Short Kings: These Brands Actually Make Clothes For You

Filling a closet with quality garments THAT ACTUALLY FIT may be one of the tallest tasks facing us short kings. Well, those of us that care about fashion at least. If you’re like me the last thing you want to do after a long, tiring day of overcompensating is troll through store after store of beautiful items, only to have your hopes dashed when the product you desire is sold out in size S. Or caters to people buying XXL, but not XS. Sizing issues can often be overcome via the women’s or kid’s section, but again, we’re going for both style and sizing here, so if you don’t feel very manly purchasing underwear emblazoned with “Love Me” on the butt or jeans so tight you need to be cut out of them, believe me when I say I hear yah. If having all your clothes tailored isn’t a financial option, and you can’t rock shin-length cargo shorts from Costco as well as my father (the style icon) does, here are some brands I’d suggest checking out:

1.) Madhappy

Frustrating as it may be to find clothes fit for a short king, it’s important to remain optimistic. Enter Madhappy, “Your Local Optimist Group” here to elevate both your mood and style. Madhappy promotes a lifestyle of optimism that begins with comfortable fashionability. Their premium heavyweight fabric certainly makes me feel like smiling. This fabric not only feels great but is durable as hell and with sizes ranging from XS-XXL in a casually chic mode, they’ll keep you happy and cozy for quite some time. If I could levy one complaint It would be that Madhappy prints their logos onto their garments instead of stitching them. so while their fabric is incredibly durable their designs may crack and peel if don’t turn your clothes inside-out before washing them.

2.) August McGregor

The brainchild of ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor and celebrity stylist David Heil, August McGregor has something for everyone. From casual shirts and polos made of premium, thinly woven cotton, to their “cut-to-order” dress shirts and trousers, quality and practicality both shine. Despite being the taller fighter in almost every matchup he’s had, ‘The Notorious’ is no slouch when it comes to suiting smaller men. Perhaps Conor felt the need to give something back to the boatload of short, stocky light-and-featherweight fighters that he has demolished throughout his prolific UFC career. Or maybe Nate Diaz (6’1) ridiculing Conor’s (comparably) smaller 5’9 stature at every UFC 196 press junket awakened him to our plight. In any event, you can find a garment for pretty much any occasion here. AM’s website suggests ordering a size up for added comfort when it comes to their casual clothes, which is appreciated as it essentially turns a size S into XS. A win in my book. AM makes my short list.

3.) Carhartt WIP

For all my stockier brethren out there, I give you Carhartt WIP. Originally a workwear company, Carhartt has made quite a splash in mainstream culture as of late. Collaborations with the likes of Supreme and Nike, plus features in magazines such as HYPEBEAST and Highsnobiety have pushed Carhartt into the spotlight of youth culture. Carhartt has managed to balance this attention with its traditional workwear roots. Meaning they produce comfortable, durable goods which even the most discerning of eyes will acknowledge as fashionable. If you’re a skater, a BBQ boss dad, or just a guy trying to get comfy in a baggy t-shirt, you’ll find something at Carhartt WIP.

4.) KITH

From humble workwear to bona fide streetwear, Kith is the most niche and insider brand we’ve covered thus far. Online they offer a variety of house brand and third-party products from other high-profile brands for men, women, and children. Their physical stores in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and London offer all said apparel plus a branded food dessert menu (!!!).‘Kith Treats’ offers indulgent cereal bowls named after celebrities affiliated with the brand, as well as milkshakes and ice cream swirls. A portion of Kith’s popularity is undoubtedly due to this playful energy the brand exhibits. The only thing consumers may not find so fun about Kith is their price tags. At over $90 for a t-shirt, investing in a Kith product is not something to be done lightly. Pricing complaints aside, you do get what you pay for: quality and branding. Kith is an incredibly prolific streetwear brand that will certainly draw nods of approval from those in the know. Kith’s understated style and garment quality are undeniable and their offering of XS sizes for both men and women make them a pleasure to shop with. Kith is an enjoyable but rare personal indulgence. 

5.) Superdry

I bought my first pair of Superdry shorts in New York City almost four years ago and they’re still going strong. They remain a wardrobe staple and one of my favourite pieces of casual clothing to wear. Superdry is, again, a more casual option. But hey, if we're having a professional suit tailored then sizing isn’t really an issue, right? Superdry remains a staple due to its casual quality and nifty Japanese-inspired designs. They tout reasonable prices and offer XS-4XL in most men’s products. Plus, they have international websites, removing many of the shipping roadblocks that us Canadians often deal with.

6.) Frank & Oak

Montreal’s Frank & Oak offers quality hipster basics that are unbeatable at their price. Jeans, jackets, trousers, blazers…you name it, Frank & Oak has it. They do (as most companies in this article) offer a size range of XS to XL, making them all the more accessible. Speaking of accessibility, their stores have cropped up all over the place. I personally have two within a 30-minute drive of me. Their customer service is always excellent and their online delivery times trend towards the quick side. If you want to pull of a casual look without paying through your nose for it, Frank and Oak is the answer. Plus, they offer ‘Style Plan’ a service in which they will gather information about your style preferences and send you a box of new garments each month to keep your wardrobe rotation fresh!