Creating the illusion of extra inches when armed only with the clothes on your back may seem like a tall order. But by tailoring your wardrobe (in some cases, literally) to suit your stature it’s possible to piece together outfits in a way that helps both you, and your style credentials, reach new heights.

Stylist Freddie Kemp, from online style counsel provider Thread, is on hand with the long and the short of it.

Make The Cut

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but a lot of clothes providers cannot be relied upon to cater to everyone’s needs – namely, yours. But just because it doesn’t fit off the peg doesn’t mean you need to leave it on the rail. Befriending a local tailor is the best way to make your favourite purchases work for you.

The reason? There are certain clothes lengths and proportions that work best for shorter blokes. “A blazer, for example, should finish just below your bum in length and the sleeve should finish with 1/2 inch of shirt cuff showing,” explains Kemp.

“For smart shirts, sleeves should finish just below your wrist, any longer and it could swamp you,” he continues. Fingers crossed your tailor will realise this too; if not then use these recommendations as a litmus test of quality and take your business elsewhere.

Not Your Bag

Streetwear hypemen look away now. Wearing baggy clothes like longline T-shirts and skate hoodies is doing nothing for your lofty ambitions. “You don’t want anything oversized or too big as this will only emphasise your stature,” says Kemp.

Opt for slim or straight fits instead. You might miss out on the next Yeezy drop, but at least you don’t have to spend the night camping in Soho with a crew of 15-year-olds (and their mums, obviously).

Tone Down

Try to keep your outfits tonal rather than resorting to block-colours worn on top and bottom. “By avoiding anything too contrasting you create a continuation of colour down your body, which can help to give the illusion of a longer frame,” explains Kemp.