Spending hours in the gym is the most logical way to get more muscular. However, there are ways to look more muscular without investing in specialist equipment and a gym membership.
And that’s exactly what we’ll cover here: how to look more muscular using styling tips and tricks. With the right clothing such as a muscle fit shirt and styling options, anyone can look more muscular without investing time at the gym.
What do Muscular Guys Look Like?
This might seem like an obvious question, as the answer would be, “muscular”. However, there is a clear definition of what muscly guys look like from a physical perspective, which is:
- Large shoulders, chest, and upper back
- Small waist
- Large thighs but smaller calves
In short, muscular men are shaped like a V on their upper body. To look more muscular, then, you should highlight specific areas while downplaying others. This is the logic we follow in the tips below.
How to Dress to Look More Muscular in Clothes
The key tips for how to look more muscular in your clothes involve balancing outfits, choosing the right colours and patterns, and paying greater attention to your clothing options. So, here are some tips on how to look more muscular.
Looking for clothes that make you look more muscular? Check out our collection of fitted shirts here.
Clothing Tricks to Make You Look More Muscular
So, once you’ve nailed the basics, there are a few more styling tips you can do to look more muscular. These are less about the actual items of clothing but more about how you wear them.
1. Fit is King - If it doesn't fit right forget it
Never, ever underestimate the power of well-fitting clothes. Fit is more important than any other aspect of picking an outfit and it can make even the ugliest clothes look stylish.
Your choice of fit ultimately depends on your body type and what you want to highlight or hide. Some general tips are:
- Stay away from super tight clothes if you’re skinny
- Avoid super baggy items if you’re on the larger side
Of course, many muscular men prefer spray-on tight clothes to show off their physique. However, when you’re trying to dress more muscular, you want to hide as much as show.
It can be difficult to give specific fitting advice, but use the above rules to play around with clothing until you find something that you feel fits properly.
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2. Choosing Colours - Lighter shows, dark hides
What color shirt makes you look muscular?
Typically, we’re told that black is a slimming colour. While this is true, we’re arguably aiming for the opposite of slimming. As such, focus on lighter neutral colours, such as grey, beige, and white.
Lighter colours will highlight your body and make you look more muscular in certain areas.
These draw attention to your shape, so you must still be careful with how you wear them. Don’t rely on this tip alone, but balance it against other advice in this article.
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Of course, this doesn’t mean you should avoid colour altogether. The most basic rule is that dark hides and light shows. So, providing you stay on the lighter end of the spectrum, you can still have complete freedom over your colour choices.
3. Know Your Fabrics - Try thicker to add bulk
Heavyweight fabrics add bulk, which sometimes isn’t a good thing. But, if you’re trying to look more muscular, it can make all the difference.
Opt for heavier weave fabrics, such as denim or tweed. Almost anything made from leather or wool is a good choice, too. Flannel and corduroy are also good options, as they add bulk and texture but can still be a more tailored fit.
Of course, don’t take this too far otherwise you’ll end up looking like a mass of fabric. Keep heavier fabrics for your outer layer, whether this is a shirt, suit or coat.
4. Layer Up - Add layers to enhance the shoulders
Similarly, intelligent layering can add bulk to your frame. Layering can make your overall look more polished, too, and makes it more coherent. Plus, it’s a great way to add contrasting colours and textures.
The easiest layering pattern is:
- A t-shirt as the bottom layer
- A long-sleeve shirt or t-shirt as the next layer
- Finish off with a sweater (ideally cable-knit) or a sports jacket
As always, fit is vital. Baggy clothing has its place, but it’s not in a layered look. Your clothes don’t need to be tight, as this can do the opposite of what you want, but they should be well fitted.
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5. Balance Your Outfit
A well-curated outfit should have balance, but this is even more important if you’re trying to look muscular. For skinny or smaller men, this typically means going on the baggier side on your upper half and on the tighter side on your lower half.
However, still avoid super skinny jeans. Instead, a nice tapered fit will add some volume to your legs without being too baggy. A slimmer t-shirt with a slightly oversized shirt or denim jacket is ideal for adding bulk to your upper body.
The key takeaway, though, is never to do a whole outfit in one fitting theme. For example, don’t do tight and tight or baggy and baggy.
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6. Go for Long Sleeves - hide your arms if you need to
If your arms aren’t the biggest, stay away from short sleeves. Obviously, if you’re going out in a t-shirt, this might be unavoidable, but you could always go for an oversized option with longer sleeves.
Long Sleeve Black Tapered Fit Polo and Grey Tapered Fit Polo Shirt
For shirts, stick with long sleeves. Roll them up to just below the elbow, and the folds and excess fabric will add bulk to your arms.
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7. Jackets with Bulk - More Layers = Bigger Frame
Where possible, try and style in a jacket that adds weight to your shoulders. By this, we don’t mean going out in an 80s power suit or dressed as an American football player.
Instead, look for a jacket with epaulettes or slightly wider shoulders. Also, biker jackets are great because they can be very tailored but with some padding in the shoulders.
8. Collars Can be Your Friend - V For Muscular
Muscular men have quite bulky necks. So, what can you do if you don’t have a muscular neck? Hide it, of course!
Polo shirts work well, as do button-up shirts of any kind. Avoid doing the top button up, though, as this will highlight your skinnier neck.
Turtlenecks are hit-and-miss. They add volume, but tight ones will show that your neck is skinny. Look for ones that aren’t super tight but have decent bulk to them.
What muscles make you look big in a shirt?
The muscles that stand out the most and make you look bigger in a shirt are the delts. These are the front, middle and rear deltoids located around the shoulder.
Having large delts gives a strong and powerful look and is the most noticeable part of a muscular physique in any shirt.
However, make sure that you find a shirt that fits your shoulders properly. If it sags around the delts and upper arms it doesn't matter how large your shoulders are. A baggy shirt will throw off your proportions and highlight a shapeless body.
How to Make Muscles Bigger Without Flexing
Aside from cutting body fat and hitting the gym, it is possible to make your muscles look bigger without flexing.
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How To Look Bigger and Wider
One option is to wear patterns, specifically horizontal stripes or checks. These make you look wider/bulkier, so can make you look more muscular with very little effort.
For example, combine a patterned shirt with a layer underneath and then roll up the sleeves. This can draw attention away from your skinnier areas while adding bulk to your upper torso. Overall, it creates a great illusion of muscle.
For added points, if you’re particularly skinny, throw in a French tuck, popularised by stylist Tan France. In short, it involves tucking in the front of your shirt around your belt buckle. It’ll make your waist look smaller thanks to the fabric’s drape.
How do I Make My Shirt Look Muscular?
Making your shirt look more muscular again comes back to the fit. Muscular men typically go for a tapered, V-shape shirt that gives them wider shoulders and a skinnier waist.
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If you’re not super muscular, the best starting point is a slim-fit shirt. Normal fits can make you look bulky in the wrong way because they’re shapeless. A slim-fit shirt at least has some tailoring to it, providing it’s not very tight, of course.
Also, try to find a shirt where the shoulder seams sit in the right place. This might sound minor, but it’ll dictate how the rest of the shirt falls on your body. If you have the money and the time, consider having a shirt tailored to suit your needs.
Of course, if this isn’t an option, there are shirts that make you look muscular - the Tapered shirt. Our shirts are specifically designed for men with a more muscular build but will suit anyone wanting a more tailored and defined look.
Most importantly, they’re V-shaped, so highlight your shoulders and chest while drawing in at the waist. As mentioned, this is the basis of looking more muscular in your clothing.
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We make them out of high-quality fabric with 4-way stretch. This means they cling in the right places but still provide enough movement for you to be comfortable.
How to Make Your Muscles Look Bigger In Clothing
The tips above are an ideal starting point for anyone who wants to look more muscular but doesn’t want to put in time at the gym.
However, you should always spend some time playing around with clothing to see what works best on your body type.
Regardless, fit is always the most important point and should never be overlooked. Once you nail the fit for looking more muscular, everything else will fall nicely into place.
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Show Off Muscles
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