10 Clothes to Avoid if You Are a Skinny Man – The VOU Style Guide

Building a flattering wardrobe as a slender man requires understanding which clothes enhance your frame and which pieces work against your natural build.

Many skinny men make common styling mistakes that can make a lean frame appear even thinner.

In this expert guide, you’ll discover the specific clothing items to avoid, understand the reasoning behind each recommendation, and learn the proven alternatives that will help create a more balanced and proportioned silhouette.

1. Avoid Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans create an unflattering silhouette, emphasising thin legs and making the feet appear disproportionately large.

Instead, opt for straight-leg or regular-fit jeans with a slight taper to create balanced proportions throughout your legs.

Look for denim brands like Levi’s 501 Original Fit or Acne Studios River fit, which offer a classic straight cut that sits comfortably on slender legs without clinging.

2. Skip Unstructured Blazers

Unstructured or oversized blazers create the dreaded ‘hanger effect’, where fabric appears to be hanging off rather than fitting the body.

Choose blazers with light shoulder padding and a defined waist to create shape and structure.

Consider investing in brands known for excellent shoulder construction, such as Tom Ford or Kingsman, whose blazers feature precise shoulder padding that creates a strong silhouette without appearing overly rigid.

3. Avoid Lightweight Materials

Very lightweight fabrics like fine silk or thin cotton cling to the body and emphasise a lean build while also being more prone to unflattering wrinkles.

Select fabrics like medium-weight wool, structured cotton, and heavyweight linen to add natural bulk to your frame.

Ralph Lauren Purple Label and Brunello Cucinelli excel in producing garments using substantial fabrics that drape nicely on slender frames.

4. Avoid Horizontal Striped Suits

Horizontal stripes, particularly thin ones, make a slim frame appear even narrower by emphasising width.

Choose vertical stripes and patterns to create the illusion of height and draw the eye up and down rather than across the body.

Consider pinstripe suits from Savile Row tailors like Anderson & Sheppard or structured striped shirts from Thomas Pink to elongate your silhouette.

5. Skip All-Light Outfits

All-light or monochromatic pale outfits make a slim frame appear even lighter and less substantial.

Incorporate darker shades and rich colours into your wardrobe to create visual weight and substance.

Add navy, burgundy, forest green, or deep brown pieces from luxury brands like Loro Piana or Brioni to your wardrobe for a sophisticated and substantial look.

6. Avoid Deep V-Necks

Deep V-necks elongate the neck and chest area too much, making shoulders appear narrower.

Choose crew neck t-shirts and sweaters to create a balanced upper body appearance.

Brands like Sunspel and John Smedley offer excellent crew neck options in premium materials that sit perfectly on the collarbone.

7. Avoid Drop-Shoulder Designs

Drop-shoulder designs, where the shoulder seam falls below the natural shoulder line, create a slouchy appearance that diminishes the shoulders’ structure.

Select garments with set-in sleeves that attach precisely at the shoulder point to maintain clean lines and proper proportion.

Luxury knitwear brands like Johnstons of Elgin and N.Peal offer excellent sweaters with traditional set-in sleeve construction, creating a more refined silhouette.

8. Skip Wide-Leg Trousers

Wide-leg trousers create excessive fabric volume that overwhelms a slim frame, making legs appear lost in fabric.

Opt for trousers with a moderate taper from knee to ankle to maintain proportion while ensuring comfort.

Italian tailoring houses like Incotex and PT01 specialise in perfectly tapered trousers that complement slender builds.

9. Avoid Chunky Shoes

Overly chunky shoes or boots create a bottom-heavy silhouette that can make slim legs appear even thinner by comparison.

Choose footwear with refined proportions that complement your frame while maintaining visual balance.

Consider classic styles from John Lobb or Edward Green, whose elegant lasts provide substance without overwhelming slender ankles.

10. Skip Single-Layer Outfits

Single-layer outfits in lightweight materials fail to add any visual bulk or interest to a slim frame.

Master the art of layering with complementary pieces that add dimension without excessive bulk.

Luxury brands like Ermenegildo Zegna and Corneliani offer sophisticated layering pieces that work harmoniously.

Building a Flattering Wardrobe for Slim Men

Creating a wardrobe that complements a slim build requires focusing on structure, proportion, and fabric weight.

Remember that fit remains crucial – clothes should follow your body’s lines without clinging or hanging loosely.

Book an appointment with a professional tailor to understand your exact measurements and have key pieces altered for a perfect fit.

Consider these guidelines as a starting point, but don’t be afraid to experiment and develop a personal style that makes you feel confident and comfortable.

Style Like a True Gentleman

Before we say goodbye, here’s one of the best-kept secrets in men’s styling circles, a secret that only a few expert image consultants know or are willing to share.

First and foremost, professional styling requires knowing your unique body shape and seasonal colour palette – paramount factors in choosing perfectly fitting clothes in colours that complement your skin, eyes, and hair.

Only then can a stylist engage in styling by occasion, location, season, and time of day, with garments, footwear, and accessories from stylistically relevant heritage fashion brands to depict high confidence and success.

Best part? You can find your body shape, seasonal colour palette, and ideal fashion style in less than 5 minutes by yourself, for free, thanks to our four simple steps:

1. Find Your Body Shape

Different garments flatter different silhouettes, so knowing your body shape is the first step in dressing like a confident man.

To find out your unique body shape, take our free body shape quiz for men.

Once you know your unique body shape, take the second free quiz to discover your unique colour palette.

2. Find Your Unique Colour Palette

Remember, the garments that compose your outfits come in various colours, and you must ensure that each hue complements your natural colour.

To do that, you have to find out your seasonal colour palette, and you can do it by taking our free seasonal colour quiz for men.

3. Find Your Ideal Fashion Style

By now, you should already know your body shape and unique colour palette; the next step is to discover your ideal personal fashion style.

The fastest and simplest way is to take our free fashion style quiz for men; it includes your ideal style, outfit ideas, relevant fashion brands, and much more.

4. Professional Image Consultancy with The VOU

And if you want to style like a professional, by occasion, location, season, and time of the day, you can always ask our expert image consultants and fashion stylists for help.

Our styling services for men are the most comprehensive and detailed on the market, backed up by leading stylists who will guide you step by step in creating looks that communicate affluence, elegance, and endless accomplishments.

Remember, wearing luxury brands isn’t enough; to look stylish, confident, and successful, you must first know your body shape, colour palette, and ideal personal style, and only then style by occasion, location, season, and time of day.

Contact us today to save headaches, time, and money – it’s time to dress like a confident, successful gentleman of exquisite fashion taste – the first styling assessment is on us!