Short Shrifted

Whenever I come across style advice for short men in men’s magazines, on the internet, whatever: it’s always how to look taller than you are. Shirts with vertical stripes add height. Pants without pleats or cuffs lengthen legs. Elevator shoes, well, elevate.

It’s good advice. And I definitely employ some of those tactics in my wardrobe. But it all runs together after awhile. Is trying to look taller the only option you have? Marc Bolan, T. Rex’s foppish front man, didn’t think so. Besides penning such memorable tunes as “Jeepster” and “Get It On”, the “cosmic elf” was an icon of glam-rock fashion — and totally comfortable with his height (estimated as everywhere from 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-seven).

Recently, I picked up a copy of You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, a memoir of swinging London by Simon Napier-Bell (Bolan’s manager, among other things). It’s a fun, bawdy tour covering all the sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll that you’d expect. One of my favorite parts, though, is his description of his first meeting with the young, little known and unsigned Bolan. It’s a great story in its own right. But notice Bolan’s utter embrace of and confidence in his short stature. So refreshing:

There was never anyone more sure of himself or to the point than Marc Bolan. He got hold of my home number and called me early one evening. ‘I’m a singer and I’m going to be the biggest British rock star ever, so I need a good manager to make all the arrangements.’

Napier-Bell tells him to send a tape to his office. Why don’t I just show up and play for you, says Marc. Napier-Bell hates it when aspiring singers do that, but relents.

Nevertheless, I had to let him do it because the instant he walked through the door he came across with the one thing that is most needed but is most lacking in all rock stars. It’s what people call star quality, but in reality it’s nothing more than the artist seeing himself as the essential material of his own art. He devises his own unique image and lifestyle and projects them to everyone around him.

Recipe for a dandy if I ever heard one. And it also sounds a bit like another short dandy of note. But here’s the best part:

Marc, five foot two and with a mop of black curly hair, was dressed in Dickensian street-urchin clothes and, unlike most small people, he was delighted with his size. He played down to it. He saw himself in miniature, as a sort of pixie rock star. To further diminish himself he chose my biggest armchair and sat in it, cross-legged. He put a capo on the neck of his guitar and said, ‘I don’t play guitar too well but the songs are fantastic. You’re going to love them.’

I love that story. I love that he’s actually trying to make himself look even shorter than he is. And because of his self-confidence, he’s totally able to command attention despite his size. If nothing else, it’s an important reminder to feel comfortable in your own skin. And that it’s OK to break the “rules” of fashion sometimes.

MORE SHORT-RELATED MARC BOLAN-NESS

To learn more about Marc Bolan’s life and music, check out the Official Marc Bolan Fan Club. The good folks there helped me out with much of the information in this article (both above and below). My thanks to Susu, Barry, Val, Delf, and John. For more little bits and bobs, read on:

Andrew Means on Marc’s glam get-up (Melody Maker, January 6, 1973):

Marc is absurd, but at least he’s a star — even if his pink tail coat and silver trousers are several sizes too big, even if his stage movements are as comical as a frightened ostrich’s.

Wow. I guess even short rock stars sometimes have trouble finding clothes that fit.

Michael Watts on Marc’s height and look (Melody Maker, November 20, 1971):

Standing at not much more than five foot, he looks, with his tousled hair, soft features and delicate mouth, like a 19th century illustrator’s idea of a changeling; a character from The Ingoldsby Legends, or The Water Babies maybe, if that’s not too ludicrous a comparison

Marc on Marc:

“With my Les Paul, I know I’m small but I enjoy living anyway, yes I do!”
– “Spaceball Ricochet” by T. Rex

This entry was posted on Monday, September 15th, 2008 at 11:32 pm and is filed under Style Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.