Enhancing your physique: A man’s guide to dressing for the races

The races are here and it’s time to suit-up for the occasion. No matter which event you’re headed to, it’s key that you look and feel on-point. But with so many men’s suits to choose from, it can be a headache to find the ideal one to suit your body shape.

Here, we’ve pulled together a quick guide on dressing to look the part at 2018 race days. Just scroll down, check out which body shape fits you, and get easy fashion tips on which suit and shirt cut, fit and style will complement your frame.

Trapezium body

This is your average male frame and one of the easiest to dress — if you’re a trapezium, you can pull off pretty much any style. Here are the main trapezium man’s features:

• Broad shoulders and chest.
• Quite a narrow waist and hips.
• Balanced upper and lower body sizes.

What to wear at the races

You’re the shape that many designers use when creating men’s clothing, so you have a wide range of suits and shirts to choose from.

You can go for any colour or pattern when it comes to your races suit. If you’re into checks or shades that aren’t standard black, navy or grey; go for it. Showcase your toned build by opting for a slim-fit suit jacket paired with slim or skinny trousers — but avoid double-breasted designs, they’ll do nothing for you. Instead, go for single-breast with a structured shoulder and stylishly break up your suited frame with a belt that matches your brogues.

With a trapezium body, you have the freedom to go for bold colours and more quirky designs, which may cause an unflattering illusion for other men. If wearing loud prints is your style, pair a neutral-coloured suit with a paisley shirt and keep it formal for the races with a complementary tie and pocket square.

Rectangle body

A rectangle man can be anything from very slender to very wide — what defines him as a rectangle is the fact that his shoulders, waist and hips are near identical widths. Their main objective is to widen their shoulders and chest to create that iconic male outline. A rectangular frame’s main features are:

• Shoulders, waist and hips are almost equal in width.
• Tall build.

What to wear at the races

Your aim as a rectangular man is to create the optimum male frame by widening your shoulders and nipping in your middle section.

The ideal races outfit for you will include a horizontal-stripe, buttoned-down shirt that gives your torso the illusion of width and bulk. For your suit jacket, go for a cool, light grey in a design that is double-breasted and features padding in the shoulders to create a greater width difference between this section and your lower body. If you already have slender legs, don’t emphasise these with skinny-fit suit trousers — slim-fit will add elegance and a touch of flattering volume to your lower half.

You can effortlessly add mass with layering — so a three-piece suit with a waistcoat is perfect for organically broadening your frame. A good trick for emphasising your torso further is using pops of bold colours. If you don’t want to don a bright shirt at a formal race event, why not go for a neutral shirt that you can animate with a cherry-red, deep-pink or bright-blue tie and matching pocket square?

Triangle body

This shape is typical for many men. If you have a triangular body, your chest and shoulders will be narrower than your waist and hips. Having a triangular body may give the illusion of slightly sloping shoulders, with the bottom half of the torso being the widest section of the frame. Triangular body shape has:

• Larger waist and hips than the upper section of the body.
• Shoulders may appear to “slope”.

What to wear at the races

Triangular body shapes are sometimes harder to dress but have plenty of options for creating a formal and flattering outline. What you need to aim for when dressing for the races is creating shape and balance.

Any suit jacket that you wear should have well-structured shoulders to help get rid of any “sloping shoulder” effect. Dark, single-breasted styles will slim your torso and straight-fit — not tapered — trousers will help create a flattering frame.

As a triangle-shape man, you might want to lengthen your frame. This is simple, opt for a pinstripe suit or a vertical-stripe shirt — no loud colours, you should keep it subtle for the occasion. Finish off your outfit with a chunky watch, Oxford shoes, and a plain tie with a sleek tie clip.

Upside-down triangle body

A man with an inverted triangle body will have a V-shaped outline — like a swimmer’s typical physique. Although similar to the trapezium man, an upside-down triangle body features a much greater shoulders-to-hips ratio. Here are his main features:

• Well-developed chest and shoulders that are much wider than waist and hips.
• Typically muscular.

What to wear at the races

You have an enviable physique. However, that doesn’t mean designers create clothing suited to your frame, so you may need a few pointers to look the part.

If you’re headed to the races, go for close-fits that accentuate your body. Skinny suit jackets look ideal on you — plus there’s no need to restrict yourself to designs with padded shoulders. However, if you think your legs might look too thin in tapered trousers compared to your upper half, pull on a slim-fit pair instead.

Prefer double-breasted jackets? You have the body shape to pull them off. Button up a checked or floral shirt to put a fresh spin on a traditional event and wear a waistcoat to highlight the V-shape of your frame. Want an on-trend alternative to a standard block-colour suit? Complement the warmer season at the outdoor event by pairing white suit trousers with a dark jacket or vice versa. This will diversify your look while keeping it in line with race-day formality. Finally, add a belt to refocus attention to your lower torso area and emphasise your narrow hips, then finish off with tan or black brogues.

Oval body

The oval body defines a man who is stocky and carries weight at the centre of his torso, making it appear wider than his shoulders and hips. So, this man might want to wear suits that stretch out his torso and widen his shoulders for greater definition — main features include:

• Round stomach.
• The appearance of narrow shoulders.
• Centre of torso wider than hips and shoulders.
• Broad limbs.

What to wear at the races

Simple suits in demure, dark shades are ideal for you if you’re a man with an oval build. You want to look good, but you also want to be comfortable for a day at the races, so build your outfit around that mindset.

Your first step is to wear a suit and shirt that fit just right. A tight garment will stretch over your stomach — uncomfortable and unflattering — while going for a size up will add mass. A simple, slim-fit, two-piece suit in dark grey or black is ideal. Make your jacket single-breasted and opt for just a slight tapering to give you a comfy but gratifying torso outline. For your shirt, dodge bold patterns that draw attention to your upper body and instead, go for a block shade polished off with a bow tie.

To divert attention from your middle section, don’t wear statement belts and avoid double-breasted jackets that add bulk to the torso. Since you’re at the races, why not go all out with a pair of classic braces? These are ideal for a fashion-focused oval man, as they naturally hold your trousers slightly out in front, which smoothens out the point where your waistband meets your shirt and eliminates the “nipped in” feel.

Get your perfect suit style for your frame and look sharp and sophisticated at your next race day.

The editorial unit