I need to do this for health reasons as well as for the ability to shop for clothes.
I’m not a fashionista, but I do try to look nice. And when you shop in the Big and Tall department, that’s not always easy. Or if it’s easy, it’s certainly not always economical.
I’m on several email lists for shopping opportunities for larger than life men.
One I got the other day got me to thinking about this post.
“We have these in your size.”
I don’t want them in my size. I want them in a smaller size.
No, wait.
I want me in a smaller size. There. Fixed it.
I’ve often quoted a comedian who joked about her large size. She said she’d come to accept it and her philosophy was “if you can’t hide it, decorate it.”
There’s a lot of wisdom in that I suppose. But, I don’t want to just camouflage my weight. I want to reduce.
I have. I’m actually at my lowest weight in several years. I still have a long way to go. Work and writing and rehearsals make that difficult. But I’m working on it.
In the meantime, The Art of Manliness offers 7 Style Tips for Large Men: The Big Man’s Guide to Sharp Dressing.
Antonio writes, “Dressing well is about presenting your body in the best and most flattering way possible — without trying to distort or alter the body itself. Anything else is just costuming.”
As for costuming, you can ask the people who have costumed my last four shows. But that’s another story.
Antonio offers good advice regarding style and fit. I don’t agree with, or follow all of his guidelines.
For example he says, “Shorts in general are worth avoiding.”
Shorts may not be my best look. But, I live in the south.
Still, point taken.
I struggle between dressing the way I should for my current job and the advice to “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”
The job I want involves living in a beach house and writing.
Regardless of Antonio’s advice, I can’t wear shorts and flip flops to my current office.
Then there’s the reality that larger clothes that fit well can be pricey. So, that means choosing wisely.
In the meantime, I should get back to the gym.