STOP TELLING GUYS TO WORKOUT LESS SO THEY CAN DRESS BETTER AND SHOP FOR CLOTHES MORE EASILY. I’M SICK OF IT.

After hanging up my hockey skates, I picked up CrossFit and have done it for nearly 14 years. I’m in the best shape of my life, and going to CrossFit is a happy place for me. I have made friends and met some wonderful people at the gyms I’ve belonged to and the ones I’ve visited while traveling. It’s not something I plan on giving up, especially for the sake of making it easier to shop for clothes.

Don’t mind me—just an angry cat slapping away at his keyboard over here. Honestly, though, that’s a pretty accurate visual for how this topic makes me feel and fires me up. I am absolutely sick and tired of people telling guys who work out and lift a lot that they can’t dress well if they do.

But often, it doesn’t stop there. They’ll also throw in something like, “Because you can’t dress well if you work out a lot, you should just stop working out altogether—or at least do it way less.” Because, you know, that’s obviously the only solution. We can send people into space, but if you squat and bench too much and your butt and chest get too big, nothing can be done for you. Yeah, right.

I previewed this article on my Instagram account, and the majority of responses I got were along the lines of, “Oh, come on. Do people actually say that? That can’t be true.” I then posted a clip from one of my favorite menswear podcasts, Blamo!, where host Jeremy Kirkland and menswear internet personality Albert Muzquiz (a.k.a. Edgy Albert) bashed the style of guys who lift. If they had stopped there, fine. However, suggesting that guys should work out less or quit altogether so they can dress better made me livid. You can listen to the podcast HERE, or read the transcript below.

Albert: “And so, yeah, I feel like that's a comment I get a lot on my Instagram or TikTok, whatever, when I’m talking about jeans. They’re like, ‘I can’t fit into anything. My thighs are too big. I’m a powerlifter.’ I'm like, then stop powerlifting. There’s really nothing else I can say. It’s just like clothes were not meant for for that.”

Jeremy: “Yeah, I agree. Or you’re going to live in like, you know, insert activewear brand for all time. And I guess that’s fine if that’s what you want to do. But like, yeah, because that’s the other thing is the guys, the other guys I see leave the gym, you know, and they’re going to their whatever real estate group that they work for. And they’re all ultra tight spandexy clothes. And it just I don’t know. And it’s like there’s people that are listening to this that probably wear that. And I mean, it’s fine if that's really who you want to be. I respect your own way to express yourself. But like it’s just I just feel like it’s not as fun. You just look like a superhero all the time. What if what if there’s a crime and someone looks to you, but you’re not prepared for it? And it’s because you were dressed like a superhero, you know, and now you're put on the spot and then you actually make things worse.”

From Blamo!: Albert Muzquiz (Edgy Albert) and the Case of the Dope Pants, Apr 1, 2024

Telling someone to workout less or stop altogether so they can dress better would also mean seeing less of their friends and losing out on an important “third place” outside of home and work

If you haven’t heard of Albert, he has nearly 350,000 followers on TikTok and more than that on Instagram. Esquire wrote an article in June titled “EdgyAlbert is the New Voice of Style on Social Media.” Before I continue, let me say that I agree with Esquire—Albert is one of the best voices in menswear today, and it’s absolutely worth your time to check out his work. I follow him myself and agree with a lot of what he has to say. However, on this particular topic and his take on it, I disagree so strongly that my reaction is borderline visceral. I’ve overheard comments similar to Albert’s and Jeremy’s in passing at stores, directed at other guys. Many of my clients have also shared that they’ve been told the same thing. “Kind of a crazy thing to say, right?” said one client.

How is saying something like that supposed to make these guys feel? For many of them, working out isn’t just a hobby—it’s something that makes them happier, physically and mentally healthier, and more capable human beings with a longer and better quality of life. It’s often a source of community where they’ve built friendships. And yet these so-called menswear “experts” are telling them to quit? In the CrossFit world, going to class is often referred to as “the best hour of the day” by members. Whether I’m working out at CrossFit TILT or coaching one of the classes I lead each month as a part-time coach, I frequently hear members say—unsolicited—that they’ve been looking forward to coming to the gym all day. It’s their chance to sweat, throw some weight around, burn off steam, and connect with friends.

My friend and client, Stephen Ledogar, and I going head to head in a 2024 CrossFit Open workout. Stephen serves as a full-time coach at CrossFit TILT. Don’t let the faces fool you—we’re having fun.

When the “experts” and the “New Voice of Style on Social Media” tell you that you’re out of luck if you want to dress well, you very well may believe them. Or, you might have the same reaction I did when a department store saleswoman told me to work out less. I thought, “Screw this. There’s got to be a solution.” Her comment was the catalyst for the work I do today as a men’s wardrobe specialist. Unfortunately, I find that many athletically built guys (sartorially, men of average height whose chest size is more than 8 inches larger than their waist size) just shrug their shoulders when they hear these these comments. They settle for cheaply made, stretchy synthetic shirts or suits . They don’t know where else to turn when these “experts” offer no solutions—only criticism. It’s their job as menswear commentators—and my job as a men’s wardrobe specialist—to have and share opinions and insights. But I also believe that when we critique someone’s wardrobe or style, we should offer solutions or food for thought at the very least. Whether someone chooses to heed that is entirely up to them. Jeremy and Albert’s attitude reminds me of the guy in the gym who can bench 315 pounds for reps but sees someone on their first day working out get pinned under an empty bar, only to whip out his phone to record and laugh instead of helping and offering some pointers.

In most instances discussing other challenges related to menswear, I believe Jeremy and Albert would likely provide guidance. However, dressing an athletic build can be tricky. It’s much easier to poke fun than to help, and I was genuinely disappointed when I heard their remarks. Is it more challenging to find clothes that fit if you work out a lot and have an athletic build? Absolutely. Jeremy and Albert aren’t wrong about that. But is it impossible? Not at all. Like getting faster, stronger, or fitter, it just takes time and effort. Anyone who says otherwise is either being lazy or doesn’t know what they’re talking about. I respect much of what these two have to say, so in this case, I’m going with the former, not the latter.

Me on my way to the real estate group I work for, RE/MAX Andrew Realty Services. No matter your build, it is possible to dress well and the way you want with a little effort and knowing where to look.

But you know what I’m not hearing from these talking heads? The advantages of dressing with an athletic build. For one, you get to accentuate your features rather than hide them or fake something that isn’t there. Take suiting, for example. Slender guys often aim to add shape to their shoulders by opting for suit jackets with padding in the shoulders. For guys who lift, you almost certainly don’t need or want that—unless you want to look like an NFL linebacker on game day. Instead, a suit jacket with unpadded, natural shoulders will likely serve you better, as you already have—quite literally—strong shoulders. Here’s another example. My body’s shape and size changes over time, albeit gradually, as I add lean muscle mass from working out. Every three to four years, I usually need to replace portions of my wardrobe, especially tailored items, because they no longer fit properly in the neck, chest, arms, shoulders, seat, or quads. But here’s the silver lining: as long as you shop smart and only buy what you need, this creates a cool opportunity. Having to replace some items every few years allows me to experiment and try new things as my personal style evolves. For instance, I recently needed to replace a few suits and button-down shirts. While I’m still getting the basics—like solid white and blue shirts—I’m also excited to mix things up a bit from what I had bought previously. By ordering only a few key pieces, I can really wear them, break them in, and make them my own.

Alright, now I’m speaking directly to my barrel-chested brethren. Please, consider this: stop proving Jeremy right. You don’t have to settle for cheap clothes made with a bunch of elastane and synthetic materials if you don’t want to. I personally prefer well-made clothes that age well and are crafted from natural materials like cotton, wool, and linen. If you’re happy wearing stretchy, form-fitting clothes, that’s great—I won’t yuck your yum. But if you’re unhappy and only wearing them because you don’t know where else to look, I’m here to tell you: better options exist.

A lot of the stretchy clothes that Albert, Jeremy, and I are referring to aren’t ideal for athletic body types as they are much too tight. Adding all of that elastane is a crutch to get them to fit. You wouldn’t wear pants without stretch that are too tight, and to make them fit you lather up in Vaseline to slide them on. And, you wouldn’t get one of your buddies to recreate the dressing room scene from White Chicks. Because we’re talking fitness, here’s another analogy: adding elastane to pants that don’t fit is like someone attempting kipping pull-ups who can’t do a strict pull-up, or can barely hang from a bar. Instead, try something a little roomier and with a little drape. You don’t have to buy it, just try it. I believe clothes should absolutely show off and enhance your features, but not scream them. It should look like you’re wearing the clothes versus them wearing you.

As someone who loves working out often and works for a real estate group, I hate what Jeremy and Albert are saying about how many guys built like me dress. That said, there’s some truth to it from my perspective—and I think that’s why it stings, also because I know a lot of these guys would look and feel better with a few changes. In my experience, though, the issue is simply these guys don’t know where to look for better options—thanks in part to people like Albert, Jeremy, and uneducated store salespeople who either can’t or won’t help. If want to ditch the superhero costume and receive a little guidance finding clothes that fit your body and reflect your personal style, feel free to reach out to me. If you’re happy with what you’re wearing, keep rocking whatever makes you feel good. Above all, keep working out and enjoying time with friends in your happy place. And if Jeremy or Albert ever walk through your gym’s doors and get pinned under a barbell, don’t record them and laugh. Instead, give them a hand, spot them next time, and maybe share a few pointers.