Celeb Style Report: Oscars 2009, a Short Walk Down the Red Carpet

Look no further than the nearest Red Carpet for exemplary Short Men's Fashion "Dos" (and some serious "Don'ts," too). It is especially important for shorter men in the entertainment industry to look sharp and confident at these events and make the most of their height. Some tips for looking smart (and walking tall) at your next evening event, garnered from observing some of our favorite, shorter male celebs:

1) Anthony Hopkins (5'8")

The Clothes: a two button, properly fitted tux (see it HERE)

The Lesson: DO choose a suit or a tux with lapels that start lower, since the longer V-shape can lengthen the look of the torso. A four button suit adds too much unflattering bulk to a shorter frame

2) Emile Hirsch (5'5.5")

The Clothes: Long, slouchy pants worn on the red carpet make him look shorter (see it HERE)

The Lesson: DON'T wear pants that are too long. Uncuffed suit pants should be just long enough to create just a small break in the front crease. If there is no break, your pants are too short. Multiple or deep breaks mean your pants are too long. Also, the hem should slope toward the back. ForTheFit.com offers advice and actual photos of great fit, click here. Get your trousers hemmed by a professional, or buy pre-hemmed trousers in your exact inseam (no additional tailoring time or charge) and even in short-rise styles, at shorter men's specialist, ForTheFit.com

3) Sean Penn (5'8")

The Clothes: Sean Penn wore all black on Oscar night, with a slim patterned tie for added style and visual interest (see it HERE).

The Lessons:

DO try a monochromatic look at your next formal event. Wearing the same color head-to-toe helps visually lengthen the body to make you look taller. Plus, an all-black suit, shirt and tie ensemble projects a high-fashion and high-powered image.

DO keep the width of your tie thin and the knot small. Looking taller can be accomplished by creating vertical lines wherever you can. A thinner tie guides the eye down the line of your body and a small knot will keep the tie from looking too angular. Also, be sure the length of your tie is right for your body; it should never fall below your belly button.

Black shirts with a trim fit and skinny ties available at FortheFit.com.

* All heights are provided based on estimates available at CelebHeights.com. They are offered for entertainment purposes only and we cannot verify their accuracy.

If the sock fits...": The Do's and Don'ts of this highly Misunderstood Men's Accessory

...then buy it in every color!

Men don't often give much thought to their hosiery purchases, until of course it's halfway through some insufferable meeting and you notice your socks are slipping and your feet hurt from the misplaced seams- or perhaps on a walk, when you stop to adjust your socks every few steps. Sound familiar? Then read on!


FIT & QUALITY: Stepping in...
Half Sizes, Widths...when buying shoes, you look for a perfect fit. Yet, socks are only offered in these wide ranges that suggest that you can wear the same footwear as a man who wears a shoe 3 sizes larger than you. The retail industry has determined that the "average" shoe size is 10-12 and creates socks accordingly. However, if you were smaller than a 10 or larger than a 12, you may find fit to be a problem. Men with smaller feet often shop the boy's department for dress and casual socks, finding the low price irresistable. But the quality is poor, so socks have to be replaced with such frequency that any savings disappear. Others simply buy socks that are too large and tuck under the toe, leading to foot pains, itching, or just plain discomfort. Former shoe salesperson A. Bridge reveals, "I can tell you that no matter what those sock packages claim, men under a size 8 won't fit into a 10-13 sock size without rolling or tucking – and they aren't happy about it. Also, Men with larger feet shop store after store looking for socks with heels that actually reach the end of their foot."

Instead, find socks that fit your foot. For larger shoe sizes (13+), try specialty retailers, such as
JayStevens.com, which offer socks in larger size ranges. For smaller feet (shoe size less than 10), FortheFit.com offers premium Men's socks in size small, to fit shoe sizes 5-9.

Quality matters, too. The hallmark of quality socks and hosiery are the seam, material and workmanship. Face it, men's socks get used and abused- you literally walk all over them. Invest in quality hosiery that offers a hand-linked toe-seam for an exceptionally smooth join, and premium fibers (which hold-up better wash-after-wash, wear-after-wear).

STYLE: Stepping Out
Now that you've found socks to fit you, here are a few style tips to make sure your feet don't offend...

• The color of your socks should match the color of your pants, not your shoes. However, the color is preferably not exact unless you wear black pants.


• Your sock drawer should include at least two each of the basics: black socks for dress, blue for jeans, a color close to khaki and athletic socks


• Athletic Socks are for the Gym only. Period.


• With shorts, wear nothing higher than an Ankle sock. With long pants, wear socks high enough that you expose no leg when you sit.


• Colorful and patterned socks are great for adding a little extra pizazz to your wardrobe, but keep this in mind: the more colorful your outfit the more toned down your socks should be. Avoid looking like you stepped out of a work by Andy Warhol.


• Socks + Sandals = Oil + Water - they never go together.