Dress Taller eBook v2

How toDress Taller

11 Crucial Style Tips for Short Men

Created by TheModestMan.com © 2014 The Modest Man

Table of ContentsI ………………………………………… Introduction

II ………………………………………… About the Author

1 ………………………………………… Avoid Baggy Clothes

2 ………………………………………… Get Your Clothes Tailored

3 ………………………………………… Wear Dark Colors

4 ………………………………………… Wear Monochromatic Outfits

5 ………………………………………… Avoid Horizontal Stripes

6 ………………………………………… Wear Small Scale Patterns

7 ………………………………………… Avoid Bulky Outerwear

8 ………………………………………… Keep Accessories Small

9 ………………………………………… Get Your Suit Details Right

10 ………………………………………… Don’t Wear Low Rise Pants

11 ………………………………………… Tuck Your Shirt In

12 ………………………………………… Conclusion

How to Dress Taller | © 2014 The Modest Man | www.TheModestMan.com

Hey gents - Brock here, from �e Modest Man . Let me tell you a little bit about this guide. �ere’s a lot of bad advice online about “dressing taller”. Most of it is written by men who aren’t actually short, and they always hawk the same worn out tips, such as: wear vertical stripes. Heard that before, right?

Don’t listen to that subpar advice.

The truth is, despite the title of this guide, you can’t really dress taller. That is, your clothes can only do so much to help you appear taller.

But they sure can make you look shorter, and this guide is designed to help you avoid that.

These are guidelines, not strict rules. They should be adhered to loosely. Once you have a handle on things, feel free to experiment with horizontal stripes, double-breasted jackets, etc.

But for now, follow these principles, and you’ll be looking sharp in no time. You may look a little taller, and you’ll definitely feel more confident.

Introduction

I How to Dress Taller | © 2014 The Modest Man | www.TheModestMan.com

#1: Avoid Baggy Clothes

Keep both your casual and formal clothing tailored and slim, so it fits close to your body.

You don’t have to (and probably shouldn’t) buy skinny jeans, but you should stay away from loose-fitting clothes.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid anything that says “relaxed” or “classic” fit on the label.

This is especially important for guys who are short and slim. Svelte, if you will.

If you’re more built or hefty, it’s okay to wear clothes that aren’t as slim. But too much excess fabric doesn’t look good on any body type, so avoid baggy clothes.

Of course, it’s not easy to avoid baggy, bunchy, too-long clothing. But fear not! The next tip will help.

Baggy clothes make you look younger and smaller than you actually are. It’s as if you couldn’t �nd anything that �t, and you settled for your big brother’s hand-me-downs.

1 How to Dress Taller | © 2014 The Modest Man | www.TheModestMan.com

#2: Get Your Clothes Tailored

Find a tailor near your home or workplace, and establish a relationship with them. Make it a habit to get all of your new clothes tailored.

At the very least, every pair of pants should be hemmed. They may also need to be tapered through the leg.

Most shirts should be taken in for a slimmer fit.

Shirts and jackets will likely need the sleeves shortened.

If you have no idea where to find a tailor, start with Yelp.com. It’s a great place to find tailors in your city.

When you find a new tailor, test them out with something basic, like taking in a button up shirt that’s too baggy.

Make sure they listen and do what you ask them to do. If they don’t, find another tailor.

Many of these rules have to do with �t, but you’ll be hard-pressed to �nd clothes that �t perfectly o� the rack. For that reason, it’s absolutely crucial to get your clothes altered.


#3: Wear Dark Colors

This is partially due to the fact that they eliminate shadows, thus hiding imperfections like wrinkles and bunching.

This is especially helpful when, for example, a shirt doesn’tfit perfectly. (Story of the short man’s life, right?)

Dark colors reduce the contrast of your silhouette against the background and eliminate sharp focal points that draw people’s eyes.

Make sure your dark colors are matte, not shiny. Stick with muted, subdued hues, rather than vibrant, rich colors.

Dark colors have a slimming e�ect on your �gure, which means they tend to make you look taller and leaner. �is is true for pretty much anyone, regardless of body type.


#4: Wear Monochromatic Outfits

This goes for light or dark outfits. Either way, you should aim to avoid contrast.

For example, if you’re wearing khaki colored chinos, a white shirt will work better than a black one.

On the other hand, if you’re wearing grey chinos, a dark blue shirt will work better than a white one.

Notice how the outfit on the left looks more streamlined than the one on the right.

Not only is it more fitted, but there’s less contract between the top and bottom halves. The whole outfit consists of different shades of grey.

Avoid bold contrasts by sticking to monochromatic color schemes. You don’t have to wear one solid block of color (like all black), but monochromatic color sets will help streamline your �gure by avoiding jarring visual breaks.


http://www.themodestman.com/modern-tailor

#6: Wear Small Scale Patterns

For example, micro checks are better than large checks. Thin vertical stripes are better than thick vertical stripes.

Want a gingham shirt? Look for “mini” or “micro” gingham, rather than medium or large.

Large patterns look okay on large people, but they’re not proportionate on smaller people.

They look oversized, which emphasizes your small stature. Small patterns, on the other hand, downplay it because they’re proportionate.

Short men look great in mini checks, thin vertical stripes and small scale prints (like polka dots or floral patterns).

When it comes to patterns - whether it’s stripes, gingham, checks, plaid or tattersall - keep them small in size and scale.


#7: Avoid Bulky Outerwear

Avoid these when possible, and instead buy thinner, lighter coats. You can still find warm coats, especially since insulative materials come in synthetic options (not just down and wool).

Also, use layers to stay warm. But avoid chunky knits, puffy jackets, thick scarves, etc.

Here’s an example of a cold weather outfit that keeps you warm without looking bulky:

Undershirt > Button up shirt > Wool sweater > Lightweight jacket > Scarf/Hat/Gloves

Compared to the jacket on the right, the one on the left is unnecessarily bulky. It dwarves the wearer.

Many coats, winter jackets, vests and sweaters are made from thick, bulky materials, and they have oversized details (like giant buttons or super wide lapels).


#8: Keep Accessories Small

Keep your accessories small and narrow, especially if you’rea thin guy. If you’re short and athletic, or if you’re carrying a few extra pounds, it’s okay to wear bulkier, thicker accessories.

But you should still pay attention to length (for ties, collar points, etc.). Here’s a cheat sheet:

With accessories, it’s all about proportion. In general, short men are smaller all around, and average-size accessories can look oversized and goofy.

Ideal No Wider Than

Belt 1” 1 ½”

Watch Face 38mm 42mm

Lapel 2 ¾” 3 ¼”

Neck Tie 2 ¾” 3 ¼”

Collar Point Length 2 ¼” 2 ¾”


#9: Get Your Suit Details Right

1. Short, slim tie (use a four-in-hand knot)2. Low buttoning point3. Short jacket length (it should just

barely cover your butt)4. Flat front trousers (no pleats)5. Shoes with a gently tapered toe (not too

pointy or too boxy)6. No bulky shoulder pads7. Narrow notch or peak lapels8. One or two button single-breasted jacket 9. Sleeves cropped short to show ¼ - ½

inch of cuff10. Pants hemmed for little or no break

When it comes to suits and blazers, it’s all about the details. Tiny mistakes that men of average height can get away with are more noticeable on short men.

These details will make (or break) your suits:

9

10

9

7

4

38

16

2

5

How to Dress Taller | © 2014 The Modest Man | www.TheModestMan.com

#10: Don’t Wear Low Rise PantsLow-rise pants are trendy. Most jeans and even lots of trousers you’ll �nd in stores are meant to be worn on your hips, well below the natural waistline.

Low rise pants will lower your perceived waistline, thus throwing your torso-to-legs ratio out of proportion.

Where you wear your pants determines where your torso appears to end (and where your legs start).

Unless you have very long legs, compared to your torso, low rise pants will not suit you.

Avoid this trend, and stick with normal rise or short rise pants. Short rise pants are harder to find because they’re made specifically for shorter men.

Unlike low rise pants, they are meant to be worn at the waist, but they still have a shorter distance from the button to the crotch.

This means there will be less extra material between your legs, which is more comfortable and stylish. Image source: Primer Magazine


NATURAL WAIST9-11”REGULAR RISE,MID-RISE8”SHORT RISE

HIPS8”LOW RISE

#11: Tuck Your Shirt InMost shirts are too long for men under 5’8”. You can get them shortened, but there’s also an easier and cheaper solution: tuck them in.

Of course, you can’t do this with casual shirts, like t-shirts or henleys, but you almost always tuck in a button up shirt.

Just like the last rule about low rise pants, tucking your shirt in raises your perceived waistline. This is especially important if you have a long torso and short legs.

While you’re at it, if your sleeves are too long, just roll them up. This is an easy fix for a casual, laid back look.

Just make sure to roll them up near or above the elbow, especially if you have thin arms.

By tucking in your shirt and rolling up your sleeves, you can instantly make almost any button up shirt fit better.

Pretty cool, huh?


Keep this guide handy, and refer back to it when you get stuck.

Make sure to skim through it to refresh your memory before

you go shopping.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Here are

the best ways to connect:

ConclusionThis may seem like a lot to remember. But even if you only remember half of these rules, you’ll be way ahead of most short men (or any men).

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Want More?If you liked this and want more in-depth “how to” style advice for shorter men, you will love Short Man Style.

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“Hi Brock - I just wanted to let you know that aer I've put much of what your book said into practice. I've had several people point out that they really like the clothing I am wearing these days. You have inspired me to dress better and feel better about how I look. I really appreciate you putting yourself out there to help us other smaller us other smaller framed guys out.” ~ Jason T

Dress Taller eBook v2

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