Photo credit: Abbie Rudolph
by Corbin Chamberlain
Men who fit into the size range offered by most brands have Mr. Porter,Valetmag.com and GQ to look to for style inspiration. But where can plus-sized fashion-focused gentlemen go? Chubstr.com, a Web site founded by Bruce Sturgell in 2011. Mr. Sturgell said he saw few fashion platforms that catered to a more plump crowd. So he started Chubstr, an online style guide for men whose appreciation for fashion is as large as their waist size.
Mr. Sturgell, of Springfield, Mo., describes his readers as 18- to 35-year-old style-minded men from around the world. Wives seeking smart threads for their heavy-set husbands are also part of the readership.
With four contributors and traffic growing 20 percent every month (now at 45,000 monthly visitors), according to Mr. Sturgell, Chubstr suggests products and styling advice daily. One highlight is a weekly feature called Style Deconstructed, in which Chubstr analyzes what the site deems well-dressed male celebrities like Dave Grohl and James McAvoy, and advises readers on how interpret the look.
Photo credit: Chubstr.com
So far advertisers include Rickshaw Bags; Indochino, an online custom suit maker; and the e-tailer PLNDR.
I was introduced to Chubstr last fall when Mr. Sturgell contacted me for an interview to discuss my personal style (long before I started to contribute to The New York Times). Initially, I was turned off by the site’s name. It came across as impolite, too easy and almost laughable. But when I started exploring the site, I found myself devouring each post (pun intended), and found the enthusiasm in the reader-submitted photos section infectious. Chubstr’s community isn’t submissive to size. Sans abs, these rakish readers have found an online residency.
I’m often inspired by Jeffery Costello and Robert Tagliapietra, the designers behind Costello Tagliapietra, whose plaid printed flannel and suspenders have cemented their signature look. But beside the design duo and a few others, my inspiration sources are few.
As a heavier man who appreciates solid design, I often find that men’s plus-size clothing might be the industry’s slowest effort. Unable to fit into most mainstream labels that I admire, my hunt for fashion-forward clothes that are accessible in fit, location and price is perpetual. Although offerings for women don’t mirror high-end design, their spectrum of options, including outlets like Torrid, Lane Bryant and Avenue, seems wider. Brands like Gap, Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren offer the least-conventional sort of styles for larger men, but nothing with which to build a lasting, plus-size wardrobe. The brands that do offer larger sizes are often bereft of spark. Bespoke is often where fuller framed men have found retail-refuge, even if their wallets don’t.
Mr. Sturgell’s movement toward a solution includes plans to start an online store on Chubstr by the end of the year. He said he wants a similar e-commerce experience to Polyvore and Valetmag.com, and will sell garments in sizes 36/XL and up.
via NYTimes
