How To Look TALL and LEAN | Modern Men's Style Guide

Let's face it – most guys want to look tall and slim.

It's what the media shows us and studies confirm it. How do we fix this? That's what we're hitting on today.

We're going over how to look tall and lean.

1. Avoid Baggy Clothing To Look Leaner

Gentlemen, it's always about fit. The proper fit will get you 90% of the way there no matter how big (or small) you are.

Fit is the first factor in the almighty Style Pyramid, all other concerns should be secondary. It not only applies to the professional suit, but to casual wear as well. I have tons of articles and videos on fitting various pieces of clothing to help you out, but what if you don't have time?

It can be as simple as taking your clothes to a local tailor and asking them to work their magic. They'll steer you in the right direction.

2. Go Monochrome To Appear Leaner

A sure-fire way to look taller as a modest man is to eliminate contrast. Ensure that as many of your garments as possible are colored similarly. Doing this gives you a sleeker, elongated look.

It doesn't break up your silhouette and won't draw attention to any one area. Your whole outfit ends up being one continuous vision. This gives the illusion of height.

3. Know Your Lines

Add as much verticality as you can to your outfit. Horizontal lines might work for a tall, skinny man – but not you. When it comes to patterns (stripes in particular) all you need to do is make sure they're upright.

Vertical patterns help accentuate a man's height.

This creates another illusion of height by visibly elongating and thinning you out. Horizontal stripes will simply draw attention to your width. If you feel insecure about your height or weight, it's counterintuitive to wear clothing with this pattern.

Click here to learn more about patterns in menswear.

4. Start Wearing Boots To Look Taller

There's lots of reasons to integrate boots into your wardrobe. The one we want to consider today is that they add height. Dress boots will have a larger heel than most shoes, which will actually make you a little taller.

They'll give you an extra 1-2 inches.

They're simply stylish, and there's no shortage of boots to choose from. You could go for the sleeker Chelseas, the more rugged Chukkas, or something in between.

Click here to learn 5 rules for rocking men's boots.

Click here to read about the ultimate dress boot showdown between Chelsea and Chukka boots.

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5. Knowing The Right Sleeve Length

We're getting into the nitty-gritty, now. Having sleeves that are too long will make you look small, but having them too short will look ridiculous.

Adjusting the sleeves on a jacket should be simple for a tailor… unless you have surgeon cuffs.

What's the answer? As far as jackets go, you want to show 1/2 to 3/4 inch of cuff. Going down to 1/4th is even better. You want to show as little of the cuff as possible without having it be engulfed – a delicate balance to strike.

6. Wear A Hat To Appear Taller

Yes, something THIS simple can make you look taller.

A hat adds visible length to your body by adding a bit over your head. It's a useful and stylish illusion.

What hat you go with is up to you…

The classic flat cap is suitable for any situation where you'd wear a baseball cap. Is it getting hot? The Panama hat is a worthy addition to any man's closet – protecting you from the sun while filtering the air through.

There are plenty of options available to you. Click here to read our ultimate guide to hats.

7. Focus The Accessories On The Torso

As a modest man with a belly, you want to build up the chest as much as possible.

Pocket squares add pop no matter what your height is. They're essential.

This means dispensing with the colossal dive watch and staying away from eye-catching shoes. Instead, embrace the pocket square and the boutonniere. They could be monochrome, but this is where you can make your upper body pop with some contrast.

Click here to learn the right way to match a pocket square.

8. High Waist Buttons

This is about the V on your suit or sports jacket. You want to bring this up as far as is appropriate. This will usually mean opting for 3-button or 3-roll-2 jackets.

suit buttoning rules — No matter what jacket you have, you always button one button.

What's the difference? 3-button jackets come with 3 waist buttons. 3-roll-2 jackets, however, also have 3 buttons – but only two are optional. Such jackets are pressed to roll directly into the middle button, with the top button still inside the seam of the lapel.

The point is that the higher the V sits, the more we're bringing attention to the upper body and creating length. I recommend buttoning the top button on a 3-button jacket for more emphasis on the torso.

9. Get The Right Haircut

This is an easy way to add some height. What sort of haircut should you get?

Whatever places less emphasis on the sides of your head while adding to the top. Ever heard of an undercut? It's a trendier style but it can work for a gentleman such as yourself. If that's too much, get the sides of your head shortened while leaving the top a bit longer.

hair product chart — Make sure to choose the right product for your purposes.

Add volume to the top as well. An easy way to do this is by taking a round hairbrush and blow-drying your hair while curling it. Try opting for a fiber or a cream with minimal hold – this will help keep your hair perky.

Click here to learn more about hair products and where to start.