In person, Longfellow was rather below middle height, broad shouldered and well built.
His hair was silver, his body broad-shouldered and muscular.
Many strapless gowns have a lot of construction needed to hold the top in place, often creating a boxy, broad-shouldered look or an unbecoming bulging area across the back.
Broad-shouldered types will benefit from a suit that minimizes the top.
It was in 1857 that Bayard Taylor saw him, and carried away the impression of a man "tall and broad-shouldered as a son of Anak, with hair, beard and eyes of southern darkness."