Teni the Label

Teni The Label launched December 2021 with a mission to focus on simple and classic designs specifically for tall women.

With our founder being a tall woman herself, we understand the pain points experienced by tall women, which we further validated through market research. So we don’t just add inches, we develop pieces factoring in the measurements of a tall woman’s overall frame.

We aim to offer trousers that cover ankles, tops that cover wrists, and dresses with the right hemline for a taller woman.

From the whole team, thank you for your support and we welcome you to explore the collection.

The Elevated Closet (formerly RG Maternity)

Tall women's jeans and pants with up to 37 inch inseams. Tall maternity clothing.

The Elevated Closet’s mission is to provide more clothing options for TALL women. We know you have experienced all of the frustrations trying to find clothing that actually fitsin the general market. Tired of waistlines hitting you at the ribs? Sleeves and pant legs that are too short? We’ve got you covered. In addition to extra length, our clothes have adjusted waists, busts, and joint-lines to fit your taller frame.

History: We started in 2007 as RG Maternity, a clothing shop for tall pregnant women. After eleven years of business and countless requests to add “regular” tall clothing, we relaunched in 2018 as The Elevated Closet and added clothing for every stage of life.

The Elevated Closet is owned and operated by two friends. Thank you for supporting a family-operated business!

Visit the Elevated Closet website

Clothes that don't fit and beds that aren't long enough - it's not all easy

Mark Mason

Why don't tall people get the same sympathy as short people? Everyone feels sorry for minnows, cutting them slack when they talk loudly in meetings or get themselves elected Speaker of the House of Commons. But tall people are seen as life's victors; the ones you want to be, the ones who get everything their own way. It just isn't the case.

I'm not actually that tall — 6ft 1in — but even I encounter problems. Cashpoints are too low, hotel beds are too short, train seats don't have enough leg room. In the days of phone boxes, I spent every call hunched over (not enough lead). I regularly have to bend at the knees to use mirrors, and am sometimes forced to take showers kneeling down, because the head hasn't been fixed high enough up the wall. What's that you say? Have a bath instead? I would — if that wasn't too short as well. It's a choice between sitting bolt upright or resting my feet against the tiles somewhere near the ceiling.

And if I'm struggling, what's it like for the 6ft 4-and-above brigade? The other day I used a walkway in the Barbican where I only had three inches clearance — anyone that much taller than me would have had to stoop. I know, the whole Barbican is a design-free zone, but it's far from the only place. Much of modern Britain is structurally tallist.

It was only when talking to a friend who's 6ft 6 that I realised just how troublesome clothing can be. All I've ever had to do is buy shirts with extra-long sleeves, but Rob has an extra problem with casual shirts. 'They all expose my navel when I stretch. And not in a winsome, sexy way.' Trousers are a nightmare. My inside leg is 34 inches, Rob's is 36, and apparently those extra two inches make all the difference. 'They dramatically limit your options,' he says. 'I can buy suits from T.M. Lewin and jeans from Gap — and that's it.' Rob once walked into a tailor's on Jermyn Street and asked if they had anything to fit him. 'The bloke held up a tie.'

It's even worse for women. 'There's a shop called Long Tall Sally that every tall woman goes to once,' says my friend Emma (6ft). 'You're desperately hoping you'll find a pair of trousers that go all the way down to your shoes. The customers lurk between the rails of polyester stretch, taking furtive glances at each other, all thinking: "Well at least I'm not that tall."' Emma's amazed at people's attitudes when they meet her. 'They think it's perfectly fine to say, "God you're tall, do you find it difficult to get shoes?" Imagine if I said to a fat stranger, "Do you find it difficult to get clothes?"'

Then there's the matter of relationships. How often do you see a woman with a man shorter than her? There's the odd exception — the ex-Mrs Bernie Ecclestone, for instance — but for whatever reason it seems to be a no-no. Germaine Greer (6ft) says she never learned to dance backwards because she always had to take the male role. Some tall women (and indeed men) hunch their shoulders in an attempt to hide their height. The habit never goes away, no matter how successful you become.

Tall poppy syndrome, of course, that's what they call it. Rosamund Beattie (6ft 4), a member of the Tall Persons Club — not a joke, they really do find life difficult — says it's like being famous but without the money. The club's website relates that tall children are 'disproportionately likely to be bullied at school, something that most adults do not appreciate. The tall child has to be the aggressor, right? Wrong.'

There can also be health problems. Louise Ross (6ft 3, another TPC member), has had 'dodgy knees since I was ten'. Her loose ligaments have necessitated 12 operations. OK, such troubles will only be common for out-liers like her. But even if the 'averagely tall' like me don't suffer health issues, we do encounter regular irritations. The glass shelves that stand above bars in many pubs — I can only order my round by squatting slightly. Someone my height could never work behind that bar: they'd be in agony after the first shift.

Yes, I know all this is going to sound rich to someone of below average height. 'I'll swap places with you,' they'll be saying. Fair enough. On balance I'd rather be 6ft 1 than 5ft 5. But it's still true that, as so often, a supposedly desirable outcome in life is slightly less desirable than you might think. Before you look at a tall person and say you wish you were them, walk a mile in their shoes. Assuming they've been able to find any.

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The Tall Girl's Guide To Denim Shopping

Ray Lowe
‎October‎ ‎4‎, ‎2017

If you're any size that deviates from what brand's consider to be "standard," finding a decent pair of jeans for a decent price can feel like a frustrating experience. For tall girls specifically, the solution isn't as simple as heading to a tailor — especially when there's not enough material to work with in the first place. A standard inseam runs around 32" to 33", which is just enough for 5' 6" woman... in flats. But a successful find for above average heights isn't just about the length of the inseams. Most brands offering "longer" bottoms don't properly adjust for different fits and sizes (not everyone over 5' 7" has a Karlie Kloss figure, you know).

With that in mind, more brands are starting to offer "tall" specific pieces. Loft, Old Navy, the ever trusty throwback Abercrombie & Fitch - they all sell a steady selection of denim tailored towards the longer-limbs. To make things even easier, we've pulled out the the most flattering cuts and fits from brands that know a tall girl's pain.

No more unintentional high water jeans for this crew. For pants that will finally fit, click ahead.

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Jul 7, 2016 6:30 PM
Alice Casely-Hayford

"Go high or go home" has been my shoe mantra since I finally accepted my height — all six feet of it — about eight years ago. Throughout my teen years, I was crippled with insecurity about my BFG-esque stature: I towered above the boys I fancied, was over half-a-foot taller than all of my friends, and my gym teachers always assumed I would be the best in my class (I hate sports and breaking a sweat, have minimal to no athletic abilities, and subsequently disappointed a lot of people).

Shopping, too, was a constant struggle. Fits were never quite right: jeans were ankle-swinging, and sleeves showed too much wrist for my liking. On nights out, I was always the one in flats while my friends showed off their new heels. And with my broad shoulders, too, sometimes the cut of a top was so tight, I'd be hunched over like Quasimodo. It was not a good look.

But hold the violins: This story ends quite happily. Thankfully, by the time I went to college, the boys grew, I discovered some of the advantages of being tall (no ID for me!), and I finally found the right pieces to not just cover, but flatter, my long limbs. For those who feel the same, here's what I've learned: Don't feel like a kitten heel is your only option. Don't feel limited by your wardrobe, feel liberated. And ignore anyone who remarks on your height.

I've also figured out how to wear just about anything thrown my way. Ahead, are six fail-safe outfit options and items that will help all the (tall) ladies in the place embrace their inches.

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This D.C. Fashion Designer Ditched Her Law Career To Make Clothes For Tall Women

by Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 14, 2017 10:48 am

By DCist contributor Mimi Montgomery

At 5 feet 10 inches, Meghan Evans has always struggled to find clothes that fit her tall frame well. She’d buy mediums and larges for extra length, but the clothing would hang boxy and loose. Once she moved to D.C. in 2015 to work as a lawyer, that problem was only amplified.

“The biggest problem mass marketers face is that tall is not simply adding two inches to your hemline and calling it ‘tall build,’” Evans says. Many retailers like J. Crew and Ann Taylor market to taller women, but don’t always take into consideration that things like bust darts, waist lines, pocket placements and armpit holes are all affected by height.

So Evans decided to take matters into her own hands, and her eponymous clothing line was born.

For its debut this month, she sticks to the business-casual classics: A pink tweed blazer, a blue peplum top, and a textured knit dress are all available on her website, and Evans has plans in the works for pop-up shops, as well.

“I realized how hard it was to find clothes you could wear during the week and on the weekend,” Evans says, especially as a woman requiring specifically tailored clothing. “When I moved to D.C., I obviously didn’t have a full-size closet in my condo, and I don’t want a work wardrobe or a weekend wardrobe or an evening wardrobe. I want stuff that can go from my job to drinks with friends to brunch on the weekends.”

Evans has always loved fashion, purchasing dresses on-sale that would be too short for her and having them tailored into custom tops. But she never thought her style savvy could translate into anything other than a hobby. That is until she realized she had a unique insight into what constituted well-made, frame-fitting clothing for professional women of taller height.

Still, she was a lawyer, not a fashion designer.

So Evans purchased a few books on sketching fashion designs, found a local seamstress in D.C. and began consulting with her, bringing in pieces from her own wardrobe to provide examples and instruction. Trips to trade shows and fabric stores in New York’s Garment District followed, and Evans polled fellow tall friends and scoured online clothing reviews for market research.

Her law background came in handy for the business side of things, too, such as selecting her corporate structure, registering her line and completing the paperwork for it to be incorporated. Plus, it helped her be more judicious in her business planning. “It just makes you very aware and forward-looking,” she says. “Before I take one step, I’m always thinking ten steps beyond…It’s not that you don’t take risks, but they’re calculated and informed.”

Of course, starting one’s own business is a risk itself. Earlier this year, Evans quit her job at a D.C. law firm to pursue her fashion line full-time, a career shift that came with its own struggles.

“It can be lonely,” she says of being an entrepreneur. “Especially if you’re venturing into an area that you’re not trained in formally or have a degree in, and therefore don’t have friends from school as a built-in network.”

But Evans is thankful to have started her line here in D.C., citing its design culture as more open-armed and much less intimidating than that of New York or L.A.

“D.C. has a vibrant community for small and local business, so it’s fun to get to know that community,” she says. She cites local designers such as Rebekah Murray of Virginia Dare Dress Co. and Mimi Miller of Mimi Miller Womenswear as inspiration, guiding Evans throughout the design process with advice and mentorship. “They’re very welcoming, supportive and helpful. It’s been amazing to see how friendly people are.”

And with her plans for future expansion, it’s safe to say Evans could soon be giving out advice to a mentee of her own. Her winter line is currently in the works and will debut later this year, which Evans says will be filled with darker colors and more patterns.

Designing a clothing line while managing a business can be a stretch, but luckily Evans is tall enough to reach it.

Contact the author of this article or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with further questions, comments or tips.

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By Kat Armstrong on June 16, 2016

It’s hard enough to find clothes that are on trend and look great while not breaking the bank, which is why stores like H&M are so great - they’re always on it when it comes to what’s in, and you can always find something affordable for a little closet update. What stores like H&M don’t always offer, however, is great sizing, and one UK woman took to Facebook to let them know that she was fed up with their not-great-for-bigger-bodies clothing.

In a post entitled “Dear H&M,” British shopper Ruth Clemens lambasted the Swedish retailer for their smaller-than-normal sizing. Being a tall woman, she says, (5’11”) and of average size (a UK size 14 or US 10), she was expecting a size 16 pair of jeans to fit her, but when she got to the change room, she couldn’t even button the waistband. “As I’m sure you’re aware,” said Ruth, “size 16 is the largest size you stock (apart from in your plus size range, which is very limited in store and does not offer the range of styles for the fashion-conscious that are available in smaller sizes).” She then went on to point out that her top was from the same store but a size M. So, she wondered, what was H&M doing with its odd sizing?

With hundreds of comments on the post agreeing with Clemens, over 10,680 shares and over 80,000 likes and reactions, H&M had no choice but to respond by saying that sometimes their sizing varies, but is always up to international standards. They also apologized and offered to take the feedback to heart, investigating why their sizing is so much smaller than other stores. Whether or not the retailer will be changing their sizing guidelines any time soon remains to be seen, but it’s good to know that they’re actually listening to customer feedback.

Do you find H&M sizing too small? Tell us @BritandCo!

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We Talked To 69 Tall People About Shopping For Clothes That Actually Fit

By Olivia Muenter | 12 hours ago

Even though it's supposed to be fun, for many people, shopping and finding clothes that actually fit is an emotional, difficult, and frustrating process. In a fashion industry where sizing is inconsistent and largely exclusive to people with bodies that don't fit into a standardized mold, shopping for clothing can be downright depressing. For individuals over 5 feet 9 inches, shopping can be an especially frustrating process. According to a 2016 report from the U.S. Department of Health And Human Services, the average height of an American woman is around 5 feet 3.5 inches. While vanity sizing and a generally complicated history of sizing in the U.S. has made standardized sizing more confusing than ever, generally speaking, most women's clothing caters to those who are close to this average height. Naturally, this leads to sleeve lengths, pant lengths, and dresses which are almost always designed for a person who is 6 or more inches shorter than a tall woman.

Regardless of height, though, shopping can be a difficult process for any woman (or person, for that matter). In an effort to get to the bottom of people's biggest frustrations with shopping, learn their best tips, and share their favorite places to find something that fits, Bustle surveyed more than 400 people of many different sizes and body types about shopping, sizing, and how they feel about it all. This included getting the perspective of 69 people who self-identified as tall. Of those 69 people, 8.7 percent fell into a size 00-4, 31.9 percent fell into the size of 4-8, 43.5 percent identified as size 10-14, and 15.9 percent identified as 14-18 or above.

What They Think About Shopping & Sizing In General

Almost 90 percent of those surveyed noted they had never used a sizing app, which ultimately reflected a larger trend we saw in the survey - that, regardless of their size or body type, the vast majority of individuals don't know their measurements at all.

Less surprisingly, those surveyed who identified as tall noted that length is a reoccuring problem when it comes to tops, bottoms, and dresses.

Nicky Bates, a Detroit-based marketing and development associate, is 6 feet tall and a size 16/18. Bates tells Bustle that finding plus size clothing that is also the right length is a particular struggle.

"Most of my shirts with longer sleeves are 3/4 sleeve length on me, but were made to be full length. I'm a triathlete so I swim a lot and have chubby/muscular biceps and broad shoulders. In most shirts, I have to go up a size to fit my arms and shoulders even if the size down fit the rest of me," Bates says.

Some people surveyed mentioned other work-arounds for problems like these, with one suggesting "going a size larger to get more length in shirts then tucking/tying them in the sleeves, waist, etc. to fit."

What They Think About Shopping In Store Versus Online

Of those surveyed, only 2.9 percent said they shop either in-store only or online only. Interestingly, despite online shopping have far more access to niche sizing for tall people, more than 53 percent of those surveyed said they shop mostly in store and sometimes online. Alternatively, almost 41 percent of those surveyed said they shop mostly online and sometimes in stores.

When asked in the survey about their favorite places to shop in store, one person who identified as tall simply wrote, "Makeup stores lol, clothes shopping can be overwhelming and I need to be in the zone and not annoyed with people."

This quote perfectly highlights the general frustration that many people can feel with shopping in stores that often don't have sizes that work for their bodies. When clothing that fits you isn't available, sometimes it's easier to avoid the IRL trying-on process altogether.

But as Dallas-based Customer Service Agent Madison Hunnicutt, who is 6 feet 2 inches and a size 16, tells Bustle, shopping online also presents it's own unique set of problems when you're tall.

"I would say my height is definitely a unique factor when it comes to shopping, especially online shopping. Because you never know when you order something, if it is going to actually fit they way it should," Hunnicutt says.

Hunnicutt's description of the problems of shopping online might explain why so many tall people still opt to shop in store and see the items in real life while shopping.

Bates tells Bustle a similar story about shopping online.

"My size makes me really hesitate to shop online. Sometimes I'll fall in love with a pattern or how it looks on the model and be really disappointed when it doesn't fit," Bates says. "If I do it in store, I just won't buy it, but if I order it online, I'll think that maybe it'll fit one day and it'll sit in my closet forever, unworn. Once I've found something I love (a brand, a dress/shirt style, etc.), I tend to just stick to that. It makes me hesitate to branch out in terms of fashion because often I feel like I couldn't 'pull off' a look because I only see people much smaller than me wearing it."

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By Rachel McCarthy James Jan 24, 2018, 9:32am EST

Height is practically a prerequisite for wearing clothes professionally: Models are on average 5 feet 9.5 inches. ”When I was a size 2 or 4, [it] was really easy to find high-end items at a great discount,” says Falasha, a Switzerland-based fashion blogger, “especially items used for models or styling. Size 6 and 8 are much harder to find higher-end.” But women who are model tall but not sample size have a harder time finding stuff to fit them — especially if their torsos are long, and especially especially if they’re tall and plus.

And often enough, they can only manage to find anything at all online. Tall women are a specialty market, as those over 5 feet 8 inches make up only about 10 percent of all women, and so they are not a priority in brick-and-mortar retail. Even stores that carry tall sizes generally restrict their selection (save a few pairs of long-inseam jeans) to regular and perhaps petite sizes, offering tall clothes online only. “I prefer to shop online because I hate going to stores, trying on things that don’t fit, and leaving completely demoralized,” says Ashley of Salt Lake City, adding, “I see you Anthropologie Sale Room, with all your petite blouses”

Old Navy, which offers one of the wider ranges of tall clothing styles, says that a focus on online marketing makes it easier to reach tall customers. “Our online store provides a tailored experience for extended-size customers, allowing them to filter products for specific fit needs,” says Loretta Choy, senior vice president and GM of Old Navy’s women’s and men’s divisions.

But even when they reach them, there can be further complications. “Returning clothes to online-only brands is always a hassle and, even if I know my measurements, it’s almost always a crap-shoot,” says Luisa of Salem, Virginia. She prefers to seek out retailers in person.

“I can go into a Torrid or a Lane Bryant, try things on, and adjust sizing as needed without having to wait weeks or spend extra money on sizing options,” she says. Most don’t feel that they have the option. “I can’t just go to any store and buy pants,” says Melanie of Bristol, Virginia. “Most stores don’t carry pants in lengths that fit me. Dress pants are even worse.”

Trying to know how to dress for work is always a trial. “What looks like a professional dress when you buy it quickly looks unprofessional at work. Especially fabrics that ride up combined with heels draw a lot of unwanted attention,” says Falasha.

A modest skirt cut for a 5-foot-6-inch woman can turn into a mini real quick on a 5-foot-10-inch body. “Because I’m so tall, clothes often look inappropriate or sexy on me when I’m not even trying,” says Shannon of Los Angeles. “I cannot wear short dresses to work. Especially if they are tight.”

Athletic clothes can be just as difficult. Ashley, a dance teacher who works in elementary school, struggles to find athleisure that provides enough coverage for “wiggling in front of kids. I end up wearing nice leggings but need to cover up with maternity tank tops and cardigans and am basically in my pajamas and humiliated.”

Tonya of Chicago notes that even when she does find a reliable option, it could still disappear. “Both Victoria’s Secret and Lululemon carried pants extra long, but they both stopped over a year ago and I am bummed,” she says. “I discovered Long Tall Sally last Christmas and am now a loyal customer.”

Long Tall Sally targets women 5 feet 8 inches and taller, and emphasizes the need for an all-around fit. “Long Tall Sally never just adds inches to a hem or sleeve,” says Camilla Treharne, creative director at Long Tall Sally. “Jeans are more than just a ‘longer leg.’ A 6-foot woman needs a longer rise, deeper yoke, adjusted knee positioning, [and] a 34-inch, 36-inch, or 38-inch inseam.”

Retailers beyond specialty brands seem to be getting the hang of designing jeans for taller women, at least. “Not only do we offer multiple lengths in our core denim styles, we account for how anatomies differ between shorter and taller people such as the position of the knee,” says Jill Guenza, global vice president of women’s design at Levi’s. “We make adjustments within the pattern and in finishing to account for these differences, which has a big impact on how the jeans hang on the body and ensures that finish features like shading and holes are in the right place.”

But inconsistent sizing makes it difficult to find the right fit consistently. “I have shouted out to the universe and still haven’t received a clear answer of why women’s jeans cannot be sized as men’s are — a simple waist size available in a variety of different length sizes — in inches, not the manufacturer bias of what they think a certain size is,” says Deanna of Overland Park, Kansas. “I will occasionally wander through a store and see a super-cute pair of jeans on a store mannequin only to look at the rack and find the item ‘capri-length’ for me.”

Much as long legs are fetishized, not all bodies are 90 percent legs, and women with long torsos often struggle to avoid an unintentional 2008 midriff look. “It’s much easier to find pants,” says Jody from Westchester, New York. “If [the arm] is long enough, the body is often short-waisted.”

”I had to learn what types of shirts and dresses would not only be long enough to cover my stomach at normal times, but also to allow for real-life movement before buying them,” says Carly of Little Rock, Arkansas. “You may think a shirt is cute on the rack or even on, but I’ve given so many clothes to Goodwill just because they’re slightly too short and I hate wearing them.”

Some companies are more eager than others to service this exact need, and Old Navy is a standby for many tall women. “I pretty much only shop online at Old Navy, especially when it comes to long pants and long-sleeve shirts, jackets, and sweaters,” says Emily of Spotsylvania, Virginia.

”Old Navy is fashion for the people,” says Loretta Choy. ”We want all of our customers to have access to great styles at great prices, regardless of shape or size. We are proud to offer 70 percent of our women’s tops assortment in tall sizes.”

Gap and Old Navy are often the most reliable option for tall-size shirts in styles everyone else wears, but they aren’t the only ones. Ann Taylor also takes a pragmatic approach: If someone buys tall pants at Ann Taylor, they want to sell her tall tops, too. “We want to be able to dress our customer in Ann Taylor head to toe and to solve any wardrobe issues that women may have,” says Lauren Blane, the company’s styling director.

Still, having only a few options at only a few stores leaves many long-torsoed women feeling frustrated. “There are more options for adjusting the inseams on pants, but for tops? No,” says Ashley. “There are petite sections in virtually every department store, but no comparable section for tall women.”

Petite women make up at least 50 percent of the female population, and they have issues too — especially petite-plus women. Their larger share of the market, though, does not always translate to greater options. Alex Waldman is the co-founder of Universal Standard, which was founded in 2015 and makes “elevated” clothing for sizes 10-28. The company first expanded its brand by offering longer inseams in denim, but for now, it’s focused on shorter women. “Our first concern for the underserved would be toward petite, because they’re the ones who are more underserved,” says Waldman. “We’re trying to be as maximally inclusive as possible, so we’ve taken steps toward inclusivity across the spectrum, always starting with those who are most underserved.”

While most clothing retailers offer a shop for men who are tall and plus-size, there is no such thing as a big-and-tall shop for women. Tall plus-sizes are limited, harder to find, and usually online, making a good fit all the harder to achieve. Lane Bryant offers jeans in long inseams, but has no specific tall shop or tall shirts. Ditto Torrid. Ditto Target. “I would love be able to shop Ava & Viv at Target, particularly their jeans,” says Luisa. “Paying over $50 for jeans at Torrid is not always an option for me, financially, but Ava & Viv denim is always Butt-Crack Central.”

Several women I spoke to mentioned Old Navy as their go-to place for some actual options without the attendant stress of wondering whether or not they will fit. “After much trial and error, I pretty much know that whatever I order from there will fit and I don’t have to waste time trying on clothes I know are going to not work,” says Emily, and Carly agrees: “Old Navy has the benefit of a huge plus-size section, so you can always find something without the emotional struggle.”

“When developing product for all women, our focus is creating fits that flatter,” says Loretta Choy. “We want our customers to participate in fashion, and our extended categories allow us to provide great styles designed for every body.”

Sometimes, styles offered in tall are not offered in plus-sizes, and styles in plus-sizes are not offered in tall. Old Navy offers a wide range of tall-size options among its straight-size stock, including tall shirts in XXL. But while it does offer long sizes, including long inseams in plus-sizes, there are no length options for its shirts. Its sister/parent brand, Gap, doesn’t technically have a plus store; it does offer women’s shirts up to XXL and pants up to size 20, but tall sizes only go to XL and pants to 16.

However, Gap is expanding its options for tall women. “We will begin offering tall and petite sizes for our GapFit leggings as we look to support our customer in their total lifestyle,” says Mary Castilow, VP of women’s merchandising at Gap; the new sizes will be online only.

While clothing options are difficult to find and mostly online, it’s still better than it was to many tall women. “I remember most of the time tall women would have to shop from catalogs for longer items and now everyone shops online so it is really easy,” says Falasha.

”I think the market is finally realizing that it’s not a one-size-fits-all world anymore,” says Jessica of Baltimore. “Inseams are coming in more options now, in everything from yoga leggings to jeans, and I know there are specific brands catering to tall women, such as Long Tall Sally. It’s not just a ‘regular’ and ‘petites’ world any longer!”

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By Munson Steed | April 15, 2016 2:31 PM EST 

WNBA star Swin Cash, 36, was selected as one Sports Illustrated’s inaugural “Fashionable 50” and graces the cover of the coveted issue. She ranks among Russell Westbrook, Victor Cruz, Serena Williams and Misty Copeland, who are also considered the most stylist athletes in sports.

“I’ve always dabbled back and forth between the fashion and sports worlds because when I was 14-years-old I had the opportunity to walk in New York Fashion Week,” she tells SI, “…then I went on to play basketball in college and now in the WNBA. Because I am 6-feet tall, I’ve always had to be creative and versatile with my clothes. I love to come to games dressed from head to toe, but I also work in TV as a commentator. So I can do that classic look or I can pull off an elegant dress for a black tie event. Or I can be tomboy chic at a football or basketball game. I love that I can be this chameleon and my fashion can really transcend through the different avenues and areas I work in.”

...

Name a few of your favorite designers from head-to-toe?

Shoes – I’m a big Stuart Weitzman fan. I wear a size 11 or 11.5 in heels and SW always come through for me with fashionable ones. Also Vince, Jimmy Choo and Sam Edelman.  Clothing – Ted Baker, Helmut Lang, Robert Rodriguez J brand jeans Top Shop (tall) My dream would be to partner with a designer or store like Top Shop to do a signature tall line for women and girls. I am asked all the time where do I find clothes because of my height and body type. Tall women love to dress fly too and everyone, I would love to do a collaboration like that one day soon.

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Anne Murphy, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Jan 28, 2017

Motto: My mother told me that tall women wear their clothes very well — when they can find clothes to wear! It made me feel better about my height.

At 65, though Cindy Peterson plans to retire this year from her job as administrative assistant at Grand Meadow Elementary School, she plans to continue the active lifestyle she has always known in her hometown.

"I was born and raised in Grand Meadow and have lived there all of my life," she said. "My husband and I raised four children, and I have 11 grandchildren. My husband of 41 years passed away five years ago, and I remarried two-and-a-half years ago to a wonderful man and longtime friend.

"I love to spend time with family and friends, cook, work out, garden, read, attend concerts and travel," Peterson said. "I am very excited about retirement and having the time to finish projects that I have started and can't seem to finish."

Please tell us a little about your style.

I don't know that I have a particular style but would say that I am mostly conservative with a little bit of fun thrown in. Being tall - 5-foot-10 - it's always been difficult to find clothes.

And a bit of background?

When I was in high school, I learned to sew and made all my clothes as there were no ready-to-wear tall clothes in department stores back then. We had a dress code, meaning all girls wore dresses or skirts. I learned to like long lines with fitted waists as those looked the best on me.

Did family figure in?

Once I started growing taller than my peers, around the eighth grade, my mother told me that tall women wear their clothes very well - when they can find clothes to wear. I learned to always look for items that no one but a tall woman could wear. It made me feel better about my height and helped ease the discomfort of being taller than all of my friends, or even any other girl in my class.

Has your style changed with your stages in life?

I have always been somewhat conservative, but I think I went through a very conservative time when my kids were growing up - probably because I was so busy raising a family that I didn't have time or money to think about how I dressed.

Is it easier being your height today than earlier?

I love the fact that today's pant lengths are all over the place, so at 5-foot-10 I can wear a pair of pants that are meant to be full length and sport them as ankle pants or even capris! I also love the fact that boots are in, and any style boot is in. You can still wear the boots that you had five years ago, and you can extend the wearing period of your summer capris by wearing boots over them.

What do you hope your style communicates?

That how you dress is a reflection of not only who you are, but where you are. My late husband and I worked hard to communicate that to our four children. It's so important to dress for the occasion.

Do you have a priceless sentimental piece?

I have a string of pearls that belonged to my grandmother. They were probably purchased in the early 1900s. I have never worn them, but I certainly cherish them.

Advice for readers?

I read once that whenever you are thinking of purchasing an item, try to come up with at least three or four things you have at home that you can wear with it. I have always tried to remember that.

Anne Murphy is a Rochester freelance writer who has been a professional journalist for more than 30 years.
Do you know somebody who's got special style? Send nominations to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Life section editor Jeff Pieters at 507-285-7748.

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