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 5ft 10 and you couldn't be more wrong, I have terrible trouble finding decent length stuff for my height but you'll find petite ranges everywhere. Tall women are not well served in the clothing industry.

Im fairly sure the average is actually shorter than this, ive a feeling its more like 5ft 4!

I think the thing is, clothes are easily taken up but you cant make them bigger. In years gone by women thought nothing of taking a pair of trousers up a bit, hemlines were seen as very much adjustable, so i think womens clothes probably err on the long side because of that.

If they are, it must be a new thing- I'm 5'8", hovering between a 12 and a 14 at the moment, and most trousers are too short. Jumpsuits are impossible. Plus everything seems to be made for the apple figure, so has gaping waistbands.

I make all my own wide legged trousers/jumpsuits etc and have for many years.

I'm just under 5ft and nothing fits me, never mind just clothes - glasses, hats, bags, chairs - nothing fits right 😂

I nearly mentioned trans women falsely affecting data on the average shoe size for women but then couldn't quite be bothered debating the whole thing this early on a Saturday morning!
The problem being trans women have mens feet which even if they are the 'same size' as a woman ie a 9, they won't fit in a shoe made for women. Men generally have wider feet, especially from the bone at the bottom of the big toe across to the little toe and a much larger, wider instep.
A men's size 8 is made on an entirely different last to a woman's size 8. I can get away with wearing mens trainers for example if I wear thicker socks, most size 8 men cannot get their feet in ladies size 8's!
I have often mentioned at work that we just need to standardise sizes from tiny children's 8's (think EU 26 off the top of my head but don't quote me!) right up to what we consider mens sizes (14/15 or EU 48/49). At the moment we are flitting between trying to make UK sizes fit with EU sizing but not going all in so it just doesn't work.
I have noticed it seems much easier to buy 'ladies' pvc knee boots with a six inch heel in a size 12+ than it is to buy a pair of smart, block heeled leather shoes for the office, I think it is quite obvious women are not the target market.

What size NB do you wear? I am between an 8.5 and 9 in shoe sizes.

Lucy and Yak for tall women but try vinted as they seem very expensive. Any recommendations for jumpers and t shirts that are long would be great as I have very long arms and torso. I wear men's t shirts now.

I can wear 8.5 in men trainers. They don't feel that different. Maybe wider as I do have wide feet.

I’m 5’7’’ and find many things too short

Exactly my point, if you have what are considered 'wide' feet for a woman a regular men's shoe in the same size will fit you better as they are wider than standard women's footwear in the same size.
I have size 8 feet that are quite narrow and men's trainers 'gap' massively around the inside arch of my feet because they are just too wide and not made to fit women's average (narrower) measurements.
There will always be people, both men and women, that have different measurements and prefer the sizing of things designed for the opposite sex but clothing and footwear is mass manufactured based on averages. It isn't surprising really that whether we are tall/short/fat/thin we all struggle to find things that fit as very few of us are truly average!

As a tall women I find short dresses are so hard as many are way to short for me, less of an issue now as I don’t really wear short dresses.

I can buy trousers in tall lengths but lots of sleeve lengths are too short.

As other taller than average posters have already said I struggle to find clothes long enough, in sleeves, dress and trouser length and worst of all body length on tops

i don’t mind sleeves but im fed up of tops that show my tummy when i stretch or reach for something….not all tops obviously 😀

and actually it does sometimes work the other way with top lengths and sizes….🤔so the size 12 is a perfect length but a bit tight then the 14 is two inches longer 😶

i think a lot of companies are cheaping out on their tops by making them shorter to save money

YABU.
I remember an average sized friend suggesting a clothes shopping trip to the city. She really didn't believe me when I said there would be nothing that fitted me on the high street. She saw it as a genuine fun activity.
Early 2000s in store tall ranges existed in Miss Selfridge, Top Shop, Dotty P, New Look. Not a hope now. TU as mentioned up thread can run tall.

Back at uni 20 years ago, I had a nightmare buying tights at 5ft 9. I only twigged afterwards that when I found "Belles TV Fashions" sold good ones, what the "TV" stood for!

I am big boned - my shoulders are 2-3" wider than the top range of average for women. My handspan is an inch longer. So where I can make it work, mens clothes provide me with the width and length I need. Plus they are usually thicker fabrics.

I practically lived in my men's thermal rollneck over winter - came right down over my hips for once, covered my wrists, and not awkward on the shoulders. And a Towie style deep v for a man usually makes a cute tee for me.

But not if it's wafty chiffony fabric, because that doesn't turn up nicely. I've been buying a lot of wedding guest type dresses lately as all my kids are getting married and anything that's smart, summery and nicely made seems to be maxi length and made of chiffon! I want a midi length for short stumpy legs but normal sized body!

There is no way my hips, bum and 34H's are fitting in kids clothes!

Listened to an interesting podcast on this very subject last night. As with everything in this world its mainly about making money!

open.spotify.com/episode/3VMb9wp8vOt4etC1eWxWgW?si=d4omaQgvSRe4U4NKYkBKKA

I've always thought it's because it's easier and cheaper to make longer sizes for everyone - assuming that we will all cut them and hem them. Petite sizes are no good for me as although I am slim I am not tiny waisted . Last year I got some great jeans from M and S - 'ankle grazers'. I bought regular size , they go way past my ankles and are a great fit ! Crazy but it works

Also 5ft 4. I am 55. I spent many years very over weight and barely bought clothes. I have lost alot recently and am finding everything too long when 20 years ago a regular size fitted fine length wise. Frustrating

Me as well! 5’6” with a long body and short legs. I mostly take trousers up but it’s a pain I have to.

I wear a 10

I’m 5’5” and im sick of not being able to wear denims without walking the backs off them. Getting the shorter length means I look like my budgie has died. I have slightly disproportionately longer legs than my
top half so I just don’t fit anywhere’s

I don’t find clothes are made for taller women at all. They are made for small women with tiny shoulders.

I am 6ft and clothes shopping is a miserable experience.

I’m ‘petite’ and the clothing options are dire. Not many ranges do petite well so there’s minimal choice and proportions are often wrong plus most of it is either basic high street or just a bit frumpy (M&S and next for example). When I was young I used to alter all my clothes but now I’m older and less able I don’t have capacity for it so always wearing stuff rolled up or cut off hems etc

Absolutely!
I’m the same height and I can’t buy anything regular- sized.

Maternity clothing was a complete nightmare.

These days the problem is coats and blouses (sleeves too short, shoulders too narrow). At least there are more options for Tall sizing so at least trousers are ok but you don’t get tall-sized tops and coats in the high-street