last post before bed ;o)

Gotta go to bed with happy thoughts!

Hmm, so I was going to post some choice shots from the facebook group "Chunky Black Men" but it seems they've taken all of their best content down. Too many XXX pics? Oh well, here are the best of what is left.

as if i didn't like PUMA enough:

And yes, this one is not wearing clothes, but you can tell just from the affectations in his bathroom, the subtle tribal arm band (which looks amazing on black men).. this guy has got serious class

And this guy, Rick Ross. Man, his music is suspect, I've never been into the drug-dealing side of hip hop, but I must say this is one beautiful man. He's a living billboard with the super-expressive tattoos. He's not afraid to venture slightly outside of the norm of hip hop gear. He rocks the Issac Hayes beard/glasses/bald head thing. He just won't relent when it comes to being overtly stylish. He's one beautiful man and he kind of knows it. Check him out

FLYING THAT FREAK FLAG! part 2

Speaking of flying the freak flag, is this big brother over-doing it? I would have to vote "no".  But then again, I've seen it all, having been involved in underground music and art scene since the early '90s. What do you guys think?

He's in a band called We Are The Seahorses who are actually pretty good, chaotic "dance" (??) "punk" (????), electro-noise. Check that shit out!

FLYING THAT FREAK FLAG!

Just so you guys know: this is not another chubby guy celebrity blogspot! Thought that needed to be said! While I do appreciate those, this one's a bit more interactive, a bit more "try this at home", a bit more personal. The goal is to experience style and to make consumer choices for your lifestyle based on true expression of oneself. Release that inner bohemian-hippie-punkrock-slamdancing-rainbow-explodey-geek/freak! Have fun choosing pieces that compliment you on the outside, because we only live once; who wants to spend it in the shadows, hiding on the back of the bus, wearing cut-off Lees and the free t-shirt your bank was giving out two sundays ago??

Still, I do wanna use celebs to highlight their fashion choices. They're usually on the forefront of fashion (gasp! even the chubby dude ones?!) and have their own personal style. And while their clothes may be tailored or high-end designer brands, with today's market of sample sales, with sites like zappos and 6pm and with the bevy of independent brands and imitators marker, it's easy to shop for the same look for less.

That said, let's take a look at a real handsome guy named Tyler Labine. I first discovered this young gent while watching a pretty decent show on CW called Reaper. I remember thinking that his character on the show had a lot of similarities to typical Jack Black characters, but Tyler often played them with a bit more cool and spontaneity. The show was well written and fun to watch, I highly recommend watching that first season.

So, here he is, wearing one of my personal favorites: the crew neck sweater! I know, I know, every sweater in the stores now are either weird cosby sweaters or v-necks, but there are some choice crewnecks still available. You just have to do a bit of digging. I've managed to find some at places like Marshall's or Burlington Coat Factory; basically, overstock clothing stores that are high on the name brands but easy on the budget. The brands usually range from the preppy American brands like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo, Nautica; some European brands like Ben Sherman, Canterbury of New Zealand (wait.. is NZ in Europe?!), and rarely Fred Perry (but occasionally); and even some slightly more experimental American brands like Carapace, Cavi, LRG and Coogi.

What's cool about this shot also, is the print. Notice the broken pattern on the horizontal stripes. I love the arm stripes behaving sort of counter-geometrically if I may, as the pattern stops right at the shoulder giving a cool, put-together effect. Tyler is proudly sporting the dreaded thick-striped sweater that big dudes aren't supposed to wear. The key though, is that the sweater totally fits him and isn't in any way sagging or bulging. It's rocked with style and confidence, the way any classic piece like the crew neck sweater should be!

Also, you gotta love that hair man! It's definitely not for everyone, but it reveals a mischievous side of himself that's present in all of us. Sometimes you've got to let it fly, despite what society is telling us. His hair is styled, it's scruffy but not at all unkempt. The key is purposeful misplacement as opposed to just simply shabbiness!

So today's moral is: rock da stripes, da crewnecks, and don't be afraid to let your freak flag fly a little bit!

one more post before bed:

THIS GUY:

Duh! It's Jonah Hill! He's one of the most stylish men in Hollywood. He keeps it very simple and classic. Sometimes, yes, he bogs it down with the dopey skater look, but he lives in CA so he gets a  pass. He can be very cute as above, with the ultra-hip LaCoste shirt, scraggly moustache-less beard (a favorite of mine) and the brimmed hat (which rarely works on people not named Johnny Depp, but dam he's really working it); he can also look less cute and more handsome, as he did in "Get Him to the Greek", playing a slightly uptight A&R rep/music nerd.

ridiculously great polo **ALERT**

whoa, whoa, whoa.. stop the presses.. ! just found a ridiculously  hot, color splashed polo shirt for you guys, made by the company Parish. this company specializes in creative, colorful designs built around iconic, rustic american dress styles like the polo shirt, the oxford, or the rugby. essentially, they put a unique twist on these classic styles. what's more, they make 'em BIG too! and the cut and fit are generally spot on from this company.

the best thing about this is the stripes. while a lot of guys will think this is too busy for them, but with the right pair of dark wash jeans and a classic, monochromatic sneaker (avoid cross trainers, athletic shoes or shoes too dressy.. a chill pair of vans or low top chuck taylors will do.), this print is totally doable, even at 4 or 5 x. Forget the naysayers with their "horizontal stripes make you look fat!!" theories. a/ so what b/ that's total bs. fat makes you look fat and lack of fit makes you look sloppy regardless of weight.

here's a link to purchase:
http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/tops/parish-stripe--polo/1101P2479?color=Blue


sorry about the slight build on the model, i just couldn't pass up how sweet this shirt is! to make up for it, here's a picture of a hot big guy just to  balance it out.

dancing**YES, BIG GUYS CAN MOVE!!

I typed in "what is dancing?" in google, and the second response I found very intriguing. An excerpt:

*
Dancing is the music played with the body.
*
Dancing is done for pleasure of the dancer.

Visual effects of dancing is secondary.


These quotes are extremely important to remember for this blog! So many big men have struggled to get on the dance floor because of fear of exposure, or shyness, or lack of confidence. Remember, what is most important is that the dance be done for the simple, euphoric joy of movement.
I found a dancer named KOrrupt online while looking for krump videos. Krump is a form of hip hop dance that seems herky/jerky, but is a purely emotional dance that still retains it's rhythm. While it is not easy to do, it is a great combination of personal expression. Mastering like, four or five moves associated with krump can give bigger men the chance to express themselves while actually doing moves and participating in what's happening on the dance floor.

Also, let's check out his wardrobe. He's wearing a slightly over-sized hip hop tee with a bold, personalized statement on it. Normally, I'd say steer clear of being so obvious with the personalized t-shirts (they can quickly become cliche; besides, subtly can go a long way!), but KOrrupt's overall style is so interesting here. He's wearing a stylized baseball cap that's not just the logo of some sports team; I can't make out the emblem, but it's quirky enough to give him a dash of flavor. The shoes are skate shoes or perhaps Nike Dunks and add a certain cleanliness to his rugged, sporty style. The jeans are absolutely beautiful-- a nice, dark wash with a fit that curves at his hips. They aren't boxy or too baggy. I can not express this enough: dark wash on the jeans should be a high, high priority! They add a sense of sophistication to a sportier, lets-go-dancing look that light or drab colored jeans do not. Thankfully, hip hop clothing is becoming more fitted, but they're still making big sizes because the young kids still like to wear their clothes two sizes bigger.
So, take bits and pieces of KOrrupt's dance moves and his fashion sense and add it to your own. There's no need to go full on hip hop, but take bits and pieces (particularly the quirky, fitted cap and the dark wash jeans) and add it to your arsenal. They are timeless pieces that are relatively versatile and essential.

Here are some links to help you find this look:

shirt (what i did was, i looked for a design that had lettering on it that was a bit more cryptic, not as HUGE AND GIGANATIC! that way the subtly is there but you're still able to make a statement. Also, note that there's an over-sized emblem that works when paired with the font! be creative!):

http://www.drjays.com/shop/G1-V122129-R319-P931401-Z1/crooks--castles/medusa-crest-tee.html

pants:

http://www.drjays.com/shop/G1-V175831-R319-P961970-Z1/mecca/anthony-jean.html

hat:
http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/store/detail.asp?UPC=FDLNY028HT

shoes (I wanted to give you guys a more grown-up look than KOrrupt's here, but still keep the playfulness. Notice also the splash of color-- and yes, for this look, just a splash, but with shoes, feel free to go a bit more funky if you desire):

http://www.6pm.com/product/7597082/color/249906

and of course, the dance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6daqnNAXmwk&feature=related

WE CAN HAS FASHION?

Patterns can certainly be hip on occasion, but in general they aren't the best choice for the full-figured man. Loud patterns draw attention to the body and lend a generally increased sense of girth to heavy frames.

This fashion tip for big fat men is really important so listen up; horizontal stripes are not your friend. Never ever purchase even a minor piece of clothing, such as a tie, in horizontal stripes. Horizontal stripes make the eye go from left to right and that will only widen your already bulky frame.

For an instant slimming effect, go monochromatic. Wear a dark color shirt/top and pants with a different color blazer or jacket over the top.

You've heard it all before, the long list of do's and don'ts that permeate the world of men's fashion, especially fashion for big men. In effect, with so many rules and regulations regarding, well, everything, it seems like the do's and don'ts become simply "don'ts". Everything from what you kind of car you can drive, what types of food you can eat, what activities you can do (especially sex, sports, dancing!), and yes, to what kind of clothes you can wear, there seems to be a longer list of things that aren't allowed for the fat guys. THAT ENDS NOW. With this blog, I plan on exposing some of the don'ts for the bullshit that they are, as well as giving larger men some exciting tips on becoming comfortable with creating a personal style that feels right.

A couple things though:

1. I am a gay man in love with a beautiful, wonderful, and amazingly talented heavy-set man. This blog will be very um...queer? for lack of a better word. The tips and style advice will be universal, of course, but I want it to be clear that this is a safe-space for gay and bi men, and that straight men are welcome and encouraged to participate to

2. I will not tolerate anti-fat sentiment. Any comments that are anti-fat will more than likely be deleted. I am not here to placate your personal crusades. Hopefully, if you actually read the blog, you will see that the intent is not to glorify being overweight, but to help big men accentuate their life with style and pride, to become fully excited about their own bodies and to participate.

So, that said must also say: No, I am not an overweight, fat, or even chubby person. Sure, I have a gut, but I am by no means fat. Do I wish to be? Nope. I like myself. But I also don't wish to be a business man or a senator or a straight person. There's nothing wrong with either, in fact in many instances they should be celebrated; I'm just comfortable being me. So why am I doing this? Well, this blog is inspired by my many friends that society has deemed overweight, friends who have neglected style, culture and excitement in their lives just because they have felt that their weight has been a barrier to this enjoyment. They never allowed themselves to be seen as sexy, to be seen as someone who could wear clothes and look awesome. I'm doing this blog out of the love of my friends. Come along for the ride!

Alright. All disclaimers and intro's out of the way, let's get to it. So you see those quotes at the top of the page? They're horrible. They were all taken from well-intentioned blog posts that attempted to give a token's concern about fashion and style for big men. No colors? No bold prints? NO FREAKIN' STRIPES?! Wow, I'm here to tell you that all of those "don'ts" will be transformed with the quickness around these parts. Why? Because most of what those quotes are saying is that if gentlemen is bigger, that means he must regulate his dress style to make himself appear to smaller. There's only one thing that's ever been truly slimming in my experience with shopping for and with bigger men and that's fit. Without fit, anyone can look sloppy. Large, baggy and excessive clothing are gone the way of the acid washed JNCOs that they rode in on. We are in the modern era now, and big boy, it's time to start living in it.

Another thing that we are going to work on here is drabness. Worse than wearing patterns, stripes or anything bold (in fact, please DO wear patterns! bold ones!!) is drabness or dullness in a wardrobe. We're going to stay out of the Old Navy's and Wal-Marts and shop at places that will enable us to find fairly priced, quality stylish pieces. So... here we go!! WOOF.