When it comes to men’s clothing, the harsh truth is that most companies make clothes for the average man, who is 5’9”. So, what happens when you are more of a modest size?
Life can be pretty daunting, especially when it comes to shopping for clothes. For example, getting a decent suit for an interview can be an uphill task, or even casual clothes to go on a road trip. You will find that the sleeves are way too long, pants are bunching up at the ankles and the jackets hang too low. Also, you will tend to feel like a kid while wearing certain clothes. This can suck, and it is understandable. However, things do not have to be that terrible. I’ve teamed up with Peter Manning NYC, a menswear brand catered to men that are 5’9”and shorter, to give you 7 styling tips for short guys that will help you.
GET ALL YOUR CLOTHING SHORTENED
Do you feel like every shirt you buy off the rack is too long for you? Are you tired of always tucking in your shirts and rolling up your sleeves? Then there is a solution for this. The best way to deal with this is to have your shirts tailored. You can go to a local dry cleaner or tailor to get this done. However, it is crucial to know that it has to be done correctly. Ensure that your tailor is well experienced and highly skilled to do the job right. Perhaps take one shirt first to see how they work on it. If they mess up and do it incorrectly, then your shirts and jackets will be out of proportion. However, if you want to avoid the “Tailor Tax,” you can just buy a shirt that fits you!
Off The Rack Pants
Peter Manning NYC offers sizes that move away from traditional sizing (S, M, L etc) because, real talk, they literally mean nothing to us. PMNYC base their sizing (1, 2, 3, 4, 2X and 4X) on height, weight and body type. So if you enter your height and weight into our size calculator, you’ll come up with the size that is right for you. Nine times out of ten they get it right; but everyone’s body is different, so sometimes you might have to try again. They offer a free try at home trails so you can figure this out.
For example, I’m 5’7”, 180 lbs. At Peter Manning my sizes are:
Shirt – 4x
Blazer – 4
Pants, chino (slim) – 34×27
Topcoat – 4
BE CAREFUL WITH PROPORTIONS
One of the mistakes that short guys make is to order medium sized shirts when they wear a small, and vice versa. Since these sizes are usually taken from larger cuts, the proportions can be a problem. Some of the ways to take advantage of these proportions is to wear slimmer ties to create a balanced look and avoid large belt buckles. Having a thick belt that has a large buckle will look overwhelming for your body, and make you look shorter than you actually are. Have you considered suspenders?
Unstructured Linen Jacket | White Chinos | White Shirt
Another trick to use is to wear medium and short rise pants as opposed to their low-rise counterparts. These usually make your legs look shorter by lowering your waistline.
MAKE A MONOCHROME PALETTE YOUR BEST FRIEND
One of the tricks that you can use to look taller is to wear a monochrome color scheme. Here, you can contrast the different shades, as opposed to colors, and it will help you create an illusion of height. Darker palettes are recommended, however, avoid wearing black from head to toe as it will make you look shorter. If you decide that you want a splash of color, and want to mix them, then keep the darker ones on your lower half, and the lighter ones at the top. This will help you create a lengthening effect as it will draw people’s eyes upwards.
Slim Stretch Cotton Jacket – Navy | Slim Stretch Cotton Dress Pants – Navy
DO NOT LEAVE THAT BLAZER BEHIND!
Many short men are scared of wearing blazers and suit jackets as they tend to make them look shorter, and most of them are too big for them. However, a blazer could be the best thing to ever happen to your wardrobe. It can make you look muscular, which will add some height to your average look. Another trick that you could use is to button your blazer up. Why is this so? Doing so will help create a slim silhouette, making your chest look bigger and the waist slimmer, which will create an amazing heightening effect. Peter Manning NYC offers different suit styles catered to our size so we don’t have to go to the tailor.
Stretch Khaki Jacket | Stretch Khaki Dress Pants | White Shirt | Tie
Therefore, wherever fears you have about blazers should be ignored at all costs, and you will be amazed at the results.
CONSIDER THE STRIPES YOU WEAR
One of the crucial tips that you need to never forget is that horizontal stripes will make you look wider, while vertical ones will lengthen your torso. The last thing is to wear stripes that give you a horizontal stretch, as you will look shorter. This is even worse with thick stripes, therefore, avoid them at all costs. If you want to wear stripes, then go for thin ones. This also goes for patterned clothes; choose those with small scale patterns.
AVOID SHORT SLEEVES WHILE WEARING PANTS
As a short guy, one of the things that you can do to look taller is to avoid wearing short sleeves when wearing pants or jeans. Wearing short sleeves will create an illusion of shorter arms, which is not something that you will like. It is therefore recommended to wear a long sleeved shirt and cuff the sleeves if you are wearing traditional trousers. This will help make your arms look longer due to the unimpeded line it will create. If you want to wear a short sleeve shirt, consider pairing it with shorts to give yourself a balanced look. Peter Manning offers shorts for us as well. Here I am wearing chino shorts with a 5 inch inseam. No more long and baggy shorts!
Linen Shirts – Blue Stripe | Chino Shorts – Grey
KEEP IT SIMPLE
When dressing up, you want people to see you, and not the clothes you wear. One of the ways to ensure this is to always keep things simple. Skip the huge accessories such as large watches, belts and tie knots, and instead keep them to a minimum. This is because they will tend to overwhelm you.
Getting the right clothes for a man who is 5’9” and shorter can be quite overwhelming. However that does not need to be the case. If you are wondering where to start from, then worry not as there is a solution for you. The answer to all your problems is Peter Manning NYC. They are the perfect place to get clothes from, if you are a short guy, and you will leave there contented, and eager to dress up for your upcoming event. They have everything that you will need; from jeans, to suits and even tuxedos. Whether you are looking for an office, casual or street look, they are the place for you.
Peter Manning NYC is the place for every guy that has had to wear loose fitting clothes because they could not find something that fits them. With them, you will not need any extra tailoring to be done on your clothes. Amazing, right? They also ship locally and internationally, which make them your best bet yet. So, what else are you waiting for? Get shopping, and elevate your level of dressing!
Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.
-Diego
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