Men with a tall and slender build can appear even more vertical than fellow giants who have a little more breadth to their frames. Besides looking out of proportion, clothing that emphasizes your slenderness may actually add to the eye-catching impact of your body, and not in a good way — the last thing you want is to be memorable only as “that really twiggy guy.”
Everyone looks at the tall guy first — follow a few basic fashion tips to be sure they’re seeing a good-looking man! You need clothing that can make an impression powerful enough to outweigh the automatic “gosh, you’re tall” reaction — but avoids calling excess attention to a presence that already draws the eye. And even more than smaller men, you need clothing that will balance your frame and fit your body — really fit, not just be long enough in the sleeves.
A broader silhouette will normalize your visual impact, making you look more like an average man writ on a grander scale than a statistical outlier.
GENERAL TIPS
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Patterns
From head to toe, undershirt to overcoat, the pattern of your garments’ fabric is a powerful fashion ally. Tall and slender men benefit from clothing with checks and windowpanes pattern, and can be more adventurous with these unusual patterns than smaller men. Horizontal elements in the patterning will break up the vertical journey of viewers’ eyes and add a sense of breadth to your narrow shape — consider mixing different horizontal-heavy patterns for the fullest effect, such as wearing a suit with an understated check over a bold windowpane dress shirt.
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Weave
Less obvious in effect than the pattern and color, the weave of your garments’ fabrics will also have an effect on your visual impression. Adding a touch of texture can make solid colors more flattering to the tall man — a simple herringbone weave to a wardrobe-staple blue or white shirt softens the impact of the unbroken color, and gives your style an understated personal flair as well. So long as the effect is not overall vertical, fabrics that add texture to a garment tend to flatter tall and slender men, and are worth requesting.
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SUITS & BLAZERS
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Fit
Extra width in the torso is probably the most crucial element in balancing out your height. Choose a jacket that adds dimension with broad, padded shoulders and that falls below the curve of your buttocks in the rear — this creates an extra horizontal line behind your legs, and appears to shorten them as well.
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Lapel
Notched lapels are vastly preferable to peaked, and can be cut a little wider for you than normal.
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Pockets
Pockets should be aligned completely horizontal, not slanted up. A ticket pocket on the right side of your suit jacket, located above the normal pockets, can give a touch of interesting asymmetry to your look and distract from the verticals, as can a pocket square (though you will want to avoid an upward-pointed fold for the latter).
FIND YOUR PERFECT FIT
We invite you to discover a new world of bespoke, where clients have the opportunity to design every detail of their garment. Select each element, from the fabric to the color of the stitching on your buttons, with a drink in hand – the way it was meant to be.
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TROUSERS
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Fit
Most tall and slender men carry the majority of their height in their legs, and they tend not to have a lot of weight to carry it with. A slightly looser trouser with a straight fall can make your legs appear more substantial, and a wider cuff at the bottom will add a stronger horizontal impression and shorten the appearance of your legs.
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Pleats
Pleats are not an ideal choice, unless something about your musculature or your personal style demands them; the vertical lines will appear to stretch your legs.
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Pockets
Be sure to avoid carrying too much in your trouser pockets. Any man’s appearance is hurt by a bulging pocket, but in your case it will make your legs look slender and insubstantial if your keys or billfold are able to overpower them.
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COMPLETE THE LOOK
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Ties
Your tie should generally be on the wider side of available styles, though it must be long enough to fit your body — a broad tie that falls too short makes a man look like a circus clown. Horizontal lines in the patterning are less desirable across the limited and mostly-vertical area of a necktie, but slanted diagonals will help broaden your appearance without clashing with horizontals in your shirt or jacket. A heavy knot helps fill you out as well, or you can consider the bowtie as an elegant alternative to the conventional necktie. -
Belt
The broad, horizontal line of a monochrome belt will slash the vertical impact of your appearance in half, making you much less imposing.
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Shoes
Wearing a thin sole is the obvious footwear advice for a tall man, but the opportunities don’t stop there. A shoe with a strong horizontal presence can be the first step (no pun intended) in breaking the vertical line of your body — the “straight” or “bar” style of lacing, in which the visible laces make horizontal lines across the front of the shoe, can help make a solid foundation for your look. A flatter toe cap contributes to the same effect.
FINAL SUGGESTIONS FOR TALL AND SLENDER BUILDS
Choose heavy fabrics such as wool to add volume and weight. Light colors and check patterns make tall, thin men appear more substantial. Avoid dark colors or pinstripes, as they are slimming.
