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 tops in many brands short on me! I usually buy 'Regular'.
Some brands are longer than others.

When high heels are fashionable, trousers tend to be longer but not long enough for many.

Well it's pretty easy to make a pair of trousers shorter if needed, but impossible to make them longer ...

@drammmalllammma , what sort of dresses and are they too long everywhere (darts and waist etc) or only the length?

Most of my dresses are short or knee length.

As a 5”10 woman I can confirm I can’t fit in most normal size clothing. I can’t try stuff on in any shops and have to order from the tall sections online.

I did once try to fit in a normal playsuit and I can confirm it sat in my uterus 🤣🤣

I totally agree that taking up smart style trousers doesn't often work.

I've bought a few pairs of three quarter length leggings and they are full length on me - tha actual full length ones would be far too long.
I sometimes have bought ankle grazer trousers in "short " length and they work as full length on me.

I’m 5ft 10 and don’t struggle too much with trousers
tops are a nightmare. I have a big bust and that takes up room so everything ends up a crop top

Same, I'm 5"7 but have to wear petite trousers! Wish we just sold things in proper measurement like men tbh.

Even worse in larger sizes. I didn’t get taller when I put on weight, funnily enough. I regularly have to take 4-6” off jeans.

I’m 5’9 and I’ve never found a jumpsuit that doesn’t cut me in half. I don’t even try them on anymore.

I'm 5'11" and I definitely agree!

I'm 5 2 but long in the leg so regular sizes are too long but petites are too short, I
hate clothes shopping

I'm 5ft 5. Petite is too short on me, normal size is too long. It drives me mad. I'm a very average height so you'd think clothes would fit me.

Far easier to take a hem up than lengthen. Loads of tall wonen around, small people can shop in the kids section.

As someone 5ft 9 with disproportionately long legs, this is categorically not true. Even less true when trying to shop in person. Even if a brand has tall ranges, they never have them in store to try on. I once tried on basically every pair of trousers in John Lewis and couldn’t buy a single pair of full length trousers. Had to settle for cropped ones.

Im 4”11 so you can only imagine the fun I have . It’s not a case of just taking things up. The shoulders often don’t sit right and the overall shape isn’t made for my body.

5ft 2... the waist of my work trousers is 3" below my bra.

At least as a curvy size 10 the waist is high enough to cover the back of my pants rather than having The Gape.

Can't bloody win.

It's often not as simple as taking hems up as the overall proportions are out all over the garment and the vast majority of mass produced clothes aren't worth reconstructing.

And shoes... no my feet haven't gained a couple of inches just because the average is increasing. No, children's shoes are not suitable for an adult woman and not just because sparkles and bows aren't my taste; they're designed to be grown out of in a few months by someone half my weight (without adult muscle mass and a bust) and are a waste of money. I have yet to dicover the existance of attractive, comfortable shoes for women with short, wide feet.

💯 % agree

small people can shop in the kids section. I'm average but can wear kids clothes. I'm age 13 apparently.

Average height for a woman (UK) not average height for a young woman, which is probably taller.
If you are short with a bust kids' clothes won't fit.

Absolutely and if they are creeping into the market then bloody great,it's about time!

I'm nearly 5ft 11" and clothes are absolutely NOT made for tall people.

And the LONG length in my local M&S and Next only ever have size 14 or more, so they seem to assume anyone taller is also larger.

I've never found any dungarees that fit (too short in the body) and tshirts are too short. Dresses have the waist band in the wrong place.

I’m 5’10” and everything feels too short, I’m very in proportion for my height but the legs of trousers in the tall section are always slightly too short and sleeves are always halfway up my forearm, which is annoying because I like to pull my sleeves over my hands.

Surely it's so that shorter women just get them turned up? You can easily take away but you can't add fabric.

Same here, I used to buy Next petite trousers that fitted well, now their trousers drag on the floor. Fatface jeans in petite fit well but upon asking in one of their shops once for their short range, I was told they only sell them online.
I have bought trousers from Pixie Girl which does a 27” length which are perfect for me, might be worth a look for you.

Totally agree so many jeans, loose trousers & summer dresses just swamp me at 5ft 5 why?

I am also tall, and I agree. I can easily get trousers on the high street but tops are a nightmare. I almost never wear blouses/shirts, I usually buy men's jumpers