How to Dress up a T-Shirt: Fashion for Short Men

When it comes to men’s style, knowing how to choose and wear a t-shirt for short men can be a challenge. Bunching, riding up, stretching in the wrong places — these are just a few of the issues you face. And then when you add needing to coordinate with other elements to create a pull-together look that feels effortless and exudes confidence, the challenge just gets harder.
But it doesn’t have to be.

Here are a few tips for not only finding the right t-shirt, but how to pair it with the right pieces to get the look you want effortlessly after you do.

Finding the right t-shirt fit for your body

Dressing up a t-shirt starts by having the right pieces in your wardrobe to being with. Our t-shirts for short men are designed from the ground up to combat many of the fit issues faced by those below height the fashion industry considers “average”. Shopping at stores that stock clothes with you in mind is a great first start, but there are a few other things to keep in mind to ensure you get a perfect fit for your body, not just someone similar to you.

Shoulders. This is an important detail to get right from the start. The t-shirt’s shoulders should sit at the end of your collarbone and the beginning of your arm. If your t-shirt shoulders hang over this point, it looks sloppy and oversized. On the other hand, if your shoulders are broader than the t-shirt’s, it’ll look a size too small.

Arms. Consider both the length and the width — the shirt should end around the middle of your arm, between the shoulder and elbow, and you want it to lie against your bicep without any of those baggy looking pirate sleeves, while still being comfortable and not constricting movement.

Body. The portion of the t-shirt that covers the chest, stomach, and hips make up the final elements to pay attention to. It should sit close to the body, without being too tight, and it should end right around the middle part of your pant’s fly, at the longest. There should be no bunching at the bottom.

Go beyond basic when shopping for men's t-shirts

It’s true, t-shirts are considered a must-have staple for any men’s style, but that doesn’t mean they have to be basic or boring. Here are a few options to consider adding to your wardrobe, so you’ll always know you have a great fitting piece to grab on the go.

The Heather Grey Long Sleeve Pocket Tee. This is a great long-sleeve option, with sleeves that fall right at the end of the wrist, and length that hits just below the top of your hips. It is a soft cotton blend designed for casual wear that will look great on its own or paired with other elements.

Charcoal Staple Crew Neck Tee and the White Staple Crew Neck Tee. This is the short-sleeve version of the “staple” t-shirt, and one that will fast become your go-to piece when it comes to getting dressed for any occasion. Worn alone as a casual shirt or paired with other pieces for a more up-scale look, this shirt will be in style year-round.

Heather Storm Blue V-Neck Tee. Don’t be afraid to break out of the crew neck box, or to wear colors other than white, charcoal, or black. The reality is that t-shirts come in a wide range of colors, with elements that can be swapped out for different occasions or preferences. Don’t be afraid to try something new — it might just become your new favorite.

What to wear with a t-shirt

To dress up a t-shirt, it all comes down to what you pair it with. Now that you have a few basics that fit well and look great, it’s time to go to the next step.

First, consider which pant type and style the occasion calls for — is it casual and warm, allowing you to wear shorts? Is it casual, but shorts aren’t appropriate? Then consider a great pair of jeans — the lighter the wash, the more casual it is considered, so choose your color and style accordingly. If the occasion calls for more of a business casual approach, pair your t-shirt with chinos.

You can also pair your t-shirt with a sweater or polo, making it more of a foundational piece than the star of the show. A sweater is a great in-between option — it is more dressed up than the t-shirt alone, but more casual than a buttoned-up dress shirt, for example. That said, a great polo or buttoned-up shirt goes a long way — alone, it is a great business casual piece, or you can wear a jacket over it to accessorize even further.

When it comes to t-shirts for short men there is a lot of variety and many ways to wear them. The Ash & Erie collection of t-shirts for short men is a great place to start, whether you’ve already got a few pieces designed with short men in mind, or you’re fed up with always feeling like you can’t find a perfect fit. And with Try Before You Buy, you can return anything that doesn’t live up to your expectations — so you can try different colors and styles to find the perfect t-shirt for your lifestyle.