Clothes for a taller woman

[Swanhildapirouetting]

I keeping buying size 16 shirts/cardigans/dresses and they are always cut for a much shorter frame with short arms. Any bigger and they are still too short in the arm and too short round the midriff. Dresses are always in the wrong proportion and usually too short as well.

Are there any companies apart from Long Tall Sally and Gudrun whatjamacallit which cut clothes for tall and generous frames

It is not the bust size that is the problem - just the arms and the length from waist to neck.

I can find trousers in size 16 which fit fine and are the right length.

I've started wearing my husband's shirts in desperation but they are not quite smart enough when unstructured and I hate the stiff collared ones.

I am 5ft 10 inches and a size 16, quite pearshaped.

[Longleggedlovely]

Next do a tall range, top shop, new look, ASOS, Dorothy Perkins and Tall Girls - all online only though!

[Sazzle41]

ASOS and Next are best for tall girls (I am 5foot 11). Also try Banana Republic and in M&S go up a size to get the length in tops and tshirts. HTH !

[ShirleySharpeyes]

Gap online have tall stuff (I'm 6 foot) including shirts and I also find H&M seem to cut for longer bodies although the sizing can be a little unpredictable. Boden also do long length stuff so might be worth a look.

[Fozzleyplum]

I'm not as tall as you (5'8 1/2) and I'm a 10-12, but I have the same problem; most high street dresses and shirts are far too short in the body and arm.

There's a current trend to have dress waistlines set deliberately an inch (or several, in my case) above the actual waistline. This makes the clothes sell better, as it's easier to disguise a less than "perfect" waistline this way. A slightly raised waistline also creates an optical illusion of longer legs - the Duchess of Cambridge seems to be fond of this trick.

Whilst it suits some people, it makes me look as if I'm growing out of my clothes. Many longer fitting versions of clothes, eg Boden's, simply have a few more inches on the hem, but the proportions at the top are very similar to the regular fit.

I've had some success with Gap, Jigsaw and Ebay Max Mara finds. I've just bought a great "tall girl's" coat in the Jaeger clearance sale, so I suspect they might have some other longer styles. IME, Hobbs and Boden are hopeless for long bodies, but most other retailers have some styles that are the right length. I've also had long tops, dresses and shirts from the Peruvian Connection online sale, but I avoid the "Per Una on acid" stuff that they do.

[123Jump]

Hush do dresses that are perfect as a tunic for us tall folk.

[RingtheBells]

i'm 5'10 and shop at GAP tall, Dorothy Perkins tall, Next tall and occasionally LTS. I tend not to wear waisted styles in dresses and have bought from M&S Boden in long length. I also wear tunic styles from M&S and Boden and usually buy the ones with 3/4 sleeves. The tall shirts in GAP are lovely, I am a 12 -14 and wear medium, so I imagine a large will be size 16.

[Sunmakesmesmile]

I am constantly on the look out for longer fitting sleeves etc, I'm only 5ft 9 but size 8 so I'm finding the smaller the size the shorter the arms. I've found Baukjen to be good for basics and ME+EM. I was recommended max mara weekend too which have been good, although limited styles. I sometimes have luck in Zara too and the odd bit in jigsaw but it really is hit and miss. I love gap tall styles but they often only do size S in the tall range despite doing XS in the regular range. I've given up on casual dresses completely but did find a couple suitable for weddings/christenings in HoF, but can't remember the brand!

[Northumberlandlass]

ASOS Tall
Next Tall
Odd bit from Topshop Tall
H&M for long line vests / jersey tops
Gap Tall for jeans
Tall Girls occasionally - although the seem to be a bit frumpy / strange patterns like Long Tall Sally.

[AgathaF]

Oh the joy of finding decent sleeve lengths on clothes!

I agree with all the shops already mentioned. Whistles too.

I've been on the lookout of a long, white or cream shirt but without any success. I really want one that comes a few inches down my thighs but everything I've tried so far is just a bit too short.

It's so annoying that lots of shops do a petite range but hardly any do a tall one.

[Swanhildapirouetting]

Thanks everyone

There also seems to be a website called Leggy Girls with shirts? Anyone tried it? Quite pricey.

[Swanhildapirouetting]

I am finding ironically that everything fits my size 12 tall teenage daughter (12/13year) as she has not yet reached the "height" but is quite tall

[Swanhildapirouetting]

Love the "Per Una on Acid" comment

[SlightlyJadedJack]

I'm 5'10" and find it easy to get long length trousers but actually I have a long body and find anything 'waisted' to be an awful fit in general.

I am currently trying to find a long bodied tankini that doesn't cost the earth that can hide a flabby belly and boost non existing bust - in other words the Holy Grail. Any ideas??

[SlightlyJadedJack]

Perhaps your daughter's height is in her legs?

[RingtheBells]

Last year I bought a M&S tankini which was quite long, it also had a ruched front and is quite flattering. They also did have a couple of long length ones, so maybe they will have some again this year. I bought a normal size 14 one, I can also recommend their longer length swimsuits.

[ChablisChic]

slightlyJadedJack Land's End do a good selection of tankinis - various different styles of tops and bottoms so you can get the right style for your shape. I don't think they do a 'long' size , but I've had t-shirts and tops from there that do come up quite long, so might be worth a look.

[Skeppers]

It's especially difficult if you're tall and, ahem, 'well built'. I am 5'11" and a size 18-20, but it's more a general built-like-a-brick-shithouse-ness than anything (thanks to my Dad for the genes)...I'm also a size 9 shoe.

Clothing manufacturers tend to assume that if you're anything above a size 14 then you must be short and dumpy and make clothes accordingly! I've found Next are pretty good and Dorothy Perkins, if not the best quality. There are probably better quality clothing ranges for taller ladies but I begrudge paying anything over £30 for an item of clothing, or having to pay 'extra' because I don't conform to a particular body shape..but mainly cos I'm a tight-arse.

I've never had to venture into 'tall' territory in these stores. Not sure if they do tall ranges in plus size too though. As a size 16 you should have the pick of the bunch!

[AgathaF]

Ring I bought a lovely long tankini from Next last year - I was really pleasantly surprised at the good fit.

[SlightlyJadedJack]

Thanks for the tankini recommendations, I shall start my search...

[slippermaiden]

I'm a 5'10" lady but don't always need taller stuff, depends on the shop. Next tall stuff has long body and sleeves. I find some h and m stuff good too

[GetLow]

Its a bloody nightmare. I still cant understand why tall women are so poorly catered for?! There are LOADS of us!

I'm 5'11.

I buy tops from Next. I hate most fo their Tall range (awfully frumpy and poor quality), but their vests, long sleeved tees and long v-neck sweaters are decent for everyday wear.

Forget LTS. Its hideous and incredibly odd sizing (I bought a coat online from there once that was about 5 inches too long in the sleeves...so fine for maybe someone who was 6'4, but surely 5'11 is a more common height? Also bought a couple of dresses that were appallingly made and tailored(.

Gap Tall is meh. Maybe OK for the odd tops.

Never see anything I like in the Dotty P, Topshop or New Look Tall sections. All so cheap and teeny bopper fashions, or else the dreade black jersey dress

ASOS and Boden (plain colours!) occasionally throw up something decent.

I have found the odd dress/coat/top in Hobbs and Ted Baker that are longer in the body.

Tall Girls is Ok for summer stuff, but their winter range is always disappointing.

Its a struggle!

[Silverjohnleggedit]

I'm only 5ft 8.5in but I struggle with waisted dresses. Belted coats. Sleeve lengths. Ankle skimming trousers, sitting too high - and last year there was no other sort! Not helped bring an unfashionable hourglass.
Clothes shopping means 1 success for every 20 attempts in the changing room - it's just so time consuming.

[RingtheBells]

Dresses are the worse thing to buy, I think they are made for 5'4", I also like to have my old knees covered and I think even shorter people struggle with that nowadays. I'm 33" leg and find Boden, M&S and Next long length fit me, so luckily its quite easy for trousers/jeans, thank goodness my legs weren't an inch longer. I always wear flattish shoes anyway.

[MamehaSan]

I totally agree, finding clothes that fit is a nightmare (5'10, size10). I always get irritated that lots of places have an entire section of the shop dedicated to "petites", yet the tall clothes are either relegated to online only, or else consist of a small rack of black trousers at the back of the shop (looking at you, Next )

Anyhoo, I've occasionally found tops and jumpers with long enough arms in Zara and Gap (it's very hit and miss though, most are embarrassingly short...) Also, I've had a fairly good hit rate in Monsoon with tops and jumpers.

OP, if you're after smart shirts, I have a few from Hawes and Curtis that I wear for work. I find the arms long enough (especially the double cuff ones that you can wear with silk cufflinks, they have a long and a short set of button holes). They have lots of fitted styles if that's what you're after, plain colours and some jazzy patterns too.

Best of luck...

[Evenstar]

I am only 5' 8" but like you long in the arm and body, I have recently discovered Joules and find their sizings really generous for length