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 said it right below!

"Though I do take on board the many tall women who say they struggle to find clothes. I suppose we all feel like most things don't fit us, because there's such a wide variety of body sizes so most clothes just won't fit most people"

5’ 3 and agree! M&S or Boden short length.

I’m 5’11 and I can report that there are only a handful of shops that do trousers that are long enough for me.

Dresses are tricky because the waist is always too high.

Tights, bodysuits, pyjamas, leggings almost always too short.

’Longline’ tops and jackets aren’t longline on me.

Tall women certainly aren’t well catered for

I am the same height. Cargo trousers - no problem. Hippie harem style - no problem. The current wide-leg trend? Big problem. Good job I am not keen on them anyway. I need cuffed bottoms, which is why harem style pants work well. And drawstring bottomed cargos.

It's smart suit style trousers that are a problem, and often the fit and cut doesn't allow taking them up.

I did recently buy a pair of supposed three quarter lengths off the internet and they were full length on me.

Average height and am told I have short legs. Most of the time I don't find clothes too long.

Not sure why people tell me my legs are short - my legs don't look short in photographs.

I find the exact opposite to be true. I can't buy swimming costumes to fit im exposing myself either way!

I agree. I'm also 5ft 10 and finding jeans/trousers etc long enough is a PITA, especially if you're a fan of wide leg, super long trousers like I am.

5ft 4" used to be a standard size suddenly petite are too long i was literally in morrisons the other day saw some basic summer trousers with pockets held them up against me trailing the floor significantly tried the short ones still fucking long I get i have a sewing machine but I dont WANT to hem everything I buy and cheap clothes wiggle so they never look right

Thank you!

Its annoying because you assume that if catwalk models are tall then surely their stock would be too but apparently not

I’m 5 feet 8.5 and I find Lucy and Yak standard length far too short if that helps.

Because you can take up clothes that are too long but you can’t make clothes that are too short longer.

I am 5’5 with longer legs and it’s really hit and miss. Some regular length is too short and some regular length is so long it’s dragging on the floor you’d think that then short would be ideal but it’s too short.
Today I saw a maxi dress on f&f the model was 5’10 and it was to her ankles it would look ridiculous on me

Have you tried Cotton Traders? I find them longer than average

lol am 5’8” so reasonably tall, I bought a pair of trousers in Next labelled regular. I had to cut off 11 cm! My legs are in proportion to my body, quite bizarre.

Try Next! See my earlier post…

I'm 5'7 and, other than Mango and French Connection which I generally find too long, I find most places fine for me - depending on style of course. Oh, and Me & Em is always way too long for me as well.

5’10” and invariably clothes are not for my height. Trousers are too short. Waists on dresses in the wrong place. Really annoying.

All the clothes are currently messed up. I’m 5ft 4 which is average height. I always bought regular.

Nowadays everything is too long, not long enough for my taller friends I hasten to add, and if I try petite too short (which it should be). So clothes no longer fit me, I’ve really struggled to find anything this year.

I'm 5'9" and I find most clothes to be too short in the body and the leg. Mind you I do have quite a large bust and bottom as well but even when I was much thinner they were all too short....but Long Tall Sally just a bit too tall.

I agree! I'm 5ft 8 and quite a few regular length trousers are too long for me which is crazy!

As a 6ft woman with 36inch inside leg, this is really not true 😂 everything is too short unless I buy specific tall clothes. Often the ‘extra long’ at places are still way too short. I love summer as then I can wear regular trousers and they just look like cropped or ankle grazers on me.

Why do M&S make tops only for tiny women? I’m 5’9” and all their tops are like crop tops on me and I am all legs do my body is shorter. I really struggle with tops and trousers that aren’t flapping at half mast.

I'm 6 feet. Clothes are not made for tall women.

Many places do multiple leg lengths, but few do ones long enough for me or anyone taller. There are petite ranges everywhere.

While it is possible to get trousers from Tall ranges, there is much less available in terms of stuff like shirts and t-shirts.

At least if things are too long you can take them up.

As a tall woman I would heartily disagree! In secondary school I made my own skirts because se none were long enough )I like maxi length). Jeans were never long enough as they maxed at 34” inseam. I finally discovered Long Tall Sally. One of my favourite clothes site is Horizons Lointains but the model is 5’3” so doubt the easy boho look would work on anyone above average height. Even Halara UK’s Tall length in trousers is far too short. M&S Tall too - 33” inseam is too short.
Models are no longer universally very tall - many seem to be around 5’6-7”. Plus, recognise that what you see in print or online is not the truth - things are tweaked. Look at the measurements of the garnet in the size chart, not the model.

I am 5ft 4 and all dresses are far too long for me ! If anyone can recommend a high street retailer that would work for me that would be great 👍