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Home / Blog / Clothing and Style

Shoes for Short Men: What to Wear & What to Avoid

Published on April 22, 2021 by Brock McGoff · Clothing and Style, Shoes May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

What are the best shoes for short men to wear? Are there any shoes that make you look taller or shorter? Here’s everything you need to know.

Table of Contents

  • Shoes for Shorter Guys
    • What to Look For
    • What to Avoid
  • Wear Boots to Look Taller
  • Wrapping Up

Allen Edmonds Park Avenue shoes

Did you know that shoes are often the first thing people about your outfit? We put so much thought into everything else…

Do I wear vertical stripes or horizontal? Jeans or trousers? Pleat or no pleat? Which belt really matches my personality?

And yet people’s eyes often fall to our shoes, the one item that can truly make or break your outfit.

Now this doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a million pairs of shoes. You can get away with a small, thoughtfully curated selection of footwear.

Shoes for Shorter Guys

Like any other piece of the fashion puzzle for men of modest height, the idea with shoes is to compliment your figure, draw attention purposefully, and streamline your look.

GATs medium wash jeans 6
The best shoes for short men aren’t the ones with the highest heel; they’re the ones that fit your feet and compliment your outfit.

A lot of shorter guys will only buy shoes with thick soles because they think it’s an easy way to add an inch or two to their build.

This is not necessarily the right thing to do.

Thursday Boots Duke with light blue jeans
Of course, if a shoe (or boot) has some height built in with a thicker heel, that’s great! Consider it a nice little bonus, but don’t prioritize height over all else.

Some shoes, like the Chelsea boots above, have a tough, thick sole, and it is a nice little bonus to get that extra couple of inches.

But most types of footwear don’t have thick soles, and you won’t be fooling anyone with your collection of platform shoes.

What to Look For

When you’re buying shoes, you should prioritize comfort, proper sizing, quality and versatility (in your wardrobe).

Cuffed chinos with loafers
Dark brown leather penny loafers will never go out of style, and they look great on everyone, regardless of height.

To avoid shoes that produce a squat, boxy look, try to wear shoes that have these qualities:

  • Gently tapered toe box (nothing too pointed or boxy)
  • Simple, understated designs (nothing too flashy)
  • Substantial soles and heels (think boots)
  • Low contrast colorways (monochromatic)

Shoes with the above qualities are safe bets. Of course, you can always opt for louder, bolder designs if it suits your personality, but start with the basics.

What to Avoid

Now here are some things to avoid when buying shoes as a shorter man:

Elevator Shoes

I truly believe that every man should try to be confident in his own skin…and shoes. Height increasing shoes are often a band-aid solution that doesn’t address an underlying problem of insecurity.

Ugly elevators shoes
Most height increasing shoes are downright ugly. Even the “nicer” will look a bit off compared to normal shoes.

That doesn’t mean you can’t wear elevator shoes. Sometimes they make practical sense. For example, a little extra height at a concert or for photo/video shoots can go a long way.

Just make sure you don’t sacrifice style or quality. Most elevator shoe brands sacrifice one of these, if not both.

Pointy & Square Toe Shoes

I actually recommend that everyone avoid shoes with pointy or square toes, and shorter guys are no exception.

Square and pointy toe shoes
Avoid square toe and pointy toe shoes; they’ll look even more ridiculous after they go out of style (again).

While these silhouettes will go in and out of style every few years, they’ll never be timeless. So if you want to build a wardrobe that stands the test of time, avoid pointy and square toe shoes.

Barefoot Shoes

“Barefoot” shoes are shoes that have minimal (or zero) drop from the heel to the toe. In other words, they only have a thin layer of material between your foot and the ground.

Vivo Barefoot Ra II shoes
Vivo Barefoot Ra II, a popular model among barefoot enthusiasts

These minimalist shoes supposedly promote a more natural step since they don’t raise your heel of the ground and surround your foot with a bunch of extra padding.

If you want to wear these for health purposes, go for it. Function over form, always!

Just remember: barefoot shoes will offer almost no height boost compared to normal shoes, which typical have at least some heel-toe drop and some height to the sole.

Shoes That Are Too Big (or Small)

I know, I know…there’s that saying about guys with big feet. Ignore it, and wear your size.

If you’re a shorter guy who has smaller feet, that’s fine. No one is going to look at you and think, “Wow…that guy has small feet!”

No one notices these things, I promise.

Olive chinos with tan raincoat
I wear a men’s 7 in most shoes, and this smaller size looks just right. Trust me: no one cares about how big your feet or shoes are.

On the other hand, if you have large feet for your height, you might wish your shoes were smaller. Maybe you feel like you’re wearing clown shoes.

Again, no one else notices. It’s all in your head! So just wear your actual size.

This is really important for foot and back health. Shoes that are too small or too large can cause all kinds of problems with your feet and posture.

Bottom line: wear shoes that are the correct length and width for your feet.

Wear Boots to Look Taller

If you really do want to squeeze a bit of extra height out of your footwear, I recommend skipping elevator shoes or platform sneakers, and instead opting for a pair of boots.

Wearing Thursday Boot Captains
A classic service boot like the Thursday Boot Co. Captain will give you about 1.5″ of extra height, without sacrificing comfort.

Most boots have at least a 1″ heel on top of a substantial outsole. This means that you’re getting 1.5″ without sacrificing comfort by wearing elevator shoes.

Tony Gorga wearing Undandy chukkas
TMM contributor, Tony, wearing suede chukka boots with jeans

Some types of boots, like Cuban heel boots and Western (or cowboy) boots, have an even higher heel (1.5″ or taller). This might take some getting used to, but you’ll definitely feel the height boost as you go about your day.

Tecovas Johnny western boot high heel
Some roper, cowboy or Western boots have heels that are 1.5″ or higher.

But don’t feel the need to go out and buy a pair of cowboy or Cuban heel boots. Every boot is going to have a more substantial heel than, say, a pair of German army trainers.

Blue suede chukkas
Blue suede chukkas from Thursday Boot Co.

Even chukka boots will have a thicker sole than most loafers, dress shoes and sneakers. So, if you want some extra height without resorting to elevator shoes or height increasing inserts, just reach for a pair of boots.

Wrapping Up

If you’re still wondering whether there’s a best type of shoe for shorter men, the answer is not really.

Shorter guys can wear whatever shoes they want, so try to focus on choosing shoes that feel good and match your outfit.

If you do want to look a bit taller, skip the elevator shoes and inserts, and wear some boots instead.

Questions or comments? Leave them down below!

Clothing and Style, Shoes elevator shoes, height, Men's Boots, Short Men's Fashion

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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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Comments

    Ask Me Anything Cancel reply

    Got questions? Want to share your opinion? Comment below!

  1. Aljon says

    December 11, 2022 at 12:57 am

    Hi, you got a nice Thursday boot captain there, I have the same in different colours. I wonder if Thursday boot explorer would be okay for me, Im a 5’5 btw. Thursday boot Explorer is a combat boot so it is way taller than other regular boots; Do you think that will make my legs look shorter even though I go monochromatic style?

    I would really appreciate if you give me an advise on this matter. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Davy says

    December 10, 2022 at 6:12 am

    For a guy like me who’s 5.4″ and a shoe size 7″ I want to wear Timberland shoes but I don’t know if it’s good for for me and my height.

    Reply
  3. Byon says

    March 17, 2022 at 8:23 pm

    Hi Brock, quick question please. How does the sizing of your Beckett Simonon Reid sneakers compares to your Park Ave AE?

    Reply
  4. Henry says

    February 12, 2022 at 12:25 pm

    Health benefits were the exact reason why I started wearing barefoot minimalist shoes. But 98% of them look absolutely atrocious.

    Reply
  5. Charlie says

    January 26, 2022 at 10:36 am

    Are Nike Air Max 90s ok for a 5’5 guy to wear?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      January 26, 2022 at 11:53 am

      Yes!

      Reply
  6. Mohit says

    January 7, 2022 at 7:00 am

    Hi Brock,
    I am 5’5 and I just ordered chunky sole shoes from zara size 6, although a size 5 would fit perfectly i can still manage with the extra space with the 6 and it’s not a big issue. Should i return them as they tend to look a bit bulky for my short frame?? I personally think they look alright and overtime i will get used to it. This is my first time wearing this kind of boot and hence a bit uncomfortable. Or should i just avoid the category of bulky shoes altogether?

    https://www.zara.com/in/en/share/-p12406820.html?utm_campaign=productShare&utm_medium=mobile_sharing_iOS&utm_source=red_social_movil&v1=129198614

    Reply
    • Brock says

      January 12, 2022 at 12:29 pm

      If you like them, wear them. Don’t overthink it!

      Reply
  7. impossible says

    April 27, 2021 at 2:22 pm

    In US sizes, I’d have to use men’s size 5. I’ve never seen men’s shoes in sizes smaller than what’s equivalent to US men’s 7 or so. I’ve always had to buy women’s shoes just to find numeric sizes, and as with clothing, finding the right length won’t also grant you anywhere near enough width. My shoes have always looked feminine, and walking is painful and undesirable because women’s shoes are too narrow to accommodate the natural expansion of a foot when putting weight on it.
    Dress shoes are a really basic thing that tend to look the same a lot of the time, so boy’s dress shoes will do. But it doesn’t help much because I have a dressy event like that maybe once in three to five years. While dress shoes can be found, boys’ range for all the other shoes doesn’t impress me: It’s a narrow range, and they’re far too boyish and sporty. It’s impossible to find shoes that fit, look adult, and also have a little bit of character instead of looking like something that had to be slapped together quickly because the kid’s gonna grow out of them within a year.

    Reply
    • Chris says

      April 28, 2021 at 2:17 am

      Look into boot brand Txture and Sagara, they just might have your size, and the character you’re looking for in a boot that will stand the test of time. Balanced height increasing soles too.

      Reply
  8. Alvin says

    April 27, 2021 at 10:30 am

    What about Thursday boot company’s diplomat boot. It’s their moc toe boot. Too chunky for short men? Their toe box profile looks slimmer than most moc toe boots. More on the casual end

    Reply
    • Brock says

      April 27, 2021 at 2:41 pm

      Great choice. Definitely not too chunky for shorter guys!

      Reply
  9. Bert says

    April 27, 2021 at 10:03 am

    5’4″, size 7. Agree with all you’re saying, Brock. We’re talking about appearance, so I’d add that I don’t want to appear to be trying to look taller with my choice of shoes.

    Reply
  10. Jess says

    November 10, 2018 at 2:37 pm

    Thank you very much for this forum …. I have a similar problem … but shopping online does not always satise me … sometimes it’s not what you expect. I still prefer to shop physically at stores. In spite of how uncomfortable the laughter or the comments are … I wear a 5 uk and in the shops, the staff usually refer me to models of girls or children …

    Reply
  11. Graham says

    August 21, 2018 at 8:32 am

    i wear size 6 or 6.5 but have very wide feet (4E or 5E). Is there a way to tell width, not just length, on shoes internationally? Thanks.

    Reply
  12. Nelson Gan says

    August 17, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    Are gum sole sneakers fine with short guys?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      August 17, 2018 at 7:44 pm

      Absolutely!

      Reply
      • Nelson Gan says

        August 17, 2018 at 11:06 pm

        Thanks for the quick response.

        Wouldn’t the gum color (on white) drive visual attention downwards? Which is counter to short guys where we want attention upwards.

        Reply
        • Brock says

          August 17, 2018 at 11:08 pm

          I don’t think so. That’s one of those “tips” that isn’t actually true IMO. People are going to look at your shoes no matter what.

          Reply
        • Chris says

          April 28, 2021 at 2:13 am

          The white gum will darken naturally over time 😊

          Reply
  13. Victor Dimitri says

    August 6, 2016 at 1:22 am

    Nice post! Can you tell me what is the proper length for a dress shoes. I found some nice ones but I though it was too long although the width seems nice, so how long for it from the the toes to the tip of the shoes 🙂 ?

    Reply
  14. fkncarlo says

    July 19, 2016 at 4:36 am

    what brand are those shoes? thanks

    Reply
  15. Qamarul says

    July 22, 2015 at 2:21 am

    Im from Singapore. And I wear a US 7 size. It is really hard for me to get dress shoes of my size. Is there a reliable website where I can get shoes of my size?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      July 22, 2015 at 8:36 am

      Have you tried Amazon and Zappos yet?

      Reply
    • Chris says

      April 28, 2021 at 2:11 am

      Ask Mason & Smith’s shoeshine & shoe store in Singapore 👍

      Reply
  16. ribery12 says

    June 22, 2015 at 7:15 am

    Hi! Brock!
    Is it ok to wear white trainers like Stan Smith for short men? thanks

    Reply
    • Brock says

      June 22, 2015 at 2:48 pm

      Definitely! I just got a pair of Onitsuka Tigers (white, red and blue) for myself.

      Reply
      • ribery12 says

        June 23, 2015 at 1:17 am

        my thought is that white sneakers will attract the eye to your feet haha

        Reply
        • Brock says

          June 23, 2015 at 12:31 pm

          They definitely will. If you don’t want that, grey or navy are good alternatives that are almost just as versatile.

          Reply
          • ribery12 says

            June 23, 2015 at 7:29 pm

            thanks man!

  17. Paul says

    December 31, 2014 at 9:03 am

    For short guys who neeed to look taller, try high heel men shoes with hidden lifts which are looked like normal dress shoes
    http://www.jotashoes.com

    Reply
  18. Lawrence says

    December 28, 2014 at 10:47 pm

    I have no experience owning proper shoes, but am trying to finally build an adult wardrobe. What sorts of shoes are appropriate with a suit? Would a brogue be okay or is that considered too casual/too dressy? I’m really out to sea here with this. I’m also a 6 or 6.5 so my options tends be limited to whatever I can find on Zappos or Shoebuy.

    Reply
  19. Clarence says

    December 16, 2014 at 11:19 am

    Hi Brock,

    For a guy like me who’s 5’6″ and a shoe size 8, looking to buy a pair of oxfords, which styles should I gravitate towards or stay away from? For instance, is it alright to go for cap toe? Wingtip? Perforated? Or should I just stick to plain toe? Many thanks!

    Reply
    • Brock says

      December 16, 2014 at 12:10 pm

      Clarence,

      Any style is perfectly fine. Whatever you prefer. Just know that, typically, more decoration = less formal. So wingtips would be less “dressy” than plain toe.

      But this has nothing to do with height or size… just get what you like!

      -Brock

      Reply
  20. IAN says

    October 11, 2013 at 8:55 am

    It’s been a soaker the past few days and I’ve gotten myself convinced that I’ve got to get a good pair of rain boots that I could wear to work since I walk and take the subway. I always see the ladies wearing boots and they can walk through puddles without any thought. I’ve been wearing my sneakers to work and changing into my dry shoes. It’s not what I want to continue doing. Any thoughts on a good pair of rain boots that are stylish and can also work for the winter ahead? I’m considering boots from LL Bean or maybe some hiking boots from REI, but maybe you or others have some better ideas?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      October 11, 2013 at 9:56 am

      Yeah it’s been non-stop rain here in DC. If you want straight up rain boots that you would take off once you got to work, I’d go with a cheap pair from Amazon.

      Otherwise, LL Bean or Zappos would be a good place to get some better-looking waterproof boots that you could wear throughout the day.

      -B

      Reply
  21. Jeff says

    September 2, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    We short men are in big trouble because if we want a shoe that feels decent we feel short and you can’t put in lifts, if you get a shoe with lifts it doesn’t feel comfortable I feel really trapped, that why I cannot believe that there is a god because if there was he wouldn’t of don’t this to me nad made me only 5.4″ he or it would of made me to be at lease the regular American height which is 5.8” or taller , its a disaster to be short for a male.

    Reply
  22. Mahi says

    July 17, 2013 at 11:46 am

    I have to disagree with you on the lift shoes – I use a pair and I find they work great, both style wise and through a nice height boost. The reality is that we’re short, that’s fine, but there’s also nothing wrong with the outside world seeing you as a little taller from time to time. I use ones that give about 5cm / 2 inches, and although that still gets my frame to below average height, it’s a nice welcome boost. I use these, my first purchase, and plan to buy different varieties in the future: http://secretshoes.co.uk/Mens-Height-Increasing-Casual/Mens-Height-Increasing-Casual-CORRADO—6cm.aspx

    Reply
    • Brock says

      July 17, 2013 at 11:52 am

      Mahi,

      Although these shoes look better than most “risers”, I have to respectfully disagree that heightening shoes are ever a good idea. Should we try to trick people? They know how tall we are already, or if they don’t, they will likely find out eventually.

      I would much rather focus on how a shoe looks and how it fits my wardrobe and personal sense of style. If it has a thick sole and gives you a boost, fine, but I would never buy a shoe just for that reason. Accept who you are, don’t try to change it.

      Just my opinion!

      -Brock

      Reply
  23. Jessy says

    June 8, 2012 at 12:17 am

    If you think finding 7.5’s is difficult, just try to find a 6.5. My options are very very very limited. I usually stick with a 7 and add an insole or deal with it if there’s not a lot of heel slippage.

    Reply
    • admin says

      June 8, 2012 at 1:56 am

      Yeah I bet 6.5 is tough. After I find a shoe I like, I don’t even bother going to the store, I just order it online. Of course, this works much better if you’ve actually tried the shoe on and are buying it for the second time.

      -B

      Reply
      • Ennis says

        February 25, 2014 at 9:17 am

        If you think that’s hard, try finding size 5 or 4 in literally anything. It’s depressing.

        Reply
        • Brock says

          February 25, 2014 at 9:59 am

          I bet. Do you use Zappos or Shoes.com?

          Reply
          • Ennis says

            February 25, 2014 at 8:44 pm

            I live in Australia, so neither of those is especially convenient. Zappos doesn’t even ship here, I don’t think. Right now I’m getting a pair custom-made from a (hopefully legitimate) seller on Etsy, https://www.etsy.com/shop/AGUASshoes . The Philippines is a good place to get quality things for less if you know where to go/look. When I was over there visiting my father I had a suit made for around $200 from a professional tailor.

            Usually though, I get my shoes from the kids section >_> 95% of the stuff is awful but occasionally there will be something worthwhile. Lately I’ve been looking into aliexpress.com, which while significantly less legit than even ebay, looks to have a selection of mens or at least unisex styles going down to very small sizes. However, since I don’t really need any more shoes right now I’ll probably only check it out later.

        • Jesse says

          April 23, 2021 at 7:06 pm

          I’m size 5 so I feel your pain. Here are some of the brands I would recommend:
          White Sneakers – Adidas (Stan Smith, Samba, etc), Nike Kill Shot, Converse (Chuck Taylor, Jack Purcell)
          Dress Shoes/Boots/Loafers – Allen Edmonds (smallest is size 5)
          Casual Loafer – Jay Butler
          Casual Boots – Solovair Astronaut boot (nice leather, way better than DocMartens)
          Casual Chelsea Boots – Blundstone 130x (Dress series)

          Reply

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