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Dress Tall Rule #1: Don’t Wear Baggy Clothing

Published on November 3, 2014 by Brock McGoff · Clothing and Style May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

It doesn’t matter how much your clothes cost. It doesn’t matter where you bought them or who made them. It doesn’t even matter if they’re fancy and dressy or just plain casual.

The only thing that matters is how they fit.

Okay, it’s not the only thing. But it’s definitely the most important. If your clothes don’t fit, you won’t look good. Period.

For short men, most clothes are too big. They’re either too baggy or too long or both. And this makes you look adolescent and sloppy, like you’re wearing your big brother’s hand-me-downs. Not a good look for any man.

So how do you avoid looking like a kid who got into his father’s closet? Simple: Don’t wear baggy clothes.

Stick to close-fitting, tailored clothing. Think slim, tapered, fitted. You don’t have to wear skinny jeans, and your buttons shouldn’t be bursting at the seams. Comfort is still a priority here. But try to avoid excess material pooling and bunching around your body.

See Also: Where to Buy Jeans With Shorter Inseams

Here are a two simple tips to help you avoid baggy clothing:

Tip #1: Don’t Buy Baggy Clothes

This one is obvious. But for short men (especially thin gents), even “slim fit” clothes can be too baggy. Lots of stores have their own names for slim fit clothing, so you have to get to know the lingo.  Avoid anything with a “relaxed” or “loose” or “classic” fit. Instead, look for items marked as “tailored” or “modern” or “slim”.

Even clothing that is supposedly “skinny” will often work for smaller guys. They might be skin tight on men with average builds, but they’re slim and comfortable on svelte gents.

See also: How to Find Affordable Clothes That Actually Fit

You might be thinking, “What about me? I’m carrying around a few extra pounds…” or “I have an athletic build, so slim fit clothes won’t fit me.”

Fair enough, but you still need to avoid baggy clothes and excess fabric. There’s an easy way to do this. Buy clothes that fit in the crucial areas (shoulders, neck, chest and crotch/seat) and then…

Tip #2: Get Your Clothes Tailored

If you’re under 5’8″ and you want to dress well, you have to get your clothes tailored. I know it sucks, and it’s not fair. Going to the tailor takes time and costs extra money, on top of what you already spent on the clothes.

But it’s crucial. If you already get your clothes tailored, you’re nodding your head right head. If you don’t, I promise it will change your life. Just try it once!

If you want to know how clothes can be tailored to fit better, check out the clothing alterations page.

Conclusion

If you avoid baggy clothes, you will look better than most men. It’s that simple! Once you start following this rule, you can focus on other things like wearing the right colors and patterns. But for short men who want to dress well, avoiding baggy clothing is a great place to start.

You can get all 11 “dress taller” rules (along with illustrations) in one place by downloading the free guide:

How to Dress Taller: 11 Crucial Style Tips for Short Men 

Do you wear baggy clothes? Let me know in the comments section!

Clothing and Style dress tall, fit

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About Brock McGoff

The Modest Man founder, Brock is an aspiring minimalist who enjoys working out, spending time with his family, discovering new brands and creating great content.

Background: Brock McGoff has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a professional background in digital marketing. He believes that men's fashion is just one facet of self-improvement, and he started The Modest Man to help regular guys feel more confident by improving their appearance.

An east coast native, Brock currently lives in Arizona with his wife and daughter. When he's not working, he spends time with family, training BJJ, reading/listening to books and podcasts, and unsuccessfully trying to decide which movie to stream.

Expertise: Brock has built a men's lifestyle YouTube channel with over 400k subscribers. He's also worked as the creative marketing manager in a men's apparel startup. Brock has been quoted in, mentioned by or featured in publications like Esquire, Huff Post, Men's Health, WWD and Forbes.

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