Your oval body shape presents unique opportunities to create a sophisticated, powerful appearance that commands attention and respect in any setting.
The following principles will help you choose garments that enhance your natural proportions, creating a refined silhouette that speaks of success and taste.
Creating a Longer Torso
The foundation of a flattering silhouette lies in creating visual length through your midsection.
Choose shirts and jackets with uninterrupted vertical lines – this means avoiding awkward breaks or horizontal details across your torso.
Opt for monochromatic outfits, keeping your top and bottom in similar tones to create an unbroken vertical line.
Select vertical stripes in your suits and shirts – the eye naturally follows these lines upward, creating a lengthening effect.
For luxury options that exemplify these principles, consider Ralph Lauren Purple Label’s pinstripe suits or Tom Ford’s vertically striped dress shirts.
Defining Your Waist
A subtle waist definition creates a more balanced silhouette without drawing attention to your midsection.
Choose jackets that gently taper at the waist rather than hanging straight – the key word being ‘gently’.
Avoid tight-fitting waistbands or belts that create a visible line across your midsection.
Select trousers that sit at your natural waist, not below it, to create a smoother line.
For exceptional examples of proper waist definition, explore Brioni’s single-breasted jackets or Anderson & Sheppard’s bespoke suits.
Balancing Your Frame
Create balance by adding subtle structure to your shoulders while keeping your midsection smooth.
Choose jackets with light shoulder padding – just enough to create a clean line without appearing bulky.
Select shirts that fit well across your shoulders without pulling at the buttons.
Ensure your jacket sleeves hang straight from your shoulders without pulling or bunching.
Huntsman of Savile Row and Cifonelli excel in creating this perfect balance through their tailoring.
Drawing Attention Upward
Guide the eye upward with thoughtful details around your face and shoulders.
Wear v-neck or scoop-neck tops to create a lengthening effect through your neck.
Add interest near your face with elegant ties or pocket squares.
Choose collared shirts with moderate spread collars to frame your face effectively.
Drake’s London and Turnbull & Asser offer exceptional accessories to achieve this effect.
Choosing the Right Fabrics
Select fabrics that drape smoothly over your midsection without clinging.
Look for materials with natural stretch and recovery, such as high-quality wool blends.
Choose medium-weight fabrics that hold their shape without adding bulk.
Avoid stiff or thick materials that create unnecessary volume.
Loro Piana and Dormeuil offer excellent fabric options that combine comfort with elegant drape.
Final Thoughts
These styling principles form the foundation of a sophisticated wardrobe that flatters your physique.
Start with these fundamental techniques, then explore luxury brands to build a wardrobe that perfectly balances comfort with elegance.
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 –Â the first styling assessment is on us!