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

[sarahb083]

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Yanbu, I’m petite sizing and I feel everything is too tall or wide. And if it’s petite it’s more expensive!

Standard sized clothes do seem to be made much longer than the average height of a woman.

I’m 5’8 and I find the opposite. Plus it’s easier to get something shortened at the dry cleaners. You can’t get it lengthened as the extra fabric isn’t there

I'm 5"9 and have the opposite problem!

I’m 5’3 and really struggle to find trousers that don’t need taking up, M&S and Bon Marche seems to be my only option!

I can assure you that as an only slightly taller than average woman, trousers are not designed for me! I like Next as they do longer length in most of their trousers. Most shops just make ankle swingers.

I'm 5ft 2ins and getting trousers that are short enough is a real problem.

Even those that are sold as short length are absolutely inches too long and I have to shorten them.

The only trousers that come in multiple lengths short enough are quite often the elastic waist ones designed for older ladies. I am an older lady but I don't want to wear that type of trousers- I can't stand elasticated waists.

I know that younger generations are much taller and I often feel quite dwarfed - I hope that isn't an offensive term - by a lot of women. But I don't understand how us shorties ars supposed to get clothes that fit. Quite often the Petite ranges are quite limited.

Can we name & shame the brands - then I can take note of where to shop in future!😊

I am slightly shorter at about 5 8 but very long arms and legs. Definitely agree.

It's easier to take up the ends than it is to add extra fabric on. So being longer can suit a much larger number of people.

I think we need to go back to everyone learning basic sewing skills in school. Small modifications to clothes used to be the norm but now we expect everything perfect off the rack and a ton of size options.

I was pondering this today. I’m 5’7 and got a maxi skirt from Next which I keep tripping over as it sits on the actual floor.

I am 5ft 8 and I have not found this to be true. Most regular trousers are too short. I have given up on long sleeve tops. And as for hiking boots….some of is tall women also have big feet!

I buy men's hoodies as the arms seem longer.

Men's clothing come in different lengths as standard in alot of shops.

Ours dont.

They should.

I agree.

I'm 5'6" and used to be able to buy trousers off the peg that fitted perfectly. Now, theyre all super long. Reiss is terrible for this - i have to cur off about 5 inches!

I'm 5ft and bought some cropped pants today as I knew they'd end at my ankles

I’m 5ft 9.5.

Id love to know where all these clothes for those of us with long legs are, I can’t get anything to fit these days!

I’m 5’9” and everything is too short especially in the body!

My daughter is 5'11 and it's mostly leg. She can't wear jumpsuits as the crotch is always in the wrong place for her.

So what the hell is going on with women's clothes! I look like a child wearing my mum's clothes and my tall daughter looks like she got dressed as an eight year old and grew out of her clothes while wearing them!