Mike Tindall with Zara
Summer 2012 will be filled with huge sporting events including The Games, FA Cup and Wimbledon, so all eyes will inevitably be on our favourite sports stars. As well as having to play well, the pressure will also be on them to look good off the pitch, court or stadium.
There’s nothing quite like a nice fitted suit, but depending on your frame and body type this can be quite difficult to get a perfectly tailored ensemble, especially if you’re as tall as a basketball player or have the muscular legs of a swimmer.
We can’t all look like David Beckham but that doesn’t mean that you can’t carry off a smart two-piece. It all about knowing what style, colour and fabric is better matched to your frame whether you have a body like a petite jockey or a rugged rugby player. Here are some top tips on how to choose the right suit based on your sporting physique.
The Jockey Gent
If like Frankie Dettori you’re the perfect petite package, accentuate your form by following these top tips:
- Avoid suits that give you a box shape – a short jacket can make you look quite square
- Accentuate your height by steering away from double breasted suits
- Stick to either a two button or a one button cut
- Slim fit trousers are more flattering than a single pleat
- Stay away from horizontal and chalk stripes as they can make you look smaller
- Vertical stripes are a great way to create an illusion of lengthening a short frame
- M&S Limited slim fit suits range would suit the man looking for a slimmer fit and has a more petite frame.
The Rugby Rogue
Solid men like Mike Tindall are faced with one of the trickiest problems when choosing formal wear - finding a suit that fits! But ‘larger’ guys can still get a well-tailored design and shouldn’t just ‘make do’:
- A pinstripe suit can help to make you look thinner
- Traditionally, a double breasted suit would be the most flattering
- It’s important that the suit fits you on the shoulder properly
- If you have a large bottom, which is often the case with athletic builds, look out for suits with pleats at the back which have more give
- All M&S suits have a ‘wider’ option, so a bigger man can go for a skinny style
The Football Fella
Men with a classically athletic frame like Jamie Redknapp are lucky – almost any suit will flatter their frame, but: