People are Talking...Entrepreneurship in the Recessed Economy & ForTheFit.com

Learn more about the entrepreneurs at the helm of ForTheFit.com, the premier US Short men's clothes retailer.

Check out this week's news about entrepreneurship & start-ups in this down economy with articles including comments by ForTheFit.com's leadership team, including CEO Consuelo Bova.

"Down Times Spark Startups" Christian Science Monitor, March 23, 2009 by Marilyn Gardner

"163 Ways to Become an Entrepreneur" March 24, 2009 by the best-selling author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, Michael Michalowicz

The Meaasure of a Man: A resource for the ladies...

Taking measurements is a fairly simple process- a soft measuring tape and some basic instructions is all you need. But, measuring the man in your life requires a little more- more permission, more convincing...

"I thought size didn't matter..."
It is if you want to buy clothes that fit so that you look your best. Specifically, you want your guy to look his best ( a well-dressed man can be an excellent accessory!)

"But he hates shopping..."
He won't once he knows his actual size. Knowing his actual size will make it easier (and therefore more fun) to shop. A bonus: If you know his size, it will be easier for you to shop & buy him gifts.

Tell him he has your permission to have a Fit...

Start at the top and working your way down. Don’t forget to write everything down as you go so he’ll have the list for later.

1. Collar size: Simply measure around the base of his neck. If he intends to wear the shirt with a tie, the shirt size selected should closely match his exact collar measurement. However, a shirt to be worn without a tie may be purchased slightly larger (by about a 1/2 size) for comfort and a more casual look.


2. Chest size: Have him relax his arms at his sides and measure around the fullest part of his chest with the tape measure just below his armpits.


3. Overarm Measurement: Measure the circumference of his chest and arms (at the highest point of his shoulder blades). Subtract chest measurement from his overarm measurement. This measurement can be useful when buying a jacket or sportcoat- if the difference is 7 inches or greater, we recommend buying jackets one size larger for comfort and a better fit in the upper arms and shoulders.


4. Arm: Have him bend his elbow 90 degrees and place his hand on his hip. Stand behind him and hold the tape at the center back of his neck. Measure across his shoulder to his elbow, and down to his wrist. The total length in inches is his sleeve length.


5. Waist: Measure loosely (so he can breath) around his natural waistline. Many men wear trousers well below the natural waist, under the belly if they carry extra weight around the mid-section- but this can actually make him look heavier than he actually is. For belts, choose a size 1-2 inches larger than his actual waist size.


6. Rise: Rise refers to the distance between the top of a trouser’s waistband and the top of the trouser leg’s inseam (at the crotch). Measure his favorite (and best fitting) pants by measuring along the trouser's seam , or start from scratch (especially if his pants are too tight or too baggy through the buttocks, crotch and thighs). Guys under 5'9" often benefit from short rise pants.


7. Inseam: An inseam can be measured using a pair of pants that fit well (see ForTheFit.com's Style Guide for tips on perfect length). Measure from the crotch seam (where all the fabric meets), down the pant leg all the way to the end. If he does not have a pair of pants of the proper length right now, you’ll need at least pants that fit properly in the waist. From those you can judge where you want the pants to stop. Proper length may vary whether your man is wearing jeans or crisp dress pants, but never by more than an inch and a half. Also, you will want to take the inseam for each leg if you want to have custom pants made because the length may not be the same for each leg. Lastly, if his current trousers are regular rise and you are considering a switch to short rise, keep in mind that the new placement of the crotch will affect the inseam length- adjust accordingly.

And if he's really stubborn...

• Remind him how much more fun it could be taking measurements with you, than visiting his tailor- Earl


• Bribe him- a favorite meal, a massage, whatever it takes!


• Swap- he can take your measurements next. It can't hurt (too many women are slaves to the number on the tag- it's important to know your size, too- Plus, how much better will it be when his gifts to you are actually the right size.)


• Because you said so.


• Feeling frisky? Offer to take measurements... wearing nothing but the measuring tape. We doubt he'll say no.

Good luck (& Better Fit)!

Resource: "Men's Wardrobe and the Size Solution" About.com

Check out this video by stylist Kim Johnson Gross at About.com- it offers a few great tips for the various hard-to-fit sizes and shapes of Men- Big & Tall, Shorter Men, etc.

http://video.about.com/mensfashion/Men-s-Wardrobe-Size-Solutions.ht

Enjoy!

-C. Bova, CEO

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.

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

A Short Transition to the Holiday Season: Annual Short Men’s Gift Guide is up at ForTheFit.com

The Holiday Season seemed to kick in early for us at ForTheFit.com. Despite an overall weak economy, we saw a significant lift in Holiday Sales as early as October 1st - a fact for which we are very grateful to our new and repeat customer's alike! Nonetheless, we wanted to alert our readers to the fact that ForTheFit.com's annual Men's Holiday Gift Guide is up.

This year, in additional to our usual recommendations of short-inseam sweatpants and loungewear, we are proud to offer an assortment of more traditional and luxury gift items, sized for the shorter man.

[caption id="attachment_61" align="alignright" width="117" caption="Men's Short-Rise Charleston Khaki Cord, Exclusively at ForTheFit.com"][/caption]

For one, exclusively at ForTheFit.com, we are offering the Charleston Khaki brand of trousers in a short rise, corduroy model for the Fall/Winter season (supplies are limited, shop early for best selection).

We also have an assortment of sweaters (v-neck, crew and polo styles in silk, cotton & cashmere) available from Men's Size Extra-Small. We're also offering Outerwear in Leather, Suede & Fleeced (also from Size XS). Our favorite? The R-Tek Recycled Fleece Vest- it's warm, inexpensive ($39.99), eco-friendly, and sized from XS- it doesn't get better than this!

[caption id="attachment_60" align="alignleft" width="222" caption="Shown In Navy, from size XS, $39.99 at ForTheFit.com"][/caption]

For more, check out our Holiday Gift Guide.

Also, we haven't officially published the dates on our Home Page yet... but it appears that our cutoffs for Guaranteed Holiday Delivery are as follows:

Orders placed by December 10th at Midnight PST... guaranteed delivery for December 22nd

Orders placed by December 12th at Midnight PST...guaranteed delivery for December 24th

Beyond the dates above, we will do our best to get packages out in time for the Holidays, but we can make no promises (especially in the case of special order merchandise). Shop Early to ensure that your selections are available and delivered on time

Here's to a joyful (& stress-free!) Holiday Season for all,

C. Bova,

CEO, ForTheFit.com