Franco Vitale (aka Marco Maxxx) is a male fitness model, MMA athlete (Tae Kwon Do black belt x3 Pan American champion, Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt), and content creator. Marco, a dad, lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Marco’s birth date is 18-May, which makes him a Taurus.
Marco had another interview with Infobae, a Spanish-language publication. His parents are attorneys and his brother is a Roman Catholic priest. Marco will get a law degree.
Es Jueves Santo y no hay un alma en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Marco baja a abrir la puerta, sonríe a la distancia y saluda con un abrazo. Tiene 22 años y acaba de llegar de Gualeguaychú, donde nació y donde está a punto de terminar la carrera de Derecho. Es hijo de abogados y es, además, hermano de un sacerdote de la Iglesia Católica. Tiene un jean negro, una remera blanca y una tonada cálida y, a simple vista, podría ser solo eso: una pieza más de un tradicional rompecabezas familiar.
Marco had an interview with News Digitales in Argentina (en Español). The following section asks what his childhood dream was. Marco discusses his participation in martial arts.
ND: – ¿A qué te dedicabas antes y cuál era tu sueño de chico?
MM: – No hablaría del pasado como un “antes” porque nunca dejé de hacer lo que me gusta y elijo. Hago artes marciales desde que tengo siete años, y mi sueño era ser campeón argentino. Lo logré a los 12 años, y luego de eso, cinco veces más. Estuve en la selección cuatro años y logré tres campeonatos panamericanos consecutivos representando a Argentina: en Paraguay 2014, Argentina 2016, y Brasil 2018. Ahora estoy estudiando abogacía, estoy en quinto año. Planeo recibirme el año que viene.
Marco has a whole life pursuing the activities he loves. I wish him well. What is the favorite thing that you learned about Marco? Let me know in the comment section.
Note: Jordan decided to rebrand his store. Shortys Apparel is his former brand. Era Supply Co. is the new brand. I will revise this post when more information is available.
Jordan Morello is an online fitness coach, social media personality, cookbook author, and apparel brand owner, Era Supply Co.
According to an email announcement, the brand is closing on January 31, 2024. Jordan will be opening another, based on the explanation in the email and the name of the sale on the website (a “rebranding”).
Jordan decided to rebrand his store. Shortys Apparel is his former brand. Era Supply Co. is the new brand. I will update this post when more information is available.
Shortys Apparel sells–
swim shorts (Swims, Boardys)
gym or lounge shorts (Kickbacks, Trainers)
underwear
hoodies
t-shirts (Tee’s)
Jordan models his clothing while doing his workouts or other content.
Jordan decided to rebrand his store. Shortys Apparel is his former brand. Era Supply Co. is the new brand. I will update this post when more information is available.
Shortys Apparel is a brand to consider because you work with the owner directly.
In one of his videos, Jordan showed the room in his house where he stores his product for sales. He also shows where he packages an order for customers.
It is also good to see Jordan wear Shortys clothing as he does his day or workout tasks.
Models
Shortys has added other models to its social media. Aleksander Pacocha (aka Alek Maximus) is a bodybuilder and YouTuber. Haus of Love is a brand owner and content creator.
Conclusion
What color of Shortys boxer briefs was your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
Elton Pinto Mota, fitness model. Clothing, Father Sons
Introduction
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
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.
Andrei Gutierrez, a mens physique competitor from Aguascalientes, México. Photo by Chris Femat.
There are two types of undertones—cool and warm. Skin tone is different from skin color. The best way to tell whether you have a cool or warm skin tone. Stand in front of a mirror and hold a sheet of white copy paper next to your face.
If you see a red, pink, or blue undertone you have a cool undertone.
If you see a peach, yellow, or golden undertone, then you have a warm undertone.
When you determine what type of undertone you have, you can tell which colors look best next to your skin.
Color Theory
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.
Wardrobe Essentials: The Foundation of Your Personal Style
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.
Leather boots, dress shoes, white or black leather sneakers
Accessories
Watch, bracelet, leather belt
Denim Jeans for Muscular Thighs
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:
The clothing offered: jeans, chinos, shorts, and shorts.
The brand has a specific sizing guide. (According to a blog post, the brand specifically added upper arm measurements to its sizing.)
Sizing
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.
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.
IFBB Pro (Classic Physique) Laszlo Kiraly. Shirt. Tapered Menswear.
Dress shirt
White tapered fit shirt
55 Great Britain Pounds
96 percent cotton and 4 percent Elastane
Polo shirt
The brand’s polo shirts are available in short- and long-sleeves. I have chosen the short sleeve shirt for this article.
Black tapered fit polo shirt
40 Great Britain Pounds
100 percent cotton mesh fabric
T-shirt
The t-shirts have a muscle fit, meaning that the t-shirt fits closer to the body and emphasizes a bodybuilder’s V-shape. The close fit of the t-shirt’s sleeve shows off the wearer’s biceps peak.
The clothing offered: jackets, jeans, jumpers (sweaters), pants, shirts, and t-shirts.
The brand’s sizing chart for shirts and for pants. (There is a context-based size guide tab at the right side of the screen for each product type.) The brand shows how their clothes fit on different types of physiques (one of them is a muscular physique, Andrei Deiu, an IFBB pro (mens physique)).
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.
IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Regan Grimes tries on Father Sons clothing.
The clothing offered: chinos, dress shirts, dress pants, jeans, and polos.
Readers can contact the brand for sizing advice (For example, see the chat function at the bottom-left of the screen.)
Sizing
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 brand has size information on each product page.
Sizing
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).
Harry Simonis, CEO and Founder of Tailored Athlete
The CEO (and founder) of Tailored Athlete is Harry Simonis. Harry started the brand in 2016 (when he was 22 years old) to serve athletes wanting better-fitting shirts without having to go to the tailor. He explained his idea in creating his brand’s “true muscle fit”.
Working out of his bedroom at his mother’s house in the United Kingdom, Simonis sourced hundreds of fabric samples, started sketching numerous new designs and began conducting market research on his own by measuring thousands of athletes at nearby gyms. “I got a lot of funny looks at first,” the entrepreneur laughs. “Some people agreed, some thought I was mad.”
However, it was through this arduous process that Simonis began to develop the “True Muscle Fit” – scientifically designed for their athletic physique.
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.
Sizing
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.
The brand states that its shirts have a “true muscle fit,” which includes wider sleeves for bigger upper arms. Big arms of pro physique guys or open class bodybuilders may be too big for the sleeves, despite Tailored Athlete using stretchable performance fabrics for their clothes. I am thinking that fit, muscular guys (like the brand’s CEO, Harry) would be ideal for the dress shirts. (Examples are Kyle Hynick, Josh Riquelme, and Fraser Wilson.)
Model: Adrian Santos, wearing a Tailored Athlete polo shirt.
T-Shirt
Essential T-Shirt
45 U.S. Dollars
95 percent cotton, 5 percent Elastane
Denim Jeans
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.)
The clothing offered: dress pants, dress shirts, hats, and polo shirts.
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’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 Fran Denim jeans is based on the waist circumference (30 inches to 38 inches with 2 inseams-31 inches and 34 inches). The brand explains that you can focus on the waist size only without making an adjustment for your thighs.
The sizing for Kojo Fit jeans is based on the waist circumference (28 inches to 36 inches with the inseam ranging from 28 inches to 30 inches). With the relatively low inseam options, the brand seems to be focused on shorter men.
Chino
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 sizing for Olympvs shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest measurement. The sizes range from S to XXL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XXL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 46 inch to 48-in chest.
For Olympvs pants, the sizing is based on a bodybuilder’s waist, hip, and thigh (leg-day lovers’ dream) measurements. For example—
Waist: 36 inches
Hip: 42 inches
Thigh: 26 inches to 30 inches
For more questions about fit, the reader can email or chat with a company representative.
Dress Shirt
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.
The sizing for Tailored Titan shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s height as well as chest, waist, and flexed-biceps measurements. The shirts have a small brand logo on the chest.
For more questions about fit, the reader can contact a company representative.
Dedicated weight training produced your muscular build. You should be able to find clothing that suits a more muscular physique. While you can go to a tailor for made-to-measure or bespoke clothing, those options can be hard on the wallet.
Fortunately, there are some brands available that offer essential clothing for muscular guys at a reasonably affordable price. These essential pieces can be assembled in multiple outfits. Are you a weight training enthusiast that loves leg day or a competitive physique athlete? Perhaps, you are a friend or significant other of a muscular guy. What has been your experience finding non-gym-related clothes that fit well? What brands work well? Tell me in the comments or by email.
Eduardo Fermin is a men’s fashion and physique portrait photographer located in Manhattan, New York City.
According to Eduardo’s website, he is from Venezuela, where he studied cinematography and worked in a theater for ten years. Eduardo was first a cook and waiter in New York City. Interested in his new city, he began taking photos with a cell phone.
Chris Tinsley is a male model based in California and New York.
Christian Rodriguez
Christian, a fitness model based in New York City, had a photo shoot with Eduardo. (Read more about falls from the fire escape in New York City.)
Christian, suffered multiple fractures after falling (nearly six stories) from a fire escape in New York City on September 11, 2021. (He has recovered from his injuries.)
Viktor Zetocha is a personal trainer and fitness model from the Czech Republic. He had some photoshoots while he visited the United States. One photoshoot was with Eduardo.
Blake Bartizal, a personal trainer and a YouTuber, had a photo session with Eduardo in Miami, Florida. Blake holds an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science.
See more photos from this photo shoot on Eduardo’s website.
Jake Hilburn, a fashion model, had a photo session with Eduardo. In this set of photos, Eduardo used light and shadow to showcase Jake’s physique and face.
Savar Aktamov, a male fitness model, had a photo shoot with Eduardo in New York City. See more photos of Savar on Eduardo’s website.
Totallyrico
The model named Totallyrico had a photo session with Eduardo. See more photos of Totallyrico on Eduardo’s website.
Philip Fusco
Philip Fusco, a longtime model, had a photo shoot with Eduardo. In a session that Men and Underwear Blog featured, Phil modeled Walking Jack underwear. (More photos of Phil are posted on Eduardo’s website.)
In an article with Fashionably Male blog, Phil discussed his Christmas-based photo shoot with Eduardo.
Phil posted a photo-shoot behind-the-scenes video on his YouTube channel.
Eduardo also composes his model photos using the beautiful City of New York as a backdrop. One location is at Times Square. (Note: I wrote a previous blog about Calvin Klein’s underwear billboards in this area.)
Eduardo’s photos are great and I wish him and his models great success. Have you enjoyed the models in this post? Is there another photo shoot that I missed? Please let me know in the comment section on through e-mail.
Andrew C. Morrill is a Texan who lives in New York City. Andrew was based in Hong Kong and London, United Kingdom for a few years. He had been in the modeling industry for over a decade.
Andrew is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified Personal Trainer.
I reviewed the Athletegy website while updating another blog post. I decided to purchase a pair of shorts and a t-shirt for a review. The sizing for the Quad Short runs from small to extra-large. I could not determine which size would fit me. I sent a question to the customer service about this. I received a reply from Andrew.
After reading Andrew’s email, I decided to try on the extra-large. I would guess the extra large would fit waists measuring 36-40 inches. I note that there is the brand offers a 14-day try-on period, so you could buy two sizes and return the one that does not fit. Also, I selected the large size for the Ace Tee.
The price for the clothing is on the high side (58 U.S. dollars for the Quad Short and the same price for the Ace Tee). The price is comparable to the pricing of other high-end workout shorts and t-shirts.
In addition, I have been a follower of Andrew’s social media, so I expect that (1) I am helping a small business with owners with whom I am familiar and (2) that I can communicate with them about purchase-related issues.
Inside is a white bag that contains the clothing that I ordered (wrapped in white tissue paper), a postcard (with a thank-you message from Andrew and Michael (a nice touch that is appreciated). As discussed earlier, there is a return label if the clothes do not fit.
The t-shirt fits well. The fabric is soft to the touch and is lightweight.
The shorts are mid-thigh on me. There is also a mesh material toward the top of the back of the shorts. I am guessing this feature is to allow better air circulation for runners. The shorts’ inner stitching and overall construction are neat and well done, as expected for the price point.
I used them for a home workout, which included deadlifts and dumbbell squats—the clothes allowed for a full range of motion during the training.
Takeaway
The clothes are well made and perform as advertised. In addition, you get to communicate with the owners who thank you for your business (a sadly rare business behavior). The price point is higher; however, the clothing should have a long life with high-quality and durable materials.
The brand explained that the brand will be adding more products for sale. I review them to see if I see other items I would buy.
Andrew has had several interviews over his career. Several of them have been with the Fashionably Male blog. Andrew also interviewed with the Men and Underwear blog.
Andrew mentions in his interviews that fans compliment him on his pectorals and thighs. (See other blog posts on leg-day shorts and 5-inch inseam shorts)
Andrew spoke with Willpower Magazine for an interview. Andrew discusses his start in fitness with school sports. Andrew started weight training in college. Over time, Andrew worked with a number of personal trainers; he felt he learned the exercises best when he taught himself.
Andrew’s notable muscle group is his thighs. He explained in the interview that he initially did not like having big thighs.
As a young man, I hated my muscular legs because they made it difficult to fit into clothes. It’s funny because now I think they are my best physical asset.
A lot of body development is accepting who and what you are and recognizing your own assets.
Read the rest of Andrew’s interview where he discusses his preparation for the NASM personal trainer exam and his workout and nutrition for maintaining his physique.
YouTube
Andrew did an interview with Flash Avenue Studio in London, UK.
Andrew has had a long career as a model and personal trainer. I hope that the clothing brand will add additional success. Also, congratulations on being a cancer survivor!
Any of Andrew’s photos are your favorite? Perhaps, you have tried his gym clothes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
I found some of Kyle Hynick‘s photos where he was wearing a big flannel shirt that had an embroidered logo and design on it. I discovered that the jacket is an overshirt.
Is the overshirt a good piece to add to a guy’s wardrobe or is it just a passing fad? The overshirt is a versatile part of a guy’s wardrobe. I can see why the garment has many fans.
The Cardigan Sweater
Way back, I loved cardigan sweaters with designs like some overshirts; sadly, this type of cardigan faded away. The overshirt could fill the place of the cardigan, at least for me.
What is an Overshirt?
According to the EQVVS website, an overshirt is a jacket with the design of a shirt. The overshirt comes in various styles (zip front, button front, with pockets or without pockets) and fabrics (cotton or nylon). The style is casual, but some of the overshirts have great colors making those pieces more polished. The overshirt is versatile to wear in all seasons, which is great for the Washington, D.C., area weather pattern.
In selecting an overshirt, it should be big enough to fit a sweater underneath the overshirt, but not supersized (unless that is the look you are going for).
The overshirt provides many options for creating an outfit. I am still learning how to create a great look. I look to YouTube videos to see what fashion bloggers recommend.
The first video is by Style by Dillan, who provides advice on creating a two to three-layered outfit.
In the second video, Devan on Deck styles overshirts for use in warmer climates or a transition from cold to warm weather. Devan also discusses how to use overshirts to introduce color to your outfit.
YouTuber Marcel Floruss, in the third video, demonstrates several overshirts, in a variety of fabrics.
Examples
Kyle Hynick
Instagram influencer, Kyle Hynick, started a page where he wears different outfits. In the photos with overshirts, Kyle wears flannel shirts with customized embroidery and plaid jackets. He wears an overshirt with a graphic tee and cargo pants or jeans. It is a well-styled, relaxed rugged combination, perfect for weeknights or weekends.
Celestial City
Celestial City is a small business located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Celestial City’s owner lives in Halifax.
The brand sells embroidered sweatshirts, as Kyle is wearing one. The brand also provides for custom embroidery requests. (Check the website for more details.)
Represent
Represent is a luxury streetwear brand based in Great Britain. George and Michael Heaton, brothers, own Represent.
Several of Kyle’s outfits have a graphic t-shirt, jacket, hoodie, overshirt, and cargo pants from the brand.
Overshirt Brands
In researching this article, I became interested in the style, as I used to love cardigans with a design on them. While looking on Pinterest for Overshirt examples, I found a great-looking overshirt from Percival. I liked the overshirt’s look (flannel work shirt, hazel mini hound), but I wanted to learn more about the company.
Percival is a Great Britain brand located in Hackney. The brand strives to combine a “British sense of understated style and rare, internationally-sourced fabrics and materials.” A group of five operates the business.
I emailed the company with a sizing question about another coat and received a reply. (I decided to look for an overshirt because I have several coats already. The size information was valuable.)
I found a wool work shirt (midnight and espresso windowpane). I decided to buy it. (Note: this style may not be available; other styles are.)
The order process was smooth. I will update the post with details about the delivery and fit.
Order Review
My order was mailed on January 25 from the United Kingdom and arrived at my home in the United States (through DHL (20 GBP)) on January 27. The shipping is pricey, but I appreciate more the delivery speed.
I am impressed with how neatly the order was packed in the mail bag. The order arrived in a black mail bag. Inside the work shirt was within a cloth bag with the Percival logo. There was an envelope with return information if needed.
The work shirt is made of wool but is not overly heavy. (I love my cashmere overcoat–warm and light–so I pay attention to a jacket’s weight.) There is a lining in the sleeves.
I am happy with my purchase, and I will keep looking on the website for other pieces to buy.
Conclusion
The overshirt is a versatile part of a guy’s wardrobe. I hope that this article is also a benefit for you, the reader. (I will update this post with further examples.)
Would you consider buying an overshirt? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or by email.
Personal trainers and fitness models often form small businesses to either take care of training clients or to promote yourself to photographers and clothing brands.
From interviewing and researching some personal trainers and fitness models for the blog, I have been finding that these small business owners also have great personal stories that could contribute positively to a news story. How do these business owners and potentially interested media outlets make a connection (but cannot afford a media relations firm)? The answer is through do-it-yourself media relations.
A Note on the Media Business: Contracting yet Still Important
I used to be a business-to-business journalist in weekly legal publications. I often was awed by the work of the daily journalists who dealt with challenging daily deadlines to produce publishable content. My sources were in reference materials; daily reporters must find relevant people to provide quotes for an article.
I loved my work, but with the Internet, the journalism industry has become a more challenging field, starting with print, and now occurring in the television. Lots of media outlets have closed or consolidated. Still, the thrill of finding a great story is in me even though I am in another non-journalist career. Seeing my article that I toiled to complete in print is another great feeling.
What are Media Relations?
I found an explanation of media relations at the Media Maven and More website “[I]t’s earning placement in the media without paying for it. When you pay for it, it’s advertising. When you don’t pay for it, it’s media relations.”
With fewer media outlets, interested business owners must contact the reporters that cover a particular issue and to provide them with relevant stories that will entertain, educate, or enlighten to the journalist’s audience. Also, I took a Muck Rack course on the fundamentals of media relations. In that course, media outlets also look at how many clicks a story gets.
In the Muck Rack course, stories that tend to get a high number of clicks are those involving politics, celebrity, or sports. Following that are stories that have a strong connection with the media outlet’s local area.
This work takes some time, but when you find a relevant journalist that covers your industry area and you have a story that entertains, educates or enlightens the audience, you will be successful and develop a good relationship with the media.
Media Relations Preparation Work Homework
Interested in doing the work to get media coverage? To get such coverage, you will have to do the homework. I recommend doing an Internet search on media relations to see what information is out there.
What you will need is to find out your story. A PDF from Pitch Rate is helpful to creating your press kit for your website. Then I would recommend checking out the Muck Rack course. Muck Rack is pricey for small businesses, but they offer helpful free content.
When Ready to Look for Media Publications, Start Local
Also, see Phoenix Jackson’s YouTube video for some more great tips as you get started. One great tip that is in the video is to check out all sources of local media—local newsletters and bulletins that are a good fit for your personal story or your business.
Conclusion
I wish you the best of luck in your search for media coverage. It requires some background work; however, your focus on doing things right and preparing well will be a huge benefit for you and your relationships with media and their audience.
Please let me know of your successes and challenges in the comment section or by sending me an email.
If you find some information that is helpful to you and not mentioned in the article, please tell me in the contents or through an email.
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