I have the most awkward body to dress

[BikeRunSki]

Very long back (has been commented on by various physios and the framebuilder who built my bike) - nothing ever tucks in. Most tops barely reach my middle. I have to seek out long line T shirts, and tunics to wear as work shirts, but a lot of knitwear just ends up looking like a woolly bra. It also means that the waists on dresses are always in the wrong place.

Huge calf muscles. Can’t get anything “skinny” over my lower legs, yet that is most of the choice on the high street.

Size 9 feet gives limited options outside if sports shoes and Clark’s.

I rotate the same pair of trousers in 5 colours - Boden Richmond- a size too big, to get them over my calves, but am constantly hooking them up, a handful of long length T shirts and tops and the same jeans (Sainsbury’s girlfriend) in 3 colours. Clark’s brogues.

I work on building sites, so dresses are not really an option for work, as I need to put on wellies and go and go and look at stuff often. The Boden trousers are great for going under wellies.

I’m so bored of my clothes but I can’t find anything to fit!!!

Can you get things tailored

I'd be wearing thick tights with dresses and boots OP. There's no difference between trousers and a long top to thick tights and a dress and boots. Your legs are hidden and protected just as much. Wellies with thick tights look nice...and you don't have to wear black tights. Bright ones can look cool.

Thick tights and dresses would solve a lot of problems for you. Tights are far easier when you need to change into wellies and you won't have a gaping or gapping waistband.

Dresses are not so precocial for climbing up some of the structures etc that I need to. Believe me, dresses are not really an option, even if the waist sat on my waist and not under my boobs.

Is there somewhere like Bravissimo, but for trousers?

What about leggings and dresses as tunic tops?

Dresses with no waist? Stretchy knitted ones or flarey shirt ones? With leggings?

Tights. Try snag a they come in all colours and sizes. Try a dress that tiers down, or one that fits under your boobs they flows down with a biker jacket or denim jacket. John Lewis have really good personal shoppers who will find you items that you perhaps would not think of

Could you put overalls on for the climbing around parts of the jobs? What do your colleagues wear at those times?

It’s a fairly traditional industry. The male site managers wear chinos and a shirt to a man. Tunic and leggings or instructyred dresses would be too informal.

Culottes

Would dark jeggings work, or would that be too informal? The M&S ones are nice!

When I used to go out on site I wore smart leggings / stretch ponte trousers and a long jacket over. Like kate Middleton wore this week.

Or else a midi skirt and tights.

Or if you need something more formal, what about some high waisted wide leg trousers? I've seen people wearing some lovely ones at my office!

I have work wear and non work wear

You appear to have your work wear sorted.

Why not change what you wear evenings and weekends instead

long tall Sally

Have you considered this shop? They cater for tall women, so you may find longer tops that will fit you.

When I used to go out on site I wore smart leggings / stretch ponte trousers and a long jacket over. Like kate Middleton wore this week.

Or culottes / cropped trousers so wellies can go under them.

Or else a midi skirt and tights.

i'm tall and shopping menswear has changed my life. everything for men is longer, and if i buy size S or M it fits my frame. its also usually cheaper!
t-shirts on Asos in menswear sometimes even come in extra long.

dresses - go for brands that have a "tall" section so the mid-seam sits in the right place.
(asos, topshop, long tall sally)

trousers - culottes, and options with a good amount of stretch = jeggings that look like jeans but stretch like leggings

Gap Tall. I have very long arms and a short torso for 5’9” - I always find them much too long in the body. Some of ASOS and New Look tall might work too. Get the Boden trousers tailored at the waist, I get most things taken in.

I assume you wear PPE on site - whenever it’s a PPE day for me, I stick to skinny trousers as skirts & long wide trousers look a bit odd. Cropped flares might be an option.

Apart from the feet (I have weirdly small feet for my height) this is me. For trousers I like the Next cigarette pants which are slim and stretchy, then my lovely alterations lady can nip the waist in. When I'm with my engineering team (managers wear chinos/shirts, the rest wear jeans/shirts/jumpers) I usually wear a nice tunic dress (I have a Long Tall Sally one which is my favourite, but a few Dorothy Perkins ones in tall as well) and ponte leggings and boots which looks smart when I wear a proper necklace etc but allows me to get down and interact with development equipment.

Finding someone to do alterations has been a revelation though. The lady who does mine can do anything, and gives me advice on what I need to look for ideally, and even has ideas on brands to look for

Thank you for all your replies.

@jcurve- I shop a lot at Gap tall girls tops already. I have some “beach tunics” which I wear as work shirts!

@Standrewsschool - i find LTS quality is dreadful!!

@abitlostandalwayshungry and @kenandbarbie, I have a couple of pairs of culottes which I love, but the interface of welly/culottes is weird. Not enough culottes to tuck in, but not enough to go over the top either. It just flaps madly around.

Skinny trousers (especially Next, Gap abd M&S) are just too skinny. No amount of sizing up or Lycra will make them fit, hence the 5 pairs of the same Boden style.I’ve tried trousers from plus size shoes too, and their legs seemed even skinnier!!

My calfs are 46 cm circumference!! The rest of me is a suE 14/16, so bit skinny but not huge either.

Shirt dresses with thick leggings or tights?

I have completely given up on trousers.
Different issues to you - I’m 5’11 with very long, slim legs but big hips and and an enormous bum - and I haven never found a single pair of trousers that fit. Can’t afford tailoring! Feel your pain...

If you have a very hard body to dress, alterations and made to measure are the way to go.

I have quite muscly legs and have actually contemplated buying men's slim leg jeans before to wear like skinny jeans.

Culottes.