Tall women often struggle to find suitable, comfortable and stylish clothing for themselves. This tends to be because big/tall fashion that they do find often misses the mark, or alternatively because most outfits are made for a certain ‘average’ size and frame. As a result the size guide goes out the window for tall women.
Often tall women find themselves reaching for that XXL garment hoping that it will be a solution to all their problems. Unfortunately this isn’t an appropriate solution as the garment proportions still aren’t right and you could still be walking around with what feels like a permanent wedgie. If a wedgie isn’t your problem you could be wearing an outfit that is too loose and that makes you look frumpy and shapeless.
So if there are tall women out there looking for clothing appropriate for their body shape why aren’t there brands catering for this need? Stylist, Kendra Y. Hill, of The Modern Disciple says “Most brands won’t appropriate their funds to creating garments for tall women because there seemingly isn’t a large enough market to see a return on their investment”. Many Australian brands have taken this position and there are limited specialty stores at which tall women can find the right clothing for them.
At the specialty stores you’ll find extra long pants, maxi dresses for tall women, work pants for tall women, and even suitable shoes. Given the limited specialty stores that cater for tall women the market has formed an oligopoly and this has meant shopping at these stores is not cheap. If cost isn’t a problem for you, then your fashion choices aren’t as restricted as someone who’s on a budget. Another option is to sign up for the specialty store catalogues and databases so you can keep your eyes peeled for their clearance sales.
Some stores to keep in mind and that cater for height in their range include:
- Autograph Fashion: with several physical store locations across Australia and the option to purchase only. Getting access to Autograph is simple, especially as online orders over $80 receive free shipping. If you’re a frugal shopper then becoming an Autograph Club member and receive exclusive offers and discounts as you buy.
- City Chic
- Long Tall Sally: a UK based brand that is exclusively designed for tall women.
- Jeans West: great for all your denim needs.
- Tall by Design
- Taller than your Average: a great online option for your staple needs including simple t-shirts and camis.
- The Height-Of-Fashion: The store also offers free delivery for orders over $50 within Australia
- ASOS: Only available online this store offers affordable and stylish pieces for the tall woman.
Dresses for Tall Women
Dresses can, in general, be easier to work with when you’re tall. That’s because it’s easy enough to hem the length in if it sits too awkwardly. As with most items of clothing there are different lengths and styles of dresses and your height will impact which of these is most suitable for you.
Midi dresses are made to sit halfway down your leg, between your knee and ankle and long legs look good in these dresses. Making this cut the perfect choice for many tall women. On the contrary, mini dresses aren’t going to be as flattering unless you find ones specifically designed for tall women. Now, if all this is just too confusing for you, all you have to remember is that you can’t go wrong with a knee length option.
Whether you prefer a shirt dress, a t-shirt dress, a shift dress, a wrap dress, or a party dress, there are plenty of options to flatter you. Bodycon dresses with longer lengths can be really flattering if you are tall and slim. While long sleeve dresses can work well with either short or long length hems, so if you want to highlight your upper body this will help. Basically, pick the body part you want to accentuate and then go for a style that will either emphasises your height or breaks up the look.
Head over to Long Tall Sally for a wide range of styles.
Maxi dresses for Tall Women
If you’re a tall girl with long legs, then long clothing works well for you and maxi dresses and maxi skirts are ideal. These tall dresses take advantage of your height and highlight it as a positive feature. They also ensure that you have an ankle length option and that you’re not always stuck taking up dresses or letting out hemlines. However, if you don’t find the right one, even maxi dresses can end up cutting you short.
Try stores like ASOS for a full range of maxi dresses for both casual and formal occasions.
Jumpsuits for Tall Women
Jumpsuits really suit longer frames. A one-piece suit just looks good on a long body. However, problems can arise if you have a long torso or a larger frame. Not all designs make tall jumpsuits with long body length in mind and if you try to squeeze into a size that’s not for you, you’ll experience the ride up effect. If your length is in your legs rather than your body, this isn’t necessarily as much of a problem for you, especially if you find a jumpsuit with long legs.
The Height-Of-Fashion features some cute playsuits that are designed especially for tall women.
Jeans for Tall Women
A tightly fitting pair of skinny jeans will make your legs look longer and accentuate your height. They also pair well with a long or loose top. If you struggle to find jeans that are long enough, then take comfort knowing that it’s harder to tell when skinny jeans are shorter than they should be and so it’s easy to get it right.
Fortunately, more stores are providing longer length jean options, giving you greater choice. Most jeans specialty stores will now stock options for tall women, think stores like Jeans West for your longer length fit.
Work pants for Tall Women
Pants are a great work wear option for tall women, and your height will give you the option of wearing either wide or tapered pants. While most women need to take care with wide pants to avoid looking frumpy, tall women can pull these off with a pair of flats and a tailored top to keep your frame balanced.
If your height is in your body rather than in your legs,tapered pants may be better for you as wide pants could squish your frame. Team your tapered pants with a flowing or blousy top and keep that flow in your figure.
When thinking about the right pair of pants to wear, you can opt to keep it sleek or make it bold. Tall women have the advantage of having a lot of room to play when it comes to pants. So, don’t be afraid to wear a tall stripe to show off your long look or some fun, bold prints that will look great on a long pair of legs without looking overdone.
Keep an eye out for the right pair of pants at Long Tall Sally, ASOS, Loft and Tall by Design.
Shoes
Tall women can struggle to find a good fitting shoe, of course just because your tall doesn’t mean you’ll have a long, skinny foot so it doesn’t mean that one shoe size will fit all tall women. So as with clothing, tall women find Once again, many tall women find they have to turn to specialty stores for good foot coverage.
Thigh high boots work well on long legs, so if your foot fits in the normal size range, then over-the-knee high boots may work well for you as a knee-high option. High cut boots will help add to the overall long flow in a positive way. On the contrary, ankle boots aren’t typically as flattering because they tend to cut off the flow of your look.
If you have a love for heels then don’t let your height deter you. Think about Kendall Jenner and all those tall women who have no fear wearing heels and being the tallest person in the room. According to the Bergdorf Goodman Blog, “tall girls or anyone with large feet, adding a higher heel — and therefore heightening your foot’s proportion – will eliminate some of the length and get rid of what I like to call the Ronald McDonald shoe effect”, so you can feel feminine while making your feet look smaller. Conversely, if you are more comfortable in flats then you’ve got the height to relax. It turns out that tall women do have an advantage with shoe options!
Shoes specifically designed with wider feet in mind can be purchased from Autograph fashion and Long Tall Sally. Long Tall Sally designs aren’t only designed for wider feet but include wide range of shoes designed in sizes 9-15 specifically for tall women.
While style tips can give you a general idea of what works best, your body has its own shape and you have your own style. Experiment with different brands and try different stores until you find the right fit for you. Then keep your eye out for clearance sales and that way you can make it work while on a budget. Just remember you can be fashionable and comfortable regardless of where you live thanks to the wonderful world of online shopping.
Happy styling!
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
