Tall Women - What do you want when shopping??

[AllLegs95]

Hi all,
I'm a fellow tall girl/women at 5ft9, with my height coming from my legs and not my torso (short torso queen here).

I've really wanted to start my own brand for a number of years, as I'm sure you'll know the high street and even online, just doesn't cater correctly. Trousers & jeans are either way too long or are too short. Now I know that this may not be an issue for those of you with say a 34" inseam or the 36"+ inseam that is often seen catered for by the likes of ASOS (aren't some of their clothes ridiculously long!).
I've been wondering where to start with something that really services us and thinking about what I yearn for in my own wardrobe, I'm missing a really nice set of loungewear or tracksuit top and bottoms. Is this just me or do you struggle too?

Please share with me your pain points when it comes to shopping and what it is that you really wish you could buy at the click of a button, is it really good basics or is it the more fashionable items? I've worked for fast fashion retailers so I kind of know where to start with building this from the ground up, but I really want to serve US. I don't want to be fast fashion, I want to produce clothing that lasts.

I really shouldn't be reading this, as I'm 5' 3" if I'm lucky, but...

For those of you who are big boobed and long of torso - I bought this https://www.bravissimo.com/products/petra-non-wired-sports-swimsuit-so112/#blue-multi-so112bmu

It was waaaaay to long in the torso (fitted perfectly around boobs) so might work for you.

I’m 5’9 (33” inside leg) and age 55, and find that these days most shops cater much better for taller women than they did when I was younger. It used to be an absolute nightmare. But I do also wonder if that’s because I have more money these days so buy from much more expensive brands and these brands do seem to design for taller women as a base. The ethos seems to be that if you’re shorter, you’ll get the clothes altered to fit and I guess the assumption is that you can afford to do that if you can afford the brand in the first place and by catering to taller women, they’re covering the full market. Some brands offer free alterations when you buy exactly for this reason.

But I tend to avoid the high street as I’m anti-fast fashion, and just have expensive tastes anyway as I can’t stand cheap badly cut clothes. I gave up on brands like Zara and Mango within a few years of them starting as back then they definitely designed for a more continental Europe height i.e. short!

I wear a lot of Issey Miyake Pleats Please as that’s sized by height (so size 5 for tall ladies) and have recently fallen in love with Moloh jackets/coats as the arms are the perfect length for my gorilla arms. Good arm length also on knitwear from &Daughter.

See I know I'm never going to be able to spend more than £100 on a jumper - suspect I've never actually bought one over £60, but the hope is that if they are making £ even though they have such a high price point, the look and sizing will become more desirable. Maybe in time for my daughter to get nice clothes at a reasonable price. I also don't like fast fashion but I can't justify spending the equivalent of my monthly council tax on a single jumper without even trying it on! They look lovely though.

The issues for me are sleeves being too short , shoulders - I have quite big shoulders but am a 10/12 . Waists are always too high in dresses so uncomfortable .

I don’t have a problem getting long enough jeans or trousers but have noticed that tall ranges seem to be getting longer so that those of us who are shrinking with age but still tall find it harder to shop . I was 5ft10 now slightly shorter

Coats! I’d love to find a coat with decent length sleeves. I’ve bought ASOS tall coats before but omg they seem to be made for proper giants.

Maternity clothes were also a nightmare as when I got pregnant I was a size 20 and there was nothing for a plus sized tall pregnant woman. I even wrote to LTS begging them to do some maternity clothes (they didn’t back then)

I’m 5ft 10, hourglass, currently a size 16, with 34 inch inside leg. I’d also love to buy with confidence pyjamas, vests, blazers, and trousers that fit on the waist and hips and go down to the floor.

For those wanting proper knee length boots, Fairfax and Favor Reginas hit just in the middle of my knee cap at the front. Very pricey, but I got mine half price on Vinted. (36 inseam)

I have a long body so what I want is longer shirts and jumpers. I want a shirt/jumper built for someone who is bigger all over rather than for someone who is overweight. With ordinary sizes I have to go up to a 14/16 but the sizing assumes I am an overall smaller person with excess weight rather than an overall larger person with normal for me weight. It’s a bit like for years we were told if your waist is over 28 inches you are at risk of diabetes whereas now it is acknowledged that your waist should be less than half your height so if you are 5 foot 8/9 you can go up to a 34 inch waist and still look slim and be in a healthy range. With a long torso I think that is even more so than short torso long legs. The other thing I would want is full length sleeves and full length trousers. And everything plain - no fancy collars, designs, lace trims, asymmetrical cuts, beads, fills etc. just classic good tailoring. And a definite yes to natural fibres - cotton, wool, silk.

I need a crying emoji for all of these lovely clothes I will never be able to afford!
Still enjoying googling them though!

5'10. Height is in my torso.

Decent length sleeves, sick of draughty wrists. Outdoor wear is often bad for this and sports tops with unusable thumb holes.
If I was a dress wearer, I'd say dresses with the waist in the right place, but I'm not, so that's not personally relevant.
Long SWIMSUITS and wetsuits! With longer torso, affordable wetsuits are impossible and swimsuits the neckline is virtually under my boobs.
Shirts that stay tucked in with long enough sleeves. I wear mainly mens now, but mens fitted shirts don't always work on women.

Oh my god wetsuits I had forgotten about that. I tried so many but long torso, broad shoulders, big chest = no go.

And I've never been able to find seperate bikini/ tankini or wetsuit bottoms with a high enough waist. I tried and returned so many this summer. I even tried regular running shorts but nothing had a high waist that came up to my waist and stayed on my waist.

I suppose at least the one item that Long Tall Sally does ok is their longer length swimsuits.

Arm length.

These quite tight sleeves around the wrist (even with a looser blouse) are popular at the moment, and it means things are often too short in the arms, which in turn makes them a bit tight across the shoulders?

Hard to describe unless you have felt the sensation. Restricts your movement a bit.

Often it’s just fine until I wash it.

I’m 5ft 10 and honestly don’t have any issues finding anything. I think there’s lots of good brands out there already tbh

I find it easier these days since I've discovered extra long trousers at M&S and the Tall range at Next.
Next is the only place I can find pyjamas that fit. And New Look Tall range is the only place I can find shirts with long enough sleeves for DD.

Landsend for tankini bottoms, they also do long length swim suits.

I'm 5'10 and have long arms and torso, I'm in my later 60s so should shrink a bit soon but unfortunately I don't think that means my arms will. I wear LTS and Next tall cardigans and jumpers. Trousers, I'm 32-33" inside leg so most High Street long length fit me like M&S. I find Seasalt dresses and coats in the long length fit well. I buy the cosy pyjamas from Next tall as they fit me perfectly, Their Nibs pyjamas also come up long

I'm 5'10" with a 31" inside leg.

I really like Next Long length trousers (denim jeggings and cord bootcut trousers). I wear polo shirts from Regatta men's range in small. Women's tops never reach far enough down to be decent.

I would like a plain navy blue polo neck jumper that is very long in the body.

I would also like winter gloves that are really long so I don't have a gap between the glove and my sleeve where the rain gets in.

I would like everything to be machine washable at 40C and able to go in the tumble dryer. I know it will shrink, but I need it to be big enough so it still fits after it has shrunk in the dryer.

I look like a bloke in dresses. I have given up trying to wear them.

I am 6ft and have 36 inch leg and typical pear shape with larger bottom than top half. I struggle with ‘long’ range jeans/trousers, I need a specific tall range. However I have a smallish waist so in bottoms a 12 is too tight but 14 too big. They then fall down. Usually LTS and Next sort me out for basic bottoms if I can tighten the waist, but tops are rubbish. I wish adult clothes had those size adjusters like my kids’ school trousers have in! LTS sizing especially is bonkers. Some tops an 8 is massive and others a 12 is too tight. I like basics like plain tees that are long enough in the torso but I also want to feel fashionable at times, and find LTS and Next can be a bit frumpy. Why is everything top-wise just dead plain or else floaty and floral like my gran’s curtains? I’d like to choose something a bit more special that isn’t just a shirt. I often have to wear a ‘normal’ mini dress as a top over leggings, but that look is so dated!

Long boots as pp said, yes - my feet are triple EEE wide 9, but that doesn’t mean my calves are as well! I’d like flat, stylish shoes that are comfy (and aren’t just trainers) in a proper, true size 9 extra wide that aren’t Hotter style, but apparently fashionable means stupid strappy heels. In winter I wear men’s leather biker style boots and in summer thankfully I can go to Birkenstock. There’s just such a limited choice and I understand companies don’t want to waste money making a huge range of Tall/extra wide when there’s a small consumer base, but it’s still very frustrating.

Yes yes yes! Short body, long legs. Would love some pjs and comfy trousers that are long enough in both arms and legs.

Also... less fabric gathering around the waist and hips and groin. So many trousers just seem to have this extra material that just makes me look huge. It's silly.

Longer-line jumpers, tshirts, cardigans, fleeces. Not huge tents, just nicely longer than the pouch so they look like they actually fit.

Dresses that have the right proportions.

Any thoughts on dresses with the waist where my 5'9 long torso one is? This is my holy grail

Another one for dresses - the ‘waist’ always sits at the bottom of my bust, sometimes not even under it. I’m 5’10” and a slimish 32F.
Im not tall enough for LTS clothing, I need longer-body clothing. Longer sleeves, and longer PJs would be awesome. Ditto coats with longer sleeves.