Short Guys Need Short Shirts
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In this week’sSecret Strategist, Max Berlinger shared his recommendations for clothing for shorter men, and we asked him to tell us more about where he gets his shirts.
At just shy of five feet eight inches, I wouldn’t consider myself short, per se, but I’m certainly never mistaken for an NBA player. And I’m most definitely not “sample size” — the lanky proportions that act as an industry standard for clothing designers to fit onto “real” people. When I am shopping for, say, a T-shirt, it helps me not one bit to see the measurements of the model pictured on a website coming in at a respectable six-one or even taller. From down here, I just assume that shirt will look like a dress.
As a style writer, I am somewhat particular about how my clothes fit. For T-shirts, my ideal is that the hem ends right at the hip or, maybe, an inch or two longer. It aligns with the golden rule of men’s dressing — that your body looks best when visually divided into thirds: one-third for the top portion and the remaining two-thirds for your pants. Finding a shirt that is in accordance with this can be difficult to find off the rack. I have my methods — shopping for vintage, checking measurements where available, scoping out women’s tees (which tend to be a bit more curtailed in size). I’m also not alone — last year, forGQ,Ireportedon the men’s influencers who were taking shears and lopping off a few inches from their tees to achieve a perfect fit.
Retailers are starting to wake up to this, thankfully. Some brands are starting to offer shorter versions of their classic T-shirts or “boxy” fits. Much like pants with varying inseams for people of different heights, it’s good to see brands understanding that there’s no one-size-fits-all in shirting, and that options will likely yield profits. Here are a few shirts I’ve seen on the market that are worth trying if you are, indeed, a short king.
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Cut with a slimmer fit in the body and sleeves, this one is great for shorter guys who hit the gym. Bonus points for the wide array of colors on offer. It even comes in a “tall” fit for less vertically challenged guys who still want to show a little waistband.
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Heavier fabric, longer sleeves, wider cut. I have one, and it’s definitely a more laid-back, relaxed vibe. Oversize, just short. It’s very “Instagram #FitPic bro.”
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This is a beloved cult brand that makes a shirt featured in theStrategist Menswear 100. The slightly condensed body is balanced by dropped shoulders and a wider fit than the label’s core styles. The real draw, as always, is the fabric. Here, it’s an airy yet sturdy mix of hemp and two types of cotton. Undeniably buttery smooth, but not flimsy.
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Designed to hit just above the hips, and crafted from a weightier cotton weave, this shirt comes in over a dozen colors and is great for wearing under an open button-up or on its own in more casual scenarios. It’s a good in-between from the looser Abercrombie & Fitch style and the slimmer Urban Outfitters one, below. Bonus: It comes in along-sleeve version.
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In menswear, an inch can make a big difference, and so the 1 ½ inch that the crew at Buck Mason lopped off its tees for the “short classic” might just make or break the fit for guys looking for something just slightly cropped (no midriffs here). It’s made in the U.S.
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My personal favorite. According to Urban Outfitters, a medium measures 22 inches across and 25 inches long, and I’ve found the sleeves and shoulders cut slim. I’ll also say it’s pretty cropped — it just grazes my waist and sometimes flashes a little skin. Sexy! Sadly, it’s hit or miss with availability in classic white (which is actually an off-white) and heather gray, but worth checking periodically for restocks.
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The washed cotton lends this a very lived-in, casual look and a breathable feel. It’s giving summer weekend! It’s giving sweltering day! The stripes are a nice change-up from solid colors … a slight retro vibe, wouldn’t you say? It is technically a women’s tee, which is fine. T-shirts don’t have a gender! I would just caution that if you do dip into the women’s section, it’s nice to try shirts on if possible or, at very least, be mindful of sleeves, as they tend to be shorter and can look a little shrunken on men.
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Here’s a fun exercise for you crafty types. Buy arotary cutterand make your own! My advice would be to scour the plethora of secondhand sites out there for good shirts — Depop, Poshmark, eBay, Grailed, you name it — and buy one and make your own. Maybe practice on a crappy one to get your sea legs. Also, if you have a shirt that has the perfect proportion, use it as a guide — I have one or two that I’ll lay down on a new shirt to gauge where I want to cut. Rotary cutters are surprisingly sharp — just press gently, run it across, and voilà! A new shirt!
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The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
