Updated by Ben Chuang

How to look taller as a man can depend on a number of factors. Any guy wants to look taller and more confident, but your clothing and how you wear it may have the opposite effect. Though we believe in inclusive-sized clothing for all men regardless of their body type, standing tall with good posture and spine straight might just get you a few more heads turning.

Whether it’s to build confidence for your next date, to impress your family or friends on your next outing, or lead your next business meeting, feeling tall and figuring out how to dress like a man can give you that extra boost of self-assurance to get you through the day.

This blog post will cover a list of ways on how to dress to look slimmer and taller (and no, we won't ask you to wear heels and a maxi dress, although it's never a bad idea to wear shoes with a thicker sole). This blog post provides some helpful ways to shop for clothes that make you look taller as male, such as jeans for short men, as well as shoes that make you taller. 

 

Choose clothes that make you look taller

How to look taller with fitted clothes

Wearing fitted clothing is one way to look taller as a man as opposed to baggy clothing. This is probably obvious to you, but super tight is also not a neat look. You want to find the right middle ground and the best way to do that is by taking your body measurements. We won’t have a whole guide here since it’s a lengthy process, but if possible, getting measurements and adjustments through a tailor is recommended. Here's a quick guide on how to measure chest size. There are a number of things you can look for as well when just buying clothes. 

 

How to dress to look slimmer and taller

No, wearing high heels isn't the solution. Different shirts can give you a different effect. For example, a crew neck is better suited for slim men who want to accentuate their necks and have a fuller look, while a dress shirt with vertical lines can make your torso look more elongated.

As for dress shirts, after getting your proper measurements, there are some details to take into consideration on how to appear taller as a man. To make sure you are picking a slim fit dress shirt, you want to take a look at the: seams, collar size, armhole, length, and overall fit. Read more in our article about best dress shirts for athletic men.

Shoulder Seam

First of all, the seams on your shoulder should rest easily near the end of the shoulder to appear slimmer and taller. If it drags too far from your shoulder measurement towards your arm, then the sleeves may be too long or the shirt can look too baggy. If the seam is too close to your neck, then the sleeves may be too short or the shirt will fit too tight. 

The Yoke (Seam in the Back)

The yoke is a seam in the back of your dress shirts that can determine the overall fit of the width. There are two types, the split yoke, and the one piece. A one-piece is made from one fabric where the split yoke is made from two that are then sewn together. If you look at the back of a dress shirt near the collar area and notice a line running down the middle till it reaches the upper to mid-back, then you have a split yoke dress shirt. You may hear arguments over which is better and shirt snobs can argue, but honestly, go with what’s comfortable and what you will wear every day. Ultimately, the focus here is finding a proper fit. You want to make sure that the seam goes just slightly past your shoulder blades to allow for some flexibility and mobility. If it does not extend past your shoulder blades, then you might be looking at a shirt that constricts your upper body movement. If the opposite is true, then you are looking at a shirt that can be too big for the chest. Finding the best fit is a solid way on how to look taller. 

Collar

There are many men's collar styles that can be easily buttoned -- leaving enough room for you to fit 2 or 3 fingers in there. A clean cuff will also hinder the visibility of any creases that would form in the backside of the collar. This is more important if you plan to button it all the way for a tie, or just usually dress for a business professional job. If your attire consists of business casual clothing or you are just looking for some quick tips to dress and look slimmer and taller, this is not a necessity to keep in mind.

Armholes

Next is the armhole. This isn’t an area that most people point out or blame for a wrong-sized shirt. If the sleeve hangs from your armpit, the shirt is probably too big and can give a baggier look. You want a nice tapered look to taller -- a simple solution on how to dress to look slimmer and taller. Don’t neglect this detail. You want to show off your arms and portray that confidence with good posture!

Length

The length of a dress shirt is an important factor to consider if you're figuring out how to look taller. A shirt that is too long and tucked in could still show creases, folds, and wrinkles. The length should go just over your waistline nearing your crotch area. Careful that it is not too short or you may expose your stomach, which can be inappropriate. Well-fitted shirts for short men can make you look taller without actually changing your height at all. 

Sleeve Length

The sleeves, or rather the cuff, should meet right at the base of your thumb when buttoned. Make sure your shirt has the proper sleeve length. There are different types of cuffs like: French cuffs, the horseshoe shape cuff, or the barrel cuffs. There are more detailed videos on the difference, but for the sake of simplicity just keep these few things in mind. The sleeve cuffs should meet the root of the thumb, they should feel tapered around your wrist (but not tight), and if you like to wear a watch or wrist accessories, accommodate the size of the cuff to make it large enough that it fits your watch or bracelet. These accessories are good to keep in mind to pair with clothes that make you look taller.

Chest and Waist

Many men have different chest and waist measurements. With that said, a properly-fitting dress shirt tapers and follows the contours of both your chest and waist. If you find that your measurement shows several inch differences (this can be due to having a strong/large upper body and small waist or vice versa) then you may need to get it fitted or look for another shirt. Most dress shirts don’t account for the vast difference between the measurements and correcting this is a simple way to figure out how to look taller as a man.

Fit

Now, this last one is up to your liking in terms of how you want your dress shirt to fit. Since we are talking about how to look taller, it's a good idea to wear shirts with a slim fit design. We highly recommend checking out our fit guide on our website. There is a great visual of what a slim-fit dress shirt looks like and you can even find our own recommended fit based on your weight and height. If you scroll down, you can see some of our models and customers and their height and weight for comparison.

Our blue weave dress shirt is one of our more popular selections and it’s a great example of what a slim fit dress shirt should look like and how to look taller as a male. Slim fit is the great in-between that everyone can find comfort in. Other types of fits are: classic, modern, and skinny. The classic and modern fit is not always a good idea when you're looking for clothes that make you look taller. 

Here's a great guide on dress shirts for shorter men and recommendations on how to dress to look slimmer and taller while maintaining the same height. Take a look at the bottom section as we go over more styling tips in finding the best dress shirt for men with smaller torsos within the same color family. 

 

How to appear taller with the right pants

There was so much to say about dress shirts, but finding the right fit pants are also a neglected part of clothing when it comes to how to look taller. It's easier for women to draw attention to their legs with maxi dresses and mini skirts, but a bit trickier for men who have a petite frame. Remember to avoid wearing pants that are the same color as your shirt and your skin tone, since you want the upper half and lower half of your body to have a clear separation. We recommend 3 different styles of pants: khakis, chinos, and dress pants. They are versatile and can be easily paired for casual and business attire to help you look taller. They also are slim enough to create the look of longer legs. There are some key differences between the three that you should keep in mind when wearing pants.

Khakis

You may be confused if you have seen product names like “khaki chino” pants. Yes, there is a difference between the two. Khaki is a color, but it is also a form of pants made from a heavier cotton material that makes them thicker than chinos. So, chinos and khakis can be the same color, yet have a different texture. They can also be pleated, which creates the appearance of longer legs and helps you look taller.

Chinos

Chinos are made from lighter materials than khakis, therefore, they feel thinner. They can be the same color as khakis, or a variety of other colors. Chinos are usually flat front. Look for high rise pants whenever possible, because if they sit a few inches higher at the waistline, your legs will look longer as a result.

Dress Pants or Slacks

Lastly are dress pants, or sometimes referred to as slacks. These are best for business formal occasions and fit a bit looser than the other two. Dress pants are a great option when you're figuring out how to dress to look slimmer an taller. They are usually made of wool or some type of wool blend, which gives them a softer touch than the other two. 

Now that we went over the three safe choices for choosing pants, here are some tips about how to look taller.

Pleated vs. Flat Front

Pleated pants have these elegant-looking creases in the front that are intentional. It makes it look a little looser and is best suited for men with bigger or athletic builds. If you are on the slimmer side and want to figure out how to look taller, a flat front is recommended. As mentioned in the name, the front is flat, or is it made without creases in the front. This gives it a tighter look in the crotch area and also creates an illusion that the legs are taller. Flat fronts are trendy at the moment, but we advise you to find the right waist measurement size with flat front pants. If you have a bigger belly, they may not do you justice.

In Seam Length or Length

The seam length or just the length will help determine whether your pants are too big or too small. When it comes to the waist, your pants should snug at your natural waist, or just slightly above your hips. As for the bottom of the pants, they should cut off right above the shoe length. This cut-off is more formally referred to as the break.

Right fit

Pants, like shirts, need to fit well all around when finding clothes that make you look taller. The circumference should feel good around the waist, seat, thighs, knees, and ankles. They should not be too tight that it creates wrinkles, and they should especially not be too loose and that can make you look wider and shorter. They should be close to your knees and thighs, but can still pass the inch test where you can grab one inch of the fabric. Try bending over and moving around. If it feels like the seam is about to rip, then your pants are probably too tight. Remember, we want slim, not tight.

Ultimately, you know if you have proper fitting pants if there are no wrinkles and clean lines all around. Again, in keeping with the theme, you want to wear high waisted pants or high waisted jeans as a way to dress and look better. Depending on the occasion, you may be limited to what type of pants you can wear, but the three types of pants we listed are certainly stylish pants to choose from. Chinos are the number one choice on how to make your silhouette look slimmer and taller, while high rise jeans also look great in more casual settings.

 

Tips on how to look taller

We told you what to find, but there are some tempting items and wardrobe combinations to avoid if you're figuring how how to look taller as a man.

1. Do not wear oversized or undersized shirts that can give the appearance of a muffin top. Muffin tops are just not flattering and are a big mistake to avoid. When you tuck your shirt in and the extra fabric poofs out, this is a sign that your shirt is not tailored nor fits properly. 
2. Avoid wearing vests. Vests are not essential even in business formal events. They are an added accessory that adds texture and attention to your stomach area. This can make you look wider than taller. Long coats obviously make your legs look shorter too; rather, you want something that draws attention to the length of your legs.
3. Avoid prominent horizontal lines; this is the golden rule. If you didn’t know, horizontal lines can also make you look wider. Most dress shirts have vertical stripes that make you look tall anyway. If you want an example of a tasteful shirt with vertical stripes, check out our blue and white striped dress shirt with its tasteful vertical lines.
4. Do not wear your dress shirt outside your pants. You want to tuck them in for a formal look, especially with high waisted pants. High waisted pants also help make your legs look longer. In cases where you do not want to tuck anything in for a causal event, flannels, sweaters, or a slim fit t-shirt are recommended. The reason for this is that the extra length on your shirt can give the illusion of shorter legs. Typically shorter legs give the look of being shorter overall, even if you wear lifts.
5. Avoid poofy sleeves. This is also another sign that you are not wearing a properly tailored shirt. They also can make you look wider and ruins the chance of you getting to flex your muscles.

 

Where to find clothes that make you look tall

The main point we are trying to get at is that slim-fit clothing guarantees you the best results for making you taller. Now it is just a matter of where to look for these types of clothing and luckily, slim fit is the trend in men’s fashion. We have you covered. Here are a couple of stores that keep up with the latest trends and can help you when figuring out how to look taller. 

 

How to look taller with clothes from Nimble Made

We at Nimble Made strive to create clothing that is high quality and inclusive to our slimmer men, which has helped us become recognized as one of the top clothing brands for short guys. We catered a number of our selection to fit any man who doesn’t feel they can easily find their size in regular department stores.

All of our professional dress shirts are designed to have a slim fit for those figuring out how to look taller as a man. We also have a sizing system so you can find which dress shirt size best caters to your needs. Every shirt is made with long-staple cotton and with a high thread count so that its quality endures over time and maintains its shape. From the smallest of detail in our design, you are sure to impress even the dress shirts snobs.

Pros:

• Great shop for clothes that make you look tall
• High-quality shirts and dress shirts
• Sells casual (t-shirts, flannels) and formal upper body ware
• Trendy accessories that add more dimension to your style
• Tips on our website to care for your dress shirts

Cons:

• Does not sell pants
• Catered for slim men

We come in all types of different shapes and sizes, so finding the right fit can be a tedious task for those who don’t identify as “average.” There are many different options and varieties out there, but you may need some direction in where to look. Bottom line, if you want to look taller, the slim fit look is your best bet. Try your best to avoid baggy clothing, but also wear something that is comfortable and allows you to breathe. A slim fit does not always have to be uncomfortable, and the right fit is essential for this. What we really want out of our readers is to wear something comfortable and stylish, that brings them confidence and joy of looking taller. Check out our article on best t-shirts for skinny guys for more inspiration. 

Frequently asked questions about how to look taller

1. How to look taller fast?

   Making minor adjustments in your wardrobe or finding clothes that make you look tall are quick and easy ways to look taller fast, short of wearing heels and maxi skirts or maxi dresses like women can. Finding a good fitting shirt with vertical lines (avoid horizontal lines) and tapered pants are two simple ways when figuring out how to dress to look slimmer and taller. Make sure you're avoiding horizontal lines, and wearing vertical stripes whenever possible.

2. How can I look taller naturally?

   It's more difficult for men to look taller naturally, as we can't just wear heels and a maxi dress like women. The first step is standing with proper posture. Figuring out how to dress to look slimmer and taller is an easy way to achieve the look of being taller more naturally. Keep most clothes and accessories slim while finding patterns like vertical lines that naturally lengthen your appearance are great ways on how to look taller. Remember to avoid horizontal stripes whenever possible. Monochromatic outfits can help as well.