The other two fits are ideal: the Slim Fit and the Classic one.

But the Custom Fit is a design classic: an off-the-peg shirt with in-built pot belly protector. Genius.

It is rather generalized and some of the comments by the readers are worth a good laugh, but wearing a suit and tie all the time to hide your chubby middle aged spread? It's a bit much, you have to work with your strengths and limitations, but being a middle aged male, is not necessarily a weakness when it comes to proving you are the alpha male with the ladies.

Being in the 45 age grouping, albeit with a Kirk Douglas chiseled chin, I can testify that a good sports jacket paired with a button-down, with or without tie and good pants, including chinos and a good pair of gunboats is all that you need to announce your sartorial arrival.

You can get away with a Swatch watch too!

Or just watch what you eat and get some exercise.

I have a rather persistent salesman who pops into my office too frequently that I think looks really put together.  He dresses for the seasons in terms of color which seems a lost art.  He must be in his middle fifties.  He's tall and rather wide and cuts an impressive figure.  Pleated pants are always cuffed and creased and have a nice drape, shoes are shined, always in a tasteful tie.  His most recent visit brought him in some grey worsted trousers, a navy sweater vest and a crisp white shirt with a nice sort of pastel yellow tie.  It's not like he's doing anything special other than just making a little effort, but his clothes just fit and he's head and shoulders above most of the clowns that traipse through the door.  He could be getting everything from Jos A Bank for all I know.

Purgundy

Interesting observations on PRL "Custm Fit" - my preferred shirt for casual

Look at old films (pre70s) and a lot of the older actors were from the days before keeping in shape was almost obligatory to be on screen, and yet most look good - simply by wearing the men's styles of the day. Not that such styles can do miracles, but they can certainly compensate to an extent. (I'm referring to all the variations on classic menswear i.e. British, natural shoulder, contintental.)

Nowadays men's style seems to be a weird hybrid of hyper-sexualised and childlike, revealing too much of the wearer. Particularly bad on men who are out of shape.

I think things do have to move forward but when the principles of good clothing go out the window..you're basically fucked..