and busy patterns aren't helpful if you're trying to slim your look. Unfortunately, those shirt patterns create the appearance of largeness. On the other hand, shirts with small, simple all-over patterns that are easy-on-the eye are great because they disguise what's underneath.

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