I’m not tall, and my first Aimé Leon Dore sweatshirt made that obvious. It hung off my shoulders, the sleeves covered half my hands, and the hem landed lower than I’d ever want. Honestly the sweatshirt was fine, it was my size choice that wasn’t, because I’d gone up one like everyone online says to. If you’re around 5'7" or shorter, that advice can backfire fast. The boxy cut can still work really well on you once you sort out three things: size, hem length and what goes under it. Here’s how I’d handle each one, plus a few checks you can do at home before you buy.

Why My First One Looked Wrong

A boxy top does something odd to a smaller frame. Wide, long top, short legs underneath, and the top ends up https://aimeleon.us/ winning the argument. A friend of mine who’s 6 feet can wear the same sweatshirt and look casual, while I end up looking like the sweatshirt is wearing me.The roomy shape is the reason people love the brand, so I wouldn’t skip it. Three things are in your hands here: the size, the hem and the trousers. Get those right and the loose cut stops fighting you.

Getting the Size Right on an Aimé Leon Dore Sweatshirt

Go with the size you usually wear. Most guys my height go up one because the look is meant to be slouchy, and honestly that’s the main mistake, since the cut already has plenty of room.Before ordering, I’d do this. Lay a sweatshirt you already like flat on the bed, then measure across the chest and from the collar down to the hem. Put those numbers next to the brand’s size chart, which takes maybe two minutes. Stuck between two sizes? Take the smaller one. A snug sweatshirt keeps the boxy shape tidy, while the bigger one just means extra cloth swinging around you by lunchtime.

Shoulders and Sleeves Tell You a Lot

Look at the shoulder seam first. It should land on the edge of your shoulder bone, maybe a touch past it. When it slides halfway down your upper arm, the sweatshirt is too big, and nothing you wear with it will hide that.Sleeves matter just as much. The cuff should stop around your wrist bone. If the sleeves bunch into thick folds over your hands, your arms look shorter and you look smaller inside the whole thing. Pushing them up your forearm now and then is okay, though I wouldn’t do it all day, because the cuffs stretch and don’t really spring back.

Where the Hem Should Sit on an ALD Sweatshirt

This is the part most short guys miss, me included. Belt line is where I want the hem, give or take an inch. Anything lower and I can watch my legs shrink in the mirror, and the whole outfit feels top-heavy.A quick mirror test helps. Stand straight with your arms down and see where the hem lands. If it covers your back pockets completely, it’s too long for your height.The ribbed band at the bottom does some good here, because it grips the fleece and lets the body puff out a little instead of hanging like a tent. That tiny bit of shape makes your waist look higher than it actually is.

Colors That Stretch You Out a Bit

Color can add inches without anyone noticing. Keep your sweatshirt and trousers close in tone, like navy over dark blue denim or grey over charcoal, and that unbroken line from chest to ankle makes you look taller.Contrast isn’t banned, though. Cream over dark indigo jeans looks great, but it puts a line across your waist, so keep the hem at your belt line and that line sits where it should. Forest green works too. I’d let the sweatshirt be the only loud thing in the outfit and keep everything under it quiet, since two loud pieces fight each other and your height usually loses.

What Goes on Your Legs

I reach for straight-leg trousers or slim-straight jeans. Go skinny and the top looks enormous, go really wide and your legs disappear. What you want runs straight down and narrows just a touch at the ankle.Rise matters more than people expect. Mid or high rise pulls your waistline up, which makes your legs look longer under a loose top. Low rise does the reverse. Hems count too. A little stack at the ankle is okay, a pile of fabric isn’t, and a clean break or slight crop with a flash of sock keeps everything long. I’ve had good luck with stone chinos, charcoal wool trousers and dark indigo jeans.

Shoes That Keep Your Legs Looking Long

Go for slim shoes close in tone to your trousers, since they carry the leg line down to the floor. Loafers, suede derbies and low leather sneakers all do it, and the New Balance 550 that ALD released with the brand looks clean with jeans.Chunky running shoes are the ones I’d leave in the closet. They add weight at the bottom, and that weight makes the legs above them look shorter. If you love a thicker sole, go for a sleek one in a dark shade so it doesn’t take over the outfit.

Tucking, Jackets and Scarves

People always ask about tucking. A full tuck looks bulky because fleece is thick, so I skip it. A small front tuck, just enough to show the waistband, can work, and so can leaving it out with the hem at your belt line.For jackets, keep things short. A thin coat that ends at your hip is fine, while a long coat over a boxy top adds length you don’t need, unless it stops around mid-thigh. Hoods and thick scarves I’d avoid with this look. Both pile bulk around your neck and shoulders, so you look wider rather than taller.

Before You Hit Order

Before you order an Aimé Leon Dore sweatshirt, ask yourself three things. Does the body length on the size chart end near your hip bone? Does the shoulder width match your own measurement? Do you already own trousers in a matching tone?If all three are a yes, go ahead. When it arrives, keep the tags on until you’ve tried it with your own pants and shoes in front of a mirror, because that’s the only test that counts. Change one detail at a time, and you’ll know pretty quickly what works for your height.

FAQs

What size Aimé Leon Dore sweatshirt should a short guy buy?
Go with your normal size, and drop to the smaller one if you’re between two. The cut is roomy already, so sizing up mostly adds extra cloth.

Will an Aimé Leon Dore sweatshirt make me look shorter?
It can, if the hem goes well past your hips or the shoulder seams sag down your arms. Pick the right size, keep the hem near your belt line, and it looks balanced.

What color looks best on short guys?
Tones close to your trousers, like navy with dark denim or grey with charcoal, make your line look longer. If you go with contrast, keep the hem at your belt line.

Should short guys tuck in an ALD sweatshirt?
A full tuck looks bulky with thick fleece. A small front tuck, or leaving it out with the hem at your belt line, looks cleaner.

What should I wear on the bottom half with this sweatshirt?
Straight chinos, slim-straight jeans or slightly cropped trousers. Keep the ankle clean and stay away from low-rise cuts.