Big and Tall guy fashion, Skinny Tall Guy Fashion, A complete Guide To dressing as a tall man
Dressing well as a tall man should not be stressful. There many ways and style tips that can help make you feel more comfortable and stylish and accentuate your taller frame. Looking good in an outfit as a tall man takes a little more effort and a lot of searching for clothes, but with these tips and tricks I use all the time, read on for some first hand advice on my favourite fashion tips for tall guys.
As a tall man myself, I oftentimes face challenges when it comes to finding clothes that fit tall people well. The shirt length, sleeve length, and jean inseams are often too short, and sometimes I just buy the best of a bad batch, but an awkward fit can make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious.
At one point I would only wear tracksuits because they are the easiest to buy, and they don’t really have to fit you in anyway, and I just got used to it. But at some point, I too wanted to look and feel good in the clothes I wore, and also wanted them to fit me the way they should, so I started looking in to fashion for taller guys, and what to/not to wear, the types of accessories that complement tall man and I was able to develop a style that suited me, and learnt how to look for and fit clothes that fit a tall frame and looked good too.
I also want to be able to pass this on, because I remember how I have felt at times, not wanting to go out because I didn’t know how to dress, or I just couldn’t find clothes that would look good on me. They would always pull and stretch in the wrong places, so here are some tips to help you find the right fit for a tall person.
Layering Tips for Tall Men to Look Stylish and Balanced
Being a taller guy comes with a lot of advantages, but also comes with a lot of challenges when it comes to fashion. Mastering the art of layering is one of the keys to looking stylish and well proportioned with an outfit. It allows you to create more depth, add texture and a more visual element to draw attention to your outfit. If you are a tall and skinny guy, then layering should be at the top of your list when choosing an outfit. It will add more bulk to your frame and take the attention away from your height and focus it on your outfit.
I will share the tips and tricks of layering for tall guys that I have learnt and adapted to my style over the years, so you too can look and feel the best and be more confident as a taller man.
Have a solid base
When you are layering your outfit, you want to start with a solid base, Meaning, choose a well fitting, plain and solid coloured shirt as the start of your outfit. For a tall man, if you choose a loose fitting shirt this will just make you look taller and unbalanced, but a slim fitting shirt for a tall man makes all the difference and creates a more refined look. Get yourself a few well fitting shirts, and keep it simple with colours like white, grey, black, navy so you always have one to hand to start a base for a layered outfit.
Add a little texture to your layered outfit
It is time to add a little more texture now we have added our plain and fitted base. You can do this with a patterned shirt, a textured jumper, or a jacket that has a bit of character like some patchwork. What we are trying to do when creating a layered outfit for a tall man, is without overloading your frame, create an interesting visual so the focus is on the outfit and not the height.
To flip this idea, let’s say you wear a patterned shirt instead of a plain one, then you would wear a jacket that was a solid colour to contrast the shirt and balance out your outfit. We have all seen that guy wearing a full suit and shirt with patterns, and each to their own, but that is not the look we are going for.
When I meet someone for the first time, I would rather they compliment my look than be surprised by my height. I get enough of that as it is, so I really appreciate when someone realises the effort I put into an outfit. So think about layering your outfits if you are a tall guy.
Using different lengths when layering an outfit
Contrasting clothing with different lengths will help create a sense of proportion, and don’t make your outfit appear too top heavy because as a tall man, you have pretty long legs. For example, you can try wearing a longer shirt with a shorter jacket. I like to do this with big puffy jackets to take the attention off the bulk. Or you can wear a longer jacket over a shorter shirt, and this is something I like to do with a leather jacket.
Experiment a bit, ask others how they perceive the balance of the lengths, what do you feel more comfortable in, what looks more proportional. After a while you will develop your own style.
Choose the right fabrics when layering your outfit
I have made the mistake of wearing a few layers of polyester heavy clothing, and it gets hot and uncomfortable pretty quick. When you are going to wear a layered outfit as a tall guy, then you want to choose a more breathable fabric like wool or cotton. You still get the layers but your body can still breathe and regulate its temperature. But even with the correct fabric, don’t wear anything too bulky like thick wool and fleece. This will make you look top heavy and add too much bulk to your outfit. Keep it streamlined.
Conclusion of layering for tall men
Layering your outfit as a tall guy is a great way to create well proportioned and stylish outfit ideas. Follow these tips and tricks on layering and add to your confidence of choosing the correct outfit. So remember, as a basic rule, start with a solid base, then add some texture and difference in lengths, choose the correct fabrics and then you can finish off with some accessories to have you looking your best, no matter how tall you are!
Look for brands that cater to tall men
There are quite a few brands out there now that either cater only for tall men, or some larger brands that have incorporated a ´Tall´ section where you can also find a good selection of clothing for the taller man. The clothing sizes for taller men are usually clearly indicated on these sites and they will have filters for terms like ¨extra long¨ or ¨oversized¨´ for the clothes they do in larger sizes.
Here are a few examples of brands that have clothing for tall men:
Asos is a well known online retailer, but little known is that they have an entire section of clothes for tall men. Dress shirts, jackets, jeans, t-shirts, and they range from long and wide to extra long.
American Tall have become really popular in the space, and make clothing for tall men ranging from 6’3 to 7’1. This website is a game changer for tall men because they have every single on the site tailored for larger people. Jeans with long inseams, shorts that actually fit a tall man without hanging above the knee, extra long socks, they have absolutely everything.
This is another brand for tall people, and they have a large variety of clothes for tall slim guys, and for those on the larger side. They have suits for tall men that go up to a 38 inch leg and that’s hard to come by. Need a pair of size 15 Vans? They have them, a long shirt, a long hoodie, jumpers, the entire catalogue is for tall men.
I really like this brand for tall men, because I work out a lot, and when you buy a big shirt it tends to be loose on the arms and shoulders, but they make shirts for tall skinny guys, and also for tall and athletic guys, so the arms and shoulder fit snug and make me feel a lot more confident in my clothes. The prices are low, the shirts are 100% cotton and a lot of them are plain in colour, one of the best shirts for a tall man if you ask me.
Did you know that Bohoo.com has a section of clothes just for tall men. The catalogue is pretty extensive, and you can normally find quite a few good pairs of trendy jeans with a 36 inch inseam and more. They also have tall shirts, tall suits, tall tracksuits, tall tracksuits and a lot more, so a great option when you are looking for brands for tall men.
Carhartt
The list would not be complete without mentioning that Carhartt is one of the best brands for big and tall people. The clothes will last you forever, and for me, Carhartt makes the best hoodies for tall people. I tend to go more for the workwear stuff and not the trendy clothes from Carhartt, but this is just my preference.
Accessories for tall Men
Accessories are a great way to add some personality and draw attention to an outfit. But as a tall man you want to choose accessories that will not only draw attention to you because your size does this already, but complement your body type at the same time. I actually started making my own leather accessories because I could never find a large watch strap, or a thick enough bracelet, so that’s one way to go.
So what are some good examples of accessories for tall Men. Let’s go through a few examples and talk about each one.
Watches for a tall man
This is a classic accessory and can instantly elevate your look and add class, also taking the attention away from your height and focusing it on your outfit. Watches for tall men need to have a larger face and a thicker watch strap to compensate for their overall size. I like a classic design like a Seiko divers watch, because they are sturdy, they have a big face and a thick band. You also won’t break the bank but get a really good quality watch.
Belts for tall guys bring an outfit together
Belts are another great accessory for tall guys. It can bring together an outfit really nicely if you choose a good quality, thick veg tanned type of belt. You should also match your belt to your shoe colour, this is what will bring the outfit to the next level and help balance out your proportion and give you a more refined look.
Shoes for tall men can make or break an outfit
You can have a killer outfit on, looking clean and you throw on the wrong type of shoes and now everyone focuses on the shoes and not your outfit you put so much thought into. Jeans and running shoes ring a bell! A nice pair of dress shoes for a tall man need to have a wider base and toe, also a thicker sole to avoid you looking lanky, especially if you are tall and skinny. But not so big that you look like you are wearing a pair of workboots.
Brands like Timberland, Clarks and RM Williams are among some of the best quality when looking for leather shoes for Men.
Scarves for tall men add personality
I was never really one for scarves, I had the wrong thought about it and thought it to be feminine, but I was just an idiot really and didn’t know anything about dressing up. A scarf adds colour and texture to an outfit, and the obvious, it keeps you warm when it’s cold but with a little more style than that ragged scarf you wear to the gym all the time.
Scarves for tall men obviously need to be long, and I would go for a wool scarf for that classic polished look. Something like this Lallier Men’s Merino Wool Scarf (https://amzn.to/3Zzd1Dr) to give you an idea of what to look for.
Sunglasses for tall men are just cool
No matter who you are and what your height, adding a good pair of shades to a nice outfit just adds so much more. Sunglasses are an essential accessory, and I have quite a few, but I don’t spend loads of money on them. I just make sure they are actually protecting my eyes and won’t spend more than $20 on a pair of sunglasses.
That being said, I do have a pair of Aviators (https://amzn.to/3LdpGHS) and one pair of Wayfarers (https://amzn.to/3LdpGHS) for special occasions. Sunglasses for taller men are better suited when they have a medium sized frame with a square or oval shaped frame. This works well to balance out the proportions of a larger face. So be sure to throw on a pair of shades to add a couple more points to your look.
Last words on accessories for tall men
If you use them correctly, accessories for tall men can really elevate your look, give a more confident vibe and also make you feel more confident. Take into account your body proportions when you are choosing accessories that will balance out your outfits. You can use accessories all of the time that will give you a unique style. In the end we all want to feel out best, and looking our best is a good way to help us with this.
The art of colour and patterns for tall men
Being a tall man does give you some advantages with fashion. Because of our size we can wear big and bold colours. But you also have to be careful to pick the right color/pattern combination. Too much color and you are walking around like Big Bird, too much pattern and you can be overwhelming your frame.
You also do not want to choose colors too bland, because this will not make much of an impression or have any contrasting giving you a glum look, and there are days for this too, but not when we want to have a confident, outgoing outfit. In this section I want to go over tips and tricks for selecting the correct colours and patterns to complement a tall man’s outfit.
Choose clothing colour based on your skin tone
When choosing colours for your outfit, it’s important to consider your skin tone. You want the colour you wear to complement your skin tone. So if you have a lighter skin tone, something a little darker will enhance your natural colour. If you have a darker skin tone then you can wear much brighter colours. And if you are blessed with a natural olive glow, then we are all jealous because you can pretty much get away with the rainbow.
If you are not too sure about what your skin tone is, when you are out shopping or just at home, go and hold out all different colour shirts to your face in good lighting, and see which ones make your complexion come across brighter.
Contrast in clothes matters when you are tall
Now you have chosen the colour, what about the contrast. This is also an important part of choosing your outfit. A high contrast colour has a more eye catching effect whereas a low contrast colour is more subtle. As a taller man, you probably want to avoid high contrast colours as they will make you look taller and not balance out the outfit.
As a taller man, it is better to go for medium to low contrast colours, but you can add something higher contrast in your accessory department to add a little more shine if you want.
Try everything on before buying
If you are tall, don’t ever trust the size guides off the rack. If you are in a store, and you are buying a shirt, or some pants then make sure you try them on because xl is not always the same xl. Every brand has their own size guides, so you really can’t trust anything until you try it on. I have tried on jeans labelled as a 36 leg, but when I put them on they are above my ankles. Or the length may be ok and the waist is too loose.
This is especially important when buying clothes online as a tall guy. Unless it is a website that makes all their clothes specifically for tall people, in which case you will almost always get what is being advertised, always check each brands size guide.
Know your measurements
Before you go to a store or visit a website, you should really know what your actual measurements are. This way you don’t have to guess and hold every pair of trousers up against your side to figure out what length trousers you should be buying. Just get a tape measure, and make a note of your measurements, put them on a note in your phone and update them once in a while for fluctuations.
Look for the ‘tall line’
Brands that have a tall man section will generally advertise this. You might see labels that say ‘extra tall’, ‘long fit’, look out for these. And if you are buying online, they will have sections for ‘big and tall’, go directly there to avoid scrolling and filtering to find suitable clothes.
Don’t be shy, ask for help
If you are in a store and having trouble finding something to fit your tall frame, then approach someone for assistance. They should be able to help you find their clothes suitable for a tall guy, and maybe even suggest a couple of outfit options. They know where everything is after all, and they see a lot of outfits through the day so will probably have some good insight.
I always need a little help matching colours, a habit from wearing all black for so much of my life to take the choice out of things. I will ask an assistant in the store about matching colours or contrasts, and pay attention to their advice and keep these tips in mind.
Make sure it fits
Finding clothes for a tall guy is not just finding something that fits you, but does it fit in the right places. If you are tall and skinny and you go and buy a regular fit shirt in xxl, the shoulders are going to hang way off and it will not be flattering to your height. So you want to wear a slim fit shirt that is extra long.
On the other hand, if you are tall and work out a lot, you will have a lot more mass in certain areas, so you want to try different fits until you find the one that is not too loose or tight and fits you in the most flattering way.
My weight can change through the year, and I workout a lot and am 6’3. I like a shirt that is slim fitting around the arms and chest, but long and fitted, but not too tight around the waist area. This is what I found looks the best on me, and you will find your own fit with a little trial and error.
Move around in your outfit
You might feel a little self conscious at first, I know I did, to walk around in front of the mirror, do a couple lunges. But, it’s better to feel a little uncomfortable in the changing room instead of realising that your new jeans or sweatshirt is uncomfortable to wear on a daily basis.
So once you try something on, take a few steps, lift your leg up and down, stretch your arms out and move around to be sure your new clothes fit you correctly and are comfortable.
Conclusion for buying clothes to fit a tall frame
Finding clothes that fit as a tall guy will take some time, and you will develop brand loyalties for certain products over time. With these tips, it should make it a little easier for you to make the best choices and put together better fitting and more comfortable outfits.
So remember to always try things on, take your own measurements and always check the size guide before you part with your hard earned cash.
Consider tailoring clothes if you are tall
Even after you have done the best research, took all the measurements, tried on the clothes and found the best possible fit you can, you might still need to make that last little adjustment to get the perfect fit.
This isn’t something I would do with a t-shirt or a regular pair of jeans, but finding a suit for a tall man is really difficult. Then you have to figure out how a suit should fit a tall guy. Unless you can afford to get a tailored suit, in which case the suit should fit like a glove anyway, you will have to get your suit off the rack.
You can get lucky and find something close to perfect, but I always need to get my suit legs tailored to give me more room in the thigh and slim down the waist part of the jacket. So for the more expensive Items you use on occasion, consider tailoring to make that outfit perfect.
Why tall men should consider tailoring
A better fit: As I said, the big and tall section may not have the perfect size for you, but find as close as you can get. Tailoring will allow for your clothes to be altered to fit the unique proportions of your body. This translates to a more comfortable and visually pleasing fit.
Look Sharp: You can’t deny that when you see a tall man in a well fitted suit, it instantly gives the impression of a more confident, professional man.
Boost your confidence: We are going through this effort to look good right, well if you look good you feel good. There are few better feelings than when you are comfortable in your own skin, especially when you are a tall man. Having spent so much time not finding a great fitting suit, the first time makes you stand tall and embrace that feeling.
Getting your clothes tailored will be a transformative experience. It doesn’t just improve your image, but your overall attitude and confidence is greater when you know you look good. A positive image of yourself also boosts your professional appearance, so just by improving your fit you can improve so many aspects of your life.
Keep up with tall men fashion trends
Already hard enough to find the clothes for tall guys, you then need to keep up with the current fashion trends for tall men. I am not much for flamboyance, and I try to keep my day to day clothing simple but stylish. So I have a few nice pairs of jeans, shirts, jackets and shoes to match, nothing overwhelming.
I find that for me it works best to have an overall style, then you can build yourself a solid base of clothing so you look stylish in your own original way all the time, and the outfits are interchangeable because of the similarity in style.
Like if you wear a leather jacket every day, you just need a nice shirt you know fits well, and buy it in all the complementary colours. Two or three pairs of jeans in various colours, and a couple pairs of shoes and you have yourself quite a few outfits right there.
Understanding your body type
If you know your body type, you can buy clothing in a way you know compliments your build. If you are a tall and skinny man, then you want to buy slim fit long shirts, and not wear jeans that are too fitting to keep a balance.
If you are tall and athletic, then you will want a long shirt with a muscle fit. So the shirt is still long enough, but gives you a little more room across the top to compensate for that build. Knowing your build will make it easier and more efficient to shop for your clothes.
You can also read magazines, look around on social media and follow tall men fashion influencers, and take ideas from there and wear what you think looks good. I like to keep things simple and stylish and like a pair of fitted jeans, leather jacket and a plain shirt or hoodie, a pair of shoes to go with the hoodie and I’m happy. But when it’s time I will also Suit up!
Experiment with different cuts and styles of clothing. Try bolder colours, patterns, plain, just keep figuring out what you are most comfortable in and what you look and feel best in and develop your own style.
Staying on top of fashion trends might feel like an added extra you don’t want to worry about, but it can also be exciting once you start enjoying dressing as taller men, and who knows what kind of style you will develop. Just enjoy the process, it can be frustrating and a little expensive at first to build up your wardrobe, but the end is worth it in so many ways.
The 17 Best Gift Ideas For Tall People 2023 – That Are Useful
How To Stretch Jeans, 9 Of The Best Methods
THE BEST WATCH BANDS FOR LARGER WRISTS-2023
Frequently asked questions
What are some casual clothing items for tall men?
To keep it simple and stylish, I have a few preferred brands of shirts, and I buy a few of each in different plain colors, I have 4 pairs of jeans in dark colors, a mixture of jackets including a black leather one, a black puffer jacket, and a long dress coat. Develop a good base and personal style, and build a collection of them over time that can be made into a number of outfits.
What are some style tips for tall men?
Making sure the clothes you buy are made for your frame is important when you are a tall man.
How do I find a suit that fits properly as a taller guy?
If you are buying a suit of the rack, try on different fits to see which ones suits you best. A suit for a tall skinny guy will be more of a slim fit. A suit for a larger muscular guy will also be fitter, but with more room where needed. Get the suit tailored if you need some finer tuning to your suit.
How do I shop for clothes that fit me as a tall guy?
Take your own measurements before you go shopping, and compare this to the sizing charts for the brand you are going to purchase from. And if you have the opportunity, try the clothes on and move around to make sure they fit right.
What are the common fashion mistakes made by tall men?
The obvious is wearing clothes that are too short for your height. Jackets with short sleeves, trousers than above your socks, this can all make your outfit look out of balance and doesn’t compliment your height.
Choose clothes that fit you well, avoid wearing any bold prints and patterns, wear shoes that fit you well, but also sleek looking and stylish, not big and bulky. Don’t just wear oversized and baggy clothing, be willing to embrace fitted clothing if you are tall and skinny, or big and tall, you will feel and look much better for it.
Conclusion on fashion tips for big and tall men
Dressing well as a tall man starts at finding clothes that fit, so start by identifying brands that make clothing for tall guys. Once you have this, you can then start researching these brands and what types of clothing they sell, and there won’t be many, so it won’t be the same as the average height person going to every well known retailer’s website. More choice doesn’t mean better quality, quite the opposite.
Once you have the brands identified, experiment with a few outfits. Using the tips and tricks in this article, you can choose the best possible styles and fits, and figure out what works best for you and start to build a more fashionable collection of clothes. Learn to accentuate your height and use it to work for you.
Improving all of these things will make you feel better overall and give you more confidence. The way others perceive you will change and open doors you never needed to knock on. When others see you taking yourself more serious, they will do the same and change is infectious, so you will elevate yourself, and serve as an example for others to do the same.
I also wanted to mention about costumes for tall guys. They can also be pretty difficult to find, so I made this post a than can help with that.
Pingback: 25 Reasons Why Guys Like Short Girls - From A Tall Guy - For Tall Men