To look taller, hem your trousers with little or no break, wear clothes that are slim but not tight, keep your outfit in one colour family, and choose a jacket that shows more of your legs. For added height, a built-in lift finishes the job: VAHL sneakers have a 6 cm lift and the Venice loafer 5 cm.
The quick list
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Little or no trouser break | Fabric stacked on the shoe |
| Slim or straight cut | Baggy clothes |
| Tones from one colour family | Sharp contrast at the waist or ankle |
| Jackets that end around the seat | Long, heavy coats and jackets |
| Narrow vertical lines | Heavy trouser cuffs and wide stripes |
| Slim shoes | Chunky footwear |
Start with trouser length and fit
Most of the work happens at the tailor. Fabric that stacks on your shoes shortens the leg line, so ask for little or no break. Choose a cut that is slim but not tight. Heavy cuffs add a thick band at the ankle, so skip them.
Use colour to keep one line
Similar shades remove the breaks at the waist and hip, and the eye reads one line from shoulder to shoe. You do not need one colour from head to toe: lighter and darker versions of the same colour work well. Keep your shoes in the same range as your trousers, such as navy with navy, beige with beige, or black with black.
Choose shapes that lengthen
A jacket that stops around the seat shows more leg. Narrow vertical stripes lead the eye up and down, while wide ones lose the effect. Slim, clean shoes keep the bottom of the outfit light.
Stand straight
No garment replaces how you carry yourself. Check your stance in a mirror when you try on an outfit: shoulders relaxed, chin level, weight on both feet.
Then add a lift nobody sees
Once the clothes work, the shoe is the last detail. A built-in lift adds height while the outside stays a normal suede shoe. Read do elevator shoes look obvious?
- Stockholm: deep navy suede sneaker, 6 cm, 1 900 SEK
- Copenhagen: beige suede sneaker, 6 cm, 1 900 SEK
- Oslo: black suede sneaker, 6 cm, 1 900 SEK
- Venice: deep navy suede loafer, 5 cm, 2 100 SEK
More in our guide to elevator shoes for men.
Common questions
What is the quickest way to look taller?
Hem your trousers so they have little or no break, and wear trousers and shoes in similar tones. Both make your legs read as one longer line.
Which colours make you look taller?
Tones from the same colour family, from top to toe. Sharp contrasts at the waist or ankle break the line.
Do shoes make a difference?
Yes. A slim shoe keeps the outfit light, and a built-in lift adds real height: VAHL sneakers have a 6 cm lift and the Venice loafer 5 cm.
What should I wear with VAHL shoes?
Slim or straight trousers with little or no break, in a tone close to the shoe. Navy, beige and black suede each suit a tonal outfit.