Special Sizes for Men's Clothing

From Shaq to Webster, men come in all shapes and sizes--that makes the world a wonderful place.  While you may be under 5' or over 6' 5" and have all the confidence in the world, you'll still need to find a great pair of jeans  to fit your special size requirements.  Many designers have expanded their size range to include suits,  shirts  and coats  that will fit tall, large and short men.  We've put together a list of places to begin your search.

Off the Charts

Tall Sizes

If you are above 6'3" you may get frustrated by the standard clothing offerings.  Online retailers can be an excellent source for suits, work casual and weekend clothing for the tall guy.  Some brands offering sizes up to a 4XTall include:

If you're tall and thin visit Height Side for tips for filling the holes in your closet.

  • Don't be afraid to wear pleats.
  • Layer clothing to keep warm and add some mass to your frame.

Big Men

If your chest is larger than a 46" you probably have troubles in average stores.  Have no fear, many retailers cater to big and athletic cuts.  Rather than starve yourself on a diet, there are other ways to look thin.

Ask Men offers the following advice if you want to look thinner:

  • Clothes must fit, loose clothes will make you look larger while too tight clothes make you look like a stuffed sausage.
  • Vertical lines (think a pinstripes suit) will elongate your look and make you look taller and thinner.
  • They say v-necks help disguise double chins.
  • Make sure your belly doesn't flop over your pants--a definite fashion don't.

Shorter than 5'8"

Ask Men offers a complete page of fashion advice for guys of below average height. Did you know short hair works better for smaller men?  There's a entire page of these tidbits just waiting for you and guys like Tom Cruise.

All Experts gave the following advice:

  • Avoid horizontal stripes, opt for vertical stripes.
  • Wear flat-front trousers instead of pleated.
  • Monochromatic looks work best for short guys.  Dont' wear a light shirt with dark trousers if you want to look taller. 

Additional Picks for Special Sizes

  • Davis Big and Tall: Since 1902 this company has been outfitting above average sized men. They offer everything from corporate casual clothes to hunting gear.
  • Big Men: has an entire site devoted to getting your dressed and looking sharp.
  • Eddie Bauer: Short, tall, XXXXL--there are all available. A reliable source for classic clothing. Offerings are limited to 60" chest and 54" waist.
  • Jay Stevens: Name brands like Cutter & Buck, Dockers and Levi's. Offers a good selection of swimwear, robes and other items that tend to be hard to locate in large sizes.
  • JC Penny: They divide their offerings into Regular Tall, Extra Tall and Big and Tall.
  • Rochester Big & Tall: carries brands like Zegna, Burberry and Ralph Lauren in sizes up to 5X.
  • Shortmanbrowns.com: Big style for small guys.
  • Shortsizes.com: Wide selection.

More Info

  • Supersize World offers clothing and sports gear for folks "living large."
  • The National Association for Fat Acceptance has a website devoted to bringing the fat community together to defeat size discrimination.
  • Noubikko suggests ways to "camouflage" your body to look either taller or thinner or to add bulk to a slight frame.
  • For fashion advice and to find other guys in your height range check out Short Persons Support. The site offers essays, links to retailers, news articles and more.

External Links

  • Indobase offers fashion tips for different body types.
  • Are you over 40 and fashion challenged? About.com offers you help.
  • MSNBC has tips for dressing a short and stylish man.