Often when I tell people what I do and what I’m passionate about – it usually revolves on saying that I’m passionate about helping women see their value, worth, beauty and falling in love with themselves and their bodies. When I tell this to the men who ask – they often follow up with – well what about the men? Why do you just talk to women about this stuff….
So, because of that, I decided that what better way to talk to men about this than feature a few men from around the world who have journeyed through to a place of self love and are sharing their message with the world. Over the next few weeks I will be featuring some stories of men who you may be able to relate to, you may see inside of what men have to deal with when it comes to body image, fashion, confidence and even some fun topics like dating. So today…let me introduce you to….Riccardo who is from Italy!!!
His blog is: www.guyoverboard.com (all his social media handles will be listed below so you can follow him). So let’s get to know Ricardo….
“I’m Riccardo, growing up in south of Italy, now I live in Rome. As a child I liked painting. Today I am a Multimedia & Graphic Designer, and I’m involved in projects related to creativity. I love sweets, music and Internet. Talkative by nature, I can’t stand the prejudices and that’s why I approached to fashion, going beyond the cliché of style as vanity.”
How and why did you get started with modelling and/or blogging?
In May 2012 I founded the fashion blog Guy Overboard as a place for sharing my ideas on streetwear and urban style, expressed through news, inspiration, personal outfits, lifestyle and beauty. I choose this name because “overboard” means exaggerated, extravagant. And men’s fashion cannot just focus on the “balanced” sartorial style. But overboard means also that fashion can’t stop to the usual sizes. That’s why I started blogging.
What was it like growing up as a plus size male and what are things like today for you?
The world is the same wherever you go and even in Italy growing as a plus-size boy was hard. When you are a child other children tend to exclude you because of your weight. And a child doesn’t have the ability to understand how to react, so he suffers. Growing, things don’t change so much: people don’t exclude you anymore but they tend to see your weight as a fault, as if you were the cause of a disease. So the only thing that saves you is the fact that you know how to react to these insults and live better against their giggles and their jokes.
Women plus size models and bloggers are really helping to change the game when it comes to what we see in media as well as how brands are able to reach their consumers however we are only starting to see this happen with plus size men. Why do you think this is so important and where do you see this going in the future?
The first step to make a change, in any field, is to be heard, to be there, to show that you “exist” and that you are a reality. And this is what the plus-size bloggers have done in recent years. To make understand first of all the readers, and then also to brands, that there is a wide reality that goes beyond the usual sizes and want to feel good in their clothes, and dress also something trendy.
Thanks to this, things have moved and so many companies have begun to make a plus-size line. I’m certain that in the future things will continue and even high fashion brands will understand that in their target there are men (and women) requiring different sizes.
I recently heard someone say that being a plus size woman in today’s world is harder than it is to be a plus size male – do you think this is true, what are your thoughts either way?
Surely women have more pressure. Film, newspapers and advertising continue to delineate only an idea of woman’s body and continue to consider it as the only idea of “real femininity”. For men this is better: even if a man has not an “athletic” body, this never weakened his masculinity and being recognized as a man.
I think the plus-size problems for men is more in fashion: women are demanding more and more from fashion. That’s why for plus-size women they opened more chances, both at working level and brand level, that decided to open sections dedicated to plus-size women. Men always considered fashion as frivolous and so the brand, even if they are investing a lot in creating their men collections because young boys are much more fashion-conscious, do not extend the same project of materials, shapes, colors, ideas for plus-size men.
Why do you think it’s so important to be a voice for other men?
I think it’s important to be a voice because you don’t feel alone. Sometimes we tend to believe that we are the only ones living a condition of our life. But share it, know that there is someone else who feels like you and he is like you, is something that helps. Also many men go through phases of their lives where don’t have the strength to face the difficulties that includes to be on the first line. So if I was in a phase of my life where I was very uncertain and feeling bad if someone criticize me, I’d be the first that want someone to say the same things I would say!
What is it like looking for a fashionable wardrobe as a plus size man? Are there limited options or do you have lots of options?
As I said, unfortunately, plus-size brands for men are still few. And even fewer are the famous brands that have decided to “increase” the number of sizes, particularly those of fast-fashion. And in fact with the blog I try to do this: I experience and try to understand where you can find larger sizes. I do not talk explicitly, but if anyone has similar sizes to mine, he will know that the brand is right for him.
What would you say your style is?
I would say that my style is casual, but in every outfit I try to mix some different inspirations: I really love for example the urban and streetwear, so in my look I combine these kind of clothes with more smart items (shirts, bowties, blazers) in order to create a special and unique look suitable for various situations.
What is your biggest challenge when it comes to fashion?
A big challenge is to get dressed enhancing my body. Not appearing like a man who is wearing a sack of potatoes that makes my figure shapeless. I want to find clothes that fit my body, that highlight the things that I want to show of myself and that make me feel sure of myself and not clumsy. And secondly I want something that is trendy, something that has been designed and developed by looking at the trends, not something purely basic (very common in plus-size world). This is probably the biggest challenge.
What are some of your favourite go to brands?
Since I’m a great lover of pop I really like what Jeremy Scott is doing for Moschino and Opening Ceremonies for Kenzo. But in general my favorite brands are really streetwear like Marcelo Burlon, 5PREVIEW, KTZ and Odeur Studios. All brands focused on oversized cuts that go beyond the “size” concept.
What is it like dating at a plus size man? Do you feel that you are judged based on your size?
I believe that actually this is the only plus point in being a plus-size man J Plus-size people always have a big “fan club”: persons who probably see in a big man a greater reassurance, but also more sweetness. Although I know this is a prejudice, for once the prejudice is in our favor 🙂
With the online popularity that you have been receiving, I am sure there also comes with it a little bit of negative attention. How do you manage to stay so positive when there are quite a few critics out there commenting on what you produce?
Sincerely, I’m very happy of all the critics. One of the things that helped me to improve my blog was just an article of an Italian online magazine which described me as one of the worst Italian fashion bloggers. This prompted me to understand why and to greatly improve the blog. After that time, I had many more visits and many more appreciation.
I don’t have a good relationship with the fake critics, those words which someone use to insult you expressing his opinion. If this comments are outbursts, I feel better sharing it with my friends. Because they help me to laugh about them. If they are talks transvestites from insults, then I answer every word. Because in the end those who try to insult you by twisted talks contradicts himself easily.
What does life look like for you outside the fashion world?
I think it is a normal and happy life. I moved from my hometown to Rome, where I first studied and then started to work (in the digital market). In Rome I met a lot of friends that makes me feel good. Definitely never my weight and my figure was affected with what I have set, or what I experienced and had.
What is the message you hope to portray to other plus size men?
To know yourself and your body as possible. Wonder how to improve it and, in the meantime, love yourself and avoid blame.
Want to see more of Ricardo?
Blog: www.guyoverboard.com
Social Media
Instagram: www.instagram.com/guyoverboard
Facebook: www.facebook.com/guyoverboard
Twitter: www.twitter.com/guyoverboard
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