Sure, tall men might be good at reaching the top shelf or making that slam dunk, but when it comes to style those with plenty of height to spare face a different set of fashion challenges than others. Pants that are too short, shirts that are too tight and shoes that are too small make dressing a hassle for those over the six-foot mark.
Rest assured, however, that tall men are not doomed to be out-of-date and out-of-style; vertically gifted men, too, can dress as spiffy as their shorter, more fashionable brethren.
And what better place to turn to for fashion tips for tall men than the NBA? Former NBA players and uber-tall fashion experts Jalen Rose and Allan Houston, gave us the lowdown on how to dress your bigger build.
Read on for their fashion tips for tall men.
What are the biggest fashion challenges facing tall men?
Allan: If there are clothes you like, you probably wont be able to get it in most places because tall men’s bodies are different. Most of the stuff you see are for men who are a little bit shorter. Even if you’re not athletically built, the height issue makes the difference. It’s easier for shorter men who are even a little wider to find clothes and make them work than it is for tall men.Jalen: A lot of the time tall men can’t buy stuff off the rack because it doesn’t fit right; it may be too big in the waist or too big in the leg or too small in the ankles. You can’t get the same kind of custom fit as someone who’s “normal” sized. It becomes challenging, but tall guys just have to take a little more time and really take their look seriously. When you’re a tall man, you can’t just grab something and throw it on and have it work -- you have to put thought and effort into it.
The No. 1 fashion rule is about having confidence in your look. You should look in the mirror and accept, like and appreciate what you see. Yes, there are tips you should follow, but for the most part fashion is about your confidence and look. Be the clothes, don’t let the clothes be you.
Should tall men have their clothing custom-made?
Jalen: Ideally, everyone would love to have the opportunity to have tailor-made clothes, but if you can’t do that, the cleaners work just as well, you just have to understand your size.Allan: There are big and tall stores… but it depends on what you want. Like for me, I’m not all about wearing suits; I like to wear jeans, sweaters and T-shirts, so when you start getting into the different elements of style, clothes gets a little harder to find, and so getting things custom-made becomes one of your only options.
What are the common fashion mistakes tall men make?
Jalen: A lot of the time, tall men might not find things in their size, so they might wear pants or shirts that are too big, or even a hat that’s too big. If you’re tall, you’re trying to compensate for the fact that your pants [for example] don’t fit well in the waist, so you overcompensate with the size.Allan: There’s just not a lot of stuff out there for tall guys. When you’re tall, you most likely have a build that’s long and lanky, but most clothes aren’t built for that [body type] so most guys wear pants and suits that are too big or too small for their body. This is why you have to get your clothes tailored or custom-made.
Should tall men stay away from things like bright colors and vertical stripes?
Jalen: You can dress for the season; color is universal and it all depends on how you pull it off with the rest of your look. If you’re a tall guy, I don’t think the way you dress can be confined, but there are subtle ways to wear all the looks. There are ways to wear colors
Allan: I don’t believe in myths like that. I mean, I wouldn’t wear a bright green shirt with orange pants, but if you have a general idea of what works for you and you have a certain style, that shows me more than what you have on. It shows how you put it together and how you feel in it. That’s really what people see: Someone with confidence in what they’re wearing and how they’re wearing it.
Use common sense when you get dressed. Some men just want to go out there and make a big, bold statement, but if you’re tall you don’t have to do that.
What advice should tall men follow when suit-shopping?
Allan: Don’t be afraid to let the suit really fit your body. Embrace your body type. And I’m picky with ties, so don’t let the suit do all the work, let the tie do more of the work.Jalen: My favorite quote is by Jay-Z: “So long and lanky, my suit it should thank me.” Your look is all about how you feel, so when you’re shopping, [what you choose] has to be you. Everybody has their own style, some guys like to wear a three-piece suit with a blazer, and some guys might like to wear a “corporate thug look” where you have on your gym shoes with your outfit -- there are many different ways to dress it up and down.
What are the best shoe styles for men with big feet?
Jalen: For dressy gym shoes, you can get into the Louis or the Guccis; for the dress shoes, you can go the gator route; but for everyday shoes, there are tons of brands you can rock, and that’s what makes your look so fly. Having big feet doesn’t tell you what type of shoes you should wear. There are men who like to wear cowboy boots, dress shoes… It all depends on your outfit.Allan: I don’t like the big, floppy types of shoes, but I think that it’s really a preference thing. It really comes down to being comfortable and to not wearing shoes that make your feet look a lot bigger than they are.
Who are some designers that cater to tall men?
Allan: I used get stuff from Narciso Rodriguez, John Varvatos, Ralph Lauren… You can get a nice pair of jeans from a place called Jean Shop in New York, but as far as designers go, it’s really tough because it’s not really available.Kevin Willis (who used to play for the Atlanta Hawks) has a line that caters to tall men. He has some jeans that a lot of athletes wear, and they’re as stylish as they’re going to get and they cater to our [tall] body types.
Who are the most stylish tall men?
Allan: LeBron James does a good job… Cuttino Mobley, Kevin Willis…Jalen: Jalen Rose is a real good dresser! Keyshawn Johnson is a real good dresser, so are Michael Smith and Chris Carter.
Allan Houston retired from the NBA in 2005 after playing with the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks. This two-time NBA All-Star and fashion connoisseur stands at 6’6”.
Jalen Rose’s NBA career spanned from 1994-2007, during which time he played for the Chicago Bulls, the New York Knicks and the Phoenix Suns, among others. Jalen was also voted as the NBA’s Best Dressed and is currently the fashion editor at HOOP Magazine. He stands at 6’8”.
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