Why does the modern Aussie big man struggle to shop for himself when it comes to buying fashion? Sure, he may be well versed in buying the latest gadgets for his home entertainment system or those much needed tools for completing projects around the home. However, when it comes to buying big man fashion essentials, the average Aussie big guy could do with a little help.

Indeed, men in Europe are looking like this:

Whilst Aussie men are:

No wonder we Aussie big men may well struggle in the fashion stakes.

Indeed, the problem of Australian men not knowing how to shop for fashion is so dire that Australia is a country mile away from being considered as having one of the world’s most fashionable cities.

In order to turn this trend around, help is at hand. We have put together this handy big man fashion essentials buying advice to turn you from a fashion boob into a fashion boss.

1. Start with the basics

Buying basics that work for you all year round is important. We big men do not need to splurge on the latest fashion trends that emerge every season in order to look good. Instead, what we should be investing our money in is creating a timeless capsule wardrobe. Purchasing a small amount of well-chosen basics that we can mix and match to create a number of looks is the way to go.

If you’re like most Aussie big men, you're already the owner of a capsule wardrobe without even knowing it! If you have a small selection of clothes that you enjoy wearing all the time, that’s your capsule! However, if said clothes are looking a little worse for wear because of overuse it might be time to update your “dad uniform”.

2. Consider colours carefully

You may be tempted to opt for the more basic colours (of whites, blacks, greys and blues). Reason being, these colours go with everything. However, don’t be afraid to show some flair and add a bit of drama by choosing a range of colours and prints. A great maxim to abide by is to choose one area of your capsule wardrobe to show your personality off. Keep the rest fairly simple.

3. The numbers game

Ok, so at this point you may be wondering: “Just how many great-looking individual pieces should I buy to create a classic big man capsule wardrobe?”

Fashion stylists suggest that if you want to create a wardrobe that will see you right through the year you should purchase the following:

• 3 Basic Tees – plain with no wild prints or graphics
• 3 Dress Shirts – subtly patterned
• 2 Polos – for when the dress code stipulates ‘collar required’
• 1 Hoodie
• 1 Casual Jacket – like a track jacket or windbreaker
• 2 Jumpers
• 1 Overcoat – for keepin’ it classy
• 2 Pairs of Jeans – forgo the skinny ones
• 3 Pairs of Casual Pants – for work, unless you work somewhere cool, then you can sub in more jeans
• 1 Pair of Sweat Pants – think Loungewear
• 3 Pairs of Shorts (including swimmers) – show some leg
• Belt– either brown or black. Keep it simple. It should be made out of nice leather.
• 1 Pair of Dress Shoes

Whilst this big man fashion essentials list is fairly comprehensive, it doesn’t encompass all possible clothing items you may need to wear for the next 365 days. We have left things like boots and sneakers off the list because you probably already have these. The idea of this list is to give you an overview of the extra items you may need to purchase to ensure your big man capsule wardrobe is complete.

Big Man Fashion Essentials: Final Thoughts

And that’s all there really is to it. Like life, the approach you to take to buying fashion essentials should be really simple.  There is no need to overcomplicate things. With some savvy purchasing you should be able to buy everything you need to create your big man capsule wardrobe in a day.

Obviously, this big man fashion essentials guide is just that: a guide. The number and type of items you individually require as well as the accessories is all up to you!

Well done! You’re now on your way to looking ten times better than the guy she told you not to worry about.