How To Dress Taller: 5 Easy Fashion Tips for Short Men

This ManMade guest post was written by Ben Robbins of Silas Jackson

It ain’t easy being a short guy. Women “swipe left” on our dating profiles based on height alone, we don’t make as much dough as their taller peers, and there’s no shortage of nicknames that seek to box us in (“shrimp,” “small fry”…I could go on and on). This isn’t fair, of course, but you as a fellow shorter dude actually have some power to fight back –  it’s called the ability to “dress taller.” Now, I didn’t coin this term, but I do have some unique insights into how shorter guys can share in some of the benefits that taller guys take for granted. All you have to do is follow these five simple tips for making tweaks to what you wear and how you wear it:   

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This 2016 "Shed of the Year" is Made from 90% Recycled Material and It is Amazing

So the first thing to know is that, yes, there is such a thing as the Shed of the Year. It's a (literal) giant crown of an award for the best shed in the UK given during the final episode of Channel 4's Amazing Spaces Shed of the Year. This year's finale had a record-breaking 2,825 entries and 12,292 public votes, and was described as, "nail-biting" and I can honestly understand why...   

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How to: Wear a White T-Shirt (with Five Different Looks)

The plain white T-shirt (with accompanying pocket) dates back to the Spanish-American War. But was truly popularized in the post-WWII period, when GIs brought the habit of wearing the "undergarment" back to the states. Shortly thereafter it became an icon of working-class masculinity as the Everyman sought to embody the virility of such matinee idols as Marlon Brando (a la Streetcar), Steve McQueen, and James Dean.   

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This Should Be Your First Leatherworking Project: How to Make a Stylish Leather Wallet

If you've ever thought about making a leather wallet, but haven't for whatever reason, then here is the place to start. With a couple tools and about $10 in leather you'll lay the groundwork for greater leather-working projects and emerge with a stylish and minimalist wallet to boot.   

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How to: Make Your Own DIY Leather Belt from Scratch

Mr. Lentz - the "modern cowboy of the creative revolution" - has created a very cool DIY project with very detailed steps to make a customized leather belt.

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How to Travel Like a Pro: Tips from Anthony Bourdain

The author, host, and chef Anthony Bourdain reckons he's been away from home for about 250 days a year, for the past decade. If you're familiar with his adventure food and travel properties like The Getaway and No Reservations, you can see how it happens.   

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The Process: Crafting Handmade Wooden Eyeglass Frames from Scratch

Indianapolis-based artist and maker Peter Boerger hand crafts these amazing wooden eyeglass frames from scratch using basic hand and woodworking tools - no laser cutters or CNC routers needed.  

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We Thought These $12 Aviators Might Be Perfect for Summer. They're Not.

A few weeks ago, we recommended the Gamma Ray Cheaters Wayfarer-style sunglasses, saying they would become "your new pair of standard, inexpensive sunglasses". We liked the Wayfarers because they fit well, looked good, and were reasonably well-made (for a $10 pair of shades). So when I noticed the same company offers an aviator-style set of sunglasses for $12, I decided to try them out. Could they possibly be as good, cheap, and solidly-built as their wayfaring cousins?

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5 Essential Shoes Every Man Needs This Summer

Newsflash, ManMakers: It's hot out. Like, super hot... the kind of hot where you can't quite pretend you're not roasting and just wear your standard uniform from the rest of the year. It's easy to dress well in the fall and winter. Every man looks great in boots and sweaters and layers and patterned button-downs. But, in summer, it's just too hot for those things, and you simply gotta embrace the shorts.  And with the shorts comes the question: well, what shoes do I wear with them?    

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Your New Favorite Sunglasses: An Under $10 Pair that Fits Every Man, Every Time (and How to Make Them Better)

There's definitely a case to be made for the investment pair of sunglasses. That classic, quality pair that works with everything from a tuxedo to swim trunks and sandals. That pair that you're a little hesitant to spend the money on at first because you're used to losing your gas station glasses all the time, but find, once you own them, that you actually seem to keep track and take care of them at all times

We love that pair of sunglasses. But we also know that summer brings a lot of real adventures. Like, if you're doing these long days and warm temps right, there are actually dozens of times where a high-end pair doesn't make sense. Like any time you're in the woods, a mountain, the desert, on a bicycle or other human-powered transportation, or any time you're moving about near, on, or in a large body of water.

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Dapper Up: How to Make a Gentleman's Survival Kit

You never know when disaster may strike, so keeping a kit full of survival gear close is important. Here's a quick DIY on the gentleman's survival kit.  

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How to Tie a Half-Windsor Tie Knot

The Half-Windsor Knot - the classic knot every man should know. It's the perfect versatile knot that works both in the office and on more formal occasions without ever drawing too much attention to itself any which way. Whether you've never tried it or if you just haven't tied it in awhile, here's a slick and well-produced how to video from MR PORTER to brush you up.   

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How to Find a Suit that Fits

Measuring tapes and helpful sales associates are great. But what looks great in the fitting room mirror doesn't always work out in real life. So, if you're in the market for a new suit - perhaps for the upcoming summer wedding season - looks to these few measure-free tips to make sure you get a suit that will stand up to real world wear, and look great while doing it. These would be especially helpful if you're ordering from an online retailer like SuitSupply or Indochino, and you want to make sure you've got a great fit once the box shows up.    

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10 Things Every Man Should Own [Spring Edition]

Some of the most frequent kinds of questions ManMade receives are inquiries like, "I just graduated college and finally have a real income and I'd like to start investing in some long-lasting goods..." or "my fiancée's birthday is coming up, and I'd like to buy him something every guy should have..." In 2013, I've been giving my take on those essential items, offering a new collection of ten each season:  winter,  spring , summer, and  fall .    Some of these you might already own, some of these you might need to upgrade to a quality version, and most of these apply to women and households too. Please let me know what you think, and what you'd add or take away in the comments below.    

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Lunch Done Right: The 5 Best Stylish Lunch Bags For Men

Taking your lunch to work doesn't mean you have to look like you're brown bagging it. Here are a few durable and classic lunch bags that will keep your grub safe all the way to noon.  

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