It's time that the fashion industry meaningfully included tall women in the conversation

By Irene Agbontaen - Sep 30, 2020

For as long as I can remember, I've always stood out for being tall. The tall gene comes from my mother's side of the family. She's not tall herself, but her brothers are. I've always been taller than your average..

Growing up, my height made me feel self-conscious. I was always asked to stand at the back for any school photos because I was tall. There was and is a sense of always being asked to stand in the background and that affects your sense of self-worth. Tall women hunch, lean and diminish themselves so they can be at the same eye level as others. We dim our light to just feel included. Tall women are not told they're beautiful; they're told to go to the back and blend in.

One of the first times that I realised that my height excluded from me from things was when I was at secondary school. My mother and I would go on desperate shopping trips searching for plain black trousers for me to wear to school. Nothing ever fitted; they were all ankle swingers or unfashionable – there was nothing for a young, on-trend teenager. In the end, I just stuck to the old school skirt. I couldn't shop at the same places as my friends. I'd stand outside the changing rooms when my friends were trying on all these great clothes knowing that they would all look bad on me. I felt ignored and as if there was no space for me.

The advantages to all that was that it made me look deeper for my style. The singer Aaliyah was a big inspiration to me growing up – she dressed like a man but with feminine accents. I could do that as I could wear men's clothes. Being tall helped me to find my own lane.

Everyone deserves to be represented and for so long, tall women have just been given the scraps. I'm five foot 11, so I'm at the start of the tall spectrum, but I have struggled to find the most basic wardrobe essentials. My brand, TTYA, was born out of not being able to find those key pieces. I just wanted not to have to wear men's clothes all the time. When I first started TTYA, I created classics that were cut perfectly for tall women.

Representation is important, but society remains intolerant of women whose height goes above five foot seven. The only tall women we see in the media are Serena Williams and Gwendoline Christie. When I first launched my brand, Gwendoline emailed me to say thank you for including women of our height in the fashion narrative. When tall women are represented in the media, it's through the prism of masculinity. If you look at Gwendoline's character in Game of Thrones, she plays a manly giant – being tall is always associated with those things. Serena Williams has always been an advocate for her own femininity; she doesn't want to be described in masculine terms just because of her height. Honestly, if I had a pound for everyone who asked me if I play basketball, I'd be a rich woman. You're either an athlete or a supermodel, there's no middle ground.

In fashion, terms such as diversity and inclusivity are now being used as marketing buzzwords. When brands talk about clothing inclusivity, they tend to mean solely plus-size. A brand isn't inclusive just because it does a limited curve line. What about everyone else that doesn't fit into that bracket? I'm not saying that every brand should have fingers in all pies, but if we're going to use the word inclusivity we must do so correctly.

A lot of big labels want to be able to widen their bracket and to appeal to all women, but they go about it in a half-baked way. There's never much research – they just make things longer. It makes me think, 'are there any tall people behind the scenes designing this or consulting on it?' I'm a tall woman designing clothes for tall women. I understand our frustrations, what's missing in the market and what needs to be done to serve us better. I want to make sure we have a voice and a space in the fashion world.

Inclusion and diversity needs to mean something. If you're going to claim that your brand embodies those things, then that needs to start from the inside out – in your ethos, your staff and your values. It shouldn't be just a shallow front of house statement. Don't just use a tall woman in your campaign but not fully cater to them in your collection. You can't just add three inches onto a piece of clothing and think that's enough - you need to think about the construction of that garment and how it will fit a tall frame. For example, if I have a longer torso, then my waist will be at a different height. Loads of brands don't want to do the research required when designing for tall women. Instead they take the shortcuts.

Since launching TTYA, I've started thinking about my height differently. Suddenly I was very aware that there were so many women that felt the same way as me. I'd receive so much feedback from customers who felt finally heard – one girl's mother emailed to tell me that I'd made her daughter's prom because she'd managed to find a dress that fitted her. Knowing that I'd helped others made me feel understood too.

Any tall woman who walks into a room seizes the attention of everyone in it and I've learnt to think of that as an asset. I used to think about how I would best fit in, now I think, 'how can I use this to my advantage?' Tall women command a space. To all my tall female friends, if you want to wear six-inch heels, wear them. Don't let anyone else's insecurities change who you are or diminish you.

STYLE TIPS FOR TALL WOMEN:

Know your body ratio

Some people have a longer torso and shorter legs, or vice versa. Dress for your body shape; it'll make everything easier.

Don't go overboard when it comes to oversized

Only go up one or two sizes to achieve that effortless oversized look without it looking shapeless or overly baggy.

Find your wardrobe essentials

Once you have those in place, then you can layer clothes not necessarily for tall women on top.

As told to Ella Alexander.

Read the original article

Karlie Kloss is one of the top supermodels in the world

• She has been talking about fashion for women her height
• Karlie has given some of her top tips for tall girls

It is fair to say that most of the women in the world love shoes and some women have shoes with ridiculously big heels on them. However, there are plenty of tall women in the world who struggle with big heels on their shoes, as they all tower above many guys in the world and can sometimes feel awkward.

Well, the gorgeous Karlie Kloss is one of the top supermodels on the planet and she has had to deal with being a tall woman for many years now. Karlie has admitted that she prefers not to wear heels as she is very tall already, so she has given some of her top tips to the taller women in the world.

Kloss explained, "I feel like I can conquer the world in a pair of flats. I think I would look like a crazy woman walking around N.Y.C. in heels since I'm 6'1″ and 6'4″ in heels. Plus, I take the subway, so I'd stand out even more! I love being super-tall because I can wear flats on the red carpet. I'm also always running around in sneakers. I probably have at least 50 pairs. Like I love wearing high-waisted trousers to make my legs look even longer."

She added, "And I get to wear amazing gowns at a runway show that nobody else could pull off because it's so long. I definitely do not look good in something that's too short. Everything gets shorter on me! There are definitely upsides to it. If you're really tall, I think you should own it. I think it's great to find what makes you different and accentuate it, and use them to stand out even more."

So, there you have it. If you are a taller woman and are keen to try some things a bit different, then why not take these great tips from Karlie Kloss and adapt them for your own lifestyle.

Read the original article

Lands' End

Tall Women's jeans and pants with up to 34 inch inseams

Nautical roots. An American spirit. And a company-wide devotion to high quality‚ honest value and timeless style with a twist. That’s authentic Lands’ End. And that’s just what you’ll get‚ no matter your latitude or longitude. No matter which member of our brand family you shop.

There’s only one Lands’ End

There are a lot of “all-American” brands out there‚ but there’s only one Lands’ End. We make stylish‚ comfortable‚ well-crafted goods. You’ll always know when you’ve spotted us—whether we’re sprucing up your family‚ your living room or a few NASA astronauts.

Visit the Lands' End website

LOFT

Tall women's jeans and pants with up to 35 inch inseams

LOFT was born in 1998 and today has over 650 full-price and outlet stores in Canada, Mexico and in over 46 US states. LOFT creates modern, feminine and versatile clothing for a wide range of women with one common style goal: to look and feel confident, wherever the day takes them. From everyday essentials to attainable trends, LOFT consistently serves up head-to-toe outfits and perfect pieces at an incredible value which makes getting dressed feel effortless. They’re styles that reflect the world she lives in. Beyond women’s wardrobe needs, LOFT creates genuine and lasting relationships with customers via trusted in-store stylists and an optimistic spirit.

Visit the LOFT website and their dedicated "Tall Section"

Here's the message from LTS' COO Alison Doherty

I hope you are as well as can be expected in these unusual times.

This isn't easy to write, however honesty is always the best policy so I'll be completely transparent in explaining the decision we have made.

The changing economics of retail, along with fierce competition, have hit us hard. Trading has been incredibly challenging and we've relied heavily on shareholder support to bolster LTS.

The very sudden and very profound impact of Covid-19 has further weakened our position. The economic outlook is now too uncertain for our shareholders to continue to support the business, so it's with a very heavy heart that I must tell you we will be winding down Long Tall Sally. Please know we explored every possible avenue to continue trading but the financial impact of the pandemic means the business is no longer sustainable

I know how disappointed you will be to receive this news. I don't think it's an overstatement to say that, after 44 years of trading, it really is the end of an era. I only wish it didn't have to be this way.

If you have questions, I promise to do my best to answer them. Please click here for FAQs, which we'll keep updated as we progress. I'm sure you'll want to know *when* we're closing. At the moment, our aim is to continue trading until the end of August but if anything changes, you'll be first to know.

On a personal note, it's been my privilege to serve Long Tall Sally for the past ten years. I couldn't be more proud of the brand, the community and the incredible team we've built. I will miss them all immensely.

On behalf of the entire team here at Long Tall Sally, thank you for joining us on our journey.

Best wishes,

Alison Doherty
Chief Operating Officer

Dear customer,

I’m delighted to let you know that a future has been secured for Long Tall Sally, under the new ownership of AK Retail Holdings Ltd. AK Retail Holdings’ portfolio includes specialist global womenswear brand Yours Clothing, a fast-growing curve retailer, BadRhino, its menswear counterpart along with Bump It Up Maternity and Yours London.

When we announced our closure back in June, we were heartbroken that Long Tall Sally would no longer exist but after weeks of negotiation, we're thrilled that the brand can now live on and our loyal customers can continue to enjoy the unique fit that’s so important to us all.

Please shop our website with confidence until Thursday 27th August. AK Retail Holdings will take over ownership of the Long Tall Sally brand on 1st September. Andrew Killingsworth, owner and CEO of AK Retail Holdings, commented:

"We are thrilled to be able to bring Long Tall Sally into our family of retailers. The brand is one we are proud to own and we look forward to engaging in meaningful dialogue with LTS customers, developing the offer and taking the brand to the next stage."

If you have queries about an existing order or return, our Customer Support Team is on hand to help throughout.

I hope you’re as excited as I am about the future of Long Tall Sally.

With my best wishes,

Alison Doherty
Chief Operating Officer

Megan Thee Stallion designing Fashion Nova jeans for tall women

By Melissa Minton - September 28, 2020 | 11:57am

Megan Thee Stallion is living up to her name.

The Houston native, 25, is teaming up with fast fashion brand Fashion Nova to give all the hot girls above a certain height a very special line of denim.

"Oh yeah and remember when I said I was collaborating with @fashionnova to make jeans for tall women," Meg posted on Instagram Sunday.

"These are the first samples coming soon."

The 5'10" "WAP" rapper posed in a pair of boot-cut ripped jeans with a dip-dyed color, darker below the knees than the light acid wash above.

Read the original article

Midheaven Denim

Tall women's jeans with up to 38 inch inseams

After spending years in the modeling industry, Kathryn Boyd Brolin recognized a niche of women who, like her, were troubled by the lack of inseams long enough to fit their lengthy frames. Her search was accompanied by many frustrated hours spent trying on pair after pair, looking for a brand worthy of a tall girl’s loyalty.

What came next was the birth of a sexy, high end, fashion line for ladies who need a brand made specifically with the longer than average length in mind. Midheaven Denim is a line of premium denim made from the best Italian fabric, cut and sewn by experienced artists in downtown Los Angeles with a focus on detail, comfort and specificity of fit. We cater to all sizes of the longest legged women out there, and the most important thing to us is to make the jean feel personal to each person who becomes an owner of them.

The term "Midheaven" means "middle of the sky," the highest point the sun achieves in its daily traverse around the Earth. The brand represents that as a FEELING, an initiative, to evoke the confidence to live life as your best and most fearless self; to reach for your own personal midheaven. We believe height is not just a physical state, but A STATE OF MIND, and our clothes should not hamper us, but assist us in bringing our physical and emotional states together in synonymy.

Midheaven Denim uses fabric produced in the world’s greenest and most sustainable denim mill, with valuable measures taken to reduce waste and promote environmentally-healthy production tactics. All of our packaging materials are ecoconscious and each step in bringing you our quality product is taken with the Earth’s health in mind.

In its endeavor to provide a beautiful product to fit the likes of those who find themselves somewhat outside of the average sizing scale, MIDHEAVEN strives to bring confidence back to those who have lost it in the dressing room. "Take Back Your Height" is MIDHEAVEN’s mantra and intention; its goal is to focus on the importance of feeling your best and truest, most confident self, and bringing those necessities to the forefront. Sometimes all it takes is a good pair of jeans.

Visit the Midheaven Denim website

Model Atelier

Exclusive tall women's clothing including jumpsuits and pants with up to 41 inch inseams

A luxury design house exclusively for the tall, strong, and confident woman.  We offer finely crafted ready-to-wear collections tailored for women 5'7''and taller.  MODEL ATELIER was created by Ford model-turned designer Robin Harris, who works together with an in-house design team to produce the finest clothing, content, and style for tall women.

At MODEL ATELIER we celebrate tall women and design modern clothing to fit their individual lifestyle. We share a common interests of being innovative, exceeding expectations, and embracing an entrepreneurial mindset. Our mission is to deliver beautiful handcrafted designs for the tall and modern woman. We work with a group of talented and experienced individuals to deliver nothing but the best results. We are constantly reinventing ourselves, striving to be the best in the business, and exceeding our clients expectations.

Our core values are and everything we believe in:
Make it happen
Opulence is a state of being
Deliver the best results
Exceed expectations
Lead by example

Company Information:  MODEL ATELIER is a limited liability corporation registered in the state of Illinois. The CEO of MODEL ATELIER, Robin Harris, a fashion model represented by Ford Models, with an MBA in International Business. Robin Harris has been in the fashion industry for over 10 years, working as a professional model, designer, merchandiser, and creative director. She created MODEL ATELIER to fill the void and frustration that tall women have when it comes to finding stylish clothes that’s the perfect fit and length.

Visit the Model Atelier website

Mosaic District Pop-Up 'Park Story' Looking for Permanent Home With Summer Closure Around the Corner

Vernon Miles March 7, 2019 at 2:15pm

As is the eventual fate of all pop-ups, locally owned boutique Park Story could be relocating from its Mosaic District home.

Owner Meghan Evans launched her own clothing line in August 2017 and opened the store in the Mosaic District in October 2018.

"I am hoping for a more permanent home that caters to local designers and independent caterers," said Evans. "Something permanent than a pop-up. I'm expecting to be here through July."

Evans said she's currently in discussions with the Mosaic District about trying to stay in that area, but either way, she hopes to remain somewhere in Northern Virginia.

Evans started her clothing line after being frustrated with the lack of selection for tall women. The Park Story boutique was designed to not only showcase her collection, but work from other local and independent creators. Evans said the store hosts everything from local lipstick to jewelry and art.

"People are surprised there's such quality on the local market," Evans said. "People don't expect to find us here. We're surrounded by bigger box stores, but we're local and independent."

Evans' clothing line is manufactured in D.C. She knows most of the other vendors at her store following years of building connections and seeking out brands that she believes are complementary to the shop aesthetic.

"We are clean and modern with a feminine touch," Evans said. "The shop has more of a minimalist feel: light, bright and airy."

Evans said she hopes to know by April whether or not the store will be moving so she can begin to let her customers know her plans.

Read the original article

Next

Your one stop shop for the latest Next news, trends & competitions! See something you like? Order by MIDNIGHT for next day delivery! 

For over 30 years, NEXT has been one of Britain’s most popular brands – acclaimed for its mastery of classic contemporary style evidenced in the combination of outstanding design, great quality and true value. 

Today, NEXT has beautiful things for you, your family, and your home. There are over 650 NEXT stores worldwide, and, as Europe’s biggest fashion e-tailer (with a global online presence through Next Direct), the brand is at the forefront of home-shopping too. 

Find the latest trends for taller ladies from the newest Next tall collections. Inspired by this season's key designs; browse everyday essentials to outfits for a special occasion styled perfectly to fit a taller frame. With glamorous tall dresses to the latest long leg jeans and trousers, shop tall women's clothing to fit ladies from 5ft 10" and over.

Visit the Next website

Visit the Next Tall Women's section

Nineth Closet

Tall women's clothing including pants with up to 39" inseams

Nineth Closet is a fashion brand exclusively for tall women. We are revolutionizing fashion for women above average height. Our promise is to enhance the closet of tall women worldwide, with on trend, figure accentuating, non-compromising pieces.

Visit the Nineth Closet website

Old Navy splits off from Gap

Mary Hanbury, Business Insider

• Gap Inc. is splitting in two.
• The retailer on Thursday announced that it would be separating into two publicly traded companies, Old Navy and a yet-to-be-named company that will consist of the Gap brand, Athleta, Banana Republic, Intermix, and Hill City.

Old Navy is going out on its own.

Gap Inc. on Thursday announced that it would be splitting into two publicly traded companies: Old Navy and a yet-to-be-named company that will consist of the Gap brand, Athleta, Banana Republic, Intermix, and Hill City.

"Following a comprehensive review by the Gap Inc. Board of Directors, it's clear that Old Navy's business model and customers have increasingly diverged from our specialty brands over time, and each company now requires a different strategy to thrive moving forward," Robert Fisher, Gap Inc.'s board chairman said in a statement to the press.

He continued: "Recognizing that, we determined that pursuing a separation is the most compelling path forward for our brands - creating two separate companies with distinct financial profiles, tailored operating priorities and unique capital allocation strategies, both well positioned to achieve their strategic goals and create significant value for our customers, employees, and shareholders."

Old Navy is one of Gap Inc.'s strongest businesses and accounted for 47% of its sales in 2018. On Thursday, Gap Inc. reported its fourth-quarter earnings. Same-store sales at Old Navy were up 9% during the quarter and 3% for the year overall.

Gap Inc.'s namesake brand saw sales drop by 5%, for both the quarter and 2018 overall.

Gap Inc. also announced that it would be closing 230 Gap specialty stores over the next two years.

The company said in a statement that this new separation would give Old Navy "the flexibility, focus, and control needed to increase customer access by further applying its strategic real estate strategy, evolving its omnichannel model and expanding its product categories to continue to successfully resonate with value-focused customers."

Gap Inc. CEO Art Peck will stay on as CEO of the new, soon-to-be-named company. Sonia Syngal, the CEO of Old Navy, will lead this separate company.

Read the original article

Online shopper's trousers arrive with comically long legs

By Kahla Preston

There’s nothing quite like ripping open an eagerly-awaited online shopping order… only to discover it’s nothing at all like what you expected. The latest victim to this cruel, cruel phenomenon is an Edinburgh woman named Dan, who treated herself to a pair of flared trousers from retailer Pretty Little Thing. The high-waisted jersey pants looked perfectly normal on the screen, but in reality they wouldn't have been out of place in Gumby's wardrobe.

Dan tweeted a photo holding the ludicrously long garment against her body, with the waistband reaching the top of her chest. “Seriously???? do @OfficialPLT think am f---ing slenderman," she wrote. The makeup artist followed this with a photo of herself wearing the pants, their hems stretching several inches beyond her feet. 

One follower pointed out that the model in the original photo was wearing heels, but the makeup artist said it didn’t make a difference for her. “The model isn't that much taller than me, she wears a size 8 and i'm wearing a 6. i tried them with heels and they are still about 5 inches too long,” she wrote. If it’s any consolation, Dan isn’t the only online shopper who’s found herself with a pair of comically long pants.

Last month, a fellow Pretty Little Thing shopper had purchased the same design, only to discover the waistband reached just under her chin. Another woman who owned the pants responded to Dan’s tweet, explaining they still touched the floor when she wore them with platform heels. Others shared photos and videos of themselves attempting to wear and walk in similarly long trousers and jumpsuits.

Not everyone was horrified by the giraffe-like legs, however; plenty of tall women chimed in to find out where they could buy the trousers.

“I’m dying to know the actual inseam length. You may have found a unicorn for us. #tallgirlproblems,” one wrote. Pretty Little Thing responded to Dan’s tweet, suggesting their petite range might offer the solution.

Read the original article

Online shopping? For the tall and large of foot, it’s a mixed bag

By Denise Snodell, Columnist, October 08, 2019 12:00 AM,Updated October 08, 2019 12:00 AM

It was 1:30 a.m. when I awakened. I might have heard a sound, like the ice maker clanking in the fridge. Or maybe it was one of those mysterious cracks a house makes. Wood floors can be expressive when adjusting to humidity swings.

I mentally walked through different parts of the house with bump-in-the-night theories. My pillow-based thoughts stopped at the front door. Boom -I realized I’d forgotten to check for a pair of shoes from Amazon. Was it a package thief making a getaway noise? Nah, I concluded, it was likely an inconsiderate kitchen appliance.

Ironically, I tracked the heck out of the package for a few days, but once it was finally “out for delivery” I failed to check the porch before I went to bed. Here’s a replay of my thoughts that night, which addresses doormat anxiety, one of several downsides to online shopping:

If the package is out there, it can wait until morning.

No it can’t.

Yes it can.

No it can’t.

But if I go get the package now, I’ll make a racket and awaken my husband. Not worth it. Don’t do it.

Then again, it could rain horizontally and destroy my purchase. Also, if my Amazon box is out there, it must look like we’re out of town. Not a good thing.

Worst of all - I could lose that rare pair of size 10½ women’s shoes! This internet find was like an aptly named Sasquatch sighting.

I hopped out of bed, made a racket, and retrieved the package. Because they were shoes.

Online shopping has turned me into a monster. I still prefer brick and mortar hunting and gathering, but physical stores absolutely fail tall women who simply want sleeves that reach wrists and pants that cover ankle bones. Along with footwear that fits.

It’s not my fault all the retailers I can easily drive to have enormous petite sections but nothing for the other side of the bell curve. Even shoe department salespeople back away from me when I announce I’m just past the magical stock cutoff of 10 but some 10’s might fit. They’ll only pay attention to me if I’m the only one there. No reason to lose commissions from all the browsing 7’s.

So online shopping has sort of been my salvation, even though I wind up sending back half of what I order. If you’re still reading at this point, here is your reward: I recently learned you can return Amazon orders at many Kohl’s locations. When you do, they slap you with a 25% off store coupon to lure you further into the building. A clever reminder there’s still a 3-D shopping world (minus tall person stuff, but hey: robes and blenders). It’s a crazy feedback loop I’ve been swirling in the last few months and I want it to stop.

Research, order, get package, try on, thumbs down, return at Kohls, wander aimlessly, repeat.

To minimize returns, I’ve learned to rely on customer reviews. If one person says an item is chintzy, it usually is. If enough folks rave about a hoodie, it’s likely a good one. But this fact-finding takes a lot of time and blows any illusion of click-and-buy convenience.

A possible e-commerce upside is the entertainment unwittingly provided by overseas merchants who are painfully unaware of Google Translate. I recently bought (and returned) a loose, unstructured jacket that was described as having a “stylish eccentric collar” that you can wear to “participate in party clubs.” The sales pitch rapidly deteriorated from there, tact-wise: “It can completely cover the obese body and perfectly modify the figure.” What?

I’m not completely sold on this intergalactic shopping alternative, but I’m happy to report the shoes I “picked up” on the front porch at 1:30 a.m. fit like a dream.

Reach Denise Snodell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on Twitter @DeniseSnodell

Read the original article

Women blessed with supermodel pins but struggling to find clothes to dress them, will soon have a new source to shop.

Brampton, Canada, January 07, 2020 --(PR.com)-- Most tall women can get away with some clothing in standard sizes; however, for wardrobe staples like jeans and trousers, it’s a headache trying to find longer lengths. Targeted at women 5’8” and above, Nickie’s fashion boutique, Regal Beauty Group, offers a fantastic selection of high quality, contemporary pieces at affordable prices.

The boutique embraces elegance and simplicity and will feature occasion wear constructed from refined fabrics that boast clean lines, sophisticated details and a touch of vintage. From dresses and trousers to skirts and blouses, super cool tall girls will no longer have to settle for standard size wardrobe pieces that look awkward. Sizes range from XS to Large with silhouettes that not only fit but flatter.

Sherisse Nickie is the Founder and Chief Executive Optimist (CEO) of Regal Beauty Group. Explaining her motivation for launching the boutique, she said: "Shopping for clothes can be challenging when you are above average height. As a tall woman myself, I understand the struggles when it comes to finding clothing that fits. It took a lot of deep soul-searching, introspection, and long sessions of brainstorming to take this idea from conception through funding and development, but I’m excited to be able to give other tall women more fashion options."

For further details or to be the first in line to browse and purchase from this elegant selection in tall fashion, visit: http://regalbeautygroup.ca/. Also, sign up to receive the latest scoop on promotions, sales, and new products.

Contact Information

Regal Beauty Group
Sherisse Nickie
647-882-3144
Contact
http://regalbeautygroup.ca/ 

Read the original article

Irene Seiberling

Published on: April 5, 2016 | Last Updated: April 5, 2016 9:57 AM CST

Lisa Peters has been a statuesque six feet tall since she was 13 years old. Her height has presented wardrobe challenges. But she’s learned to embrace being tall and wear her height with pride.

“You have got to love your height,” said Peters, a community television host and event architect.

For Peters, who is in her mid 40s, that means wearing clothes that fit properly and flatter her frame. No short shirt sleeves and pant legs for this gal!

Off-the-rack purchases are a rarity for her.

“I don’t shop a lot,” Peters said.

Finding a bargain, but then having to pay to have major alterations done, doesn’t appeal to her. So instead, Peters prefers to invest in custom-made garments that she knows will fit properly. For those pieces, she turns to Regina fashion designers Dean Renwick and Danine Schlosser.

“I love their designs,” she said.

Peters also orders basic wardrobe pieces online from Long Tall Sally, which specializes in clothing and shoes for tall women.

Fitted dresses are her preference, rather than two-piece outfits. And she prefers solids to prints — partly because they don’t create issues when seated in front of the TV camera.

“And I like solids because I can match them to my accessories more,” she explained. “And I love colour.”

Her accessories are predominantly from Fifth Avenue Collection. Statement jewelry pieces help her change the look of her outfits with ease.

Because she sits when hosting Talk of the Town on Access TV’s community channel, Peters is careful not to wear a skirt that rides up.

“I want to present a professional look,” she said.

That also holds true in her role as an event architect for Eye Inspire Events. Peters needs to dress appropriately for whatever gala she’s overseeing.

Whether it’s in front of the camera or behind the scenes at a posh fundraising gala, Peters always makes sure she has good shoes. Most of her footwear comes from Lusso and Zoe’s in Regina and Traxx in Saskatoon.

She even has shoes she never wears out — they’re just for sitting in her TV host chair.

“I wear high heels on TV because I’m sitting,” she said. “I’m 6′ 4″ in heels when I stand … So at events I may wear working flats.”

But you won’t catch her in flats on air. “I don’t think flats look good on TV.”

Because she’s in the public eye so much, Peters now recycles outfits more than she used to. “I can’t afford not to,” she said matter-of-factly.

What advice does Peters have for tall women? “Find great-fitting clothes … Or alter your clothes to fit you. You will feel better!”

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

twitter.com/ISeiberling

Read the original article

ROUCHA 

ROUCHA is designed for women - curvy, straight, short and tall.

It’s a solution for petite women who are over having to hem all their clothes, and for tall women on whom clothing is consistently, unintentionally cropped. Standard size charts assume that as we get taller, we get larger. ROUCHA doesn't make this assumption and offers clothing in varied lengths and widths.

Visit the ROUCHA website

Für die meisten Frauen ist es selbstverständlich, Lieblingsmode in der richtigen Größe zu bekommen – Frauen ab 1,80 Meter haben es da oft deutlich schwerer, werden nur selten bei lokalen Labels oder in den einschlägigen Stores fündig und können oft nur auf eine kleine Auswahl zurückgreifen. Die Schweizerin Annemarie Sickeler kennt dieses Problem und eröffnete 2012 ihren ersten Langgrößen-Store I LOVE TALL in Zürich – dieses Jahr kam ein Store in Hamburg, samt eigenem Label dazu. Vom rosafarbenem Pulli über das kleine Schwarze bis hin zur Flared Denim – Frauen über 1,80 werden bei der 43-Jährigen und ihrem Team happy. Wir haben mit der 1,87 Meter großen Powerfrau, die ursprünglich in der Logistik gearbeitet hat, über ihr Label, große norddeutsche Frauen und Mut zu mehr Selbstsicherheit gesprochen.

femtastics: Sie sind knapp 1,90 Meter groß – werden Sie häufig von fremden Menschen auf Ihre Körpergröße angesprochen?

Annemarie Sickeler: Ich merke es, wenn mich Leute anschauen oder gucken, ob ich Absätze trage oder nicht. Es spielt für mich aber keine Rolle mehr.

Das war in der Vergangenheit also mal anders?

Ja, meine Größe hat mich sehr gehemmt und blockiert. Seitdem ich genügend lange Mode habe, habe ich Frieden mit meiner Größe geschlossen. Früher wollte ich immer kleiner sein und nicht überall auffallen.

Und die Suche nach passender Kleidung war schwierig?

Es ist so frustrierend: Man geht in hunderte Läden und alles ist zu kurz, auch wenn einem die Verkäuferinnen die längsten Teile zeigen. Für Frauen ab 1,80 Meter macht die herkömmliche Industrie nichts. Die Durchschnittshöhe der deutschen Frau liegt bei 1,65 Meter. Und wenn man sieht, was die Textilindustrie für einen Spagat machen muss – von 1,65  bis 1,78 – kann man verstehen, dass sie Kleidung nicht bis 1,90 skalieren können.

Woran liegt es Ihrer Meinung nach, dass Langgrößen nicht selbstverständlich bei Labels und in Stores integriert werden?

In Deutschland sind es knapp über zwei Prozent der Frauen, die Langgrößen benötigen, in der Schweiz sind es noch weniger. Es würde sich für die Labels nicht lohnen, Langgrößen on top zu produzieren. Besonders, wenn man sich anschaut, wie billig die meiste Mode geworden ist – das funktioniert nur über riesengroße Stückmengen, die gefertigt werden. Bei Übergrößen kann man einfach den Schnitt nehmen und die Größe in der Breite gradieren, bei Langgrößen muss man ganz neue Schnittmuster erstellen. Eine Hose wird zum Beispiel am Hüftpunkt, am Knie und am Saum verlängert – man ergänzt nicht einfach zehn Zentimeter unten an der Hose.

Daraus entstand Ihre Idee, 2012 einen eigenen Laden mit Langgrößen-Labels zu eröffnen?

Als ich Mitte der Neunziger-Jahre in Kanada gelebt habe, habe ich das erste Geschäft gesehen, das Langgrößen für Frauen geführt hat – ich kannte das damals nicht und wusste auch nicht, dass es so etwas gibt. Damals kam ich gerade aus der Lehre und konnte es natürlich nicht sofort selbst in der Schweiz umsetzen. Ich habe an vielen Orten auf der Welt gelebt und gearbeitet und diese Längen gab es einfach nicht, besonders im Bereich Kleider und Oberteile – ich habe mal eine längere Jeans gefunden, aber mit einer Jeans bin ich natürlich nicht angezogen.

2011 habe ich dann gedacht: Jetzt mache ich es, um mir und anderen Frauen eine Lösung zu bieten. Ich habe Hersteller gesucht, die Teile in Langgrößen produzieren. Das Sortiment war natürlich viel kleiner als jetzt. Mit der Eröffnung in Hamburg haben wir angefangen, auch selber zu produzieren, um auch die Mode zu bieten, die uns fehlt und die gerade gefragt ist.

Was ist die Philosophie hinter I LOVE TALL?

Mein Team und ich kennen das Problem, das lange Menschen bezüglich Kleidung haben – wir sind selbst davon betroffen und können Lösungen bieten. Das spiegelt sich auch im Sortiment wider. Wir wollen das gesamte Sortiment abdecken, von der Casual Wear und Jeans bis hin zu Business-Kleidung. Das Ziel ist, dass wir auch jüngere Frauen ab 25 Jahre ansprechen. Frauen, die bislang ihren eigenen Modestil gar nicht richtig ausleben konnten, weil sie immer das kaufen mussten, was nicht zu kurz für sie war. Wir haben aber auch 19-jährige Kundinnen, die 1,90 Meter groß sind und bei uns die megaschmale Jeggings kaufen. Es freut uns, dass wir das auch bedienen können.

Sind die Verkäuferinnen bei I LOVE TALL auch alle über 1,80 Meter groß?

Ja, auch wegen der Kundin. Ich möchte nicht diskriminierend oder ausgrenzend sein. Wir merken aber, dass die Kundinnen sehr dankbar sind, wenn man ihnen auf Augenhöhe begegnet. Sie fühlen sich verstanden. Unsere Kundinnen schätzen es, bei uns vorbeizukommen und nehmen auch die Beratung gerne an. Das Team versteht das Produkt und kennt die Probleme.

Sie haben sicherlich auch Kundinnen die deutlich größer als 1,90 Meter sind.

Ja, unsere größte Kundin ist über zwei Meter groß. Ich bin stolz, wenn sie bei uns etwas findet. So eine Länge einzukleiden ist nicht ganz einfach. Für uns ist das natürlich auch wieder ein Spagat, Kleidung für Frauen von 1,85 bis über zwei Meter zu designen.

Hatten Sie vorher auch schon mit Mode zu tun?

Das Thema hat mich ehrlich gesagt früher nicht interessiert. Es hat in der Vergangenheit nichts gepasst, alles war zu kurz – da konnte ich gar kein Interesse für Mode entwickeln. Ich habe erst jetzt gemerkt, dass ich Freude an Mode und schönen Produkten habe. Ich bin eine Quereinsteigerin.

Was haben Sie ursprünglich gelernt?

Ich habe in der Logistik gearbeitet und war spezialisiert auf die Öl- und Gasindustrie, ich habe also was ganz anderes gemacht.

Das klingt spannend! Wie haben Sie sich das Know-How für Mode angeeignet? Kannten Sie jemanden in der Modebranche?

Ich habe mir alles selbst angeeignet. Business ist Business. Ob es nun Logistik, Öl und Gas oder Mode ist. Besonders durch unsere Produzenten in der Türkei habe ich viel über Schnitte und Stoffe gelernt, außerdem arbeite ich eng mit meinem Designteam zusammen.

Lassen Sie alles in Europa produzieren?

Ja, wir wollen so fair wie möglich produzieren und auch so ökologisch wie möglich. Uns ist wichtig, dass wir uns im europäischen Wirtschaftsraum bewegen. Fernost hat für uns keinen Nutzen, auch aufgrund der Stückmengen und der Logistik.

Schuhe haben Sie nicht im Sortiment. Woran liegt das?

Ich habe natürlich auch schon darüber nachgedacht. Ich habe zwar selbst Schuhgröße 44 – mir fehlt aber einfach die Leidenschaft für Schuhe und Leidenschaft ist mir bei I LOVE TALL besonders wichtig. Es gibt im Bekleidungsbereich einfach noch so viel für uns zu tun, noch mehr als wir jetzt schon machen. Gerade in Richtung Outdoorbekleidung und Bademode. Unsere Vision ist, die gesamte Range abzudecken. Aber natürlich kann ich Kundinnen, wenn sie wünschen, Schuhläden empfehlen, die große Größen führen.

Welchen Tipp möchten Sie unseren großen Leserinnen noch mit auf den Weg geben?

Traut euch! Große Frauen trauen sich oft nicht. Sie sind es gewohnt, dass nichts richtig sitzt und greifen deshalb in der Regel zu möglichst unauffälliger Kleidung. Das ist schade! Ich habe es in Zürich in der ersten Saison, kurz nach der Eröffnung, extrem gemerkt: Alle Frauen wollten nur ganz schlichte Sachen kaufen. Mein Team und ich haben die Frauen dann aber beraten und konnten schnell einen Wandel feststellen: Sie sind mutiger geworden, weil die Kleidungsstücke endlich passen. Zum Thema Absätze: Tragt Absätze, wenn ihr Lust darauf habt – auf die paar Zentimeter kommt es doch nicht mehr an, die Leute schauen sowieso (lacht).

Am wichtigsten ist, dass ihr euch wohlfühlt und euch und der Mode eine neue Chance gebt.

Das sehen wir ganz genauso und das ist ein schönes Schlusswort. Vielen Dank für das Interview!

Zum Original-Artikel

Tall Size

We want to start by saying that not all tall people play basketball. But for us, that is where our story starts. Kayla and Kesia had just moved to Barrie, ON and Nicole invited Kayla to try out for a basketball team. Even though the basketball didn't stick for all of us, the friendship did!

Through relocations, school, and career changes, we continued to stay in touch, and to relate on the many issues that only tall girls face: people commenting on how tall you are, the lack of leg room, standing out in a crowd and the dreaded issue of finding clothes that fit! That issue in particular was the one that persisted. From the disappointment of going into a store and realizing they don't carry your size to the frustration of having to sacrifice style or fit just to get the right length.

So together we created the vision for #TallSize. Similar to Plus Size, we want Tall Size clothing to be normalized among retailers. Our goal is to make shopping accessible and fun for tall women so that they can feel beautiful and confident in their own skin.

Visit the Tall Size website