Your Body Shape – Tall Men: Key Pieces PART I

Introduction

In part one of our guide to dressing as a tall man, we outlined some general guidelines that this body type should adhere to in order to balance their often long and lean frame.

Although personal taste will dictate the way you dress or your personal style, depending on your body type there are also certain techniques that can be adopted to highlight the parts of your body you feel most comfortable with, whilst shifting attention away from those parts you don’t.

Tall men should look to break up the vertical lines and ‘linear’ silhouette produced naturally by their body – this helps to keep the upper and lower halves in proportion.

We will now aim to completely break down the tall man’s ideal wardrobe; detailing the key pieces that should be considered and providing inspiration as to how these can be paired together to create stylish and interesting looks.

Legwear

As highlighted, the ideal cut for taller men is straight or slim. Skinny fits will not only draw unwanted attention to leg length but will shape them to appear even longer. Tapered fits also emphasise length; the narrowing shape creates an imbalance with the upper body.

Straight and slim fits don’t widen or narrow the leg too much, keep your top and bottom half in proportion and are classic cuts that will never go out of style.

When considering leg length, always try before you buy because there are no set guidelines that all brands adhere too. Many will adjust inside leg measurement depending on waist size (i.e. the higher the waist size the longer the inseam), whilst a 34 from one brand can be closer to a 36 in another.

It is imperative that you get the break right on your trousers as a taller gent. 

Little or no break can be perfect for those that want to introduce a statement sock or go sockless (breaking up the vertical line further) in spring/summer, whilst pooling material around your shoes is not only a sartorial faux pas but will draw the eye down – emphasising your leg length and even your shoe size, for those that are concerned.

Mid and low are the ideal jeans/trouser rise for tall men; a high rise will simply elongate the length of your legs.

If you are a shorts man, stick to knee length or just above – any shorter will only emphasise leg length. A couple of turns on the hems of your shorts will add subtle bulk/width to the leg and help break up the vertical line.

For those with longer torsos, why not try a pair of statement shorts/trousers – whether printed, patterned or coloured – in order to draw attention to your lower half?

Alternatively, white trousers and jeans are a timeless spring/summer option for those with long, skinny legs that will add bulk due to their colouring, keeping your top and bottom half in proportion.

Tops & Shirts

Finding the correct fitting shirt can be a difficult task for the majority of men, but for a tall man it can seem much harder. Sleeves finishing short of the wrist, excess material around the chest and stomach and a struggle to find a shirt long enough are all problems regularly faced.

The key is not to go oversized. Buying the next size up may seem more comfortable and a wiser decision but it will just appear badly fitted. 

Many designer and high street brands now produce specialist ‘long’ sleeve/body ranges – such as MOSS, Next, Burton, M&S, Debenhams etc. – meaning there is no excuse for you not to look as sharp as possible. Find time to try a number of styles and avoid ‘boxy’ cuts.

A wide range of t-shirts and tops is crucial in any wardrobe. Short-sleeved and elbow length styles will help to break up the length and vertical lines created by your arms, whilst something as simple as giving your sleeves a couple of turns or pushing up long sleeves can add definition and bulk to skinny limbs.

In terms of cuts and necklines, wide crew and scoop neck styles will emphasise shoulder and chest shape, thus adding width to your top half. If you are concerned about the length of your neck, avoid lengthening v-neck styles and instead opt for polo shirts – they will naturally add width and bulk to this area.

Colour (both bold and neutral), prints and stripes (horizontal/vertical) can all be integrated nicely into this section of your wardrobe and used to draw attention to your upper half or add width/length as required.

To be continued... 


Courtesy of FashionBeans.com