How to Choose Athleisure for Your Body Type: A Men's Fit Guide

Let's talk about athleisure for your body type. The truth is, a jogger that looks great on a tall guy can make a shorter guy look lost. We'll break down exactly what works for your specific build, so you can shop for comfort and style.

male model wearing perfectly tailored layered athleisure: fitted crew neck t shirt, open lightweight shirt, and structured track jacket. All garments precisely fitted to his frame.

Why Body Type Matters

Most brands design athleisure for one body type and hope everyone else makes it work.

Unlike baggy jeans or loose shirts that hide your shape, athleisure joggers and fitted tops show your proportions. So, when the fit is wrong, the outfit looks sloppy no matter how clean the pieces are.

Athleisure You Need If You're Short (Under 5'8")

Height changes how athleisure sits on your body. For short guys, avoid clothes that cut your frame in half or make your legs look shorter.

Joggers That Lengthen Your Look

Joggers with a clean ankle taper make your legs look longer.

That's because they give you a clean unbroken line from your hip down to your shoes, which makes your legs look longer and your overall frame look taller.

Hoodies and Tees That Won't Drown Your Frame

Wear fitted crew necks and slim hoodies that end at your hip bone. This gives your upper body more length without shortening the look of your legs. The cleaner the hemline, the better your proportions look.

Why Zip-Up Jackets Work Better For Shorter Men

Track jackets and zip-up hoodies will look better than pullovers, because the zip creates a long straight line down your body that makes you look taller. Just make sure they don't hang past your hip.

Athleisure Pieces That Don't Work For Men Under 5'8"

How Wide Joggers Make You Look Shorter

Don't wear joggers with a wide leg or that has fabric bunching up at the ankle. Those styles are everywhere, but for shorter guys they chop your frame in half.

Tops That Hang Too Long On Shorter Guys

Any top that hangs past your hip will shorten the visual line from your belt to the floor and makes your legs look stubby. Oversized tops are the worst because you'll always look like you borrowed someone else's clothes - the extra fabric makes you look shorter and wider.

Footwear That Makes You Look Shorter

When you pick Athleisure footwear, don't get high-top trainers - they cut your leg line and make you look shorter by adding a visual break at the ankle. Chunky trainers with thick soles and any type of boot shape have the same effect. They'll add bulk at your ankle and interrupt the clean line down your leg.

Pro Athleisure Fitting Tip For Shorter Guys

Wear one colour from head to toe. It creates a continuous vertical line that adds height. Black joggers with a black hoodie and black trainers will always make you look taller than mixing different colours that chop your frame into sections.

Adjust Your Shopping Style For Short Athleisure

Don't waste time and money on the wrong gym to bar clothes. Get a tape measure and take a few body measurements, that way you can be sure of the fit before you buy.

Joggers Measurements (Under 5'8")

Before you shop, measure your inseam length and note what it says in inches and cms. Then shop for joggers labelled "short" AND check the inseam length before you buy them. Joggers in a 'short' or regular length (28-30 inch inseam) work better than a standard (32 inch) that drags on the ground.

Top Measurements (Under 5'8")

Take these measurements

around the fullest part of your chest,

from your side neck down to your hip,

from your shoulder down to your wrist,

Buy tops that will fit around the fullest part of your chest and stop at your hip.

Pro Buying Tip For Shorter Guys

Buy thin pieces that you can layer on top of each other, instead of bulky ones - a fitted quarter zip over a t-shirt works better than a thick hoodie that adds width and makes you look stockier.

Athleisure For Taller Men (Over 6'2")

As a tall guy you may have noticed that standard athleisure runs short, which makes you look like you've outgrown your clothes and don't care.

Find Joggers That Fit Taller Legs

Joggers labelled "long" or "tall" keep the cuff sitting properly at your ankle instead of riding up your shin.

Look for brands that offer extended inseams so you're not stuck with ankles on show.

Tops That Add Length Through the Torso

Long-sleeve crew necks, quarter zips and hoodies in tall sizes add length through the torso, so they don't ride up when you move or sit down.

Track jackets and zip-up styles work well because they add structure to your upper body. Just make sure you get tall sizing so the sleeves and body length are right.

Athleisure to Avoid for Men Over 6'2

You need length through the body to balance your height, not styles that make your legs look even longer.

Joggers That Make You Look Lanky

You don't want those standard-length joggers that stop mid-shin and make you look like you're wearing flood pants.

Why Cropped Styles Don't Work for Tall Guys

Cropped hoodies and short crew necks may be on trend, but they’ll make your torso look shorter and out of proportion with the rest of your frame. Short tops expose your waist and can look like you grabbed your little brother’s clothes by mistake, while anything too tight will make you look lanky instead of lean.

Change Your Shopping Style For Tall Athleisure

Always check for tall or long sizing before you buy. Look for joggers with a 34-36 inch inseam and tops with an extra 2-3 inches in body length. This keeps everything sitting where it should instead of riding up. Brands like ASOS and Lululemon offer extended lengths that actually fit taller frames without looking stretched out.

Fitted Clothes That Follow Your Frame (UK Size S-M)

Slim builds need athleisure that adds structure without clinging or looking oversized.

Athleisure For Slim Builds (Chest 36"-40")

Fitted cuts are your friend. They follow your frame without squeezing, and that gives you shape - you won't look lost in fabric. Slim-fit joggers and fitted hoodies will look better on you than relaxed or oversized styles.

Layering to Build A Slim Silhouette

You need to layer. One piece alone often looks flat. Put on a crew neck, then a hoodie, then finish with a track jacket. It builds up your silhouette visually, so you look filled out without the bulk.

Athleisure Colors That Add Depth Without Bulk

Go for darker shades like black, navy, dark plum, dark teal and grey. These colors bring out your shape without making you look too bulky. Keep the logos and labels low-key so people notice how great your clothes fit instead.

Athleisure That Doesn't Work For Slim Men (Chest Under 40")

Athleisure That Make You Look Smaller (UK Size S-M)

When you wear oversized or relaxed fits, you might look smaller and swallowed by the fabric. Baggy joggers and loose hoodies might not add bulk, but they can make you look like you’re wearing the wrong size.

Skin-Tight vs. Fitted: Getting It Right

Don't wear skin-tight or compression clothes. They might make your body seem smaller than you'd like, and can look kind of top-heavy. Go for fitted, not skin-tight.

Colors and Fabrics That Work Against Slim Men

Light colors and thin fabrics can make you look a bit thinner than you'd like. You're better off with darker colors and medium-weight fabrics that add some substance - a bit of visual depth.

Athleisure For Broad or Muscular Builds (Chest 40"-46")

If your build is broad or muscular, you start with clothes that fit your shoulders, chest, and back without looking loose everywhere else.

Find Tops That Accommodate Your Build

If a slim-fit top pulls across your chest, or feels tight in the armpits, it's probably too small for you. It just looks uncomfortable, like you're trying too hard.

Look for hoodies and crew necks with some stretch to them. Fabrics blended with spandex or elastane will fit your shoulders and chest comfortably, and let the fabric move with you.

Track jackets and zip-up styles are great because they provide shape while allowing room where you need it most. Always double-check the shoulder fit.

Joggers For Muscular Builds

Tight joggers aren't the move either. They cling to your strongest area (usually thighs and butt), but don't have much shape on the rest of your leg.

Athletic-fit joggers are great for muscular legs. They're roomy (not baggy) in the thigh but taper down at the ankle. This balances your proportions, so you avoid that sloppy look.

image of the inside back neck label of a premium athletic top. The garment is a deep forest green stretch performance crew neck laid flat on a neutral light surface. The woven label reads: ATHLETIC CUT CHEST 42–44 BROAD FRAME FIT

Shopping Tip For Broad/Muscular Frames

For a gym to bar look avoid shiny, performance-type fabrics. They definitely cling and look a bit too sport-specific.

Brands like Gymshark and Lululemon design their athletic cuts specifically for broader builds, so the shoulders and chest fit without being too tight.

Athleisure For Guys Carrying Extra Weight

You want athleisure that looks good without being clingy or bulky.

The Right Joggers For Heavier Guys

Straight-leg joggers are not loose or close-fitting. With this style you get a clean line that isn't tight on your thighs or too loose at the ankle.

Joggers waistbands should sit flat against your waist without digging in or rolling. If the elastic twists or folds when you move, it’s not the right cut for you. A clean waistband immediately makes the outfit look intentional.

Low-rise joggers can make your midsection look wider. Find mid-rise styles that sit at your natural waist and look smooth in the front.

Finding Hoodies That Shape Your Torso

Zip-up hoodies will give better shape than pullovers. The vertical zipper runs down the center line and that helps define your torso.

Get hoodies with ribbed hems at the waist and cuffs - this pulls the fabric in a bit without hugging you. The ones with side panels will taper in from your chest down to your waist and give you a more structured silhouette

Get Track Jackets That Define Your Build

Track jackets with shoulder panels or seams give your upper half more structure. Raglan sleeves will work really well for your frame - they've got a seam that runs from your underarm to the collar, which outlines your shoulders and upper chest better than straight-set sleeves. Make sure the jacket hem is fitted or ribbed at the bottom.

Athleisure Shopping and Tailoring Tips For Larger Guys

Seams are like the architecture that gives structure and shape to your clothes. Shop tops with raglan sleeves, panelled joggers, and jackets and hoodies with subtle seam shaping. Ignore flat, shapeless pieces that don’t guide the eye anywhere.

If joggers fit your waist but balloon at the ankle, have them taken in slightly. If sleeves are too long, shorten them. Get those small custom alterations that make your athleisure look bespoke instead of generic.

General Rules That Work for Most Guys

Fit Over Trends A basic piece that fits well beats a trendy item in the wrong size hands-down. Only buy athleisure that fit your frame properly.

Tapered Beats Baggy Tapered joggers work on almost every build because they create a clean line from hip to ankle.

Monochrome Simplifies To streamline your physique, wear just one colour from head to toe. Black on black, burgundy on burgundy, dark teal on dark teal all look good, and make your outfit decisions easier.

Try Before You Buy Brands size their items however they feel like. A medium in one brand might fit like a large in another. Try things on or check size guides carefully before you buy.

Still curious? These might help.