Fashion for Short Men: How to Wear Denim
Denim. Depending on your fashion know-how, that word can evoke comfort and relaxation, or it can mean sloppy and ill-fitting. But the reality is that denim, especially for short men, is a great material that can be used in a number of ways. It’s all about how you wear it, and what you pair it with.
A Brief History of Denim
Denim fabric originated in France, and the word is actually a contraction of the French phrase “serge de Nîmes.” It came to the United States in the mid 19th century, gaining popularity when a tailor in Nevada used the fabric to make a pair of rivet-reinforced pants. The pants proved to be so popular that the demand outpaced his ability to produce them so the tailor, named Jacob Davis, moved his production to the dry goods facilities of the manufacturer that had been supplying him with the fabric: Levi Strauss & Co.
Today, roughly half of all denim material is produced in Asia, and denim is a market valued at more than $2 billion globally. Denim is still used to produce pants, but the variety has changed from its humble beginnings and the material is now used to produce far more than just pants.
In fact, denim is used in everything from jackets, to shirts, to suits, to sneakers, to face masks, and yes, it continues to be one of the most popular choices for pants. It also comes in an increasingly wide number of colors and washes, which can all impact how casual or formal the finished garment can feel. Washes range from raw denim that hasn’t been treated with anything all the way through dark or black washes.
How to Wear Denim Jeans
Now that you know how versatile denim fabric can be, it begs the question: how do you wear denim and still look and feel stylish? Let’s tackle the single most popular choice first: denim jeans.
The first key point to keep in mind, especially for short men, is the fit. In general, you want a fit that is slim — but not skinny. You want to find a pair of denim jeans that strikes the balance between a great fit that accentuates the body, and overall comfort. The jeans should follow the contour of your legs without feeling like a second skin, and end sitting right on top of your foot. They shouldn’t be so short that it looks like you’re wearing some new kind of long shorts, but they also shouldn’t be so long that they appear to be swallowing your feet whole. For short men in particular, you want to avoid denim jeans that require you to roll the cuffs, or that end up with a lot of material bunched at the bottom. This will not only make you seem even shorter than you actually are, but it will also come across as messy or ill-fitting, instead of the fashionable, well-put together man you are.
In general, a lighter wash jean will be more suitable for more casual situations, while a darker wash, or even black, is going to come across as more professional. If you’re looking for a great pair that can straddle the line, consider the
Midtown Wash Essential Jeans for the perfect fit, paired with a wash that can easily be dressed up or down as the occasion warrants.
How to Wear Denim Shirts
Figuring out how to style a denim shirt is a bit trickier. As always, getting the right fit is the first place to start; like with other button-down shirts, make sure the denim shirt fits across the shoulders without being too tight, the arms end at the wrists, and the length falls to around mid-fly. Color is also important in a denim shirt— both dark and light washes can be right depending on what you pair it with and the occasion. Check out the Dark Wash Denim Shirt as a great piece to consider if you only want one denim shirt.
How to Style Denim Shirts
Once you have a great-fitting denim shirt, there are a few options for styling it. First, pair it with a
Henley or a
jacket, depending on how cold the weather is. Layering automatically elevates the shirt to a more professional level, and then pairing it with a
great pair of chinos can complete he look.
Speaking of
chinos, you can pair a denim shirt alone with a great pair of the right pants, and then use accessories, such as the perfect watch or a pair of aviator sunglasses, to take the style from frumpy to an effortless casual.
To dress down a bit more, pair your denim shirt with a
pair of shorts for a relaxed, beachy vibe. Consider using the denim shirt as the top layer over a
tee-shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, and then paired with shorts for a great casual style that won’t feel forced.
How to Wear a Denim Jacket
The last way to wear denim that we’ll look at today is how to wear and style a denim jacket. The classic denim jacket is seeing a surge in popularity, but you might be wondering how you can take it from old-fashioned to modern and sophisticated.
First, don’t pair a denim jacket with a pair of denim jeans. While both denim jeans and denim jackets can be worn fashionably, pairing them together is not going to work for a modern, stylish look. You can, if absolutely necessary, pair a denim jacket with denim jeans if the washes are very different — a light wash jacket with a dark wash jean, for example. But in general, try to steer clear of doubling up. The perfect example? The
Indigo Wash Denim Chore Jacket blends modern style with denim comfort, and is the perfect choice for every short man looking to add this piece to their closet.
So what can you pair a denim jacket with? Start with those
chinos again — this is a smart, business casual choice that can be effortlessly paired with a great denim jacket and a button-down shirt for a fashionable and stylish result. If you want to go “classic” without being “old-fashioned,” try pairing your denim jacket with a
simple white tee-shirt for a crisp, hassle-free look. The trick here is getting the right shirt: you want one that fits your body, isn’t too tight or too loose, and isn’t translucent.
Did you know you can also wear a denim jacket with a tie? Choose a great
button-down shirt that fits perfectly, and then pair it with a complimentary tie, with your denim jacket over the top instead of a blazer. You want to go with a darker wash here — or at least not a faded wash— since the idea is to have a business casual end result, but feel free to play a bit with mixing up the color and pattern of the shirt and tie.
Now that you know of a few different ways to style denim, go out and experiment! Get one piece, or try a few, and then mix and match to find what works for your personal style and occasion. Denim doesn’t have to be relegated to vacations or dirty jobs — it can be a smart, stylish, fashionable option that is an essential part of every short man’s wardrobe.
