Dress for Your Body

You don't need to have the physique of a male model to look good in your clothes. Whether you're short or tall, lanky or stocky, the key to looking your best—without having to hit to the gym—is dressing for your body type.

	Wear	Avoid
Big & Tall Ex. Julius Peppers (6' 7", 287 lbs)	Pants with cuffs to break up the long inseam. A dark, navy blue suit or jacket with a light colored shirt and pocket square—this brings the focus to your chest.	Anything with horizontal lines or bold patterns, which accentuate your girth. Narrow ties and thin lapels, which can throw off your body's proportion.
Long & Lean Ex. John Krasinski (6' 3", 190 lbs)	Anything with horizontal lines to help you look broader. Lighter colors visually add width to a narrow frame. A belt cuts across the body to play down your height.	Anything with vertical lines, which only make you look taller. Tight suits and jackets that advertise your thin limbs. Or slim-toed shoes, which can make feet look big and long.
Short & Stocky Ex. Jack Black (5' 6", 193 lbs)	Single-button suits or jackets that have a low-button stance to make the torso look longer. Dark, V-neck sweaters do the same. Flat-front pants with little to no break.	Anything with horizontal stripes or busy plaids, which break up the body's vertical lines. Spread collars, which widen the face. Untucked shirts, which look sloppy and make your waist look bigger.
Short & Trim Ex. Justin Bieber (5' 7", 130 lbs)	Two-button suit jackets with a low-button stance. Thicker fabrics (like corduroy) or bolder patterns (like glen plaid or pinstripes) which offer the illusion of heft. Spread collar shirts, dark, narrow ties and slim shoes.	Anything baggy or loose, which only draws attention to your size. If you can get away without wearing a belt, do it. The more pared down your clothes, the taller you look.

Wear

Avoid

Big & Tall

Ex. Julius Peppers
(6' 7", 287 lbs)

Pants with cuffs to break up the long inseam. A dark, navy blue suit or jacket with a light colored shirt and pocket square—this brings the focus to your chest.

Anything with horizontal lines or bold patterns, which accentuate your girth. Narrow ties and thin lapels, which can throw off your body's proportion.

Long & Lean

Ex. John Krasinski
(6' 3", 190 lbs)

Anything with horizontal lines to help you look broader. Lighter colors visually add width to a narrow frame. A belt cuts across the body to play down your height.

Anything with vertical lines, which only make you look taller. Tight suits and jackets that advertise your thin limbs. Or slim-toed shoes, which can make feet look big and long.

Short & Stocky

Ex. Jack Black
(5' 6", 193 lbs)

Single-button suits or jackets that have a low-button stance to make the torso look longer. Dark, V-neck sweaters do the same. Flat-front pants with little to no break.

Anything with horizontal stripes or busy plaids, which break up the body's vertical lines. Spread collars, which widen the face. Untucked shirts, which look sloppy and make your waist look bigger.

Short & Trim

Ex. Justin Bieber
(5' 7", 130 lbs)

Two-button suit jackets with a low-button stance. Thicker fabrics (like corduroy) or bolder patterns (like glen plaid or pinstripes) which offer the illusion of heft. Spread collar shirts, dark, narrow ties and slim shoes.

Anything baggy or loose, which only draws attention to your size. If you can get away without wearing a belt, do it. The more pared down your clothes, the taller you look.

Dress for Your Body

Wear

Avoid

Big & Tall

Ex. Julius Peppers(6' 7", 287 lbs)

Long & Lean

Ex. John Krasinski(6' 3", 190 lbs)

Short & Stocky

Ex. Jack Black(5' 6", 193 lbs)

Short & Trim

Ex. Justin Bieber(5' 7", 130 lbs)

Talk to Your Tailor

Ex. Julius Peppers
(6' 7", 287 lbs)

Ex. John Krasinski
(6' 3", 190 lbs)

Ex. Jack Black
(5' 6", 193 lbs)

Ex. Justin Bieber
(5' 7", 130 lbs)