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’m 6’ with a 34” inside leg and although there are many shops I simply don’t bother with, I can now find some clothes on the high street in a way I couldn’t 10-15 years ago. M&S and Tu ‘long’ trousers are perfect for me, and randomly so is John Lewis’s ‘Anyday’ range.

Shoes are a different matter. I’m a EU 43 / UK 9 and the only shoes I can buy in store are unisex styles like trainers and hiking boots. Anything else has to come from specialist retailers like Otto + Ivy.

It does feel like heights are increasing and I wonder if retailers are responding to this. I increasingly find that I am not always the tallest woman in a room.

I think there are more petite ranges than tall. I'm 5'7" so hardly in the giraffe category, but struggle to find trousers the right length. Also sleeves will be too short or shoulders not broad enough.

This. I'm 5'8", standard size 10 and finding trousers to fit is difficult. They all seem to be too short and with four inches too much space on the waist. I can pull that in with a belt though.

Tops are worse. I bought a pretty white linen top, size small last weekend. It fits perfectly on the shoulders and bust but I've had to add darts front and back to give it some shape. It's still loose but before, honestly, I could have worn it as a maternity top.

I want to add as well that i have a teenage daughter who is 5'5 and curvy (curvy, not fat, I know the difference!) and absolutely everything seems to fit her! She can order online or try on in shops, everything just fits and looks amazing.
I was concerned when I had a daughter that she would end up taller than me, my son is the mythical mumsnet 6'5 but he definitely exists 🤣 thankfully she seems to be hovering at 5'5 and at 16 I am hoping she is done growing 🙏 being anything over 5'8 as a woman is definitely not 'desirable'...and you soon get sick of well meaning comments from people going 'oooh you're tall aren't you' as if you failed to notice!!
Sorry, rant over.

I end up wearing men's trainers. Bit annoying really.

So frustrating i a, 5’6 and buy petite trousers so they don't trail on floor and get wet / dirty - i used to love next trousers but struggle to get right length now 😔

I know - I’m a short arse at 5’3” and so much stuff has to be taken up. 🙄

'Short' doesn't mean 'has the body of a child'.

I work in manufacture and export of footwear, it has been noticed but unfortunately the market for ladies size 9+ is still extremely small.
The most popular sizes were always 5 & 6, I would say it is now shifting to 6 & 7 with more top ups of size 7 & 8's through the season.
The other thing to watch out for is UK companies selling an EU 41 as a size 8! It isn't, it measures as our 7.5! If you are an 8 you need EU 42, 9 is EU 43 etc. They shouldn't be selling an EU 41 as an 8😡
Long Tall Sally does some lovely shoes in size 9, I had some gorgeous, smart Chelsea boots from there last year, about £40 in the sale.

It's hard to argue if that's your direct experience but mine is the opposite....never long enough.

I'm 5'10 and size 8 so on paper I should match the models but the reality is very different. I also find an assumption that tall women are also bigger proportionally so clothes are also too big...I seriously suspect models are pinned into the clothes from the back.

I don't really expect a standard size to fit me but I think a 'tall' size should.

I am going to have a look. Hotter if they are still around bigger sized boots as well .

The younger generation are much taller. Women my age (mid 40s) might have a short average height, but I imagine it’s taller for younger women, and they seem to be getting taller. My 13 year old DD is already 5’9…

I’m having a nightmare finding school trousers long enough but narrow enough for her very slim figure (kids frame). M&S says they do long and extra long in the jersey school trousers she wants according to the size chart, but they don’t seem to exist on the website.

My 8 year old is already in 10/11 size trousers. I suspect she might be 6ft as an adult. Tesco might be an idea for the trousers?

Thanks, I’ll give them a go. I ordered the M&S ones for the length she needs (for much older children) and they are absolutely massive on her width wise! The ones that fit her frame are half way up her calves. So she really needs the ones for a younger age but in the extra long length.

Do they have those buttons inside to make them tighter? Tesco do skinny fit trousers for school. My son is four but tall and skinny. He is going to be a nightmare soon for that.

The mis-selling of 41s as 8s and 42s as 9s is my pet peeve! The founder of Otto + Ivy has a great explainer on her instagram about this. The differences in EU - UK size conversion are minimal for smaller sizes but they compound for bigger sizes.

This might get me flamed as it’s MN but according to a friend who works for a big European shoe brand apparently the biggest growth market for larger women’s shoes is trans women.

No they don’t. The boys trousers do, but the girls all wear the jersey pull up style.

I'm 65 and now 5' 3" . I used to be 5' 6" but I have shrunk. People have also got taller, in general, than when I was in my prime. I now find it impossible to buy regular length trousers that aren't much too long, whereas I used to wear regular length all the time. And if you are like me and tend to buy cheap clothes from the supermarket it is now extremely difficult! Places like Sainsburys used to sell trousers in different lengths, that is now very rare. I have some favourite linen trousers I bought about 6 years ago from Asda which now need replacing, but they don't come in short/petite! The ones I have are regular, but regular is now longer. Either they're making everything for taller people or they're assuming everyone wears heels. I dont.

THIS. A hundred times over. Nothing is made for tall people!

I think the issue, illustrated here, that there's no such thing as a standard size, as soon as you add 2 inches in height you need a different size

I get most annoyed with hippy skirts that come in one size that you can buy at festivals. Some of them are lovely colours but they're about 2 inches too long for me. Just too much of a pain to take up.

I find many tops now look almost cropped on me and I'm only 5'8"".

DH isn’t trans but he is always moaning that shoes now advertised as size12 are sometimes barely an 11. He still has a pair of shoes he wore at school that fit, so he knows his feet haven’t changed.

Same here. I have to import my work shirts from Lands End USA.

6 foot here with 34 inside leg and size 43/44 narrow feet.
I can uy the odd M and S long trousers but it's hit and miss. I buy men's NB trainers. Shoes...always online, usually After 8 and Magnus, averaging £100 for boots.
Next is my go to but have used Halara, Perfect jeans and New Look Tall.
Im late 60s and there is more choice now than 40 years ago....but its not great and quality is hit and miss.

Same here! If you have any joy with clothes do let me know