Whether you are all fingers (and toes) crossed, holding onto the last hope for a late growth spurt, or totally rocking your frame just the way it is, there are always a few ways and tricks to play up what you have—even if height isn’t among your cards.
Sure, we all want to be over six feet tall with washboard abs, but not all of us won the genetic lottery. While we can work hard at the gym to shape our bodies, getting taller is a whole different story.
If you don’t see yourself wearing heeled boots like Bono or wearing shoe lifts, how can you really look any taller without, well, wearing stilts? Here are 10 style tips that every man should know, whether you are 5’2 like Kevin Hart, or 5’8 like Robert Downey Jr. and Zac Efron.
1. Always match your shoes to your pants
We often overlook shoes when putting together an outfit. But whether you own a few pairs or 200, what you wear on your feet matters, especially if you’re trying to look taller.
Go for shoes that blend in and don’t contrast your pants. If you wear dark jeans, pick dark navy sneakers instead of bright-coloured ones. Doing so creates a more seamless look—much like how women wear nude heels to make their legs look longer.
Avoiding a sharp contrast creates a more seamless illusion of having longer legs.
Furthermore, pay attention to the shape of your shoes. Squared toes are definitely a no-no for smaller frames as they abruptly break the line created by your pants. Consider using a classic almond toe or a pointed shoe to elongate the length of your legs.
2. Embrace the importance of blazer buttons
Blazers are no longer just for white-collar workers, as they are the perfect finishing touch to any outfit, especially if you are of shorter stature. The key is not just finding a blazer that fits you, but one that keeps your frame in proportion.
The best way to determine a well-fitting blazer is by the location of the top button. If it’s sitting just above your belly button, you’ve struck gold! The higher the top button, the smaller the lapel should be, making the suit proportional to your frame.
3. Choose Longer Coats
Aside from blazers with smaller lapels, you can also match your frame with formal wear by picking a longer coat. Wearing long coats that hit just below your knee or mid-calf creates a taller look by elongating the body line and creating vertical lines that rune from your head to toe—visually elongating your figure.
A longer coat will also balance your proportions by covering your legs, which can sometimes make you look shorter.
4. Ditch the belt
Belts are great for keeping up ill-fitting pants, but they can also break up an otherwise great outfit. Smaller frames should steer away from outlandish belts that are too wide and too contrasting to the rest of the outfit. If belts are a necessity for you, make sure to opt for plain black with a very simple buckle.
Keep your pants at your natural waist, not at your low waist like a 90s rapper. By lifting your pants up, you’ll not only look like you have longer legs, but your pants will support and define your bottom more.
5. Use shoe lifts
Yes, shoe lifts are still an option. There are some discrete options available and they can provide additional comfort to your regular shoes. But, if you are against shoe lifts on a regular basis, you shouldn’t rule them out for special occasions. If your significant other or date is wearing heels and you want to compensate for the height difference, shoe lifts are nothing to be embarrassed about. If women can wear heels, men can wear lifts!
6. Ditch the short-sleeved shirts
When you have shorter arms, short-sleeved shirts can give you an unflattering boxy look, so reach for long-sleeves instead. Long sleeves are less boxy, and by rolling them up to just below your elbow, you’ll instantly look more polished than your t-shirt-wearing counterparts.
If you are still a fan of your graphic tees, just layer the look with a long-sleeve denim shirt over. By rolling up the sleeves you’ll not only look more fashion-forward, you’ll look more proportionate because of the addition of vertical lines of the denim overshirt.
7. Go for Cropped Jackets
Cropped jackets, particularly those that end at the waist, accentuates your legs and make them look longer. This sounds counterintuitive to tip #3, but cropped jackets actually creates a natural break at the waist—thereby elongating your torso, making it appear longer in proportion.
By having a jacket end at your waist, you also draw attention from others to your legs, making them more prominent and look longer. In other words, aside from using a seamless outfit, you can also boost your frame by creating natural breaks.
8. Play around with layering
Just like with layering a denim shirt over a t-shirt, or a blazer over a button-down, by keeping the interest close to your face, you are drawing attention away from your height. Layering collars under sweaters also works well, just make sure to tuck in the shirt underneath, otherwise it will ruin the optical illusion.
9. Wear High-Neck or Turtleneck Tops
High-neck or turtleneck tops can help you appear taller by creating a vertical line from your head to neck, elongating your silhouette to make you look taller. These also help you balance out proportions, especially for those with a smaller torso.
Aside from incorporating vertical lines, high-neck tops also draw attention to your face, making you appear taller and highlighting features other than your upper body.
10. Keep it slim
Regardless of your weight or body shape, slim-fitting clothing will always look best on shorter figures. Slim-fitting jeans and pants are particularly great at defining your legs, while opting for slim-fitting button-ups are great for cinching in your waist and figure. Loose or ill-fitting clothing will only make your frame look even smaller, so show it off on your own terms.
11. Shop in the petite section
Shopping for clothes in general can be draining, let alone when the pants are constantly too long and the long-sleeved shirts extend well past your wrist. Instead, do your research and see which stores and brands offer a petite section. This will make shopping for jeans and blazers particularly helpful.
12. Minimalistic Accessories
Small and simple accessories get the job done by avoiding a bulky look to your overall appearance, keeping your vertical lines seamless and elongated. Similar to wearing turtleneck shirts, minimalistic accessories also draw other people’s eyes upward, making you appear taller.
Aside from a good overall look, small accessories also help balance proportions, especially for people with shorter torsos and wider shoulders. The key is using accessories that aren’t visually overwhelming.
13. Don’t forget to experiment
Style rules can be helpful, but sometimes, you just need to go out on a limb and try something new! Try on different prints, and buy that light pair of chinos you’ve been eyeing off. Sure, not everything will look as good on your body as it does on the hanger, but experimenting is the sure-fire way to determine what looks good and what doesn’t.
14. Get it tailored
When in doubt, befriend your local tailor. Whether they tailor a shirt that you just had to have, or they custom-make the perfect blazer for you, tailors are your secret weapon. Sure, not everyone has the time to get items tailored, but with tailors in your local shopping centre, all you need to do is buy that pair of jeans and take them straight to the tailor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can wearing a specific hairstyle make me look taller?
Yes! Certain hairstyles can make you look taller by visually elongating your appearance and face shape.
For instance, hairstyles with shorter sides and adding more hair volume on top, like a quiff or an undercut. We generally advise avoiding hairstyles that lay flat on your head and aiming for hairstyles with volume, as they subtly give the impression of a taller frame.
How can I look taller in formal wear?
Yes! Some dresses, like those with a V-neck or scoop neck, draw more attention to your neck and torso, making you appear taller. High-waisted or empire-waisted dresses also help shift the waistline upward, giving you a taller appearance even without wearing heels.
Are there specific dress styles that can make you appear taller?
Yes! Certain hairstyles can make you look taller by visually elongating your appearance and face shape.
For instance, hairstyles with shorter sides and adding more hair volume on top, like a quiff or an undercut. We generally advise avoiding hairstyles that lay flat on your head and aiming for hairstyles with volume, as they subtly give the impression of a taller frame.
What kind of outerwear should I choose to look taller?
Just like formal wear, you can also give your height a visual boost by opting for tailored coats or cropped jackets. These attires leverage vertical details that add to the illusion of height by drawing the eyes vertically.
Always try to avoid bulky outerwear that adds many horizontal details, as these will break vertical details and make you look shorter.
Does posture really affect how tall I look?
Yes! Simply put, your spine curves when you slouch forward, thereby reducing your apparent height—that is your actual height if you have good spine posture. Your head position also plays a crucial role, as keeping your head level and chin up prevents you from slumping forward, making you look more confident and a slight bit taller.
