Dad Bod Style Guide: Shirts That Make You Look and Feel Great

Picking the right shirt when you carry weight around the middle comes down to three things: the cut, the fabric, and where the hem lands. Get those right and you skip the gym entirely — at least as a fashion requirement.

About 75% of American men over 35 wear a size L or above [Source: NPD Group Apparel Data, 2024]. That is the majority. Yet most style guides are still written for guys who look like they wandered off a J.Crew photoshoot. This one is for the rest of us.

Why Most Shirts Fail the Dad Bod

Here is the pattern. You grab a shirt off the rack, it fits in the shoulders, and then it does one of two things: it clings to the stomach like plastic wrap, or it hangs like a tent and makes you look 20 pounds heavier than you are. Both outcomes stink.

The issue is not your body. It is the cut. Slim-fit shirts are designed for a straight torso with minimal taper. Regular-fit shirts add volume everywhere, including places you do not need it. What works for a dad bod is a relaxed fit with structure — something that drapes over the midsection without ballooning at the sides.

Three details to check before you buy: First, the shoulder seam should sit right at the edge of your shoulder, not drooping down your arm. Second, the fabric should have enough weight to drape rather than cling — linen, cotton-linen blends, and rayon blends outperform thin cotton. Third, the hem should land at mid-fly, long enough to tuck but short enough to wear untucked without looking like a nightgown.

The Fabrics That Actually Work

Linen and cotton-linen blends are your best friends. They drape naturally, which means the fabric falls over curves instead of hugging them. A 70/30 cotton-linen blend gives you that relaxed movement without the full wrinkle commitment of pure linen.

Rayon and viscose blends are the underrated second option. They have a slight sheen that reads more polished, and the fluid drape is incredibly forgiving through the stomach. The downside: they do not breathe as well as linen in extreme heat.

Stay away from stiff cotton poplin and anything marketed as "performance stretch" for casual wear. Stretch fabrics are great in athletic contexts but in a casual shirt, they tend to vacuum-seal around the midsection — the opposite of what you want.

Five Scenes Where Dad Bod Guys Overthink It

The weekend BBQ. Untucked linen camp collar, shorts, clean sneakers. You are grilling, not interviewing. Keep it simple and comfortable.

The kids' soccer game. A solid henley or a relaxed polo in a dark color. Dark colors slim the silhouette, and the henley neckline is more interesting than a crew neck without being fussy.

Family dinner out. A linen button-down in navy or sage, untucked, with chinos. This is the sweet spot where you look like you tried without looking like you tried too hard. COOFANDY's relaxed-fit linen shirts land right here — the boxy cut drapes over the midsection, the cotton-linen blend feels light enough for a patio restaurant, and at $28 to $35 per shirt, you can own several rotations without overthinking the budget.

The reunion or wedding. Camp collar shirt in a solid neutral, tucked into linen pants with a belt. The flat collar adds a dressier feel without a tie. You look polished and comfortable — which is the whole point.

Your buddy's birthday party. A textured short-sleeve button-down in a muted print. The texture adds visual interest that draws the eye up toward your face and shoulders, away from the stomach. This is a known styling trick that every menswear editor uses but nobody talks about.

How to Shop Without the Fitting Room Anxiety

Buy online and use measurements, not sizes. Sizes vary wildly across brands. What you need is your chest measurement and your shirt length preference. Most guys with a dad bod do better sizing up one from their "normal" size and checking that the shoulder seam hits correctly.

COOFANDY runs a relaxed fit by default, which means their Large fits more like a generous Large rather than a tight one. If you normally hover between L and XL, their L will probably work. When in doubt, our shirts are on Amazon and the website with free returns — order two sizes, keep the one that drapes better, send the other back.

COOFANDY Relaxed Fit Shirts Collection

Men's Linen Shirts Buying Guide

FAQ

Should dad bod guys tuck or untuck their shirts?

It depends on the shirt length. If the hem hits at mid-fly, either works. For most casual settings, untucked looks better and feels more comfortable. If you tuck, use a belt to create a clean line.

What colors are most flattering for a bigger midsection?

Dark solids (navy, charcoal, forest green) slim the silhouette most effectively. Vertical patterns also help. Avoid horizontal stripes and light colors across the midsection.

Do slim-fit shirts ever work for dad bods?

Rarely. Slim fits are cut for straight torsos. A "relaxed fit" or "classic fit" with structured drape will look better 9 times out of 10.

Looking good with a dad bod is not about hiding anything. It is about choosing fabrics that drape, cuts that skim, and colors that work. Your body is fine. Your shirt game just needs an upgrade.