Menswear And Fluctuating Body Weight

The days are getting longer.

I walked the dog at 6:30 this morning and didn’t need to grab the flashlight off the hook by the door.

The birds were singing. The air is definitely starting to have that spring feel, even though we are going to get some fresh snow soon. The bitterly cold, dark days are slowly coming to an end.

I don’t know about you, but my body weight tends to fluctuate and this is the time of year I’m usually at my heaviest.

It’s no surprise. Even though the holidays have been over for some time, it’s still hard to get outside consistently when it’s below zero and pitch black. During the summer it’s almost impossible to be inactive when you have young children, but the winter months are meant to be holed up inside next to a crackling fire.

I never really get too bent out of shape about it, though. I know that it’s within my control to change it if I am unhappy…so it never really makes me all that UNhappy. And, luckily, it’s usually only a variation of, at the very most, ten pounds.

Unfortunately, though, since clothes are a large part of my life, my fluctuating body weight sometimes poses a challenge. To put a finer point on it, sometimes I just don’t fit into some of my clothes. And that’s not as big of a problem as you might think.

The purpose of this article is to quell any anxieties you may have about adding or subtracting a few pounds.

One of the things I actually appreciate about my fluctuating weight is how it allows me to enjoy items in my wardrobe that have been lying fallow.

Now, I am as adamant as the next guy about culling your wardrobe and only holding on to things that fit. But there is a danger in going too far. Don’t we all have things that we purchased when we were ten pounds heavier? Sure, they may not fit perfectly when we’re in fighting shape, but we might be able to bust them out after a few eggnogs at Christmastime.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

I seriously got into menswear about ten years ago. That happened to coincide with when I was also into powerlifting. I got very strong, but unfortunately, I also got very fat. That means that some of my early purchases are more appropriate for a man nearly thirty pounds heavier than I am now. I don’t want to get rid of them because they are well-made and well-tailored. So I keep them in the back of the closet and call on them when I have had a particularly indulgent holiday season.

Keep in mind that fashion is a swinging pendulum. Those roomy chinos that you bought a few years ago to fit your giant hill-sprint-running thighs? Guess what? They are back in fashion again!

Also, make sure you aren’t getting things tailored to within an inch of their lives. I know the too-tight-sausage-casing suits have been out of favor in menswear circles for quite some time, but it bears mentioning that when you go to have something tailored (whether it’s a suit, a jacket, or trousers), leave a little wiggle room. You don’t want something so perfectly tailored that you bust a seam as soon as they roll out the dessert tray.

Don’t get me wrong. If something really doesn’t fit or doesn’t flatter you, then by all means, get rid of it. Donate it so that other people might benefit from it. But if you have something that is just a smidge too tight or loose, then put it in the back of the closet and wait until your weight wanders back into the general vicinity where you can confidently wear that item again.

This approach has actually helped me stay positive and feel confident regardless of what my weight is because I always know I have items in my wardrobe that will compliment my body, whatever my body might look like.

You are a hard-working dad. You have more to worry about than a couple pounds here and there. If you follow the advice laid out here you’ll look good no matter what!