Fashion Eye for the Chubby Guy

Well, in a little less than a month I will be at a very large bookstore in a very large shopping mall assisting to read the last few chapters of Order of the Phoenix aloud, judge the costume contest, and help count down to the release of the 6th Harry Potter book.

While I'm no Jim Dale, (who will be at a Barnes & Noble in Union Square), I will potentially draw some media attention including the possiblity of doing one of the first reviews of the book.

Since this will at a minimum result in some photographs and potentially even some broadcast media coverage, I'd like to look my best. While I have no time to wrangle a "Fab Five" visit, I'd love some advice from my friends about how to make a big, cuddly, Hagrid-esque bear look dapper.

One of the things that makes me different than other large men is my gynecomastia caused by my heavy weight. My large chest pokes out in the wrong places and it's hard to pick an outfit to make me look more barrel-chested. I'm wondering if I need to wear a corset or something, *blush*.

I've hear things like black and vertical stripes but I'd love advice for shorts....since I have a bit of a "big man's waddle" and because it may be very hot that weekend. I also need to take into consideration that I may wear some sort of wizarding costume since I will be an active participant in the store's activities.

Advice for a polo-style collared shirt would be nice, or a button down. I think suspenders make me look better on the whole than a belt but sometimes they slip to either side of my chest or right on top of it and further accentuate it.

Recently, I've looked pretty handsome at my brother's wedding but I don't want to have to wear a tux to get that effect. I don't want to change who I am or how I look, I just want to dress for my weight and size. There's being "fat and happy", (though I have been trying very hard to lose weight), and then there's just being oblivious and disgustingly nauseating. Help!