Fashion and grooming expert Alex Costa breaks down the most flattering ways to dress this summer.
So you’ve put in the work in the gym, and you’re feeling pretty good about the way your physique looks. That’s great! But according to YouTube and menswear influencer Alex Costa, that’s only half the battle. “If you’re not accentuating your body in the proper way, it’s just not going to look as good as it could,” he says. In a new video, Costa shares some tried-and-true ways to dress that will help you look your best, no matter what your body type.
Wear darker colors
There’s a reason some fashion clichés exist: namely, because they’re true. And “black is slimming” definitely holds up. Costa recommends a darker palate if your goal when shopping for clothes is to compensate for your “quarantine body”. In addition to black, he suggests navy, a dark burgundy or a dark grey as tasteful and flattering tones. “There’s a scientific explanation for this,” he explains. “Our eyes tend to exaggerate brighter colors… While when we look at darker colors, we’re going to see what is actually there.”
Roll up your sleeves
If you’re wearing a T-shirt with fairly long or loose sleeves, rolling them up a few times is a simple way to show off a little bit more of your biceps and triceps, while also making the material hug your arms more. If you’re wearing a long-sleeved shirt, pulling up the sleeves to just below the elbow to reveal your forearms can have a similar effect.
Trim your arm hair
If you’re keen on showing off your forearm muscles, then you need to make sure people can actually see them. “Same with your legs,” adds Costa. “And definitely the same with your abs and your chest… Play around with the trimmer and see what looks best on your body type.”
Get a tan
“It makes your muscles look more defined. That is why bodybuilders do it before they get up on stage,” says Costa, although he is keen to add that he isn’t necessarily urging everyone to go out and sun-damage their skin. “If you’re going to wear your shirt with a few buttons open… even if it’s a fake tan, I’m telling you, so many guys are getting spray tans now… you are going to look a lot more defined,” he says.
Horizontal stripes
It used to be commonly accepted wisdom that vertical stripes were the most flattering, making you look taller and leaner. But now, horizontal stripes are being welcomed back. “It really depends on your body type,” says Costa. “If you are a bigger guy, wearing horizontal stripes is probably not the way to go… If you’re thinner, you might want to wear horizontal stripes.” He advises trying on items with both kinds of stripes to see how they make you look and feel.
