New figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons show that more men than ever, unhappy with their bodies, are going under the knife. The most common procedure? Male breast reduction surgery.
While there's an underlying body image issue connected to plastic surgery, there is a more temporary solution to the problem – dressing to slim your moobs down, while waiting for your workouts to do the trick for real. Think it's impossible? Au contraire. It's just a question of style.
Whatever the cause of your top-heavy troubles, exercise is often the most effective option. But while you’re breaking a sweat to get rid of your man boobs, tweaking your style can also help you hide your unwanted bumps, says Joseph Rosenfeld, a California-based personal brand and style strategist.
1. Compress Your Problem
A compression shirt is a functional base layer and smart first step toward concealment, Rosenfeld says. Athletic apparel makers offer plenty of not-embarrassing options. Just choose one that’s comfortable enough.
2. Hide Big Issues with Small Patterns
“Camouflaging the problem area with patterns can definitely work,” Rosenfeld says. But you have to choose those patterns carefully. Rosenfeld suggests small- or medium-scale patterns that don’t feature a lot of colour contrast. Think grey-and-black plaids, or small blue checks on a darker blue background.
3. Think Thick
Wearing thicker fabrics or several layers of clothing is a great way to hide your man boobs if you live in colder climates, Rosenfeld says. But when it’s warm, tightly woven textiles can offer some of the same concealing benefits, he says.
Look for shirts that feel slightly rigid and starchy, not feathery or thin.
(Related: How to iron a shirt in 5 minutes)
4. Find the Right Fit
Don’t make the mistake of thinking baggy threads will hide your flaws.
“Nothing is worse than putting on a piece of clothing with the intention of trying to camouflage part of your body, only to see that area looking bigger because you’re wearing something that’s too big,” Rosenfeld says. At the same time, too-tight clothing can be just as unsightly (and revealing). A properly fitted shirt is your friend.
(Related: How to find a suit that fits)
5. Turn Down the Contrast
Minimise the colour contrast between the upper and lower halves of your body. A dark shirt worn with khaki trousers cuts you in half at the waist, making you look shorter and wider. But the same shirt with dark slacks de-emphasises your waistline and boosts your altitude. “Head-to-toe monochromatic dressing can be as slimming as it is elegant,” Rosenfeld says.
6. Watch out for White
“When you wear white or light colors, your chest looks even bigger,” Rosenfeld says. He recommends dark or neutral tones.
7. Slim Down with Pinstripes
Most suits are naturally slimming because their uniform colour and texture “creates an unbroken vertical line from neck to toe. Narrow pinstripes do this even more efficiently. On the other hand, watch out for suits with large patterns. Windowpane suits and glen plaids are fattening.
A version of this article originally appeared on MensHealth.com
