For most men, shopping for a new suit can be a bit of a chore, mainly because while we will often know exactly what we want, a lot of us are unsure about fits and cuts, and what will work for us.

All of that really comes down to one thing: your shape. Ask your average woman if she knows her body type and she’ll be able to tell you in a split second, but your average man will stare back at you with a blank expression, before probably suggesting "uh…male?". Well, thankfully the Man Cave and our friends at Arnotts Dublin are here to help you figure out what’s what when it comes to dressing for your shape.

All men might have been created equal, as Thomas Jefferson once said, but there are several categories of male build, so we’ll start off with the first in our list alphabetically: Athletic. As with every build, you want to play to your strengths and accentuate the good points in your shape with your outfit. For the athletic build, this means that you have low body fat, and have the ever sought-after V-shape that takes some serious work in the gym to keep up.

Overall, you've got plenty of positives and you can, realistically, pull off any number of styles. You’re spoiled for choice and can dip in and out of any of the trends when you hit the shops, but you should still keep in mind that a classic look will always be your best friend.

As we head in to Winter and the festive season, you should be planning to look sharp for your upcoming flood of social engagements, and also looking for a piece that you can wear to work or on a swanky evening out. As we've recommended countless times before, you can never really go wrong with a suit, but picking the right colours and shape is important. Here, athletic Mike shows how a three piece suit works well for his shape. 

A few key things to keep in mind when picking a suit for an athletic frame is to remember that slim fit is perfect for you, as it has that fitted look. Getting one with padded shoulders or a poorly fitting jacket won't make you appear bigger, rather it will swallow you up and hide away the physique you've been working so hard to achieve. You're already in good proportion, so avoid a peak lapel which will make you look bigger on top.

Layering can help to accentuate the drop from your shoulders to your waist, so don't be afraid to try for a three piece suit, just like Mike has here. As his colouring is already quite dark he can work with a few different shades, but for most Irish men, a blue or a grey will be your best bet, as it won't be too much of  a contrast between our generally paler skin and the suit. It also means you can have a few more options when it comes to choosing the colour of your shirt. 

Wearing a spread collar will help to make your neck look more in proportion with the rest of you, if it happens to be quite wide, but make sure that you get a slim fit, as having excess fabric hanging out all over the place will only serve to make your otherwise perfect look seem a bit sloppy. Besides, what were all those sit ups for if not to be able to show off your flat stomach with a well-fitted piece that hugs the torso nicely?

When it comes to accessories, a pocket square is one that you can leave out, as it draws attention to your chest, which might be in good shape but doesn't need to be the focal point of your look. A belt is always a good bet, just make sure to match it to your shoes, be they brown or black. Speaking of, go for something sleek without being too large or chunky on the sole, you want to keep that fitted look from head to toe.

You may have a shorter leg or be longer on the arms than the average suit size, so remember that tailoring an off the rack suit will always make what you're wearing look infinitely better. That's something you should carry across to your clothing in general, even to a good pair of casual trousers like chinos. While it might not be something that you do at the moment, you'll notice the difference the first time you try, and so will everyone else. If you're not sure about what is right for you, then head in to Arnotts and have a chat with one of their suiting experts, who can make sure you've got the perfect fit. 

Suit: €260, Remus

Shirt: €80, Ted Baker

Tie: €45, Ted Baker

Belt: €70, Calvin Klein

Shoes: €260, Boss

Mike’s outfit is available from Arnotts Dublin or visit arnotts.ie