Big guys.
Let’s think about that for a minute.
Big guys. Who exactly is that describing? Tall guys? Chunky guys? Guys with burgeoning dad bods? The answers, at least for the purposes of our little suit-centric chat today, are yes, yes, and yes.
Regardless of where you fall on the stout spectrum, you’ll need to come to terms with the fact that you’ll probably need some tailoring—even when it comes to the best suits for big guys. As a starting point, you should generally be looking at jacket sizes of 48 and up. A tailored cut around the shoulders and mid-torso will help slim your silhouette, as will darker colors like navy blue and charcoal gray.
Though a handful of excellent brands make big and tall suits, the niche is woefully lacking in terms of overall choice. Still, we do our best. Which brings me to my list of the eight best suits for big guys.
Key Takeaways
You’re anything but spoiled for choice when it comes to the best suits for big guys. But if you know where to look (oh, hi), you’ll find a handful of stellar options at your disposal.
The clear winner in terms of construction, timeless style, and a roomy fit is the big-and-tall version of Brooks Brothers’ 1818 suit. And coming in hot in the budget-friendly category is the River Island Big & Tall Flannel Suit at Asos.
Remember the part up there about how the big-and-tall suit niche is woefully lacking quality options? I meant that part. The best suits for big guys should be the best suits for all guys. Thankfully, Brooks Brothers saw that gripe and raised the universe a big-and-tall version of its iconic two-button 1818 suit.
With sizes topping out at 60R, this pure wool, two-button classic is equal parts form, function, and everyday head-turner—especially when paired with the right tie, pocket square, and dress shirt. The jacket is fully lined, the construction allows for ample range of movement in all the right places, and the flat-front pants… are flat front-pants. Hey, sometimes you just need to take the sexiness into your own hands.
Material: 100% Wool | Colors: 2 | Sizes: 46L-60R
British fast-fashion brand Asos is known for curating on-trend looks for the masses. The label makes every effort to manufacture its garments in a huge range of sizes: petite, big and tall, and everywhere in between.
Your best off-the-rack bet for looking and feeling great in sizes up to 52R is the River Island Big & Tall Flannel Suit. Its beige color goes against the unwritten rule of sticking to darker colors if you’re a big guy, but don’t you worry about that. This is a handsome summer look that can be successfully pulled off with the matching River Island pants or with a pair of casual chinos in a different color. Mix things up and see where it goes.
Material: Flannel | Colors: 1 | Sizes: 48R-52R
Italian luxury brand Canali has been outfitting stylish men since 1934. And if you don’t mind, it would love nothing more than to grace your ample frame with its timeless and damn-near-perfect Overcheck Suit.
Available in sizes of up to 5XL, this navy check stunner is made of a pillowy-soft wool and silk blend. It’s got a narrow cut throughout, so you may need an adjustment or two around the waist.
Otherwise, the traditional style of the single-breasted jacket and flat-front pants make the Overcheck Suit ready for any wedding, work trip, or client pitch you can throw at it. Or whatever else you do when you’re doing things. Pop it in a suitcase with a non-iron shirt and a pair of sunglasses and you’re good to go.
Material: 85% Wool, 15% Silk | Colors: 1 | Sizes: XS-5XL
If Amazon is the wild west of traditional-fit suits, what does that make it for niche-fit suits? Right. It’s a bit of a crapshoot. But if you’re not looking for too many bells, whistles, or elegant fabrics, Haggar’s Premium Stretch suit should do just fine. Of utmost importance is, of course, the size range, which goes up to a very generous 52T.
Beyond that, what you have here is a classic two-button polyester jacket with notched lapels, flap pockets, and a center vent. A hint of elastane provides just enough stretch to increase your range of movement and keep things easy breezy throughout the day.
This isn’t the suit you want if you find yourself wearing them a lot. It’s the one you want when you hardly ever wear suits. It’s nothing more and nothing less than a staple piece in a staple color that’ll be there when you need it.
Material: 63% Polyester, 34% Viscose Rayon, 3% Elastane | Colors: 18 | Sizes: 38-52T
If your career requires you to wear a suit (I see you, attorneys, politicians, hospitality managers, and superheros), you’re going to need a handful of durable, comfortable, excellent options. If you’re just starting to build out your semi-formal or formal attire wardrobe, your first pickup should be the Hope Modern-Fit Travel Blazer and Trousers from
The wool blend fabric provides a subtle stretch that not only ebbs and flows with your body’s movements, but also helps the suit conform to the unique shape of your body over time.
Material: Wool blend | Colors: 3 | Sizes: 36R-46R
Ah, wedding season. The pomp. The circumstances. The vodka-fueled speeches, breakdancing grandpas, and cigar-puffing bridesmaids. It’s great. It’s… it’s great. Right? Anyway, you need a wedding costume and Suitsupply has you covered with its Navy Lazio Suit.
You can count on Suitsupply to deliver the goods when it comes to solid materials, rakish silhouettes, seemingly endless style and color options, and suit sizes that range from XXS up to 4XL. Made of pure wool, the Lazio jacket is a two-button workhorse with notched lapels and half-canvas construction. And to offset the traditional navy blue-ness of it all, add a bit of whimsy to your wedding look with a colorful dress shirt, tie, and pocket square.
Material: 100% Wool | Colors: 1 | Sizes: XXS-4XL
When you think “summer suit,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Bright colors? Sure. Lightweight fabrics? Definitely. Seersucker? Oh I certainly hope so. And where better to turn for your seersucker suiting needs than to the company that invented the species: New Orleans-based clothier Haspel.
Yes, Joseph Haspel Sr. was the visionary who brought the iconic puckered cloth to the leisuring summer masses in 1909. Today, you succumb to that vision.
Today, you pick up a Sapphire Blue Seersucker Stretch Sport Coat and pants and ride off into the sunset in all your sartorial splendor. I’ll also accept, “To a Derby party, an alfresco rooftop soiree, or a 1930s courtroom in a sweltering southern town.” That last one may or may not have been a shameless yet necessary Atticus Finch reference.
Material: 97% Cotton, 3% Lycra | Colors: 1 | Sizes: 38R-50L
For a more laidback take on the traditional winter blazer,
Sizes for the double-vented jacket go up to XXL and it’s available in six colors ranging from standard navy to stand out options like forest green and espresso. Team it up with a warm-colored Oxford shirt or a crisp t-shirt tucked into some selvage denim.
Material: Wool blend | Colors: 6 | Sizes: XS-XXL
What To Look For In The Best Suits For Big Guys
Size & Fit
Depending on your height, weight, and how you define “big,” you’ll generally want to look for minimum jacket sizes of 48. And though you may have a difficult time finding the perfect fit from off-the-rack options, the ideal silhouette for big guys is achieved with a tailored look around the shoulder and mid-torso that gives way to a looser waist. Avoid boxy-looking suits as well as those that are too tight.
Color
Above all, the color suit you choose should match your personal style and tolerance for sartorial risks. That said, there’s a universal sartorial truth when it comes to the best suits for big guys—darker colors have a slimming effect. If you want to create the appearance of a slim silhouette, stick to colors like black, charcoal gray, and navy blue.
Material
As with any suit, the quality, comfort, and breathability of the materials used make a huge difference when it comes to how you look and feel in it. For the warmer months, materials like seersucker, linen, and cotton are great choices for helping to regulate your body temperature. During the fall and winter, turn to materials like wool, flannel, or even corduroy to help lock in your body’s heat.
Final Verdict
If you can find off-the-rack suits for big guys that fit like a glove and feature a tailored fit around the shoulders and mid-torso, go for it. Otherwise, you may end up needing some tailoring—and that’s okay. My top pick of Brooks Brothers’ big-and-tall 1818 suit is handsome, durable, versatile, and roomy where you need it to be.
FAQ
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The best suits for big guys are those that are tailored to conform to the specific contours of your body. Short of that, seek out suits in dark colors that provide a slimming effect and don’t settle for a boxy fit.
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In most cases, you’ll need a tailor to do some light tweaking to your suit in order to get the fit just right. Generally, the jacket should be tailored around the shoulders, slightly fitted around the mid-torso, and roomy around the waist. The result you’re ultimately looking for is a figure-flattering V shape.
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Yes, as long as the suit conforms to your body’s unique contours. It’s unlikely that you’ll find the perfect v-shape fit from an off-the-rack suit, but a tailor will be able to help you out with your new slim-fit suit.
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Kelly Larson
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