An internet friend writes:
Greetings to the lovely Francesca!
Banana Republic has long been my guilty fashion secret–guilty because I always feel bad buying tops, even off the sale rack, for my tiny-topped pear shape from a store that wouldn’t stoop to carrying pants in my size or shape if their profit margin depended on it. But I am quite tall with all my height in my torso, and not a whole lot of other stores on any end of the quality spectrum carry tops long enough to be comfortable (and not require a constant tugging-down to make them reach past the waist on my pants) and look proportional on my frame. I finally figured out why Banana has such a hold on me. While shopping online, I noticed that, though it is unmarked in the store, they carry “tall” designs/sizes, and not just in pants–blouses, suits, coats, and dresses, all cut to actually put the waist in the right place on me. The idea that anything but pants comes in a “tall” version was revolutionary for me. Do you and Plumcake happen to know of any other stores where I and other tall big girls might be able to catch a break–preferably ones that actually sell pants above a size 16???
Thanks so much and keep up the great work!! Your humor and advice are often inspiring on days when I feel like a caramel apple in a world of ice pops.
Best,
Leah
Leah, you are in luck, because yes, it is possible to find pants with long inseams above a size 16! And shirts! And coats! And robes! And anything else your heart desires!
First, check out the collection of pants for Petite and Tall girls at Avenue. In sizes starting at 14! Look, cuffed trousers, very nice for fall/winter, with a 35″ inseam, up to size 26!
Next, try luxuriouslytall.com, which provides tops, bottoms, shoes, lingerie, and outerwear for the tall, plus-size woman. Many of their pants go up to size 20 (though they run small, so if you normally wear a 16, try ordering an 18).
If it is just tops you seek, Francesca can point you to Design Elevations, which carries Tall sizes and a small collection of Tall Plus (but no tall-plus pants). There is something about this double-breasted jacket which Francesca finds fun, and it is available up to size 22:
And check out Tall Couture, which has many beautiful items for the Tall Girl, though, alas, not the pants size which Leah seeks. Their sizing system is different from most, so be sure to use their size guide. Here is a wonderful chiffon top, available through size 16:
Finally, J. Crew has an attractive Tall collection, which you can see here. (They also, by the way, have a collection of clothing in Size 16, but that is separate from the Tall sizes.)
A long list of clothing websites which cater to tall women can be found here.
Happy shopping!
xoxo,
Francesca
I’m a long-torso, big-booby girl, and I shop frequently at gap.com. They carry Tall tops, and I’ve always been happy with what I’ve bought (though again with the absence of Juicy Girl sizes in-store.)
Comment by G — December 19, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
I love eddiebauer.com and jjill.com for their tall sizes, which go up to 20.
Comment by Kendra — December 19, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
For pants, check out Torrid (www.torrid.com). The have jeans and pants in many inseams (up to 35 or 36″) in sizes 12-24. I totally buy all my pants from Torrid!
Also, try alloy.com for plus size pants (esp. jeans) in tons of inseams, as well as Delia’s (www.delias.com).
Comment by Rachel — December 19, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Just thought of another place: New York and Company, (www.nyandcompany.com). They have all types of dress pants and jeans in short and tall inseams, up to size 18. Tall is approx 34-36″ inseam, depending on the pant.
Clearly I have struggled with finding CUTE and MODERN plus size tall clothing, I’m 26 years old, 5’10” and a size 18!
Comment by Rachel — December 19, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Hey
I work for a company called Long Tall Sally (http://www.longtallsally.com), and we specialise in clothing for tall women, so I am only too aware of the issues that tall women face.
I’ve found a few sites that are fantastic resources for tall women:
http://www.tallclothingmall.com
http://www.extratall.co.uk
http://www.heightsite.com
tallorder.typepad.com
http://www.uniquelywoman.co.uk
I hope that helps you to find some clothing for tall girls!
Beth (LTS) x
Comment by Beth_LTS — December 20, 2007 @ 6:18 am
I feel your pain. I am a short waisted apple with a 36″ inseam. I have learned that a “lo-rise” for me will always be at least an inch over my navel. Usually pants go up nearly to my bust!
Still, I have had great luck at Lane Bryant (jeans and dress pants), Talbot’s (jeans), jjill.com (jeans), WomanWithin (workout pants), alloy.com (workout pants) and Long elegant Legs (yoga pants).
and NY and Co was my go-to for many years as well. I hear they are getting a +sized line – I do hope it includes Tall pants!
Good luck!
Comment by dowdydiva — December 20, 2007 @ 8:48 am
I would also say Eddie Bauer — sweaters in tall sizes! Who knew!
Comment by Julie — December 20, 2007 @ 11:26 am
I’m 5’11” and have worn both regular sizes and plus sizes at different times in my life.
jessicalondon.com has quite a few tall size clothes in plus sizes. Their sister stores, chadwicks.com and metrostyle.com, have tall sizes in non-plus sizes. The clothes are mostly pretty cheap, but they’re better quality than Avenue while costing less. (I haven’t been happy with the things I’ve gotten from Avenue – their stuff shrinks by unpredictable amounts.)
Eddie Bauer’s catalog is the best, though. Almost everything is offered in tall sizes. I don’t have to brace myself for disappointment, because chances are that anything I like will be available. Their clothes are conservative, but they wear like iron, and somehow it’s my Eddie Bauer items that end up being worn every week, week after week, while the more interesting clothes gather dust.
Comment by Katherine — December 20, 2007 @ 11:38 pm
I came here by accident, but like it
Comment by Jessica — January 9, 2008 @ 7:37 pm