Ultimate Guide (2024): Athletic Fit Clothing for Bodybuilders

• Wiehenstahl
• Oxcloth
• Tapered Menswear
• Father Sons
• Barbell Apparel
• Legend London
• Tailored Athlete
• Fran Denim
• Kojo Fit
• Olympvs
• Tailored Titans

After working out consistently, you have built a solid muscular physique. Perhaps you are newer on your weight training journey, and you are planning to have a physique like Mauro Fialho (mens physique pro), Laszlo Kiraly (classic physique), or Chris Bumstead (classic physique pro) one day.

The physique that is favored in physique competition—broad shoulders, thickly muscled back, lean waist (a V-shape), and well-developed legs—is a rare body type. So, outside of athletic clothing, it can be difficult to find clothing for non-gym activities—a date, a job, and so on.

(Fit guys like Josh Riquelme, Diego Sechi, and Fraser Wilson have physiques that mass-produced clothing can accommodate. Still, most of the brands that I will discuss would suit these physique types as well.)

Fortunately, there are clothing brands that specialize in making clothes for muscular guys. The goals of this article are

• To help the reader determine the right colors to pick for their skin tone.
• To help the reader pick out wardrobe essentials that are easy to coordinate and easy on the wallet.
• To compile the brands that provide clothing for bodybuilders for easy reference.

Note: While there are different levels of muscularity in a physique competition

• mens physique
• classic physique
• 212 pounds bodybuilding, and
• open bodybuilding,

for the purposes of this article, I will consider all levels as bodybuilding. The gym-built bodies differ significantly from the general population of guys.

I have provided a very quick explanation of how to apply a portion of color theory. However, if you are interested in viewing the topic in-depth, I recommend Marcel Floruss‘s video on color theory (at right). Marcel is a fashion school graduate and provides technical information in an easy-to-understand manner.

Neutral colors should be the foundation of a guy’s wardrobe. Neutral colors are black, white, grey, beige, and khaki. Once you build a wardrobe based on neutral colors, you can begin to mix in more colors.

Your wardrobe for non-athletic places should include essential pieces. If money is tight, you can slowly buy new clothes or find pieces at a trusted thrift shop until your wardrobe is complete.

For the thrift shop idea and style ideas for muscular guys, see the video with Nathan McCallum and Marcel Floruss (right).

Brock McGoff, The Modest Man at YouTube, explains why the foundation of your wardrobe should be based on neutral colors. He also provides his advice on what he would by if he were building up his wardrobe.

Jordan Morello, a social media personality, online trainer, and owner of Shortys Apparel, enjoys leg day and built hard-won thigh and hip muscles. He tried on four pairs of denim jeans to see which pair suited his weight-trainer thighs the best.

Jordan ranked the jeans he modeled in the video as follows:

• Allsaints
• Johnston and Murphy
• Joe’s Jeans
• DSquared2 (expensive)

There are also jeans available from many of the clothing brands for bodybuilders in the next section.

The goal is to find wardrobe essential pieces that are made for bodybuilder physiques.

Several brands focus on this unique fashion niche.

• Wiehenstahl
• Oxcloth
• Tapered Menswear
• Father Sons
• Barbell Apparel
• Legend London
• Tailored Athlete
• Fran Denim
• Kojo Fit

• www.wiehenstahl.com
• Based in Germany. Started in 2019.
• The clothing offered: shirts.
• The brand has a specific sizing guide.
• Languages on the website: German and English.
• Shipping information

The sizing for Oxblood is based on particular dimensions of a bodybuilder’s x-frame (wide shoulders/upper back, narrower waist, and wider hips, and bigger thighs). For example, the “Greyman” fit is recommended for a guy who is 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet two inches tall, up to 225 pounds.

• Arms: 16.5 inches to 18 inches
• Chest: 43 inches to 48 inches
• Waist: 30 inches to 38 inches
• Neck: 19 inches
• Hips: 45 inches

The Angus fit is interesting. The 212-pound bodybuilding category is for guys that are 5 feet five inches tall or shorter. The Angus fit for this height recommends a body weight of up to 175 pounds for guys who have a height from 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 9 inches.

The brand does caution that not everyone can fit its sizing, but the brand can provide clothing for some big guys. Each product page has a bodybuilder’s photos and his measurement’s so that the reader can compare.

Light-blue dress shirt, the Stallion.

• 111.99 U.S. Dollars
• 100 percent cotton

Note: The bodybuilders featured at Oxblood have tree-trunk thighs.

Medium-blue denim jeans, the Mustang Athletic Fit Stretch Jeans

• 118.99 U.S. Dollars
• 97 percent cotton, 3 percent Elastane

Quote from the brand’s product description: “Tested up to a 300 kg squat”

The sizing for Tapered Menswear shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest and unflexed biceps measurement. The sizes range from S to XXXXL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XXXL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 45 inch to 47-in chest and 17.5-inch upper arms. For polo shirts and t-shirts, the arm size decreases by 0.5 inch. For more questions about fit, the reader can email or chat with a company representative.

Each product page has a photo of a bodybuilder and height, weight, and chest measurements.

The sizing for Father Sons is not explicitly designed for bodybuilders but they do have muscular models wearing their clothes, such as Andrei Deiu and Regan Grimes. Both Andrei and Regan wear shirts with stretch in it.

I do not think that an undershirt would fit under the shirt. Muscle guys can avoid layering clothes. The brand’s sizing for upper-body clothing (XS to XXXXL) is based on chest size. Bodybuilders tend to have huge arms that will not fit in fitted sleeves.

For example, Andrei wears the super-slim stretch black denim long-sleeve shirt (US$61.81; 69 percent cotton, 28 percent polyester, and 3 percent stretch). An interested reader may have to size up with Father Sons to ensure a good fit.

In the leather jacket (US$418.92, lightweight lambs leather), Andrei wears a t-shirt under the jacket. While the body of the jacket fits Andrei well, the sleeves look too tight (you can see the veins on top of his biceps through the material). The brand explains that Andrei is demonstrating the tight, fitted look (size XXL, 50-inch chest).

Still, I added this brand for consideration because of muscular models wearing the clothes. I think fit men like Elad Michaeli, Josh Riquelme, or Kyle Hynick would fit these clothes well.

The brand’s sizing (30 through 38) for lower-body clothing is based on a bodybuilder’s waist (up to 38 inches), hip (up to 44 inches), and thigh (up to 27 inches) circumference. The pants come in four lengths (28, 30, 32, and 34).

The brand’s pants sizing would explain IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Regan Grimes’s experience. In Regan Grimes’s try-on video, he showed that it took some effort for him to put on the brand’s jeans.

Oxford Blue Super Slim Stretch Dress Shirt

• 55.53 U.S. Dollars
• 98 percent cotton, 2 percent stretch

Floral Print with Button-Down Collar

• 66.95 U.S. dollars
• 97 percent cotton, 3 percent elastane

Classic Beige Polo Shirt

• 69.41 U.S. Dollars
• 95 percent cotton, 5 percent Elastane

Grey Lambs Leather Jacket

• 416.54 U.S. Dollars
• 100 percent lambs leather

The leather is unlined.

Classic White Crew

• 55.53 U.S. Dollars
• 100 percent cotton

Slim Formal Plain Navy Stretch Trousers

• 111.07 U.S. Dollars
• 53 percent polyester,
• 44 percent virgin wool,
• 3 percent elastane

Sateen Trousers

• 80.39 U.S. Dollars
• 68 percent cotton, 28 percent polyester, 4 percent elastane

Slim Stretch Beige Jeans

• 69.41 U.S. Dollars
• 98 percent cotton, 2 percent Elastane

The sizing for Barbell Apparel shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest. The sizes range from S to XXL (38 inches to 52 inches). For example, for all brand shirts, an XXL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 52-inch chest. For pants, the sizes range from 28/S to 40/XXL. The pants sizes are based on a bodybuilder’s waist and thigh circumference. The length of the pants is 34 inches, which may be too long for shorter men (including me).

Each product page has a photo of a bodybuilder and height, weight, and chest measurements.

The sizing for Legend London shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest and hips. The sizes range from S to XL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 46-inch chest and 44-inch hips. For pants, the sizes are based on waist circumference (28 inches to 36 inches)

This brand is not marketed for bodybuilders, but there are some UK-based YouTube Fitness channels that feature try-on videos with the brand (for example, Brandon Harding and Joe Delaney).

Beige Spray-on Trousers

• 71 U.S. Dollars
• “Signature four-way stretch”

The model on the product page is muscular and lean. Tree-trunk thighs likely would not fit or look awkward.

Waist sizes range from 28 inches to 36 inches.

Skinny Fit Jeans

• 71 U.S. Dollars
• “Signature four-way stretch”

Interviews with Harry

I found several interviews with Harry. One was with Jim Galvin, a UK military veteran and former Olympic athlete.

Also, Harry recorded a promotional video with Sergi Constance, an IFBB pro (mens physique) from Spain.

In addition, Harry recorded a video in 2020 to celebrate the 4th anniversary of the brand. He provided details from his life as well as his vision for the company.

The sizing for Tailored Athlete shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest and waist. The sizes range from S to XXXL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XXL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 48 inch to 50-in chest and a 38-inch to 42-inch waist.

The dimensions favor a V-shaped torso. For more questions about fit, the reader can email a company representative. See also the brand’s size advisor (a button above the “add to cart” button).

Each product page has a photo of a bodybuilder and height, weight, and chest measurements.

Essential Polo Shirt

• 60 U.S. Dollars
• 95 percent cotton, 5 percent Elastane

The brand explains that their jeans fit true to waist size and there is no need to size up for big thighs. The jeans seem like they can accommodate moderate muscular thighs (like Dan Tai, former pro rugby player, and current CrossFit athlete).

Tree-trunk thighs would seem to be too big to fit. (The models on the product page do not have tree-trunk thighs like Regan Grimes.)

Premium Stretch Jeans in Dark Blue

• 125 U.S. Dollars
• 95 percent cotton, 5 percent Elastane

• frandenim.com
• The clothing offered: jeans
• The brand’s sizing guides for each product type are on the bottom-right of the webpage. The sizing shows that the clothes are made for guys with a lot of muscle (like a pro bodybuilder).
• The brand owner participates in CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting, which involves many leg exercises. He could not find jeans to accommodate his big thighs and also fit his lean waist. This experience was the motivation for starting Fran Denim.

This brand is not marketed for bodybuilders, but the owner seeks to make clothes that can accommodate muscular people with larger thighs. Tree-trunk thighs may be too large, but some muscular builds could find jeans with this brand.

The sizing for Kojo Fit shirts is based on several measures

• Height
• Weight
• Chest circumference
• Waist circumference
• Neck circumference
• Biceps circumference.

The sizes range from XS to XXXL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XXL size would fit a bodybuilder with the following measurements:

• Height 5’11 1⁄4″ to 6’4 3⁄8″ (in feet and inches)
• Weight 216 pounds to 238 pounds
• Chest circumference 45 11⁄16 inches to 47 1⁄4 inches
• Waist circumference 35 13⁄16 inches to 39 3⁄4 inches
• Neck circumference 17 1⁄2 inches
• Biceps circumference 19 5⁄16 inches

Ultra Stretch Chino Pants

• 89 U.S. Dollars
• Viscose, polyester, Elastane

The sizing for Kojo Fit pants is based on the waist circumference (28 inches to 36 inches with a 30-inch inseam). With the relatively low inseam options, the brand seems to be focused on shorter men.

The brand makes muscle-fit shirts (basically accommodating a v-tapered physique (wide shoulders and narrower waist). Its shirts are designed to be worn without an undershirt.

High-Performance Shirt

• 79 U.S. Dollars
• Gracell fiber fabric
• 55 percent Gracell, 42 percent Terylene, 3 percent Spandex
• Made in China

Short-Sleeve Henley

• 69 U.S. Dollars
• 95 percent cotton, 5 percent Spandex
• Made in China

Note: The back pockets on most jeans have rivets. The lengths of the jeans are 30 inches, 32 inches, 34 inches, and 36 inches.

Sorbtek 365 Jeans

• 119 U.S. Dollars
• 75 percent cotton, 24 percent Sorbtek 365 Fibre, 1% percent Lycra
• Made in China

The brand’s chinos have a reinforced crotch area (as well as extra room for the glutes and thighs) to prevent blowouts.

Hyper Stretch Chinos

• 119 U.S. Dollars
• 98 percent cotton, 2 percent Spandex
• Made in China

The Flex

• 91 U.S. Dollars
• 95 percent cotton, 5 percent Elastane