# Tired of this (being short) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 29, 2026, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654 "2026-04-29T21:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/81 "2026-05-07T15:12:48Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Men have “Big & Tall” stores. There are no “Short & Average Build” stores. This brought to my mind a scene from the TV series _Taxi_. Louie (played by Danny Devito, who is 4’10"), commented on his struggle with his height, and how embarrassing it was to buy clothes in the “Husky Boys” department. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/82 "2026-05-07T15:41:39Z")
I’m typical height, albeit now shrinking. But I was always skinny; real skinny. Men’s “small” shirts fit me like tents. etc. Into my 30s I was shopping in the teen boys department. And I used to bitch mightily about being stuck with age-inappropriate styles. At an age where looking younger than reality was not a goal. Sorta punchline here being a hefty percentage of all men (and even more women) find themselves out of the mainstream size or proportion zone for clothing. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/83 "2026-05-07T16:29:29Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Doesn’t mean I’m not blessed with the “default” height for an American, but it’s those _expectations_ and comparisons that we often base our assumptions on. Yes, I was always just a hair under 5’4" until I starting shrinking as I aged (now about 5’3"), but I come from a tallish family. It was difficult not to compare myself with my siblings and think I should be taller. But what can you do? I also tend to prefer men on the short side…they don’t tend to rely on their looks as much and can be more interesting, funnier, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/84 "2026-05-07T16:37:42Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I had to buy a sewing machine At times I’ve bought pants and had them altered to change them. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/85 "2026-05-07T17:45:22Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Men have “Big & Tall” stores. There are no “Short & Average Build” stores. Sure there are: - [https://ashanderie.com/](https://ashanderie.com/) - [https://www.under510.com/](https://www.under510.com/) - [https://oteromenswear.com/](https://oteromenswear.com/) ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/86 "2026-05-07T18:22:34Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Women have “petites” stores. Women’s petites almost always also have short rise in the pants. I need a long rise and short inseam. You can actually get closer than that combination in men’s pants than in women’s; though if you’re my height or shorter you can’t get them short enough. Women’s petite shirts, aside from often limited selection, are also often narrow in the arms, and unusable if you’re either muscular or fat, lrt alone if you’re both. If you’ve got lots of money, you may be able to afford clothes that fit, if necessary by paying to have them altered. If you’re good at sewing and have the time, you can alter them yourself. I’m broke, bad at sewing, and busy. I go around with my sleeves and pant legs rolled up a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/87 "2026-05-07T19:19:23Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Sure there are Notice that two of those stores are for men under 5’ 10" and one is for men under 5’ 9". Remember that the average adult man in the U.S. is 5’ 9.5". I suspect that those stores are mostly for men only slightly under the average height. It sounds to me like there are men out there who are 5’ 8" who have friends are 6’ 1" who are annoyed that his friends refer to him as being short while they are of average height, despite the fact that 5’ 8" is closer to the average height than 6’ 1" is. I think that people in general tend to overestimate the average height of people. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/88 "2026-05-07T19:40:45Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Nope. It turned out that I inherited recessive genes from both of my grandmothers, which gave me somewhat short limbs for the length of my torso – as one of my maternal aunts, who got her mother’s build, told me, “we have the ‘Yoda Build.’” I topped out at 5’10", but I only have a 30" inseam; all of my height is in my torso. I’m the opposite, which is something that runs in my family. Most of my height is in my legs. I’m 5’-9-1/2”, but my inseam is 32”. Which means my torso is relatively short. I sit shorter than most people, which is frustrating in a theater or stadium. And my knees usually hit the seat ahead of me in an airplane. But I have a very long stride when walking. My expected height based on the formula above is a little over 5’-10”. I’ve been convinced for years I robbed myself of some height by food restrictions to keep my weight down for wrestling my freshman year in high school… And to the OP, maybe read the [Vorkosigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-vorkosigan-books/1024913) books for inspiration? I read them over 30 years ago, and still remember being impressed with the short protagonist who is driven to succeed despite his physical disabilities. On the screen, there’s Peter Dinklage, who has played many roles as a confident person despite his height. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/89 "2026-05-07T20:02:56Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Peter Dinklage, who has played many roles as a confident person despite his height. And often roles that weren’t written for a short person. Same with Danny DeVito. Neither guy seems to be lacking in confidence. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/90 "2026-05-07T20:48:53Z")
Going back to our OP, they tell us the have several obstacles beyond just the height issue. But by focusing on the one that is utterly, positively, completely, immutable, they make their situation worse. Work on the others to the degree you can and oddly enough the height will partly take care of itself. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/91 "2026-05-07T20:53:38Z")
I’m a short woman, though the tallest in my immediate family. I’ve had some success clothes shopping if I’m in a country where I’m closer to the female body type. Not an option for everyone, but, for example, in Mexico I’ve found pants that fit. ---
**Author:** ![TekirKedi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tekirkedi/32/19028_2.png) [@TekirKedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TekirKedi)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/92 "2026-05-07T21:12:04Z")
Nope…happens in grocery stores, hardware stores, dollar stores, and shopping malls with males who are Caucasian (older) and males who are Southeast Asian (usually young); does not happen with females at all. I appear very Caucasian in appearance. Southeast Asian students that I taught were surprised to hear that my great-grandmother on maternal side was born in India.), and it has happened before, during and after Covid, with a mask and without. Usually I am wearing a red coat, well groomed…short of wearing signs and flashing lights…I can’t see how what I wear makes me invisible. And I did mention this in passing to a tall much younger colleague a decade ago and he replied that his short wife says the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/93 "2026-05-08T00:29:26Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > I suspect that those stores are mostly for men only slightly under the average height. They have pants with inseams down to 25". I’m 5’ 5" and have a proportionally long torso. My inseam is 28" so I’m pretty sure these stores work for men at 5’ 2". It’s always going to be hard to find good fitting clothing for those away from the top of the bell curve, but it’s better now than it has ever been. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/94 "2026-05-08T02:41:31Z")
Yeah, but $158 for jeans?! I get it’s more or less a specialty item, but that’s crazy. I’ll just keep buying cheap pants from amazon in the waist I need and hemming the legs on my own. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/95 "2026-05-08T02:44:15Z")
Do tall men have problems getting clothes that fit them? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/96 "2026-05-08T12:37:25Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Yeah, but $158 for jeans?! One of those stores has jeans for about $60, there’s a range of styles and costs. At least one of those brands is fairly upscale. > [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Do tall men have problems getting clothes that fit them? Yes, there are specialty stores for them as well. Tall women have it worse, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/97 "2026-05-08T13:11:53Z")
In the sense of almost never buying off the shelf, yeah. At 6’7", and comparatively long-limbed even at that height, it’s rare to find long-legged pants and long-sleeve shirts that fit adequately. Internet shopping has been a real help; large-and-tall shops exist, but not many in my shopping area and none very close. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/98 "2026-05-08T18:53:15Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I’m a short woman, though the tallest in my immediate family. I’ve had some success clothes shopping if I’m in a country where I’m closer to the female body type. I just saw a youtube short yesterday showing short people who moved to Amsterdam (dam dam dam), showing towel bars, chairs/benches, and clothes for the average Dutch person, but were wildly oversized for shorter people. > [@gnoitall](#): > > Internet shopping has been a real help; large-and-tall shops exist, but not many in my shopping area and none very close. My younger sister is tallish (5’8"), and she doesn’t like ordering online for clothes, because she hates the hassle of returning things if she doesn’t like them. Some people always have an excuse! ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/99 "2026-05-08T23:38:21Z")
I’m on the shorter side, as is my wife and children. When someone brags about how tall their kids are getting, we’ll comment to ourselves, “Poor thing. Imagine how uncomfortable sports cars and airplane seats are for them.” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2026, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/100 "2026-05-09T05:00:49Z")
The only real practical advice I can offer the OP is: lift weights. When I was younger, I was somewhat skinny-fat and not very tall (5’8”, which put me just to the shorter side of the male height bell curve). I had a good job, no particular hygiene issues, a nice smile, and a fairly decent intellect. But, I always had trouble attracting women. Not to say that it didn’t ever happen, but it was a lot of fishing for a very small catch. I made friends with a guy at work, and he basically dragged me to his gym. I quickly came to like lifting weights, and I found that doing so had a rather unexpected side-effect: I was no longer “invisible.” Not to say that getting more muscular solved all my dating problems, but it sure helped. First of all, it gives you more self-confidence, which is probably more important than the actual muscles. But - the muscles really help. If you are in a social setting, often times women will ignore you just by seeing you across the room. If you give them something to look at, your chances of meeting them are increased by a lot. And - even if dating isn’t your main concern, it really helps with male relationships, too. Other men tend to respect a stronger guy more than one who isn’t. Just my 2¢ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654.md?page=6)