Accessories can go a long way in completing your look and making you appear leaner and taller. It may be difficult to believe at first, but once you put some of these tactics into use, you will find that the smallest touches to your outfit can make a huge difference.
Belts
Always try to match the color of your belt to your pants to create a longer look. This works especially well for a monochromatic color scheme that creates an uninterrupted line – particularly for suits and/or dress casual occasions. Naturally, with jeans you will likely pair your darker jeans with a black or dark brown belt. Since you should almost never tuck your shirt into jeans (it breaks up your form, remember?) the color of your belt shouldn’t be much of a problem.
You can always have belts adjusted to any length by simply adding more holes yourself or having the added by your tailor. Unless you’re absolutely confident that you can do the job well yourself then I highly suggest that you let a professional handle it.
Some people opt to wear suspenders instead of a belt with their suits. This trend seems to come and go. Fashion and trends aside, the look that suspenders give emphasizes your natural vertical lines, but not in the same way that pin stripes do because they stop at your waistband, creating a “halting” look. For this reason, stay away from suspenders.
Ties
The width of ties seems to ebb and flow every few years. Some designers stick to thicker ties while others offer very, very thin versions. You should opt for a “middle of the road” approach with a little favoritism to the thinner ties. Why? Well, for the same reason that you want thinner lines, of course. Thinner ties are better proportioned for your frame. Look for ties that are between 2 ½ “ to 3 ¼ “ at their widest point. Those very wide ties will add the look of girth to your midsection so keep away from them. As for length, most ties are constructed for the “average” sized guy and taller guys so they are between 58 and 60 inches long. You want your tie to be between 54” to 56” long if you’re 5’6” and below.
Like suspenders, you should avoid bow ties. They make your neck appear wide and take the focus away from your face, which can make you appear shorter unconsciously.
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