I actually can't dress my body, it's all a difficult shape.

[BikeRunSki]

Theoretically I am a size 14/16, 5'8 and 34F but:

My torso is very long, and tops are always too short. The boobs and waists of dresses are always in the wrong place. (I have a custom build bike, when I was measured for it the framebuilder said my back length was more typical of someone 6' tall, I'm 5'8").

My calf muscles are very high and very chunky and pronounced. I can't get most trousers over them. I don't really want to wear bootcut trousers. I work on building sites and wear trousers a lot for tucking into wellies. There is one style from Next (sexy slim leg) which fits perfectly. They haven't made it for about 5 years and eBay supplies are running low. And I really ought to wear something smarter than jeans for work, even on a building site (I am project management rather than a labourer).

My feet are size 9 and wide. This limits shoe shopping massively. I'm sure that psychologically I wound up working in construction to limit my need for formal shoes.

I realise that there are specialist shops like LTS (poor quality) and Duo/Ted and Muffy (£££!!) and Clark's do some styles in a ladies wide fit 9 but I'd really like to wear trousers, and I'd really like to just go to a shop and have choice, and buy something that fits. And actually about 30% of my work time I'm in the office rather thdn on site - the dreaded "smart casual".

Was actually crying in frustration in Asda a couple of days ago trying on trousers that got stuck at the ankle (but I have had a similar experience with Toast, I'm hitting all price points here).

I have tried a Personal Shopper (JL) who was not that helpful. Ended up with a White Stuff tunic and leggings, which is really not me.

I've been slimmer (was briefly a 12) and larger (post pg 18) but my long torso, chunky calves and massive feet remain the same. I live in baggy jumpers, the afore mentioned jeans and Blundstone boots and feel like a freak. I own lots of running tights and long-ish coats because that's what fits!

[BikeRunSki]

And I'm 46. I'm not cutting edge, but not ready for frumpy either.

[Bluntness100]

Well for tops you should shop in the tall ranges. For trousers go for looser styles or ones with a good amount of stretch. I can't help with the shoes, I'm sorry,

[BikeRunSki]

Tall ranges where???? I know Gap does tall, but there is no branch nearby, and their mail order/returns/refunds take months in my experience,
Looser style trousers just bag are the top and cling below the knee. The only style that really works is wideleg, but they are very rare to find. The vast majority of women's trousers for sale are skinny or slim.

[Bluntness100]

Many retailers do tall ranges, Asos, top shop, H&M , you can order on line...

[burnishedsilver]

Have you tried buying items too big and having them altered? Eg. If the calfs fit have the waist taken in. Buy tops and dresses in tall ranges and have the sleeves or hem taken up.

[Pestilence13610]

Jigsawwindsor jeans allow you to have curvy thighs and calves also a waist. Decent knickers on and go on a manic trying on day.
Boden do long fit on dresses and this makes for a longer body not just skirt.
Lots of longline vest about, they bridge a gap for us tall girls.
Imagine you are tall but your legs forgot to grow (DSD has this issue and now pinches my clothes)
There must be more shoes, dr martin do 9 in girly styles

[Pestilence13610]

Strangely enough Newlook do loads of size 9 shoes.
How girly do you want to go?

[WicksEnd]

Have you had a look at the Boden workwear? They do some of their lines in tall and may be more likely to have straight leg rather than skinny?
I know bodens a bit marmite but might be worth a neb!
For reasonably priced stuff, Dorothy Perkins do a tall range.
Mint velvet often do longer line shirts & tops too too.

Disclaimer. I am 5ft 4.

[HandsomeDevil]

I think my body shape is not wildly dissimilar to yours. the long torso is definitely the bane of my life - trying to fit into a one-piece swimsuit is particularly challenging.

M&S do wide-legged trousers in a longer length if needed (I'm 5'8 but as my height is all in my torso I can get away with regular length). Don't look online, the styling is always so horrific it's hard to find the odd gems they have.

I find H&M tends to be good for tops that are long enough. Their vests are really, really long as well, so I often get those and layer under other tops that risk riding up.

I also have some really stretchy cigarette pants from White Co that are amazing for going out - i think these might be the current version. They are £££ and I generally have a more primarky budget, but I wear them so very much they've been worth it. I am sure they'd be stretchy enough to go over any tricky bits.

can't help with shoes though - i thank my lucky stars I can generally cram my trotters into a size 8.

[BikeRunSki]

Thank you, some ideas to try. I have 3 pairs of DMs pestilence, forgot about them!

My experience of Boden tall dresses is longer skirts rather than longer bodies aswell, but I'll revisit.

burnished I got up to a size 22 (3+sizes up) in Asda chinos the other night before I could get my lower leg through, and was massively swamped. That would be a heck of an alteration!

Maybe I should learn to sew.

[hollinhurst84]

Ok I'm mega long in the body
Vests - primark or matalan long line ones
Tall ranges - top shop, Dorothy Perkins, new look, tall girls (online), asos, Boden
Sainsburys tops often have good stuff in too

Online often I stick "longline" in the search bar and see what pops up

[hollinhurst84]

Oh and Boden do some tops in tall, I again just stuck long line in search bar, ended up buying a Breton one

[BikeRunSki]

Thank you hollinhurst. Boden have always sold out if my size in longline by the time I get there! Must be more proactive!

[creampie]

Asos have some nice smart wide leg trousers in their workwear range. Try there

[hollinhurst84]

Bear with me on this one as its a polish company
It's a bit like bravissimo as in designed for boobs but they seem to cut long too given I'm 5ft 10 and all the dresses I have from them fit beautifully
http://www.biubiu.pl/lang/en

[creampie]

I am also long in the body and short in the leg. Seperates work much better. Tall tops and normal bottoms

[hollinhurst84]

This is a long length one in the sale, size 16 available
Also any tops that are just on the cusp of being too short I shove a long vest under

[jessplussomeonenew]

Would it be worth finding a good local seamstress and getting a nice capsule wardrobe custom made for you, focusing on the bits you find hardest to fit and choosing classic styles that won't go out of date for longevity. It would obviously cost more per garment than off the peg but probably cheaper and nicer than keeping buying stuff that never quite fits. A friend of mine did this and it was a lot cheaper than we'd expected and worked brilliantly.

[Lucked]

I am 5'10 with s long body. My basic vests and white t shirts are LTS just the normal length ones as longline comes to my knees. These ones I wear one most days under my top and they have some new colours so I will be ordering some more. I am 14-16 and a Medium is perfect. The rest of there clothes are a bit crap.

Dresses Boden do tall in pretty much all there dresses and most of the time proportions are good. Next do some tall as well which are hit and miss. Never buy anything, especially coats, with a belt as it will be in the wrong place.

For work, over my vests I wear a lot of shell tops M&S this type of thing.

I can't help with skirts as well don't wear them.

[BikeRunSki]

Thank you everyone. I got paid on Friday, so I feel some shopping coming on, I'll try and take a day off and do some actual trying on.
I've come across biubiu hollinhurst, but never bought anything. Might give them a whirl.

[herecomesthsun]

Hello, I am 5ft 8-9 and similar build with a similar amount of variation. I have a long torso and about a 29-30" leg I also like Boden long line tops. I wear a lot more skirts and dresses than trousers because it is difficult to get trousers to look the way I want, I last got trousers at Gap, but long enough ago for them to no longer be available, sorry. I think they were slip and cropped.

[hollinhurst84]

I have three dresses from them, all fit perfectly and I'm a 16, 34K boobs. Loads of boob room but fit nicely at the waist

[traviata]

are these too wide? Collectif

(I spent ages browsing in a Collectif shop yesterday, didn't buy anything, so I am looking for some shopping gratification by proxy)

[BikeRunSki]

Blkmey, there's some flappy trousers on there traviata! Funnily enough I was browsing in a vintage-copies shop yesterday, and thought it worth a return when I was not on a cycling club run (it's in a cafe!). I shall look at Collectif more when I am bit coaxing DS through Y3 sums.

[BikeRunSki]

hollinhurst great news, again, I'll check the lm out when the dc are in bed.