Intro

BigRob welcomes you to his Added Inches guide of Twelve Tremendous TALL ideas about adding height and wearing elevators. This guide is about Getting Started: now it’s pretty easy, but some extra ideas and thoughts can help you get the most from your desire to add inches.

Why this guide? Well it’s handy to know a little about working out how high you should go right at the outset. Or what you might go for if you want to get taller all the time but haven’t got the budget, or want to try ideas out first. Throughout, I link to longer pieces I have written on subjects in the guide. LOADS to read…

It brings you the facts from a guy who wears elevators every day and just LOVES doing so. That’s me! It’s basically about looking at yourself, choosing stuff that you can wear a lot at first and gradually adding more – both in styles and also in inches upwards! Take the plunge. Come on in. The added height is FAB

About me

I’m BigRob and I write regular pieces for the GuidoMaggi site. I have been adding height since I was 17, almost 20 years.

I myself travelled an interesting journey. Elevators were a big no no when I started 20 years ago (they were *$@#&* awful) so it was lifts. I work in nightclubs and party organizing and am based in the UK and Europe – in came the great period of flared jeans revival so I could add way more lifts than normal, all hidden in boots under an enormous flare. Once flares gave way to skinnies I had to think again! Having added up to 3” in lifts I did not want to drop down. No way. So I looked again at elevators and WOW it had all changed in 10 years: my choice was GuidoMaggi. OK, expensive…but quality and choice and something totally new in elevators. Style. Mainstream and fashion. Choice. Sizes. At last.

4” Ischias in black, then a year or so later 5” Shanghais in a steely grey…and then my prized 6” Hong Kong boots. I also wear the Giant Cougar sneakers as well. I go up and down a bit around 4” to 6” – that’s me. And I LOVE IT!

So here it is…

 1  Why want to be taller? Weird or what?

 Some guys feel almost shame about wanting to improve their appearance. Forget all that. Life has changed. Wanting to be taller is as natural as wanting to have a bigger body, or a better fitting suit or great hair. Nothing unusual or odd about it.

https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/the-great-things-about-being-taller/

If you ever thought even vaguely “Just a couple more inches would be GREAT”…or “I wanna get MASSSSSSSIVE” or “I wanna get bigger than him up the road, or at least as big”, then this guide is for you. If ever you thought: “Elevators are a big no, everyone can tell,” then this updates your perspective.

I am giving you my 20 years of experience since my teens to open your eyes to the possibilities in adding height and take down some of the myths and legends.  It answers those fears about detection, and it shows you how the market has changed in the past few years.

There is Nothing Odd about Wanting to be Taller – write that 100 times (or more) until you finally realise it’s true.

2   Why buy elevators?

 Elevators were once a drastic option for very short men. EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED. Now they are a natural choice even for relatively tall guys – the styles and sizes cover all guys/all ages and they really are a first stop rather than something you just go for after wearing lifts. https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/why-wear-elevators-or-add-height/

Every bit of footwear in your wardrobe adds height, even the humble flipflop. But elevators add height in all types of shoes undetectably, even the flattest officewear. Your usual shop-bought shoe to wear with a suit adds an inch or 2.5cm, maybe a little more. But a near identical pair with undetectable elevators can add 2”, 3” … or even 4” (6cm to 10cm) in some styles. And comfortably. And undetectably.

And that extra few inches of added height is now in footwear that just looks like a normal shoe or boot – the only difference is that they are better quality.

https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/why-buy-elevators/

3  What’s wrong with just buying lifts

 There’s nothing wrong with a low level of lifts in normal footwear as a very cheap way of showing to yourself (and therefore to others) how adding height is just not detectable. Put an inch or two in a boot and see if anyone notices. They will not. In fact I recommend you do have lifts for footwear that you like and want to carry on wearing.

Lifts are often the first port of call which make you realise: “Hmmmm I CAN add height and amazingly no-one realises”. But they are NOT usually comfortable. The experience is NOTHING like wearing properly made elevators. It’s important not to try lifts and then take the wrong lesson that all height addition isn’t comfortable.

So yes, by all means try them to show in a limited way (up to 2”) how height addition works aesthetically. And to prepare you for the Real Thing. Lifts are not for the reality of ongoing day to day adding more than an inch or so – that is where properly made quality elevators come in.

4 Make a plan

The first guide was about your lifestyle and elevators, so read that for general stuff. But this is specifically about what you do right when you set out to buy your first pair and when you start to add height. Give it thought. Think about where you want to appear taller most, and when. At work, at play, on nights out, all the time? And how much height do you want to add, ideally? And what can you afford?

You do not have to do it all at once, but it is worth planning.

https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/getting-the-very-max-from-your-elevators-gradualness/

Otherwise you will worry that you are a lot taller in some situations than others. It’s no point me telling you that people do not notice (they don’t!) because unless you have a plan you will think that people CAN tell you are different heights!! The plan involves an idea of your priorities (work first, casual?) and how to make yourself taller on other occasions, using lifts and/or thicker soles for the occasions on which you do not at present have good elevators.

On the next 4 pages I am giving you the plan that 4 very different contacts of mine did after we discussed it. All of this was based upon my own journey, but that was unplanned and over two decades. This is much shorter.

5 Mark’s plan, just under 6’ (183cm), age 27

 Mark works in insurance in a very big firm in London. He works long hours and is just under 6’ tall. A good height but he was desperate to be much taller and came to me for advice in 2016. This is the plan we made…

Mark’s aim: “I want to be several inches taller at work as I have some enormous built colleagues that I want to either equal (or get taller than!). I’m nervous about the 4” (10cm) shoes first off even though they appear flat. I always wear lifts as you suggest, which add 1” or 2”. I do not want anything for work with a thick sole. I currently wear lifts successfully in all circumstances. I can’t afford to buy it all now, but ideally I would like to start on my work, and move to the more casual later. I wear Timberlands and Nikes with lifts for casual.

Advice: 4” boots like my Ischias (wingtip/brogue styles) are undetectable, specially at your height. Buy a style like that first (there are loads) as you can actually wear them anywhere (a club, the office, casual). If you are bothered about 4”, then go or a 3” style but DO NOT go lower or you will too soon want to go higher. Remember you are already adding height through lifts. Start now with the 4” pair, and carry on using lifts in the casual and workwear boots. If your budget runs to a new pair a year, go for the casual boots next and then the sneakers. Go for the higher 5” boots for casual and the 4” sneakers. And trust me once you have used 4” boots at your height you can EASILY go for the 6”.

6 Max’s plan, almost 5’8” (172cm), age 45

Max is 45, works as a surveyor in Germany. He meets many taller guys in his work in construction and just wants to match up. He wears work boots much of the time: although he DOES have to go to meetings, he can get away with more casual and often wears work-style boots, or slightly smarter versions.

Max’s aim: “At my height, 5’8” (172cm), I find that a lot of guys are taller than me. I am not bothered about being TALLER than others, I just want to be at the same level. I put lifts in my workboots and that, with the thicker sole, DOES raise me quite substantially. But if I can get from being below average to above average that would just be superb. At some point, maybe a raised pair of more formal dress shoes might be good as well”

Advice: “You are in the truly ideal position to add height. Workboots hide a multitude of possibilities and if you HAVE to wear them for work then you can add height right up to the 6” boots with no detection as everyone is wearing them. Get yourself some of the thicker 5” boots and you will get to 6 foot easily. My best advice is to also get at some point some 6” boots, you will not regret it, and then a 4” pair of office shoes. The inch or two here or there will make no difference in perception and style.

Another similar guy

https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/aiming-to-reach-average-height-or-just-over-a-case-study/

 7 Rogier’s plan, 6’3” (190cm), age 22

 Rogier works in a club/bar in Amsterdam and he is in a very similar position to myself. He is 22, tall – 6’3” – but wanted to be taller than any of the clients: Dutch guys are among the tallest on earth. Casual is the key, and all the current styles in clothes and appearance are important.

Rogier’s aim: “It sounds insane but I go in some nights and I am like below average. Our bar floor area is raised, but only by a few cm and one night there were 40 guys there and not one was shorter than me. Surreal. I like being the tallest and want to recapture my crown. I wear sneakers and big boots all the time with ultra stretch second-skin skinnies. Make me BIIIIIG”

Advice: “Easy for me to relate to and frankly your case is simple. It took me years because stuff wasn’t available, but just go for the biggest 6” boots and 5” sneakers – try to get a couple of pairs of each over the next few years and make sure that they fit with the jeans and pants you wear. Add lifts in right now to what you are wearing if you aren’t already. It means you will immediately add an inch or two. You CAN wear 6” boots with skinnies in a way that fits snugly where the hem meets the boot, but do not put more lifts in them!! You will almost always (99%) of the time be the tallest. And no-one will notice you have grown.”

Here’s another tall guy https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/big-guy-wants-to-be-massive-crazy-case-study-3/

8  Rick’s plan, 5’5” (165cm), age 42

 Rick is the director of a fashion retailer in the USA. He has always wanted to add height but is concerned above all that no-one should find out. He dresses in a casual smart way that suits his business and he can get away with a lot. He has worn lifts on and off but finds them uncomfortable.

Rick’s aim: “I am uncomfortable adding too much at my height and just want to be generally ‘a bit taller’. Maybe push it further later. I like looking generally quite smart but always casual and I want footwear that goes absolutely with what I like. Generally flat. When I tried Chelsea or cowboy boot styles, which I love, I found that it looked like I was trying to add height.”

Advice: “This is one of those cases where ‘go easy and gradual’ is the best approach – stick to 3” styles (up to around 8cm) and there are many in the range that are both fashionable and classic. It is at this level that anyone who is cautious should enter the game. 3” shoes are completely undetectable in all circumstances (do not go any lower imho). The choice is huge at this level – and later if you get accustomed, go for a 4” pair.

9     your very first pair

 Choosing the style of your first pair of elevators is totally a matter for your own taste. But there are some pretty basic guidelines. Go for what you can wear a lot so you get the best out of them. Unless you have already been wearing lifts, then it’s best to start with something up to the 3” (8cm) area, 4” if you are above average height.

https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/why-buy-elevators/

This is not because of detection, but because you yourself will feel more at ease. You will just be amazed at that level that you will feel taller, but not so drastic that anyone actually comments. And 3” or 4” is a helluva lot. Remember, most stuff like sneakers, work boots and Timberlands add a fair bit of height already so you are not actually adding 3” or 4” in total height to where you are now, specially if you already wear lifts.

It also depends upon your personal style – if you want to generally appear taller day to day, then go for something very neutral and work oriented. Depending upon your work. Start with what you currently wear and feel most comfortable in, go for something like that up to 4” and you are well on your way.

10   Detection – “everyone can TELL”…Nope

 “Aaaargh, everybody will be able to tell”  – that’s what I thought at first. NO THEY CAN’T. Wearing lifts and then 3 or 4 inch elevtors are undetectable in quality properly-made elevators.

https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/ups-and-downs-surely-people-notice-if-your-height-varies/

Yes, if you are 5”6”, you cannot just turn around and be 6’4”.  But no-one is ever suggesting that. Or shouldn’t be!

I was lucky as I graduated over the years through the inches and long ago realised that people just could not tell. I went from, say 2” of lifts and then onto my elevators and now wear 6” boots pretty much all the time.

https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/will-my-mates-be-able-to-tell/

If you really fear detection and it still puts you off (in the back of your mind), go for the  elevators between about 3 inches (8cm), and 4” (10cm) if taller- these will never be detectable unless you tell someone! You will be amazed that no-one notices but you will KNOW you are taller. Result. But if you have started wearing lifts beforehand, even if just for a few weeks, then I really do say “go for the 4 inch version if you like the style”.

11 – Do not fear detection – a case history. Ryan

I tell you this story because it proves the old point about even those closest to you not noticing your added height, specially when you plan it. Only the names have changed but it is exactly what happened…

At 18, Ryan was determined to get taller than his brother Jake and be the tallest of his group of friends. About to go off to college, he wore sneakers and big boots and added lifts up to about 2”. “Much more was not comfortable even when I bought the boots in a size or two larger,” he says. But by now, he has gotten everyone used to him being 2” taller. “No sweat, no-one even had a vague idea. No-one gave it thought. I was amazed. So next stop was a pair of elevators like my own current boots,” he says and he swallowed hard and bought a pair of 4” boots.

Back home from college and he had now slightly overtaken his disconcerted brother. “But my brother just did not realise anything. He is such a pain in the ass he would say something if he did realise”. And getting on for a year later he finally got some 6” boots. And back home he was now casually taller than his bro. “I am now seen as the tallest by all the guys,” he says and no-one ever really knew where that came from. He DID gradually do it, but the key is that it worked and he could have stopped had he wanted to. But graduated all the way to his 6” boots over a three year period. More on detection…

https://www.guidomaggi.com/blog-en/who-do-you-tell/

12  Some hints and tips

1     Before buying anything, start now with some lifts. Get a mix of low-ish ones to higher ones and experiment. Make sure you are comfortable and not restricted. You will be amazed that no-one notices you have added an inch or two.

2     Remember – all footwear is elevated. The humble flip flop adds half an inch or so, up to the 1.5” of the Timberland and biggest sneakers. Remember that if you are worrying about buying a 3” or 4” pair of boots – well it’s not actually THAT much more is it?  From your 1.5” Nikes with an inch of lift added to a 4” pair of (ultra comfortable) elevators is just a nice little step up, isn’t it?

3     People do not notice – a dramatic height addition on someone well below average height would be noticed, but gradualness is amazing. People are not that aware of gradual change in others, and that applies generally. Yes if you tell someone, they think they can tell. But they cannot if you don’t. Don’t tell anyone.

4     Do a road test on everything you use. Whether an inch of lifts or those fab 6” boots, walk to the shops or mall, or just do a couple of chores out and go home. After one or two short trips, you will know “yeah, they’re cool, I feel totally comfortable and can spend the day in them or a long trip”.