How to Dress Up a T-Shirt: Fashion for Short Men (2024)

When it comes to men’s style, knowing how to choose and wear a t-shirt for short men can be a challenge. Bunching, riding up, stretching in the wrong places — these are just a few of the issues you face. And then when you add needing to coordinate with other elements to create a pull-together look that feels effortless and exudes confidence, the challenge just gets harder.
But it doesn’t have to be.

Here are a few tips for not only finding the right t-shirt, but how to pair it with the right pieces to get the look you want effortlessly after you do.

Finding the right t-shirt fit for your body

How to Dress Up a T-Shirt: Fashion for Short Men (1)

Dressing up a t-shirt starts by having the right pieces in your wardrobe to being with. Our t-shirts for short men are designed from the ground up to combat many of the fit issues faced by those below height the fashion industry considers “average”. Shopping at stores that stock clothes with you in mind is a great first start, but there are a few other things to keep in mind to ensure you get a perfect fit for your body, not just someone similar to you.

Shoulders. This is an important detail to get right from the start. The t-shirt’s shoulders should sit at the end of your collarbone and the beginning of your arm. If your t-shirt shoulders hang over this point, it looks sloppy and oversized. On the other hand, if your shoulders are broader than the t-shirt’s, it’ll look a size too small.

Arms. Consider both the length and the width — the shirt should end around the middle of your arm, between the shoulder and elbow, and you want it to lie against your bicep without any of those baggy looking pirate sleeves, while still being comfortable and not constricting movement.

Body. The portion of the t-shirt that covers the chest, stomach, and hips make up the final elements to pay attention to. It should sit close to the body, without being too tight, and it should end right around the middle part of your pant’s fly, at the longest. There should be no bunching at the bottom.

Go beyond basic when shopping for men's t-shirts

It’s true, t-shirts are considered a must-have staple for any men’s style, but that doesn’t mean they have to be basic or boring. Here are a few options to consider adding to your wardrobe, so you’ll always know you have a great fitting piece to grab on the go.

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The Heather Grey Long Sleeve Pocket Tee. This is a great long-sleeve option, with sleeves that fall right at the end of the wrist, and length that hits just below the top of your hips. It is a soft cotton blend designed for casual wear that will look great on its own or paired with other elements.

Charcoal Staple Crew Neck Tee and the White Staple Crew Neck Tee. This is the short-sleeve version of the “staple” t-shirt, and one that will fast become your go-to piece when it comes to getting dressed for any occasion. Worn alone as a casual shirt or paired with other pieces for a more up-scale look, this shirt will be in style year-round.

Heather Storm Blue V-Neck Tee. Don’t be afraid to break out of the crew neck box, or to wear colors other than white, charcoal, or black. The reality is that t-shirts come in a wide range of colors, with elements that can be swapped out for different occasions or preferences. Don’t be afraid to try something new — it might just become your new favorite.

What to wear with a t-shirt

To dress up a t-shirt, it all comes down to what you pair it with. Now that you have a few basics that fit well and look great, it’s time to go to the next step.

First, consider which pant type and style the occasion calls for — is it casual and warm, allowing you to wear shorts? Is it casual, but shorts aren’t appropriate? Then consider a great pair of jeans — the lighter the wash, the more casual it is considered, so choose your color and style accordingly. If the occasion calls for more of a business casual approach, pair your t-shirt with chinos.

You can also pair your t-shirt with a sweater or polo, making it more of a foundational piece than the star of the show. A sweater is a great in-between option — it is more dressed up than the t-shirt alone, but more casual than a buttoned-up dress shirt, for example. That said, a great polo or buttoned-up shirt goes a long way — alone, it is a great business casual piece, or you can wear a jacket over it to accessorize even further.

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When it comes to t-shirts for short men there is a lot of variety and many ways to wear them. The Ash & Erie collection of t-shirts for short men is a great place to start, whether you’ve already got a few pieces designed with short men in mind, or you’re fed up with always feeling like you can’t find a perfect fit. And with Try Before You Buy, you can return anything that doesn’t live up to your expectations — so you can try different colors and styles to find the perfect t-shirt for your lifestyle.

The Ash & Erie T-Shirt Collection

Thoughtfully crafted t-shirts for short men

Super-soft breathable cotton t-shirts that you won’t want to take off.

How to Dress Up a T-Shirt: Fashion for Short Men (2024)

FAQs

How to style when you are short men? ›

Here are 12 practical style tips for shorter men that will help you look dapper and visually elongate your silhouette.
  1. Embrace Vertical Stripes. ...
  2. Opt for High-Waisted Trousers. ...
  3. Monochromatic Magic. ...
  4. Keep It Streamlined. ...
  5. Mind the Details. ...
  6. Leverage Layers. ...
  7. Harness Accessory Proportions. ...
  8. Break the Monotony with Textures.

What colors look good on short men? ›

Light shades of grey, cream and white are excellent choices to soften your look. And of course, the vertical stripes are a short man's best friend.

How to wear an oversized T-shirt for short guys? ›

Oversized shirts and t-shirts will make your torso longer and wide than your legs and it creates a shorter height illusion. keep in mind one thing is, your top should not go past your knees. Furthermore, overly long sleeves block the appearance of the hands, making them appear competitively short.

How can a short guy be attractive? ›

How can a short guy look attractive? A short guy can look attractive by wearing well-fitted clothes, opting for vertical lines, using monochromatic colors, and carrying himself with confidence.

How to dress as a 5'7" guy? ›

9 Style Tips for Shorter Guys
  1. Slim Fit is Flattering. ...
  2. Ditch the Belt. ...
  3. Rounded, Slim-Profile Shoes. ...
  4. Skip the Trouser Cuffs. ...
  5. Shorter Jacket Length, Sleeve Length & Inseam. ...
  6. Medium and Narrow Lapels are Best. ...
  7. Modern Collar Styles. ...
  8. Medium or High Rise Trousers.

Is 5 feet 5 inches short for a man? ›

A height of 5 feet 5 inches (165 centimeters) for an adult male falls within the average height range in many parts of the world. While it may be considered slightly shorter than the average height in some regions, it is by no means extremely short or significantly below average.

Does long hair look good on short guys? ›

Some people just naturally won't like longer hair on any guy, regardless of their height. You don't need to be a specific height as a guy to wear long hair if you like the look. In today's world, hair is strongly tied to expressing individuality and uniqueness.

What color shirt makes you look taller? ›

Reduce the contrast

In this case, dark colours work best as they recede into the body, making you look leaner and taller, rather than emphasising the change in clothing. Of course, black on black is the best example, however other dark colours such as navy, grey, dark brown or deep green work just as well.

Should short guys wear suits? ›

When it comes to dressing the shorter body type, suits can be one of the most flattering garments a man can wear. It can also make you look like a child dressing up in your Dad's clothes! The key is finding a suit that fits and flatters your build.

Which hairstyle is best for short guys? ›

Hairstyles with the volume on top of the head can make a man look taller. A short, textured crop or a spiky style with height on top can give the illusion of added height. Avoid flat or slicked-back hairstyles, as they can make the head appear smaller and the body seem shorter.

Should short guys wear hats? ›

The small-statured man is often a big fellow mentally, and would like his importance to be visible. First, the short man should ALWAYS WEAR A HAT WHEN OUTDOORS. Since he takes on added stature every time he puts on the right hat, it's silly for this type of man to go hatless.

Should short people wear oversized t-shirt? ›

Avoid Oversized Clothes

Shorter men should avoid oversized clothing so they could maintain a well-proportioned and polished appearance. Oversized clothing tends to overwhelm a smaller frame, creating a sloppy and unkempt appearance.

What clothes make short guys look taller? ›

6 Ways Shorter Men Can Dress to Look Taller
  • WEAR FITTED CLOTHES. ...
  • ADD ACCESSORIES POSITIONED HIGH-UP ON THE BODY. ...
  • DITCH THE BELTS, LONG HAIR, AND WAISTCOATS (VESTS) ...
  • KEEP THE WAIST BUTTON (BUTTON STANCE) ON YOUR COAT POSITIONED ABOVE THE NAVEL. ...
  • WEAR SHORTER JACKETS, AND HAVE NO BREAK ON THE PANT LEGS.
May 1, 2015

What is the height of a short guy? ›

For guys: Very short: below 5′3″ or 160 cm.

Do short guys age slower? ›

Research shows short people might live longer than their taller peers, and the reasons for that may surprise you. On average, shorter people may live an average of two to five years longer than tall people. 12 Researchers attribute this to several factors, including lower disease risk and body size composition.

Is 5'8" short for a guy? ›

No, 5'8” is about average for men.

The average height for adult men is actually 69 inches (180 cm), which translates to 5'9”. So, at 5'8”, you're taller than about 90% of women and about 45% of men. In other words, you're like most guys. You're not short.

What height is considered short for a man? ›

In terms of average height, individuals who fall below the national average height for their gender and age group are generally considered short. For example, in the United States, the average adult male height is around 5'9" (175 cm), so anyone who is significantly below this height would be considered short.

How to deal with being a short guy? ›

Things You Should Know

Think about what you admire in other people: is it their height? It's probably not—and they probably aren't too worried about your height, either. Boost your self-image by dressing for a lengthening effect: get clothes tailored to your body, if you can, and wear clothes with vertical patterns.

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