Hunting for Mr. Right? Look high and low — but especially low. Celebrity fashion stylist Alan Au, client relations manager at the clothing boutique Jimmy Au's For Men 5'8" and Under in Beverly Hills, has dressed short-but-sweet stars from Mark Wahlberg to Michael J. Fox. In a revealing Q&A, he told us why a pint-sized guy might just be your ideal boyfriend. Why shouldn't women overlook shorter guys as future partners? "Considering lifelong companionship, shorter guys may be the better choice. If it holds true that shorter men don't have as many dating opportunities, if nothing else, I think shorter men would try harder to be funny, caring, empathetic, honest, hardworking — and just be a gentleman. In that case, the rationale might be that they are more loyal. A taller man might see himself as being able to get a girl whenever he wants and may be more likely to stray. Short, average and tall women seem to mostly prefer taller men, but one must consider what type of intimacy is important to the individual woman. Perhaps she enjoys cuddling and nuzzling, and height would play a role in that." "Plus, a healthy 160-pound, 5-foot-5 man is going to be a stronger protector than a healthy 160-pound, 5-foot-11 man. It's been well documented, pound for pound, shorter men have greater endurance, stronger muscles, faster reaction times, faster body movement and are less likely to break bones. Shorter men live longer. Shorter men have lower incidences of cardiovascular disease when comparing taller men with the same health conditions." If you're out on a date with a shorter man, do you have to wear flats so you won't tower over him? "Towering may be an issue if she were already taller than him, but I don't think you should judge, especially on a first date, that it might even be an issue. I know all too well that heels do make women taller, but more importantly I know it makes your legs shapelier. We love beautiful legs as much as the next guy. I don't believe that would be an issue for a shorter man. I've always dated taller women, and I've never had an issue with my dates wearing heels. I think women should dress like they normally would for a date. I think if after dating a while they notice it may be an issue, perhaps as a token of consideration they could wear flats." Any other dos and don'ts for going out with a shorter guy? "I think the issue with dating a shorter man has more to do with other taller men. When a shorter man appears with a taller date, some taller men somehow tend to think she's open for stealing away. I've seen taller men rudely strike up a conversation with someone's date just because he was shorter. It would be respectful to ignore such jerks." If a gal has a short boyfriend or husband and is trying to make over his style, what key wardrobe pieces would you suggest she pick out for him? "The key isn't about the pieces but about the style and fit of those pieces. Most short men wear their clothes too big, though [that's] partially not their fault because of the lack of options. The most important key is choosing styles that are proportioned well and flatter a shorter proportion. Some styles were never meant for shorter men, for example: baggy jeans, boxy suits, large pockets, tall collars, wide ties, etc. Every season there are multiple fashion trends. Steer clear of those that aren't flattering to him." "Second, if something is a little off, go to a good tailor and have lengths and fullness corrected to fit his body. Third, choose patterns that flatter his height and girth. Stripes tend to give the illusion of height. The wider you are, the wider the stripe. Plaids and checks need to be small or subdued so as not to overpower your entire body. Whether monochromatic or contrasting, try to keep lighter and brighter colors up to keep the attention near his face rather than toward his feet." "Lastly, if you are going to make over his style, make sure he likes it enough to own it. Confidence can make anything look better."