As Fall approaches, don't sweat it- short & tall men's fleece, jersey, athletic pants & loungewear are available now IN YOUR LENGTH at ForTheFit.com

They're here!  Our much anticipated line of men's fleece, jersey, and other athletic pants (including your favorite zippered track pants) are now in stock.  Exclusively at ForTheFit.com, you will find the athletic pants and loungewear you need in both men's Tall and Short clothing sizes.

Men's Tall & Short Lengths Available!

A ForTheFit.com Exclusive!

• Flexible Sizing for the most hard-to-fit gentlemen: 
• Waists XS- XXL
• Inseams from XS (27") to XT (37")!!
• Premium fabrics- Fleece, Jersey, Flannel and More
• Proportioned construction for optimal fit
• New STYLES added this year!
• A Variety of colors available in every style

 Shop Early for the greatest selection!

-Connie Bova,
CEO, ForTheFit.com

Look who got a makeover...

 There are new happenings allover at ForTheFit.com....  let's start with taking a look at our new makeover!

We've updated our look at ForTheFit.com.  The new site certainly has a more modern, clean look and feel- but we hope you'll also enjoy some of the new additions and customer benefits, including:

• Easy Navigation
• Social Networking -we've made it easier to find us on Facebook and Twitter (and save BIG- since Twitter followers and Facebook friends get exclusive deals and first notice of sale events).
• Share your favorite products with friends using the social networking buttons for Facebook on located on every product page!
• Simple one page checkout (and Google Checkout enabled, too for your convenience)
• Product Reviews (read one or leave one!) 
• Gift Registry and Wish Lists available (the Holidays are around the corner, believe it or not- gift registries make shopping so much easier on loved ones, and the results work out better for you too!)
• Now you can earn points on every purchase with MyStyle Rewards

Check it out- visit our new home at ForTheFit.com & tell us what you think- we always appreciate your comments and feedback.

-Connie Bova,
CEO, ForTheFit.com

Socks... To Match? or Not to Match?...

That is (among) the questions, our style experts here at ForTheFit.com are asked most often.

"Should I match my socks to my pants? My shirt? My shoes?? Wear whatever is clean? Help!!!"

Unfortunately, there is no one, perfect answer. Heck, mostly it's up to you. But, we'll do our best to dispel the myths, offer the basics, and get you taking a step in the right direction for you!

There is one, hard, fast rule: DON’T match your socks to your shoes, this blurs the line between your feet and your legs. Makes you look shorter. Just don't do it.

If you are a dapper, dressy sort, then consider this: DO match your socks to your pants. Black Suit= Black Socks. Navy trouser= Navy socks.

Khaki Pants= Khaki... STOP. See Below.

For a more casual look, and for dressy looks if you are the more stylish type : DO match your socks to an accessory such as a tie or pocket square, or for the khaki pants example, match to your shirt. DO opt for subtle patterns that are in step with the rest of your outfit.

At ForTheFit.com, we have both solids (to match our best-selling dress trousers) and patterns to rock those khaki's and jeans! Best of all, our socks are available in the impossible to find men's size Small (5-8) .

So what is your take on matching sock matter? We'd love to knowwhat you think! Use the voting buttons below to cast your vote!




Also, remember that Father's Day is around the corner (June 20, 2010!). Socks don't usually rank high on anyone's gift list, but if your Dad is still wearing Khaki or White socks with everything, maybe it's time to give him a leg-up! Try some patterns and other fun styles!

It's been a busy few months at ForTheFit.com...

Preparing for the holidays have kept us quite busy here at ForTheFit.com!

We started, of course, with new merchandise selected based on popular demand! Track and windpants were introduced in August in short and extra-short inseams. New cords are en-route and will be added this week. We've also added a ton of great new sweaters, car coats, fleece and other outerwear.

We also moved into a new facility to accommodate our growth and brought on some additional staff. We are blessed to be experiencing such growth in the midst of these troubled economic times. We are so grateful to our customers for their support and we are doing everything we can to continue earning it!

Lastly, we've been receiving some great press, both about the company and me, it's CEO- some apparel-related and some, just fun. Check out the following links for the latest:

CNNMoney, Selling the Unsellable

Brisbane Times (Australia!), Managing Maternity

MSNBC/MSN.com, How Busy Mom's Keep Fit

Also, our Holiday Gift Guide for 2010 will be up soon! Check it out for our newest products for the Holiday Season and some great gift ideas for men!

Enjoy the crispness in the air (however brief- here in Florida, it's been a blistering hot fall), and for those of you "suffering" the snow- just know that some of us out there see it only so rarely and would trade with you in a heartbeat, if only for a few hours! LOL!

Best.

Consuelo Bova,
CEO, ForTheFit.com

Summer of '09 on SALE!!!

It's that time of year everyone looks forward to (our customers do, at least!)- The Annual Inventory Clearance Sale! We don't discount much throughout the year, but during our annual sale, we make up for it! The sale runs from July 1- July 31, 2009 and new products will be added throughout the month- so check out today's selection and check back regularly for new additions. First come, first serve and quantities are limited (hence the inventory clearance sale)- so shop early and often for the best selection.

Good luck and happy shopping,

C. Bova, CEO
ForTheFit.com

New Australian Study Confirms with Height come Higher Wages

A new Australian study confirms U.S. findings from a few years past that taller people (men and women) earn higher wages than their shorter counterparts. This was found to be true across the board- various industries, professions,levels, etc. How much so? To the tune of an extra 4 inches in men lead to wages about 3% (or one year of experience) higher. You can find the article here, courtesy of Yahoo and the AP.

How to combat this issue? Dress Taller! It has always been our philosophy at ForTheFit.com, that the key for shorter men is to dress to maximize your height and visually lengthen your frame (giving the impression of greater height). In the current economy and job market, given this new research- it literally pays to dress taller and make a better first impression on your interviewer.

A few tips:
1) Keep your suit simple and in a dark color- black is always best.
2) Subtle, vertical pinstripes (can be monochromatic) are an added plus because they will visually lengthen your frame.
3) Keep your tie simple & slim to add inches as well
4) Skip heels or lifts- they can be more comical than effective.
5) Match shoes and socks to trouser to lengthen

Good Luck!

C. Bova, CEO

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.

When thinking about clothing for shorter men, most people understand the need for special trousers (at least the shorter length part- short rise might still take some teaching!). What they don't necessarily get is the need for special shirts. After all, many men 5'9" and under shop for their shirts right off the rack and do okay. Or at least they think they do...

Often, a shorter man risks a few style pit-falls when shopping off the rack . To help, here are 5 Common Pit-falls (and their Solutions)

1) Droopy Shoulders: Depending on whether it is a dress or casual shirt, shoulder seams should rest at or within an inch or so of where the shoulder and arm meet. I see men all the time (especially in polos or camp shirts) wearing shirts where the shoulder seam is somewhere near their elbow. Shirts proportioned for shorter men are designed narrower through the shoulders to avoid this problem.

2) Dress-ed to Impress?: In general, shorter men benefit from proportioned shirts due to overall shorter length through the torso. After all, you are looking to wear a shirt- not a dress.

3) Shake Hands, not Shirt-Sleeves: Most men don't realize that they have choices beyond 32/33 and 34/35, so they don't think twice about the way their dress shirts fit through the sleeves. Too long? Roll them up! That's the solution for many. But shorter men's dress shirts offer shorter sleeves- so you can follow all those other nifty style principles like having your shirt peak out just a bit from under your suit jacket, and not be so long it obscures your knuckles. Shorter men's proportioned Dress Shirts often are offered in sleeves starting at 30" for a perfect fit, right off the rack.

4) Every Body is not created equal: For as many shapes of men under 5'9", there are a few extra details to think about when selecting a great shirt. To get the perfect fitting shirt, here are some things to look for if you are under 5'9" and...

Slim & Trim ...



Look for shirts that are labeled "slim fit," "tailored-fit," "fitted," or "trim fit." These will often provide a neat, modern silhouette without the need for tailoring. A slim fitting shirt that offers a proportioned fit for under 5'9" is also going to rest better at the shoulders, and offer a more comfortable overall length and proportions.

Wider through the chest & waist...



Shirts proportioned for 5'9" & Under that are labeled "classic-fit" or "gentleman's cut" will offer all the benefits of a shorter men's shirt (narrower shoulders, shorter overall length through torso and sleeves), but will retain more classic, even and wider proportions through the chest and torso for a better fit.


Muscular..

You know who you are- 5'7 but solid as a rock with a thicker neck and muscular arms. Your special requirements are met by looking for short men's proportioned dress shirts that offer a classic or gentleman's cut, but specific neck and sleeve lengths to match your needs. Also, ForTheFit.com offers and array of knit pique crew shirts, sweaters and camp shirts with better proportions for your particular shape.

5) Shop for You: Some of the above can be addressed through tailoring, but tailoring can be costly, time consuming, and may not achieve suitable results in all cases. Instead, consider shopping with specialty retailers who know your body shape and stock their stores accordingly.

Good luck and happy shopping,

C. Bova,

CEO, ForTheFit.com

This election season, Vote for ForTheFit.com

If you love shopping at ForTheFit.com, please help us spread the word about this great store!

We've entered ForTheFit.com in a contest recently & would really appreciate your support. Your vote counts, and winning means a lot of great publicity for our company, which means more people can enjoy all that ForTheFit has to offer!

You can vote 1x per day, every day- so please vote as many times as you can remember. It's really easy, just ...


Thank you so much & Best Regards,

Consuelo Bova, CEO
ForTheFit.com

Congratulations to the 2008 Short Man of Style...

We are proud to announce that a winner has been selected for this year's Short Man of Style competition. Sponsored by ForTheFit.com, National Short Man of Style Month occurs each year in June. As part of this yearly celebration “of men under 5’9” who stand tall & look great,” ForTheFit.com sponsors a competition to seek out the Nation’s most stylish shorter man. In addition to fashionable and under 5'9", he should be an over-achiever in life- i.e. with family, friends, career, and community. Contestant’s had to send in a photograph of themselves looking their most fashionable, as well as a short essay explaining why they were in fact this year’s best choice for National Short Man of Style. The grand prize, a new wardrobe from ForTheFit.com worth approximately $750, generated significant interest in the competition and picking a winner this year from the many qualified entrants was a tough job.

So who won? You'll need to visit www.ShortMenofStyle.com to find out! (or check back in a few weeks- when I'll profile him here on my blog).

- Connie

For more information visit www.FortheFit.com and www.ShortMenofStyle.com.

Announcing our New Store- ForTheFit.com has a new look and better features.

We're proud to announce that we have made a long awaited transition to a new online store format. Our new web store will offer so many great new features to our customers.

• Product Reviews: We get so much great feedback from customers about how much they love their purchases- now you can share that feedback with each other! We encourage customers to leave feedback about the products they buy- how much they enjoyed the product, how it fits, sizing recommendations to share with other would-be purchasers, etc. I know that when I shop online, I find user comments so useful. I can't wait to see some constructive feedback added by our customers as well!


• Improved Search Functionality- By style, color size, you name it! Whatever you want is so much easier to find!


• Enhanced Images: You can see various "views" of a product, or even enlarge to show detail by just running a mouse over the image.


• Control: You can now create an account and save your order information, wish lists, track orders in real time, save card information for speedier checkout and generally manage your shopping experience with so much ease!

There are so many great new features- you need to come check it out for yourself if you haven't shopped in a while.

The transition has so far been relatively smooth (some minor inventory hiccups aside!). We're adding new products everyday- so check back with us often! Send us an email and let us know what you think of the new site!

Shopping for Shorter Men's Clothes has never been easier than it is today, with ForTheFit.com's new site!

Happy Shopping,

Consuelo Bova,

CEO, ForTheFit.com

Happy Father's Day!

It's not an easy job, and often it's a thankless one- but you're doing an amazing job! Your love, patience and support is helping to raise another great generation.

"Thank You" to all of the great father's among us!

-Consuelo Bova, CEO of ForTheFit.com


Happy Father's Day
from our ForTheFit.com family
to yours.



CFO of ForTheFit.com, Jeffrey D. Bova and Son share a quiet moment at the Beach


A Father's Day Gift for you...

He looks up to you- so make sure you look good! Fathers save 10% on all purchases at ForTheFit.com this week. Simply enter coupon code fd2008 at checkout.

Stuck for Father's Day Gift Ideas? Unique and Thoughtful Gifts Abound Online

In case it has slipped your mind, FATHER'S DAY is June 15th 2008! That's right around the corner!

Shopping for Father’s Day should be a cinch, since you know better than anyone what makes your Dad unique. The trouble is coming up with ideas for gifts as special as he is! My simple two-step process should solve this little dilemma. Plus, if you use web-resources, you may find some quick decisions and expedited delivery options will put the perfect gift in your hands (and on its way to Dad) in time for June 15th!

First, identify your Dad's unique "Likes"


For the sports fiend...tickets to a beloved sporting event, or to see a favorite team play are always appreciated. If your budget allows, use a ticket broker like StubHub.com to find the best seats you can afford. Also, consider minor league and similar, local sporting events. Tickets to a minor league or training season game can be really inexpensive and just as much fun!

For the food or sugar junkie... Use the web to identify unique gifts he will enjoy. For example, a Dad who loves chocolate, may appreciate personalized M&M’s – you pick the color, the message (hint: try something like “#1 Dad” for Father's Day), quantity and packaging for a unique gift in a variety of price ranges to suit any budget. Also, if Dad happens to be a baseball fan, M&M’s has just introduced a line of Major League Baseball candies in team colors and logos. Does he have a favorite, hard-to-find confection? Dad may appreciate a gift a gift of his favorite childhood sweets. From Atomic Fireballs to “Big Hunk” bars, you can find most any candy at Nostalgic Candy.com. Also, many unique, small businesses deliver their wares nationwide (beware of high delivery fees, though). My husband often waxed poetic about the ice cream sold on campus at his alma mater, Penn State. A quick Google search revealed I could have a pint of his favorite “Creamery” flavor delivered overnight to Florida for a special Father’s Day treat!

Ties , shirts, pens and mugs... classic Father’s Day gifts can be a fine option, but look for new and clever versions specially suited to your Dad. Is Dad left-handed? Big & Tall? A Shorter Man? Online specialty stores may reveal a wealth of creative options for Dad this Father’s Day. Enter your Dad’s special characteristics into your favorite search engine and see what you find. For example, a search on Google.com of “left-handed products” to find dozens of specialty retailers like Left Hand Zone which offer a variety of great products for left-handed Dads, including the usual like mugs and pens, and so much more. Searches for “Big & Tall Men’s Clothes” and ”Short Men’s Clothes” will find you specialty retailers that offer shirts, ties and other classic gifts, except specially proportioned in your Dad’s own hard-to-find size. Solutions.com is another great site, full of unique finds, whatever the hobby or specialized need.

Step 2: Take your TIME and use you imagination
Combine the above ideas with the gift of your time for a sure-fire hit. Is Dad a left-handed golf enthusiast? Find him a left-handed club, glove or other specialized gear. In addition to your gift, offer to spend an hour with him at the driving range. For the baseball lover, offer to spend an afternoon at a Minor League game. Gift-wrap the tickets together with some cool, retro candy like Major League Chew gum! Buy your 5’7 Dad a pair of perfect-fitting, short-inseam sweats at ForTheFit.com, and offer to accompany him on a few morning jogs. You get the idea- be creative! Your unique gift will let Dad know how much you know and respect who he is, and most of all, that you love him and want to spend time with him on Father’s Day. What better gift is there than that?

Good luck shopping and enjoy your Father's Day,

Consuelo Bova,

CEO, ForTheFit.com

As SEEN In... ForTheFit.com and Short Men's Clothing have become quite the hot topics!

First of all - today is June 1st, so HAPPY "SHORT MEN OF STYLE" MONTH! Remember to celebrate by looking your best the whole month long! Also, have you entered yourself in the National Short Man of Style 2008 competition yet? If not, you have 2 more weeks to enter for a chance to win a whole new wardrobe from ForTheFit.com. For details, read my last blog entry, or check out the official contest website at ShortMenofStyle.com

It has been a busy few months for short men's clothing in general, and ForTheFit.com in particular. We have been quite lucky to be featured in some phenomenal publications and to help generate some interest and awareness to this issue of short men's fashion.

Most recently, in response to a reader question in the popular "Ask Teri" fashion column of the Wall Street Journal, our own C.F.O. Jeff Bova was interviewed by Teri Agins. To read the question & answer, click here:
Ask Teri: Finding Clothes that Fit Well.

There has also been a lot of interest in me personally in my roles as CEO of men's e-tailer ForTheFit.com, wife and mom. On, May 22, '08, Entrepreneur.com's "WomenEntrepreneur.com" featured a great, enriching story by Lena West full of great tips about how to escape overflowing e-mail inboxes using some simple methods and new technology. She even included some of my own simple methods for managing the sometimes overwhelming contents of a CEO's inbox. Click here to read Escaping E-Mail Overload by Lena West. There are a few other stories in the pipeline, I'll post when they are published.

Our products themselves have also received some great press. We have added some earth-friendly, eco-fashion proportioned for the shorter, slimmer man. Customer's have responded quite favorably to our Alternative Apparel T-shirts and Jackets, and so has the Press. Our Eco-Heather T-shirts from Alternative Apparel were featured in Lisa Neff's May 3, 2008 article Earth Duds for Earth Day in the Chicago Free Press. This came on the heels of a feature about our women's and men's short-length (inseam) sweats and athletic pants in the Orlando Sentinel's Style Section, Fashion Focus: Dress Up, Dress Down by Jean Patteson.

Also, CNN recently ran a story about short men's fashion, which was picked up on the wires and published in papers throughout the country. All in all, it has been a phenomenal few months for shorter men's fashion and we are so pleased. Thank you to the reader's and viewers out there for their interest and to the members of the press for their help in bringing this topic to life and raising awareness!

- Consuelo Bova,

CEO, ForTheFit.com

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.

Low-Rise vs Short Rise?

I get this question (or some version of it) all the time: I bought low-rise jeans and they were HUGE on my waist- I measured them and they were INCHES bigger than the labeled size. What gives? and why should I consider short rise, then anyway?

I figured since I mentioned our new, true "short rise" jean in my last post, it would be as good a time as any to address the issue.

What is Short-Rise?
Many shorter men complain that when they were trousers, they experience bagginess and bunching in the crotch that is both uncomfortable and looks unprofessional. The problem is usually easily resolved by purchasing the proper rise. Rise refers to the measurement from crotch to waist. Most pants available off the rack are “regular rise” (11 inches or more, based on a size 34 waist pant). This can be too much for men under 5’9”, many of which are actually short rise (10 inches or less for a size 34 waist pant). The shorter rise is what eliminates all of the bagging and bunching at the crotch, front or back.

What is Low-Rise?
There are many pants in stores today labeled low rise. This is not to be confused with short rise. Low rise simply means that the pant sits below the natural waist. The rise on these pants would be the distance from the crotch to the imaginary waist (ie where the waist would be if not lobbed off so the pants sit lower than the waist). They are sized based on the imaginary waist, but the measurement at the band may be an inch or two larger. Therefore, if you have a short rise, the fit may be awkward, since the pants will likely rest at your natural waist and be an inch or two larger than the labeled waist size. One tip, try on a size or two smaller than you typically wear, or search for a manufacturer whose jeans are naturally cut shorter in the rise, such as Silver Jeans.


That is whay we carry so many short-rise products. They are often the best solution for shorter men. In fact, it's the best thing you didn't know you needed (so say many of my customers when they by our khakis and find that for the first time ever- lo and behold they love the way they look and feel in their pants! Check out our testimonials).

The unfortunate part is that true short-rise pants are hard to find in regular department stores or mall stores (who do stock regular and long-rise !!!) and pants can't be altered by a tailor to be short rise, either! The specialty retailer is one way to go. An online retailer specializing in short men's apparel, like ForTheFit.com - will probably offer the best selection.

Best,
C

February Finds...

me staring at order forms and trying to make some final decisions about the many exciting new products we've come across for our customers while scouring the apparel markets.

Anyway, I promised a preview and here goes:

* New Short Rise Trousers - We've stumbled across some great new casual pants that feature short rise and shorter inseam. Besides the usual Khakis and dress trousers, this fall we'll be adding a wide variety of casual men's styles so you can take that basic wardrobe to the next level! We're adding a couple of new brands too- all of which offer trimmer, more proportioned fits for the shorter man.

* New Denim - We haven't decided yet- but it looks like we have as many as two new brands joining our lineup. Both offer true short-rise styles (as opposed to low-rise), and FACTORY FINISHED shorter hems. Never mind the premium denim quality and up-to-the-minute style!!! Score!

* NEW Short-rise shorts for spring in various styles and colors

That's not even the half of it... I'd tell you more but then it wouldn't technically be a preview so much as the full story! Anyway, it will be an exciting Spring and Fall lineup for ForTheFit.com and we look forward to sharing this new merchandise with you as it arrives (I'll provide any interesting background stories then!).

Best,

Connie

For the Love of Clothes...

As I write this post, I'm on a plane to Las Vegas to celebrate Valentine's Day with my husband the usual way- we're off to Market to discover the latest & greatest in Men's apparel. 'Vegas is home to some of the largest apparel markets and conventions for retailers in the U.S., with bi-annual shows in February and July.

The annual shows are actually a stressful time for Jeff (my husband and C.F.O. of ForTheFit.com) and I. Why? Because we are not your average menswear store. We are a specialty retailer- specializing in Short Mens Clothes. We head to market in search of the best labels, up to date styles, quality casual and professional attire- proportioned to fit shorter men. The problem? Shopping industry markets is not much different from shopping your local department store- options can be limited for those with slimmer builds, short inseams, or overall shorter in height (i.e. under 5'9").

The frustrating thing is that we estimate that there are at least 14 million American men who fall into this category and want attractive clothes to wear. So for them, I pass up a real Valentine's Day every year and walk the endless men's market mazes housed within the various Las Vegas convention centers. I consider myself to be their personal shopper- seeking out brands that cut their wears to the right proportions for smaller men, convincing popular labels to make special size runs for us, and finding other quality manufacturers to do our custom work. Sounds easy enough, right? If only! But it's worth it because we've been at it for nearly 3 years now and I frequently receive messages from customers excited that for the first time, they are enjoying great fit and style- right off the rack. Love that. The stress of forcing change in a pretty static industry… not so much.

So if it is so stressful, then why do I subject myself to this mission every year? For the love of clothes, (and my business partner, of course,who keeps me laughing even in the most stressful of times!). Though our job is not an easy one, I would be lying if I said that we don't have any fun at market. There's a certain thrill to the "Sneak Peek" at what's coming to stores near you (and online!) in the upcoming months. There's an even greater thrill when I score these same styles and the best brands for my customers. I look forward to reporting back soon on our market finds and things to look forward to in the world of short men's apparel for Spring '08. Happy Valentines Day to you all,

Connie