How to dress to look taller: clothes, shoes and outfits for men
Clothes make a man look taller when they fit in length: a top that ends at the hip, sleeves that stop at the wrist, and trousers with little or no break. Then add a continuous column of colour, a mid rise, and shoes that match the trousers or add sole height.
Fix length before anything else
Excess fabric is what makes a shorter man look shorter. A shirt that ends at mid-thigh shortens the legs; sleeves that bunch at the hand shorten the arms; trousers that pool at the shoe cut the leg off at the ankle.
Getting body length, sleeve and inseam right for your height does more than any styling trick, which is why Leumas grades every size against your height on those three measurements first.
Colour and line
A single colour, or close tones, from shoulder to shoe reads as one long line. Navy on navy, or grey trousers under a charcoal knit, both work.
Strong contrast at the waist (a white tee over black trousers) splits the body in two. If you want contrast, put it in a jacket worn open, which keeps a vertical line down the middle.
Rise, hem and break
A mid or high rise makes the legs read longer, as long as the waistband does not reach the navel; trousers graded for taller men often carry a rise that sits too high on a shorter torso.
Choose little or no break at the hem, and a slight taper so the leg does not flare over the shoe. Cropped trousers should end above the ankle bone, not mid-shin.
Shoes that add height
Matching shoes to your trousers extends the leg line. A thicker sole or a lift built inside the shoe adds real height; Leumas lists that height in centimetres on the product page wherever the maker publishes it.
Questions
What colour makes a short man look taller?
- Wearing one colour or close tones from top to bottom, especially darker ones, creates an unbroken vertical line that makes you look taller.
Do high-waisted trousers make men look taller?
- A mid to high rise lengthens the leg line, provided the waistband still sits below the navel. Check the front rise on the size chart.
Which shoes make short men look taller?
- Shoes in the same tone as your trousers, and shoes with a thicker sole or a built-in lift. Check how many centimetres the sole adds before you buy.