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

These threads always baffle me. I seem to be the only unicorn on MN, who can easily shop in all the mainstream (and non-mainstream) shops, and stuff fits great majority of the time. Sure, there are exceptions, but most of the time things fit me fine. I shop exclusively online, haven't bought clothing in a physical shop in the past 15 years or so, other than small basics like underwear, etc.

I'm 5'11'', 6-8 clothes size, shoe size 8.

To be fair, I should mention that I mostly wear skirts and dresses, rarely trousers, but I do have a few palazzo ones and maybe two pairs of jeans. Have no trouble finding coats, dresses, skirts, tops, shoes at all. I like to shop and buy quite a bit, like creating outfits, styling, dressing up, I'm not a 'leggings and long top' type of person.

I’m 5’7 with longer legs and a short waist (as my DM says) and really struggle with trousers, dresses, jump suits and everything really. Skirts/dresses are either way too short or fit awfully where my waist actually is.
the thing is that every woman’s body is different so it’s impossible for clothing companies to suit everyone.

Ohhh God I wish I knew the answer to this question, @sarahb083! I have had to shorten dresses or skirts so many times - I’m lucky that I am reasonably handy with my needle, so I can alter clothes to fit me, but not everyone can do that.

LOL are you joking?

I am 5'10" and I have to search for tall ranges to get jeans or trousers with a 34" leg which is long enough for me.

I cant count the number of things I have bought which end at my ankle rather than at my foot where its meant to end 🤣

At a shade under 5'4 i sit between petite and standard. I have become fairly decent at putting a hem on trousers, but have also found that anything that is elasticated waist (eg jogger jeans) seem to sit empire line! Like Simon Cowell pants! And if I sit them on my waist there's too much length to the gusset. I have returned so many pairs recently. I never even consider a maxi dress - i'm clumsy enough without an extra trip hazard

I find the opposite is true particularly when it comes to leg length. I'm 5'8" so taller than average but not massively so and most standard length trousers are flapping around my ankles but long lengths drown me.

I’m 5’ 10” and find M & S Tall trousers are generally long enough but dresses are a nightmare as the waist is always too high - I have to find a skater style that’s straight down.
Also jumper or blouse sleeves are never long enough so I look for three quarter length or men’s that tend to be longer in the body and sleeve.
Its odd because even when they state the model is 5’ 9” or 10” when I try something on it’s never as long on me!!

I’m short and my daughter is very tall. We both have issues with clothing being far too long of far too short. I’m finding size 8 seems to have a smaller waist than usual.

Try being 5ft 2 and being plus sized (size 22 or more) . All plus sized clothing is made for tall women.

I miss the days when M&S quoted leg lengths in inches and centimetres. I knew I could pick 27in inside leg trousers and they would fit length-wise. Describing trousers as "short", "regular" and "long" tells me nothing

It doesn’t help when you look at a website and the models are posing in a really weird way. And you cannot really see the clothes.

I am 6' tall and nothing is the right length for me! If I just had long legs it would be alright because you can get them. I am longer all over. What I struggle with is the length of tops and sleeves. Coats, dresses, anything belted all nip 'in' at the wrong points on me.

Nothing within the "tall' ranges allow for having boobs, they seem to assume the taller you are the more straight up and down you must be. I can't even get crossbody handbags long enough or gloves to fit my hands!

This! The legs are one problem but I am fed up of dresses that turn into empire line when I put them on!

(5’ 9-10, 34 leg)

They're really not doing this. I'm 5'11 and I struggle to buy clothes to fit, even tall tops have short arms too. Nothing main stream fits me properly and is always too short by quite a way.

They look ridiculous on the model !

I agree with you. I'm 5'5", & sleeves are always far too long. I can sew, but it's annoying to have to alter every long-sleeved item I buy.

I am average height but have a "Tall" torso and very short legs. Tops are all far too short for me and expose my belly button as if they are supposed to be a crop-top and trousers are always far too long even if they are sold as "petite". However, it's a lot easier to shorten trousers than it is to get clothes that are too short lengthened!

Very true. I think often they stock sizes to reflect the hoped for customer they would prefer to have. Slim and tall. Marks and Spencer particularly.

Why designs are not slightly tailored for different sizes I do not know either.
What looks good on a size 8 tall woman will not be entirely the same just because you have made it in a bigger size. Slight adjustments to the design could be sensible.

What amazes me is that stores do not restock or even stock enough in the first place. A line of clothing runs out in a certain size. Perhaps order some more ??
Because they are clearly popular in that size. But no, they often don’t.
They think all we want is something new. Not realising we haven’t been able to buy what we wanted in the size we wanted from an earlier range.

Agree! I'm 5'3" and things are often too long. Petite range is a nice idea, but they often seem to assume you're also thin - no, I'm short AND fat. I need the proportions of the "normal" clothes, just with shorter legs/sleeves/bodice please.

Shoes are a bug bear too: I’m a 43 and almost nowhere does women’s shoes beyond a 42. Agree with whoever mentioned hiking boots. I want the nice feminine colours and, more importantly, my feet are narrow so men’s sizes don’t fit well, even though they’re long enough.

I wish designers would design for women with boobs too! The waists on all dresses are so high that anyone with boobs doesn’t stand a chance of getting them to fit! A dart in tops and blouses would be very helpful too.

I’m 5ft2 and find Mango and Uniqlo both good options for shorter women without needing petite. I have a short torso and long (for my height) legs.

I'm 5ft9 and tend to buy men's clothes where they suit because they give the length I need.

I’m 5’11” and I really struggle finding stuff which is long enough! You can at least buy long length trousers more readily now, but dresses and tops are never cut for taller women: waistlines are a particular issue.

Crop t shirts and jackets are another nightmare- nobody wants to see my middle aged spread!

I’m 5ft9 and most clothes are too short for me but I’ve noticed recently I can often buy trousers from normal ranges instead of having to buy only “tall”’clothes which didn’t used to be the case. I hope the oversized trend never leaves and we don’t go back to those stupid short trousers that were trendy for a while