Welcome to Answerland, the place where Chubstr answers your burning questions about everything. Questions about clothing, style, grooming, food & drink, entertainment, art, or anything in between – if you have questions, we’ll do our best to help you out. Click here to ask us a question, or leave it in the comments below.
Last week we asked for your questions, and you sent us a TON. We love it! Keep sending them in, and we’ll keep getting you answers. Today we cover the first batch of questions:
The Modern Brown Linen and Wool Suit from Indochino
Berele asked: I’ve browsed through many of your posts and some of your resource pages, so I apologize if I’ve missed it, but I’m looking for recommendations for short chubsters. Anywhere that carries a decent, affordable suit in size 52S (or XS, even) would be extra appreciated. There’s plenty of info out there for big and tall, and for short and thin, but big and short is hard to come by.
Big and short guy clothing can be more difficult to find, for sure. I fit in that category, and though it’s getting easier to find things in my size, it still takes some work. We’ve written about clothing for short and chubby guys, shops like Muldoon’s, whose slogan is ‘Big and tall, short or small,‘ and the variety of options they have to offer for men of different sizes. As we always advise, when you’re looking for a suit, going the custom made route is the best way to ensure a great fit. There are a few online shops that take the pain out of having something stylish tailored to fit you. Take a look at Indochino and SuitSupply for some options.
The Potrero Straight Classic 5 Pocket Jean from INDi
LargeDarkRoast asked: I have a problem with jeans. I always buy so they fit in the waist and thigh, but the rest is a baggy mess. I’ve had jeans tapered before, but it looks just as bad. I don’t want skinny jeans, but just something that sticks closer to the leg. What should I ask the tailor for?
Ah, the curse of the large thigh! In my experience buying off the rack, I find that men’s big & tall low rise bootcut jeans work pretty well for me. If you get them in your size, you’ll find that they fit well in the thigh and are a little slimmer in the leg, without being too skinny. I’m short, so I almost always have to have them hemmed, but they work well.
If you’re looking for something a bit less tight than the bootcut, consider a relaxed straight leg jean, like the Levi’s 559 Relaxed Straight Big & Tall Jeans. It’ll fit well around the waist and thighs, and looks good in the leg – plus, they’re available to size 60. Of course, if you want something custom, check out INDi, who makes my personal favorite – the Potrero Classic Straight 5 Pocket Jean. They make them in any size you need, AND they have a chubby guy as a model to show you what they’ll look like.
A small sample of TOPMAN’s espadrilles for men
PreppyBear asked: Hey Chubstr, I’m a big guy (5’9 280) and am flying Boston to France via Finland in the fall (a long day). What can I wear that’s comfortable and still looks good? I dont want to wears sweats or a track suit as they scream “fat guy trying to be comfortable” to me. Suggestions?
Flying is already enough of a pain, so your choice of dress should be the least complicated part of the entire process. When I fly, I try to go as simple as possible – with shorts, a polo, and a pair of espadrilles, like these from TOPMAN or Sperry Top-Sider. An outfit like this makes getting through security easier and sitting on the plane for hours on end a little more comfortable.
