Did you know that June is the shortest month of the year?

It's official! June is the shortest month of the year!

National Short Men of Style Month

For those who don't know, ForTheFit.com sponsor's National Short Men of Style Month each year in June. It is a month when we celebrate shorter men everywhere of "style & substance." In the past, we've celebrated with a month of savings at our annual sale event. This year, we're super excited about adding new events and fun activities. For example, we'll be publishing a list of the most stylish male celebs under 5'9". This year, to celebrate "National Short Men of Style Month," ForTheFit.com is sponsoring a contest to find America's most stylish shorter man. We'll also be searching the country for the most stylish and generally all around -good guys under 5'9", for a chance to win a new wardrobe (Grand Prize) or a new suit ensemble (runner-up) from ForTheFit.com. Are you the man this year? For more info or to toss you name in the hat for consideration, visit www.ShortMenofStyle.com.

I know June is a few months away yet, but we're gearing up for the shortest month and want to make sure you are ready to enjoy it, too!

Best of Luck,

C. Bova, CEO ForTheFit.com

The Premier U.S. Short Men’s Apparel Retailer

Dear Fashion Advice Guru Guy: "Custom" is the easy answer, but not the only answer for shorter men's clothes

In this job, I read men's magazines regularly as if they were academic texts. As a woman in the men's clothing business- it is one of the ways in which I can get educated in the industry, the customer, & more. There are a few of the major men's mags that I have to say- I LOVE THEM. Great, ironic, sarcastic writing about any number of relevant (and sometimes not so relevant- but funny) topics.

The one thing that doesn't work for me, though, is the Q&A section which is a part of nearly every major men's publication. You know- men write in and ask a question about life or style and some allegedly knowledgeable fellow (or lady!) gives them an answer.
I have read questions submitted by shorter men many times- where to find shorter shoes, smaller shirts, a suit that fits, etc. The answers make me furious.

Small shoes? One writer suggested a custom shoemaker for upwards of $900 for the first pair. Dress shirts that don't wear like a dress because they are so long in the tails (and everywhere else for that matter)? "Go see a tailor" is the most common answer.

So since it makes me so darn mad, here is my answer once and for all:

1. "Custom" is a great solution if you can afford it. But, too many of us can't. And don't confuse those mail-away custom shirt options as the real deal in men's tailored, custom apparel (known as "bespoke"). If you haven't been measured by a living, breathing tailor, you may well be quite unhappy with the product that arrives in the mail.

2. Tailoring - for a dress shirt, this is rarely a good option, nor is it a fair one for shorter men. It's like a little tax (pun intended). I face the same problem as a shorter woman (I'm 5'1")- I that I can rarely buy an item off the rack without having to factor in the time and money to get an item tailored. Plus, as my own tailor (a specialist in men's apparel- and now a friend, seeing as how I see him so often!) explained, taking up the tail is one thing, but once you start shortening the sleeves or bringing them in if they are too bunchy, taking in the shirt at the sides for a more modern, trim fit, etc.- it gets to be too much. You're basically reconstructing the shirt. The cost is high and even with the best tailor, the results are not ideal. For example- if you take in the sleeves to make them trimmer, it can create bunching in the shoulders- almost like the poufy sleeves in a period film). Or, the pocket placement is ll wrong because the pocket is too big and in the wrong spot for all the places you've taken in the shirt.

3. Find a shirt that fits off the rack. The Classix brand manufactures shirts specially proportioned for the shorter man- shorter tails, smaller pockets in the proper place on the chest, shorter sleeve lengths and an overall trimmer fit. In the coming months, ForTheFit.com will be offering some additional brands that offer the smaller men's proportions. I'll publish an update to this post when the new products arrive. If length is not an issue for you because you have a longer torso and arms, then be on the lookout for brands that cut their dress shirts in a slimmer silhouette. The magic words to look for on the package? "Trim" "Tailored Fit" "Slim Fit" "Modern Fit" - Try brands like Ben Sherman or even Lands End. These lines may still require shortening of the sleeves and tails, but at least the overall fit will lose some of the blousiness it is so hard for the tailor to take away.

Get That Look : Celeb Style for Shorter Men

Contrary to popular belief, all male celebs are not tall. There are quite a few shorter male celebs. Why don't we notice how short they are? Camera magic, for one. But the other reason is style- whether by natural talent or talented stylist, these guys dress to make the most of their best features, and visually add inches to their frames. How to accomplish this short men celebrity style? At a price you can afford, no less?? Here's my suggestion...

This week's candidate: Seth Green

Height: 5' 3.5" (per celebheights.com)

Why?: He has size and proportion down to an art, and is "Master of the Monochrome"

Green knows how to work events and the red carpet by making use of proper proportion and monochromatic colors. Check him out at the Emmy Awards this year. black tux jacket and skinny trousers, black suit and skinny black tie. At the Nov. '07 premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures "Fred Claus," Green rocks the red carpet in a pair of skinny, charcoal trousers and tailored black dress shirt.

The key to these looks? The dark, monochromatic silhouette makes the most of his slim, shorter frame by creating one long line, visually adding inches. More importantly, notice his sleeves, hem length on the trousers, the slim fit of the trousers, tux jacket, and the black dress shirt- This man's clothes FIT. Oversized items or too-long sleeves, jacket and pant lengths just make a person look shorter than their actual height.

Get the Look: In your Size and on your Budget

Look for clothing, particularly dress shirts and trousers, labeled "trim fit" or "tailored fit."

1) The Pants: BananaRepublic.com offers a good selection of items in slim fits, including flat front, slim fitting charcoal trousers ($129) in a regular rise, inseam 30"+ (online only). ForTheFit.com offers charcoal trousers for the Seth Green style in short rise, slim, flat front styles in various price points (Ben Sherman,$99 ; Berle, $75) - inseams from 26" to 30"+.

2) The Shirt: Keep an eye on the fit through the torso (a modern dress shirt should be worn close to the body- forget the blousiness so popular a decade ago. One option is to buy off the rack and have the shirt taken in at the waist, and sleeves shortened by a tailor as needed. Another option is to buy a slim-fitting or proportioned dress shirt. For the Green look, try a Ben Sherman Tailored Collection dress shirt in Black or Charcoal ($69-$89) . Or, try a Classix dress shirt, $30, in Silver Gray (BONUS: sleeves are available starting at 30"- no need to tailor).

3) The Tux Jacket & Tie: For a trendy, slim fitting, tux jacket- try the Ben Sherman Velvet Tux Blazer, sale $179. For a more casual jacket, the Ben Sherman Hammerite Heavy Metal Blazer, $179 (try pairing with jeans). The Tie? Easy- Stephen J. Sotnick is the celeb favorite for the skinny black tie (from $18), and it is a few inches shorter than industry average (perfect for the shorter guy!).

Good luck and happy shopping,

Consuelo Bova,
C.E.O. of ForTheFit.com,
"The Nation's Premier Short Men's Clothing Retailer"