Dressing To Proportion

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  Jun 10, 2009 4:28 AM GMT

  Hey guys!
  
  I have a problem which will hopefully go away as I (... hopefully...) begin to bulk up... I'm relatively tall and skinny. I also have very long legs, and in general I can look awkward because my body is so long and thin.
  
  Does anyone have any suggestions for how I can dress to minimize the problem and appear more proportionate?
  
  I find that wearing a shirt with at least 3/4th or full-length sleeves helps put my upper body in proportion, and pants seem to be preferable to shorts. It also helps if I don't wear anything either too baggy or too form fitting... someone suggested wearing larger t-shirts, but I think that just makes me look even scrawnier.
  
  Any tips?

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• Bunjamon
  
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  Jun 10, 2009 12:39 PM GMT

  Those are the most antiquated tips I've ever heard. Wear lots of plaids? Puh-lease!
  
  I am the DEFINITION of tall and skinny (well, less skinny now ), and I think the rule of thumb should just be wear what you like. If you're clothes aren't slim-fitting, they'll make it look like you've got a little more body swimming around them. The importance of finding clothes that fit, like buying tall sizes, is really important. If you're lanky AND you can see the tops of your wrists and ankles, it looks pretty silly.

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• Timbales
  
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  Jun 10, 2009 12:52 PM GMT

  I think clothing that fits well will make any man look his best. Being tall and slender, you can probably get away with more layers and heavier materials when the weather permits. I'd steer clear of those really skinny jeans, though. A straight leg is probably going to be a better look.
  
  I wish I was tall and slender.

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• MSUBioNerd
  
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  Jun 10, 2009 1:47 PM GMT

  From my personal experience: clothes that fit, even if they're smaller sizes than you would like, look far better on skinny guys than do clothes that are too large.
  
  I spent about 6 years being roughly 6 foot tall and 135 pounds. I kept wearing size "large" t shirt, thinking that I was too tall for smaller sizes. The extra material just further emphasized how skinny I was, rather than letting me hide it. I eventually started wearing smaller sizes, and have realized that no one reacts to the size label on the inside of the shirt; they react to the fact that it fits. Even after adding 20 pounds, I'm a small in most brands in the US; every once in a while I'm a medium in something that's much more trendy. The same general thing works in more formal clothing too; wear a button down shirt that's labeled as "modern fit" (cut to be much slimmer in the waist than a standard dress shirt of the given neck/sleeve dimension) and you won't have a lot of excess fabric flaring outward at the waist drawing attention to just how narrow yours is. In general, people are going to know you're thin, but the more you try to hide it with loose clothing, the more blatantly obvious it becomes.

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  Jun 10, 2009 1:56 PM GMT

  A lot of good advice here.
  
  remember, it does take time to develop a style. In general, avoid clothes that are too baggy, it just looks ill-fitting, and clothes that are too tight will just exaggerate your lankiness. The dressing room mirror can be your friend. Once you find the correct fitting pants/shorts/shirt make a note of the style that work. And note what doesn't work, after a while, you'll be able to pick the right fitting clothes easier.
  
  Ask a friend to come shopping with you, and let them be brutally honest.

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• Timbales
  
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  Jun 10, 2009 1:59 PM GMT

  Cargo pants, or pants with a thigh pocket, could be a good option for you if they aren't too baggy. The added detail on thighs could make them look bigger.

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• EricLA
  
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  Jun 10, 2009 6:19 PM GMT

  I'll just address pants. As we enter summer, you do want to avoid shorts that end above the knee, if possible. Shorts that end below the knee will help make you appear more compact.
  
  For long pants, you should get straight-leg, flat-front pants. No pleated pants.

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  Jun 10, 2009 6:30 PM GMT

  Since you're tall and skinny, you want to give the illusion of breadth. The easiest way to do that is to avoid the monotone look--same color on top/bottom--by mixing colors. To elongate your upper torso, go for pants that ride low; this will help to "cut" the length of your legs.
  
  Layers are your best friend. This will help you bulk up your upper torso. Hoodies, tanks, t-shirts, button-down shirts, and vests can be combined together quite artfully. You'll come off looking stylish and more well-proportioned.
  
  For shorts, try baggy cargo shorts, which usually come with drawstrings. You can wear them on your hips, while wearing your shirt untucked. This will elongate your upper torso and shorten your lower torso.
  
  These are just things I think might work. I don't have many ideas, as I've never considered this issue.
  
  Good luck! Let's know how things turn out.

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  Jun 10, 2009 8:28 PM GMT

  Thank you all so much for the advice thus far .

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