The Correct T-Shirt for your Body Shape

It is that time of year again! Time to throw out your winter clothes and fill your wardrobe with brand-new summer clothing. Just make sure you wear the right T-shirt for your body shape.

If you wear one that’s too big for you, you will look miles bigger than you actually are, and if you wear one that’s too small? Well, let’s just say you don’t want to do that. Once upon a time, wearing baggy t-shirts was all the rage… not any more.

First off, you want to make sure that your t-shirt of choice fits nicely on your torso. But how do I do this, I hear you ask? Well, start by looking at the seam that attaches your sleeve to the rest of the shirt. This must sit on top of your shoulder joint. If your seam is sitting somewhere near your neck then your t-shirt is too small.

Plus, if it is too small, it could ride up and become one with your armpit and that is not exactly a walk in the park. Not to mention how visible your sweat patches will become.

Similarly, if the seam is sitting up on your bicep then your shirt is too big. This will make the whole t-shirt baggy and make you look huge when you might not be.

Rectangle

Let’s say you’re quite slim but don’t want to draw attention to the fact. If this is the case, then stay away from dark colours as this will trim your figure even more. The same with patterns; you don’t have to stay away from them entirely, but be cautious when choosing them. Make sure your pattern is horizontal as this will make your structure seem wider. Also, make sure that your t-shirt is a comfortable fit; not too tight and not too baggy.

Even though you could get away with the t-shirt being too small, it will constantly ride up and that could become annoying. As for being too big, this would cause the T-shirt to flap about and make you look really big. Trust me, it’s not a good look. When choosing t-shirts, look for trim-fit or slim on the label.

Trapezoid

Okay, so you’ve got broad shoulders but a slim waist? No problem. Again, make sure that the T-shirt is a good fit. Ideally, you would like one that comes to the hips, and these tend to be a medium fit. The shirt should ideally have broad shoulders to emphasize your physique.

Make sure that, if wearing patterns, you keep them vertical to add dimension to your body shape. It is best to wear the same, or similar, coloured top and bottoms as this will work wonders for your trapezoid body.

Inverted Triangle

This is similar to the above but the shoulders are even broader and the arm muscles are well defined. Basically, your top half is significantly bigger than your bottom half. The first thing you want to do? Avoid V-Necks. These will make your body look out of proportion. However, there’s something even better than the best T-shirts for broad shoulders. What’s that you ask? A tank top, of course.

Vertical stripes and patterns are also the way to go as this will help draw attention to the muscles, but make sure that your body doesn’t look silly (i.e. a ridiculously large upper half). You also want to stick to dark colours as these will help you look slimmer while keeping your athletic frame.

Triangle

This is the opposite of the inverted triangle; you are wider on the bottom half instead. The main thing is to make sure that your t-shirt is not too tight as this will draw attention to parts of your body that you may want to hide. A baggier, but well-fitting T-shirt is the best choice.

Layering is also a smart move as this will help give depth to the top half of your torso. Lighter colours are the best choice as this can help make your shoulders look wider. Feel free to wear patterns so long as they draw attention away from your lower half. Horizontal stripes or busy patterns are the way to go.

Oval

If you’ve got big upper arms and a rounded stomach, then you come under this body shape. The best thing is to make sure that you don’t choose t-shirts that are too small as these will hug all of your nooks and crannies in the wrong way.

Also, make sure that you don’t go for a baggy T-shirt as this will make you look even bigger. You want a nice, comfortable fit that allows you to breathe. Make sure to always go for a v-neck as this will create the illusion of a slimmer silhouette.

Plus, it is a bonus if you have a short neck as it will appear longer. Avoid large or busy prints as these will draw attention to your lower midriff; instead go for either a plain t-shirt in a dark colour or small, defined prints. If choosing stripes, stay away from horizontal as these will make your body shape even larger.

So there you have it, fellas – how to choose the correct t-shirt for your body shape. Now go out and buy yourself some new T-shirts. Just make sure to follow the above advice and you will be okay, and look mighty fine.

Written by Davinia Ridgwell