15 Ways to Look Taller for Short Guys

Whether you’re tall or short, there is nothing wrong with the way you look. However, we all want look our best and appearing taller can make us look and feel more attractive and confident.

As someone who grew up always being the shortest guy in the class, I got good at finding ways to appear bigger and taller.

Height is often a matter of an optical illusion. There are some things that guys can do and wear that will make us appear taller than we really are.

These are the tips and tricks that will work in real life and in photos on social media.

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1. Wear Fitted Clothing

In recent times, oversized clothing like baggy shirts and baggy pants have come back in style. The issue with baggy clothing, is that it will make you look wider and shorter.

Oversized clothing is a style that short people should avoid at all costs. Instead, try clothing that has a slim fit as it will give you a pleasing and proper fit.

If you’re on the short side, you’re going to want to wear clothes that will make you like taller. Well-fitted pants and a sweater that has a nice fit, will make you look taller.

If you want clothing that fits you perfectly, you can find a good tailor. Wearing tailored pants is a real game changer and a great way to get perfect fitting clothing. You can find an inexpensive tailor at some men’s clothing stores as well as local dry cleaners.

If a tailor is out of your budget, there are stores that make great clothing for shorter guys. Check out Levis, H&M, Uniqlo, Ash & Aerie and ZARA for some stylish clothes.

2. Choose the Right Pair Shoes

If you’re a shorter guy, the easiest and quickest way to add a few inches in height, is by choosing the right pair of shoes.

Nowadays, Converse Chuck Taylors, Nike Dunks, Nike Blazers and Adidas Stan Smiths are all popular sneakers. The issue with these shoes is that they have a thin sole so they won’t make you any taller.

By choosing a pair of shoes with a thick sole, you can easily gain an extra 2-3 inches which will physically make you taller.

An alternative to wearing a pair of sneakers or running shoes is to try wearing Chelsea boots. Not only are Chelsea boots extremely stylish, but they will also give a few extra inches of height.

Best Shoes for Short Guys:

Nike Air Max
Adidas Ultraboost
Chelsea Boots
Adidas Yeezy 350 Boost
On Cloudnova
Alexander Mcqueen Sprint Runner

3. Wear the Same Color Shoes as Your Pants

A monochrome look is always elongating. However, an advanced tip for looking taller as a guy, is wearing the same color shoe as your pant.

Your legs will look longer and you will appear taller when there is no visual stop point between your foot, ankle and leg.

This is a hidden gem that many short guys will actually use. If you’ve never tried this look out before, consider giving it a chance because it actually works well.

4. Wear Vertical Strips and Avoid Horizontal Stripes

Wearing vertical stripes will guide the eye up and down instead of sideways. Whereas if you wear horizontal stripes it will guide the eyes sideways, which will make you look wider and shorter.

Vertical stripes are in style right now and they’re a great way to elevate your wardrobe. A shirt or pants with vertical stripes are a great way to make yourself look taller, more lean and stylish.

Right now, vertical stripped button-up shirts are a very popular look for summer outfits. If you like the shirt I’m wearing above, you can find it on SHEIN.

5. Wear Shorter Jackets

A shorter jacket that stops at your waist, will look good on your upper body. However, the biggest benefit of wearing a short jacket as a shorter guy, is that your legs will look longer.

When your legs look longer, you will appear taller. This is a great trick of the eye, for photos, videos and in real life.

These days, short jackets are in style for men. If you’re looking for a short jacket, you can find nice ones at ZARA, Uniqlo and H&M.

6. Have a Higher Volume Hairstyle

If you’re a shorter man with a good head of hair, consider having a higher volume hairstyle.

Not only will having a higher volume hairstyle get you tons of compliments, but it will also make you look taller. By having a high volume hairstyle, you can easily add 1-2 inches in height.

Whereas if you have a buzzcut or a shorter hairstyle, you’re not doing yourself any favours when it comes to adding height. Obviously, this comes down to preference, but I’ve always used my hair as a way to add some height.

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7. Avoid Wearing Longer Shorts

Your shorts don’t have to be short shorts, but they should definitely be cut above your knee. At the very least wear 7 inch shorts and if you prefer a shorter look, choose a 5 inch short.

If you have a short stature, wearing shorts that surpass your knees will make you look smaller. Whereas when you wear shorter shorts, it will create the illusion that you have longer legs.

Brands like Chubbies, New Balance, Lululemon and Fabletics have a great selection of short shorts.

8. Use Adjustable Silicone Insoles

Using Adjustable Silicone Insoles is a hack that many shorter men have began using. The adjustable insoles fit inside your shoe comfortably and they can increase your height by nearly an inch and a half.

If you’re looking for a way to physically become taller, the adjustable silicone insoles are the best option. They’re easy to put in, they’re adjustable and they actually work really well.

If you want Adjustable Silicone Insoles, you can find them here: Adjustable Silicone Insoles (see price & reviews on Amazon)

9. Wear Hats

A good trick that shorter men don’t use enough is wearing hats. Wearing a hat is a quick and easy way to gain between 1 and 2 inches in height.

Not only are hats very stylish, but they are also super practical. Wearing a hat is a great way to protect our heads against weather conditions.

There are a few different styles of hats that look great on men. Personally, I like the look of a baseball cap. However, there are many different styles of hats that look more fashionable and will make you look taller.

Styles of Hats for Shorter Men:

Baseball Cap
Fedora
Panama Hat
Newsboy
Bowler

10. Fix Your Posture and Have a Workout Routine

Nowadays, many of us spend a ton of time behind a computer screen or on our phone. What we don’t realize is that this is really bad for our posture.

Having poor posture will make you look shorter, smaller and weaker. Fixing your posture will not only make you feel better physically, but it will make you look bigger.

Remember to stand up straight, with your shoulders back and your head level in line with your body. If you’re someone that struggles with posture, the best thing you can do is try to remember to stand up straight.

Since most of us short guys have a smaller body type, it’s important to have a workout routine. Having a basic workout routine will make your body look more toned and stronger.

Here’s a basic workout routine you can do at home:

50 push-ups
50 sit-ups
25 squats
1 minute plank
1 minute wall sit

11. Don’t Wear Longer Shirts

Avoid wearing long or boxy shirts at all costs, as these shirts will always make you look shorter. The length of your shirt should ideally be no longer than mid fly on your pants.

Ideally, you want a shirt that fits approximately 2 inches below your waist line. Additionally, some things to look out for are the way the shirt fits around your arms, chest and shoulders.

Having proper fitting t-shirts will improve your style and can be a serious game changer when it comes to creating the illusion of height.

12. Avoid High Top Sneakers

A big mistake that many short men will make is wearing high top sneakers. The latest trends in the sneaker market are high top shoes like Air Jordan 1s, high top Converse and the Nike Blazer Mid 77.

The issue with shorter guys wearing high top sneakers is that they will make you look less tall. Since high top shoes fit above the ankles, they will shorten your leg length.

Instead of wearing high top sneakers, try wearing a low top shoe. Low top shoes are equally as stylish, easier to put on and they won’t make you look shorter.

13. Tuck in Your Shirt

Tucking in your shirt is a good idea because when you tuck in your shirt, it will elevate your waistline.

One of the big things that differentiates a tall guy from a short guy is leg length. Tucking in your shirt will make it appear as if your legs are longer than they really are, which will make you look taller.

If you plan on tucking in your shirt, either don’t wear a belt or don’t wear a belt that stands out. If you wear a belt that stands out, it will split up the outfit which will ruin the illusion you were creating by tucking in your pants.

14. Wear Statement Pieces on Your Upper Body

Wearing statement pieces is a great way to level up your outfit and look your best. If you plan on adding statement pieces to your silhouette, it’s important to wear them on your upper body.

Statement pieces like a scarf or hat guides the eye upwards creating an illusion of height. Whereas if you have a flashy belt or a fanny pack, it will guide people’s eyes to your lower body and highlight your height.

Statement Pieces for Short Men:

Hat
Scarf
Chain
Sunglasses

15. Monochromatic or Low Contrast Outfits

One of the best ways to lengthen your silhouette is by dressing monochromatically. Wearing the same colors pants and shirt will create the illusion that you are taller than you are.

However if you don’t always want to be dressed in monochromatic color schemes, you can dress in low contrast outfits and it will look just as good and even more stylish.

A big mistake short guys make is wearing black pants with a white t-shirt. This creates heavy contrast, which will split your body in half and make you look shorter.

Instead, wear black pants with a great t-shirt as there will be less contrast and you will look taller. A really nice look, especially during the summer or on vacation, is wearing a white shirt with beige pants.

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Final Thoughts on How to Look Taller For Short Guys

If you’re on the shorter side, there are plenty of solutions to make you look taller. Taking the time to add some clothing to your wardrobe and following some of my style tips, will make you look taller and feel more confident.

As a guy with a smaller frame, I do my best to dress in clothing that will make me appear taller and more broad. Fixing my posture, adding some clothing to my wardrobe and having the right shoes has done wonders for me.

In this post, I shared 15 tips and tricks for short guys to look taller in real life and in photos.

What’s your favorite tip to look taller? Please let me know in the comments below.

15 Ways to Look Taller for Short Guys – Tips & Tricks