What Is Muscle Fit Clothing? Everything You Need To Know

Over the past 5 or 6 years, muscle fit clothing has taken off, but what is it, and should you wear it?

You could say that it all started with the muscle fit T-shirt, and from there there’s been a lot of other men’s clothing which has been categorised as muscle fit.

I’ve bought a few items, and if you’re wondering if it’s the right fit for you, I can give you some advice as to what it is, and if it will work for you.

What Is Muscle Fit Clothing?

Well simply put, it’s a super tight fitted style of clothing. These days you can get the fit in T-shirts, sweatshirts, jumpers and other types of clothing. The idea is that it shows off your muscles, as it’s extremely form fitting, and hugs your body. It is also known by some at athletic fit, but the term muscle fit is used most.

Is Muscle Fit Right For Me?

I’m going to say no. I have tried muscle fit, and for me, the look is not great. If you have an average, skinny or larger (fat) body, it’s not going to do you any favours at all.

If you have a very good physique, the tight fit will give you the desired effect you’re going for. Anything less, and it will unflattering. You should dress for your body type, whatever that is, and you’ll look better.

If you’ve got a bit of a bump in the belly region, a bit of a beer belly or even if you’re too skinny, it will almost certainly show. It really is a fit to show off your body, and if it’s not good, you’ll end up looking bad.

When it comes to the style, they’re definitely a laid back, casual style. You can’t call them smart or even smart casual, if you are going to wear one of these, it’s in a casual setting. They may work in the gym or other places where you’re not expected to dress up.

Wearing these for a night out is not going to win you any style competitions. You should check out the t-shirt guide which is packed with information on basic T-shirt tips.

You should wear clothes that fit you and make you feel good. Usually muscle fit clothing looks bad, as they appear to look too small and tight for muscular guys bodies.

Slim fit (left) vs Muscle fit (right)

Muscle Fit vs Slim Fit

You might wonder, why would I buy a muscle fit t shirt if I don’t have muscles?

Well it’s the fit. Personally, I like a slim fit. Whether it’s a slim fitted T-shirt, jacket, shirt or anything else. I have quite a slim frame, so that’s the fit for me.

But a muscle fit? It just doesn’t work. My arms are quite skinny, and since I don’t live in the gym and also eat rubbish I don’t have a killer six pack, and it shows.

The big problem with slim or skinny fit, is that it varies widely between brands. I’ve had a slim fit shirt which fits like a regular, but then I’ve had slim fit which is really small.

I’ve tried two brands for muscle fit; ASOS and H&M, and both were extremely tight. Now I can tell you with confidence that it really isn’t a fit for a regular guy.

You need to get the right fit for your body shape, and for most, the muscular physique does not define the vast majority of us, and even if it did, this kind of fit isn’t great as you’ll find out below.

There is a good lesson here – For a nice, fitted, slim fit, always choose slim fit. It sounds obvious, but with so many buzzwords and fit styles, it can be easy to be swayed to other styles.

Check out my men’s size guide on getting the perfect fit for your body.

Are Muscle Fit T Shirts Fashionable?

You could say that they’re fashionable, as many guys are wearing them, and you can probably thank shows like Geordie Shore, Love Island and TOWIE for that. But stylish? Actually no, they’re not. They are simply too tight.

I would say that this is a trend to avoid, and as always when you want to ensure your style is sharp, get the fit right.

As always, the number one style rule is the fit is key. Guys may want to show off their muscles with these tees, and it will do that, but the overall style will look like you’re wearing a T-shirt which is way too small for you.

Verdict

If you have the physique for it, and if you want to show it off, a muscle t-shirt is going to do just that. It will also look small, it will have lots of wrinkles and rippling, potentially ruining the look you’re going for.

If you’re a regular or even slightly toned guy, the advice would be to go for a slim fit, or even a skinny fit. As already mentioned, the fit is key, so go and try on a few pieces and see what you think works best for your body type.

This is definitely a style which looks much, much better on the clothing websites models than it will when you try it.

Buyers Guide

You can also get a 3-pack at H&M for £17.99. They do a multi-colour pack, as well as a 3-pack of all white muscle fit T Shirts.

TOPMAN have a large selection available, including multi-packs. You can get a pack of 5 muscle fit tees for £40, making them less than a tenner each.

River Island have a range available which includes a lot of different colours and styles. You can pick them up for £8 each, 2 for £12 or 3 for £18.