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Nearly all of my local stores have shirts for big guys….as long as “big guys” wear a 3xl or smaller. At one time in my life (high school…) a 3XL was enough but, since then, I’ve had to scramble for shirts (and other clothing) that not only fits but makes me look like something other than a big guy who loves sweats.
On a good day, my local stores might stock shirts as big as 5XL but I’ve only found 6xl shirts as random one-offs at Ross, TJ Maxx, etc.
This, of course, leads me to wonder where to buy 6XL (or bigger) shirts that don’t make me look like a fat guy who can’t find normal options. Well, luckily for us, this day and age have blessed us with many things. One of the best things for me has been online shopping! I don’t have to scrounge through the rack of 3-4 6XL shirts, squeeze into a changing room to try them on, and settle for paying a premium price for my plus-sized clothes.
Because online shopping has opened up a huge window of opportunity for buying clothing, I have actually had to ask myself what I want in a shirt. While it’s not a very long list (shirts aren’t very complex…) it is pretty liberating to not have to settle for whatever is in stock! If you’re in the same boat as I am (wearing 6XL shirts) then this article is for you!
However, if you’re in a hurry and don’t really care about the criteria I used to choose my shirts, here are the best 6XL Dress Shirts for big men!
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What makes a good dress shirt for big guys?
It seems like I can’t get through a day without hearing about how obesity is currently an epidemic of epic proportions. Well, if that’s so, why is it so stinking hard to find 6XL shirts?! While there are some 6xl shirts available in local stores, most of them are meant to do nothing but cover your nipples. I’ve tried them and just looked like a sack of potatoes. So let’s talk about what makes a good 6XL (or bigger) shirt.
- It has to be suited to your shape. I understand that everyone is shaped differently but when I shop it seems that everyone is shaped the same way except for me. The thing that skinny people don’t understand is that a 6XL shirt can’t just be the same proportions as a medium shirt but on a bigger scale. We big guys are built a bit differently and the shirt needs to be larger in all the right places to reflect that!
- It should be made of the right fabric. If you haven’t been concerned with the fabric content of your shirts, it’s time you started to be. 100% cotton shirts wrinkly, breathe poorly (hello sweat), and are much hotter (hello again, sweat). Look instead for cotton-poly blend shirts for fabric that lays well, doesn’t wrinkle, and will keep you cooler.
- Varied colors. I get it, there are a few colors that people often associate with fat guys. I don’t want to wear those colors! Give me color options in my 6XL shirts and lots of them!
- Flattering design/pattern. While I typically wear solid-colored shirts, designs or patterns can be useful for hiding your body shape (if that’s your goal). This goes beyond the horizontal/vertical strip adage though. Avoid patterns or designs that draw attention to your belly, your man boobs, or anything else you don’t care for people to stare at.
Doesn’t seem like an unreasonable list of demands, does it? I didn’t think so either. So with those in mind let’s find the best shirts that are available in a 6XL!
Best 6XL Dress Shirts & Casual Button Downs
Port Authority Easy Care Shirt – Best Overall Dress Shirt
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While I haven’t been able to tuck in a dress shirt for years (I probably could but I don’t like how it makes me look) I still wear one untucked on occasion for date nights or similar functions. I’m lucky enough not to have to wear a dress shirt to work but, if you need to look fancy, there are a few options for 6XL dress shirts that fit comfortably and still look sharp.
The shirt above is, without a doubt, one of the most comfortable options you can find and will look great all day long since it doesn’t wrinkle (it will also look great when you pick it up off the floor in the morning if you’re one of those guys….)
If you can get past the skinny guy they got to model them, these shirts are available in sizes up to 6XL or 4XLT. With a plethora of colors and high-quality construction, you’ll be happy with whatever you choose!
Joe’s USA Men’s Short-Sleeve Pocket Polo – Best 6XL Work Polo
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I’m not sure how polo shirts have earned a reputation of being dressy (since they’re just t-shirts with 3 buttons) but I’m not complaining! A 6XL polo shirt that fits over a big belly is a rare thing of beauty. Not only are they comfortable to wear, but they are typically made of thicker fabric which lends itself to smoothing out my chest and back bulges.
Polos are an awesome option if you have to up your fashion game a bit but don’t want the difficulty and discomfort of donning a full dress shirt. They can be dressed up with just a pair of jeans and nice shoes or can simply be worn around the house so you don’t look like a bum when the Fed-Ex guy shows up.
The fabric is great, the color options are nice, and the fit is about what you’d expect from a well-built 6XL shirt. So do your wardrobe a favor and get a couple!
Joe’s USA 6.5-Ounce Denim Button Down – Best Casual Dress Shirt
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Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then denim just might a big guy’s best friend.
Most big guys avoid denim because they feel it is uncomfortable, difficult to get a proper fit, and doesn’t stretch. Well, that may be true of jeans (debatable though) but it’s a different story when it comes to shirts.
Denim shirts are thick enough that they lay over your body in a flattering way and smooth out your bumps and lumps. Darker denim tends to be slimming and, as an added bonus, denim can transform you from being viewed as a soggy fat guy to the husky manly type.
If you have to pick one of the above, I’d go with the short sleeve but they’re cheap enough to pick up one of each!
How To Properly Wash And Care For Your Dress Shirts
When I was younger, I went through a ton of shirts. It wasn’t until I got married that I realized that I was an idiot. Here’s the issue: I would get a shirt that fit great, and within a few weeks my belly would be hanging out the bottom of it.
So I would get more shirts.
The problem is that if you dry 6XL shirts, they become 5XL shirts (or smaller).
Many people are afraid of washing their clothes because they think that the washer somehow wears them out or ruins them.
While it’s true that washing causes some wear, the real culprit is the dryer.
If you want your shirts to last for years, do not dry them with heat. Instead, either hang dry them or put them in the dryer on air dry. This will keep them soft and will prevent them from shrinking.
In Conclusion
Hopefully, this has been helpful in helping you, my fellow big guy, find some 6XL dress shirts that fit your taste and style as well as your body. Until our local stores start stocking bigger shirts, I’ll see you around online!
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