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AIBU?

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AIBU to ask why so many clothes are sized for taller women?

231 replies

sarahb083 · 12/06/2026 18:24

Genuinely question - why do clothing companies design clothes for women who are much taller than average height? Why not make the 'standard' size fit 5'5ish women, then offer petite and tall sizing if there's demand for it? The vast majority of women are somewhere within a few inches of 5'5 and very few are 5'10!

I've been looking for a jumpsuit. They all look lovely on the model, then you look at the model's height and she's 5'10. Surely a very small percent of women are this tall? Some companies make petite sizes (great!) but most don't.

I love the look of these for example, but the model is 5'10! They'd look ridiculous on me and I'm average height.

Oaxaca - Cotton Barrel Dungarees in Pink & Orange Stripe

Meet Oaxaca, our comfy, loose fit woven barrel dungaree, with slide adjusters. Available in Pink & Orange Stripe. Our Fit Loose fitting barrel leg dungaree Square neck line Adjustable straps Front pouch pockets Back neck key-hole opening with butto...

https://lucyandyak.com/products/oaxaca-organic-cotton-barrel-dungaree-in-pink-orange-stripe?variant=56907652366710

OP posts:
chasegirl · 12/06/2026 18:29

I agree. If standard was 5ft 5 then petite would be shorter not the 5ft 4 it seems to be

SanSeb · 12/06/2026 18:29

I'm tall - I find the opposite. Sleeves are worse than trouser lengths. At least yo can take things up - I can hardly add fabric.

Prombles · 12/06/2026 18:29

I agree, I'm 5'4 which is about average and find a lot of stuff too long. It must be even worse for women who are below average height.

TropicalFishAreTwats · 12/06/2026 18:29

I am 5'10, I can assure you most clothes are not made for women my height!

Tarkan · 12/06/2026 18:28

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 12/06/2026 18:27

I find they aren't so much for tall women as they are for women with long legs. I'm 5'6, so above average height, but I have very short legs. Buying dresses is a nightmare because anything maxi length is dragging on the ground and it seems all the dresses I really like for events are maxi! I struggle wearing heels, but I have found some lines where maxi dresses in petite size aren't quite as long.

This is me too.

I once had to send back a pair of really gorgeous floaty pleated trousers as the legs were so long I looked like I was wearing flippers when I tried them on.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 12/06/2026 18:27

I find they aren't so much for tall women as they are for women with long legs. I'm 5'6, so above average height, but I have very short legs. Buying dresses is a nightmare because anything maxi length is dragging on the ground and it seems all the dresses I really like for events are maxi! I struggle wearing heels, but I have found some lines where maxi dresses in petite size aren't quite as long.

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