Q: I’m over six foot tall and finding clothes to fit my towering frame is proving to be quite a problem. Trousers are always too short, mini skirts are hover just below my bottom and dresses are always the wrong shape and fit. Have you any suggestions as to the style of clothes I should be buying and - more importantly - where on earth can I find them?
A: None of us is perfect. My friends and I spend hours over a bottle of wine fantasising about what it would be like to look like a supermodel but, short of surgery or endless sessions in the gym, we are stuck with what we were given. We all moan that we’d like to be a little slimmer - and have the advantage of being just a few inches taller? I suppose, that’s why so many of us fail to find a shred of sympathy when taller girls complain - yes complain - about their height.
Knowing that time spent envying others is, of course, a complete waste of one’s numbered hours on the planet but, seriously, what DO tall women have to moan about?
Ask a tall woman if she’d swap her 36in legs for a shorter pair and she’d probably say no. But that doesn’t mean they don’t cause her grief. Being female and tall doesn’t just cause problems finding trousers long enough and shoes to fit. It can also make it hell in the dating arena as well. Take, for example, poor Carla Bruni. It’s been one pair of boring old ballerina pumps after another; not a slinky stiletto, not a wedge not even a cute kitten heel in sight. At 5ft 9” she is aware she towers over her husband Nicolas Sarkozy. The decision has evidently been made to stick to pancake flats in a bid to make him look less ludicrous; I can’t say that it’s worked.
And if you think that Carla’s got problems just spare a thought for Mick Jagger’s girlfriend L’Wren Scott who is a vertiginous 6’4” - she may be slim and beautiful but she’s also had to rethink her footwear choices since she started dating Mick. Whether its heels, trousers or tops - these women are living proof that being tall causes more than a few problems in the wardrobe department. So if you want to know where to find the best jeans, cutest shoes, smartest suits or slinkiest evening wear, don’t worry, I have it covered.
Tall women can be especially challenged when it comes to finding clothes to fit their frame but you only have to look to the likes of 45 year old Elle McPherson if you are lacking inspiration. Even if she’s snapped by the paps, walking the dog or on the red carpet, she always looks effortlessly cool, never garish or overdressed. At 5’9 inches tall, Elle knows how to dress her famous body by wearing longer length jeans cleverly cut blouses and oversized accessories. But where do you find the kind of clothes that fit a tall body like hers - without having to spend a fortune? You’ll be glad to discover the answer to all your sartorial woes is to be found on the nearest high street.
When it comes to trousers, tall women must adjust for long torsos and long legs. Make sure that pants, particularly jeans or denim, have a lengthy rise and inseam to give adequate room in the leg and crotch. If there is enough fabric in the garment, a seamstress can alter ill fitting clothes at a minimal cost. Accessories should be large, as they look best on tall women. Hoop styles and chandelier earrings work particularly well. Long necklaces flatter tall women and one can go in for a chunky bead necklace or a necklace with a funky large pendant. Finding contemporary clothing that caters for long-limbed ladies can prove a tall order - this is where Tall Zone comes into play. A stunning collection of stylish separates and knockout evening wear, the range offers trouser lengths of 84 to 91cm. The line is a sister company to the more classic label Long Tall Sally, but the designs are slightly more fashion forward with a wider range of fits and styles.
A hot pair of jeans is the quickest way to update your look without overhauling your entire wardrobe and the good news is there are plenty of brands that cater for people of your height. At MiH, (the style mavens’ label of choice) both the Marrakesh, £130/ €150, a fared shape with front pleat , and the Loon, a mid-rise style with wide leg for £132/ €155 come in the desired length and are available from www.net-a-porter.com.
Another great wide-leg style is the Laurel Canyon, £158.50/€185 euro from www.paigepremiumdenim.com - not only does it cater for the long of leg, it also makes your bottom look just peachy. Problem solved.
Georgina Heffernan
