Fashion, Fit, and Style Tips for Short Men
Shorter Men Can Have Great Difficulty Finding a Perfect Fit
Feb 25, 2009
While it is important to have a background knowledge of measurements and other technical aspects of menswear if a gentleman is to make an informed purchase – another great consideration to take is that of your stature. Shorter men face great difficulty in many ways in the world of men's fashion and menswear due to a limited selection of clothing options, comparatively, open to them. A guiding hand can go a long way towards satisfying the more personal demands of your wardrobe.
Know your Options
The most common option observed by men is to purchase suits off the rack, in general pre-fit sizes and shapes. Suits do not simply come in measurement categories based on chest size alone, they are also cut in at least three common varieties (short, regular, tall) and two less common outliers (extra short, extra tall) that may be more commonly found in specialty shops. Knowing this allows you to mention it to your sales associate, although the associate should optimally suggest it themselves where appropriate.
While simply “short” may fit men who are between 5'4” to 5'8”, for men who are more slight of stature than this it becomes increasingly difficult to find a garment. Your options range from purchasing a short suit and finding an able, local tailor to shorten the jacket and the sleeves slightly (for slight alterations up to an inch and a half), or purchasing your suit made-to-measure or even bespoke via Harry Rosen Menswear or any number of independent tailors. Always request a fabric swatch book and an example of the workmanship when dealing with made-to-measure specialists, nearly all are reputable but as in any business – some provide shoddy products.
Aside from Harry Rosen, Jimmy Au's is an online retailer specializing in designer fashion for men 5'8” and under – boasting collections from Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Jack Victor, and DKNY.
Know your Style
Shorter men have a bevy of unique considerations to factor in when purchasing wardrobe items.
- Horizontal patterns such as stripes should be avoided as they make you look much wider and squat than perhaps is normal. By contrast, pinstripes are just fine for most shorter men despite conventional wisdom – they lengthen the visual interpretation of the body and make for a leaner and more dapper cut with regards to figure.
- Double breasted suits should be avoided by men who are ~5'5” or shorter. Once again, double-breasted garments widen the figure and will eliminate a clean cut image in many cases. A single breasted, two button suit is the optimal choice for shorter men in general due to the fact that it lengthens the torso due to longer lapels and a more open closure. Another benefit is that a two-button suit will show off more of your shirt and tie!
- With regard to slacks and dress pants, a plain hem is strictly recommended. Cuffed hems on dress pants for shorter men will only shorten the look of your legs further. A plain hem is also more classic and versatile in nature, not coming off as overly formal nor too casual for any event.
While shorter men do face many fit and style challenges, this is not to say that these are confining barriers by any means. By being honest and confident about your shape and yourself and becoming more knowledgeable about your options, strengths, and pitfalls one can advance a great deal in their ability to promote themselves and their fashion consciousness.
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