Fashion advice needed for forty-something six-foot pipecleaner woman

[PipecleanerMakeover]

People of Style and Beauty, can you help?

After spending almost all my life in jeans, shapeless long-sleeved t-shirts and walking boots I’ve recently realised that actually I’d be quite interested to wear some actual, well, you know, women’s clothes (I am a woman, honest). I’ve just always felt that women’s clothes weren’t really for me, largely because I’m very tall and skinny and very few things in shops fit me.

I’m 42, just under six foot, size 8, with a very narrow build. Olive colouring. Have nice legs and reasonable arse but very flat chested – probably not even an AA (don’t know exact size - I’ve never found a bra small enough!). So I have trouble finding things that are long enough in the arms and legs, narrow enough for the rest of me and don’t leave expanses of fabric flapping around my non-existant cleavage.

I like things that are a bit fitted. I have a weakness for velvet, corduroy and other textured fabrics. I don’t mind the occasional bit decoration but otherwise I like clean lines and don’t like frills and bits sticking out of things. A pinch of slightly quirky flamboyance is good. I have a beautiful black frock-coat and a pair of Fly Mes boots which I absolutely love. I think they might go nicely with a short-ish woollen skirt and leggings but generally find mini-skirts to be rather too mini on me.

So basically we’re looking at a Plain Jane Superbrain style makeover for Lowly Worm (explanations of niche 70s & 80s cultural references available on request). But with no electric blue eyeshadow or rah-rah skirts.

Can anyone suggest any garments, shops or websites I might try? What would you wear if you were this shape?

Oh, sorry meant to say, I do know about Long Tall Sally and have a few nice bits from there. But is there anywhere else?

Unfortunately most the tall stuff is online, but there is Next tall, Dorothy Perkins, ASOS, GAP, Topshop, New look, all of these have tall sections to browse. Zara and H & M also have some things that are long, though not an actual tall section.

Ah thanks Light , I didn't know so many places did tall stuff these days.

Welcome to S&B!

Firstly, I'd really recommend starting a 'bra intervention' thread for yourself. It is very unlikely that you are a AA - that means the measurement under your boob is the same as over your boobs. Most women wear a too big band and too small cup. Getting a well fitting bra will make all the difference to how your clothes fit. I am a size 8 too and a 30DD - which is absolutely not big boobs. I wore a 34B for years and just thought I must be a odd shape as it didn't really fit but that was the size all the charts came out at.

I have to go now but will be back later re. clothes.

We're similarish - I'm also 42 and 5ft 10 but quite narrow and 8-10. I probably have more curves than you - 28G chest but still on a very narrow frame.

Things I've found helpful are:
Getting inspiration from Does my bum look 40 in this? blog. She has similar height and narrowness. It's posts from the past that will probably help as her recent posts are more like generic shopping lists but she does the skinnies/interesting top, jacket, scarf thing so well.

Me and Em stuff is cut well for height - be aware sizing is v generous. I have some dresses office wear but actually feel some of the more fitted things can make me look a bit formidable due to height/width so it depends how you want to be perceived.

Baukjen - the same. Their extra long fitted t shirts are at the base of many of my outfits and at least aren't shapeless. They cost £50 so I tend to add one to my collection every sale.

Premium denim jeans often have longer inside legs. I do wear a lot of jeans but try to at least make sure they aren't blue denim so they are more interesting. I buy from net a porter, my wardrobe, harvey Nichols, Selfridges at sale time and Outnet in between.

Bit obvious but I do find scarves add a bit of interest and some bulk to my silhouette. I'm still wearing big bulky scarves though they are apparently well and truly out.

I also tend to carry bigger bags - totes and satchels - as I feel like small bags look comic on me.

How big are your feet? Mine are relatively small to height so don't get too bad a golf club effect - in fact can go the other way and be too foreshortened if I wear heels, but that's something else to think about!

Thanks so much for the replies Pink and Mystery - I really appreciate it!

Pink - what does a bra intervention thread entail? Is there somewhere I can go and get measured or will people on here tell me what to do? I've just always thought of bras as None Of My Business and am strangely excited to hear that that may not be the case...

Mystery - thanks for the blog and shopping suggestions. I'm very happy having a tall and spindly shape but am keen to to try different things. My feet are size 7, so I don't get too much of a golf club look. But like the rest of me they're very narrow so a lot of things in shops don't fit! My Fly boots are a great fit, and I find converse are good for narrow feet too, but that's about it.

Pipecleaner if you look on S&B you'll find quite a few threads entitled 'bra intervention' or similar. There is a link quoted on some of them to show you how to measure and then what size that equates to.

But just start a thread entitled 'bra intervention' and one of the 'bra gurus' will be along to advise. They are fab.

Many a woman has been amazed!

Glad you are happy with your shape - I am happy with mine. I'm a couple of inches shorter than you, a size 8 with size 6 feet.

It can be a challenge to find clothes long enough but when we do we can look great.

I love long boots but always struggled to find them long enough. LTS start at a size 7 and are like wellies on me anyway as they assume tall means sturdy of leg!

The only website I've found that quotes the leg height of boots is Duo boots. This season they also have a section recommending styles for tall women. I have a few pairs and they've lasted very well.

Gap Tall is one of my staples for trousers and jeans - only available online and be prepared to size down maybe even to a size 4 if available. Gap come up big anyway but their Tall styles even more so. Their long sleeved t-shirts are good and they are usually a fitted shape.

Next jackets, coats, tops and dresses are good for me if I can find a style I like but again size 8Tall is often too large unless a fitted style. Their trousers don't suit my shape but may be OK for you. Pj's are good.

Zara comes up long and I've had some good shirts and tops from Mango but never tried their trousers.

I've had some lovely short A-line woollen skirts from M&S in previous seasons but they are pretty short as need a size 6 and they only come in 18" length. I find that OK with opaque tights though.

Hope that helps get you started.

Pink that's great, thanks very much. I'll have a look at the intervention threads tomorrow. Maybe there is hope for me yet...

I also find LTS boots absolutely massive!

This has all been so helpful - I was always put off by not knowing where to look, wading through piles of stuff that didn't fit me and then totally losing interest before I found anything. So it's great to get a bit of a steer on where to look.

asos tall jeggings

bootcut jeans add curves

Thanks Travelin and Peas - I'll take a look.

Have measured bosoms and am quavering slightly at the result (30c??!?). Will try on some impossibly large sounding bras tomorrow...

Hi there, I agree with mystery fairy, Baukjen is great for taller peeps (online retailer, sister website to Isabella Oliver) I'm 5'10 and now buy all my basic t'shirts and vests from there as they are a classic shape and great length. I hate it when they only go as far as your belly button! Personally I found their jeans to be 'just' long enough so would probably be just a touch too short on you but definitely check out the tops.

I buy my black leggings from the topshop 'tall' range. I haven't found a better fit elsewhere but they do go thin quickly. Their jeans are worth a look as they come in different leg length / waist size

Zara is always a good bet.

Womens clothes are definitely for you, you're tall and skinny so everything will hang beautifully. I would recommend getting fitted for some underwear and have you considered having items taken in by a dressmaker to fit properly? If they are just taking fabric in its not as expensive as you might think. I had a wool winter coat taken in to fit last year, it cost £30 and fits perfectly now.

My 12 year old is a 30c and she has very definite curves. She also favours bras from places like New Look which are cheap but have a lot of padding in. I'm not keen on her wearing them oddly enough but for an adult who wanted to go curvier they might be a good idea. I can vouch for their effectiveness having wrung my hands in the changing rooms before now!

Also have to say underwired (which again I'm not keen on for DD) does dramatically enhance her curves. If you've avoided bras up to now perhaps you haven't experimented with this and might be pleasantly surprised.

Ooh, thanks 00rovers and the others who suggested Baukjen - I've had a look at their website and that's just the sort of thing I like.

I've also been into Topshop for the first time in approx 25yrs and had a look at their tall things. Nothing that particularly took my fancy but it was good to try looking somewhere new.

Right, I've also been to try on some bras and think I've made some progress! The 30C is a pretty good fit in the cups but the band is a bit tight. I read that they'll stretch over time but I think it'd be a bit uncomfortable to wear all day at the moment. It did give a nice shape though and I think I'll persevere. I tried some very padded ones but the bosoms just sort of sat there perched on top of the padding and looked a bit odd. The ones I bought were 30C lightly padded with some underwiring so I'll give those a go and see how we get on. I'll have a look in New Look next time I'm in town Mystery - thanks for the tip.

Thanks again to everyone who's replied, this has all been such a help!