What Not to Wear For Skinny Guys - 10 Fashion Mistakes to Avoid

Are you wondering what clothing to avoid as a skinny guy? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Many skinny guys struggle with finding clothing that fits them well. It’s very common for clothing to be too tight or too too baggy, and neither is very flattering.

As someone who grew up skinny and insecure about my body type, I had to find ways to dress well while not highlighting my small frame. Over the years, I’ve found what clothing looks good on thin guys and what clothes should be avoided.

In this post, I share the 10 fashion mistakes skinny guys should avoid. I also answer frequently asked questions about clothing for skinny guys.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

10 Fashion Mistakes To Avoid for Skinny Guys

Here’s a list of clothing items that skinny guys should avoid wearing:

1. Overly Tight Clothing

If you have a skinny frame, then it’s a good idea to avoid overly tight clothing. Tight t-shirts, skinny jeans and tight fitting sweaters don’t look the best on very slim men.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should fill your wardrobe with baggy clothes. However, there is a middle ground that looks very good on thin guys.

For tops like t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and sweaters, you can wear either your natural size or a size up. Never wear something that feels tight around your chest, shoulders and arms as it will highlight your small frame.

When it comes to pants, try wearing slim fit jeans or slim fit pants. The biggest mistake I see tall skinny guys make is wearing skinny jeans, which make skinny legs stand out.

The best pants for skinny men are slim fit pants. These will have the right fit. Your pants or jeans won’t look too tight and they won’t look too baggy. If you’re looking for pants, slim fitting pants are a good option.

2. V-Neck T-Shirts

V-Neck t-shirts are a style of shirt that just doesn’t look good on slim guys. Instead, try wearing a t-shirt with a crew neck collar.

Most skinny guys have thin necks, which is why v-neck t-shirts don’t fit nicely. By wearing a crew neck shirt, your neck, shoulders and chest will have a bigger appearance.

In general, v-neck t-shirts aren’t in style these days. However, this still is an important fashion mistake that every skinny guy should be aware of.

The best t-shirts for skinny guys are the crew neck shirts, which are super popular right now!

AMAZON PRIME FREE TRIAL

Amazon Prime comes with many benefits, including faster, free delivery, movies and TV shows (Prime TV) and even borrowing Kindle books. If you don’t already have Amazon Prime, check out the FREE 30 day trial.

Amazon Prime 6 Month Trial for Students – This offer comes with exclusive deals and promotions for college students.

3. Not Layering Clothing

One of the biggest mistakes skinny men make when dressing up, is not layering their clothing. Layering your clothing will give you a larger appearance and make you look more stylish.

When you go out, always layer your outfit with a jacket or sweater. Bomber jackets, sherpa jackets, leather jackets and sports coats are all good ways of layering your outfit.

If you’re insecure about your thin arms, try wearing a crew neck sweater or a thick knit sweater on top of your polo shirt or t-shirt. This way, you will look bigger and there will be more depth to your outfit.

On nicer occasions, instead of wearing your button-up shirts and dress shirts with nothing underneath, try wearing them with an undershirt. This will make your arms, shoulders and chest areas look bigger.

Layering your outfit will go a long way and it’s a serious game changer. Not only will you look better, but you will also look more stylish.

4. Tank Tops

As a skinny man, wearing a tank top is just not a good look. The issue with tank tops is that they are going to make your arms look super skinny and they really don’t fit skinny guys nicely.

Tank tops only really look good on muscular men. It’s better to wear clothes that fits your upper body nicely.

Instead of wearing a tank top which will make you look smaller, try wearing a crew neck t-shirt, sweater or hoodie.

5. Long Shorts

If you’re a skinny guy, then you’ve probably been called “chicken legs” or felt insecure about your thin legs at some point. Some skinny guys will avoid wearing shorts all together, however this isn’t always practical.

As a skinny guy myself, I love to wear shorter shorts. I think that shorter shorts look a lot better than those big, long and baggy shorts.

Shorter shorts are good choice as they will make your lower body look more proportionate to the rest of your body. It’s really hard to get bigger legs, so you may as well embrace what you have.

When it comes to comfort and style, shorter shorts have the perfect fit.

6. Black Dress Pants

As a skinny guy, a suit will look really good on your body type. However, a black suit will make you look smaller and bring out your thin frame.

Since suits look so good on skinny guys, it’s important to look your best when you need to dress in a suit. A colored suit will look good and will fit your body better.

Navy blue, light grey and charcoal grey are all suit colors which look very nice on skinny guys.

Tip: As a skinny guy, wearing a thin tie will look better with a suit, compared to a traditional thick tie.

7. Thin Materials

A mistake that many skinny guys make is wearing clothing with thin materials. Wearing clothing made of thin materials will make your frame look smaller.

Whereas, wearing clothing that is made with thick materials is a great way to look bigger. The thick materials will create the illusion that your body is bigger than it looks.

If you’re looking for the right material, try wearing thick knits. Thick knit sweaters are perfect for casual wear and they will make you look bigger.

This same logic applies to pants. If you’re wearing pants, don’t wear any that are super thin and tight as they will highlight your thin legs.

Instead, wear pants with a bit of a looser fit and ones that are made with thicker materials. Most jeans, joggers and sweatpants are made with thicker materials compared to track pants which are made with thin and breathable materials.

8. Bad Posture

No matter how you dress, having bad posture will ruin your overall look. One of the biggest mistakes I see skinny guys make is have bad posture.

Having bad posture will make you look weak and like you have no confidence. Whereas if you stand up with your back straight and your should up, you will look bigger and more confident.

Nowadays, since many of us spend so much time on our phones and computers, we all tend to have bad posture. However, fixing your posture will make you look and feel a lot better.

9. Bulky Shoes

One of the biggest fashion tips I can give for skinny guys, is to avoid bulky shoes. Nowadays, “dad shoes” have become super popular, however they they just don’t look good on guys with a skinny body shape.
Big bulky shoes look better on big guys as they are more proportionate to their body. As skinny guys, we are going to want to stick with more narrow low-tops like tennis shoes.

For those tall skinny guys, don’t be afraid to try some Air Jordan’s, Converse High-Tops or Nike Blazers. Those shoes have a good fit on taller skinny men.

10. Vertical Stripes

A general rule for most skinny guys, is to avoid vertical stripes and horizontal stripes. Shirts with vertical and horizontal lines can bring attention to your small frame.

Instead, try wearing shirts with big patterns like Hawaiian shirts. These shirts will look super fun and they are super stylish for summer outfits right now.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can Skinny Guys Wear Tank Tops?

Skinny guys can wear tank tops, however they don’t fit the skinny body type nicely. On the most part, it’s a good idea to avoid wearing a tank top if you’re a skinny guy. Instead, try wearing a short sleeve crew neck t-shirt as it will look more flattering.

Generally, tank tops really only look good on men with big muscles. Unless you have big arms, it’s better that you wear a t-shirt instead of a tank top as it will draw attention to your thin arms.

Should Skinny Guys Wear Oversized Clothes?

Oversized clothing is in style and looks good on skinny guys. In some cases, wearing baggy clothing as a skinny guy can make you look feminine. However, if you like the look of oversized clothing, don’t be afraid to try some baggy outfits.

Currently, oversized clothing is being worn by many people in the fashion world. Baggy sweatshirts, baggy hoodies and baggy jeans have all become popular in the fashion industry.

Should Skinny Guys Wear Skinny Jeans?

In short, no skinny jeans don’t look good on skinny guys. Skinny jeans will highlight thin legs so it’s better to wear a pair of slim fit jeans. When it comes to men’s fashion, skinny jeans have been going out of style and have become less popular over the last few years.

Joggers and slim fit jeans are a great alternative to skinny jeans. If you can find a pair of jeans or joggers that has the right fit, they will be more flattering than a pair of skinny jeans.

Related & Popular Posts:

Final Thoughts on What to Not Wear For Skinny Guys

As a skinny guy, knowing what not to wear is super important. At the end of the day, we all want to look our best and a big part of looking good, comes down to the way we dress.

Knowing what clothing looks good and doesn’t look good on your body type, will be a serious game changer. As someone who has been skinny my whole life, I’ve found clothes that fits my body type right and makes me look good.

In this post, I share the 10 fashion mistakes skinny guys make and answer some frequently asked questions about skinny guys.

What’s the biggest fashion mistake that you see skinny guys make? Please let me know in the comments below.

What Not to Wear For Skinny Guys – 10 Fashion Mistakes to Avoid