proportion

This Week I Love …

by Sally on April 18, 2013 · 18 comments

v_neck_cardigans

… v-necked cardigans.

This is a style lesson it took me ages – and many unfortunate purchases – to learn: Since I love layering and I love eye-catching necklaces, crew-necked cardigans do me no favors. Worn unbuttoned, their high flaps get all up in my collarbone area, crowding out any potential necklaces. Sometimes I tape the flaps back to make false lapels, but it’s much cleaner and simpler to just seek out v-necked styles to begin with. Scoopnecks work well with certain outfits and a few beloved crew necks have made the cut, but from here on in I’m focused on v-necked cardigans, both thrifted and new. Here are a few that are on sale now:

canvas_landsend_skinny_cardigan

Canvas Land’s End Skinny Cardigan - $29.99

I’ve got this cardi in three colors, including the rust one shown up top, and adore the slightly cropped fit that works beautifully with dresses. The name is slightly misleading, though, as this isn’t truly a skinny fit. Somewhere between fitted and boxy, in my opinion.

92103_GR7275

J.Crew Factory Summerweight Cardigan – $24.50

Aaaand this is the blue cardigan shown above. Bought months ago because I loved the color, and I somehow missed the “summerweight” detail. Not sure why J.Crew Factory was selling a summer weight sweater in the dead of winter … but it is quite lightweight and better for warmer temps.

imageService

LOFT Plaid Scribble Print Pima Cotton Cardigan – $49.99

Don’t own this exact cardigan but nabbed this very similar one with a coupon code a few weeks ago. Is $50 a bit much for a lightweight cotton cardi? I think so. But LOFT does discounts and sales every whipstitch, so keep your eyes peeled and you can get it for less. And this style is still available in a full size run in regular and petite sizes.

EB13IB_0104234_851C1

Eddie Bauer Long Sleeve San Juan Cardigan – $49.95

If you prefer a longer but not-quite-boyfriend length, this heavier weight cotton cardigan is a great option. The chunky ribbed trim makes it feel slightly casual, but it should still pass muster at all but the most conservative of offices.

cn5994471

Old Navy Boyfriend Cardigan – $26.94 – $25

This highly rated cotton/rayon blend boyfriend style comes in a rainbow of gorgeous and on-trend colors. (Thirteen to be exact, including mint, emerald and neon green.) And if it seems odd to purchase something so cozy as we head into summer, remember that air conditioning can make the hottest days feel wintry. Comes in regular, petite, tall, and plus sizes.

ALSO: Check your local thrift store! Cardigans are an eternal classic, and although crew necks are far more common, V’s do show up on occasion. You’re most likely to find mid-lengths since cropped and boyfriend/long lengths have been less popular over the decades. Consignment stores are worth a look, too, of course. (thethriftshopper.com can help you locate stores near you.)

Are you dedicated to v-necked cardigans, too? Or do you like to mix it up? How do you layer and add accessories when wearing high crew cardigans?

**Disclosure: Actions you take from the hyperlinks within this blog post may yield commissions for alreadypretty.com. See Already Pretty’s disclosure statement for more details.

{ 18 comments }

Reader Request: Dressing Professionally for the Petite Busty Frame

by Sally on April 17, 2013 · 20 comments

Kay popped this question into the suggestion box:

How would you professionally dress a busty (we are talking more than DD here) short (5 foot!), curvy woman with hourglass shape? (As in thigh proportionate to the bust.) And no, wearing heels is not an option.

I since I’m neither petite nor busty myself, I asked stylist and blogger extraordinaire Imogen Lamport of Inside Out Style to help me out. And boy, did she deliver! Kay didn’t give us tons of detail, so these recommendations assume that goals include ensembles that will work in a relatively conservative work environment, figure balance, and downplaying the bust at least somewhat. Read on for Imogen’s ideas.

* * * * *

24 Top Tips to Looking Professional When You’re Petite and Busty

There are a few tricks that all large busted women (of all heights) can do to downplay their busts, assuming that’s a priority.

Jewellery Tips for Busty Petites

Divert attention from your bust

1. Wear larger scale necklaces and pendants, but made from multiple smaller pieces so they don’t overwhelm your smaller scale.
2. Wear lower necklines to your balance point.
3. Avoid any gathering around or frills on your neckline as these will make your bust look larger.
4. Wear a jacket or cardigan; it will help to downplay your bust.
5. Don’t wear tops with sheen or shine as they draw attention and make the area they cover look bigger.
6. Avoid stiff fabrics as they stand out from your body and add bulk.
7. Avoid textured tops such as bulky knits, mohair, velvet and anything puffa!
8. Button-up shirts need to fit correctly across the bust, either buy from a specialist manufacturer or go up a size so that there is not pulling or gaping at the bust and have the rest of the shirt taken in to fit you.

What to Avoid busty petites

Petite particulars

1. Keep your fabrics soft and drapey so they fall close to your body, skimming it without clinging to it.
2. Keep your lines simple and clean. You are a small palette, clean not cluttered is your mantra.
3. Avoid too much fabric, gathers, waterfalls, pleats as they will overwhelm your petite frame.
4. Only one focal point at a time. Ideally up high to draw the eye up to your face.
5. Wear a column of colour, this works particularly well if the colour is darker and wear a lighter jacket or cardigan, left open to create lengthening vertical lines.
6. Blend shoe colour to pants or skin (if wearing a skirt or dress) as they won’t draw attention and will make you legs appear to start at your feet, rather than your ankles.
7. Low vamp shoes are your friend when wearing skirts or dresses as they elongate your legs.
8. Keep skirts and dresses to knee-length or your legs will look super short.

Looking professional

What to wear - petite and busty

1. Keep lines clean – no frills or flounces as they may make you look young and childlike, not professional or mature.
2. Structured garments will make you look more professional and strong.
3. Look for fabrics that are high quality as this indicates that you, too, do high quality work
4. Darker colours and will give you a business-like edge
5. Wear a top or jacket in your eye colour as this draws attention up to your face. When people are focusing on your face they are less likely to notice your height.
6. Heels are an option for some, but not essential, just ensure trousers are hemmed as long as possible without dragging on the floor
7. Ensure your sleeve hems don’t cover your hands, they should end just past the wrist. Sleeves that are too long will make the whole garment look too large for you, like you’ve borrowed your big sister’s clothes and you’re playing dress-ups.
8. Get your clothes altered to fit your unique body shape. Mass market clothing manufacturing isn’t catering to your body shape, so you need to have it moulded to your body.

* * * * *

Thanks to Imogen for a great group of ideas! Any other busty petites out there? Will these tips work for you? Other ideas to share with Kay?

{ 20 comments }

The Skirt Zone

by Sally on April 8, 2013 · 37 comments

magentadress_outfit

I wanted this dress to work. Oh my, did I ever. I got it on final sale from Ideeli in three colors for SUPER cheap and it looked completely perfect online. Long sleeves, high waist, full skirt – three kinds of yes. And it is so close to working … but not quite right.

This is the kind of dress that HM tells me is “too short.” And back in the day, I would get pissy about it. Because I love, love, love my legs and I love, love, love showing them off and I didn’t want anyone saying that I shouldn’t. But eventually I found out that it wasn’t scandalous shortness that he was reacting to, it was garment proportion.

Mini skirts generally hit high on my thigh. Maybe a hand’s width below the crotchpoint. Middle-length skirts – the kind that are most widely available for sale and most often worn to workplaces – hit just above my kneecap, in the kneecap realm, or just below. Midis hit mid-calf, and maxis sweep the floor. What I’ve discovered – much to my dismay – is that there’s a no-man’s-land on my thigh that falls between mini and middle-length, and that skirts hitting in this area just look wrong on me. They aren’t short enough to be mini skirts and they aren’t long enough to be traditional middle-length skirts, so they look like they’ve been shrunk in the wash. They also make my legs look stockier than they are, and fail to divide me along golden ratio lines. It’s subtle, but they look wrong. Worn with tights or a floaty skirt layered underneath, they can sometimes pass. Worn alone, they look undeniably odd.

I’ve encountered this problem with the occasional client, too. It seems that many of us have this middle-thigh no-man’s-land where skirts just fail to work. Any hemline that hits in there divides us strangely and fails to flatter. Have you found that there’s a skirt zone on your own figure that causes proportion-related havoc? Got any work-arounds to suggest? Or do you just avoid/donate skirts that fall in this zone? (I love this dress so much I’m considering taking it to the tailor to see if a band of fabric in a similar color/weight could be stitched onto the hem … but I’m pretty sure that would end disastrously.)

{ 37 comments }

Reader Request: Flats with Dresses

by Sally on March 18, 2013 · 28 comments

flatswithdresses

Reader Kelly e-mailed me this request:

I would love to wear heels and when I was younger and without scoliosis I did; now they seem to be a thing of the past though I keep trying. Could you do a post about flats? Specifically how to make them look good with dresses ( I don’t think they do) or anything for that matter.

So I’ve written a bit about flats and have several posts in the archive with visual examples, and I sent those along to Kelly:

  1. This post talks about making flats work with fancy dresses
  2. This one has some “edgy” flats looks, including dresses
  3. This will be helpful if it ever warms up (balancing shoes and shorts)

But let’s talk about flats with dresses. Of the non-fancy variety. And I can hear many of you scoffing through your computer screens as I am a confirmed heels lover myself, but at least give me a shot!

Flats are extremely important. I don’t wear mine as often as I should, but I’m trying to incorporate them more frequently because there is a growing pool of evidence indicating that a steady diet of high heels can cause serious, long-term health issues. Flats also have a bad rep. We are trained to favor a long leg line, and told that flats cause our legs to look stumpy. And since I’m on a bit of a weather rant in the background of this post anyway, I’ll just continue in that vein and say that I, personally, find flats to be tougher to style during cold weather because they can look a little odd paired with tights.* And make walking in the snow an unpleasant experience. So, ya know, uphill battle. But it can be fought.

Assuming that the main concern is leg-elongation – which is usually the case – here are some ways to make flats work with dresses and skirts:

Opt for higher hemlines

We’ve all got our hemline happy zones, and I’m not suggesting you veer outside of yours. But since flats won’t give your legs any lift or length, showing a bit more leg near your dress or skirt hem will help your legs appear longer. Even an inch will help, I’ve found.

Pair with like-colored tights

As shown above, my flats-in-winter solution. Any time you can do hosiery and footwear in like colors, you’ll elongate your leg line. That low contrast allows the eye to travel all the way down the leg nearly to the ground before stopping.

Match your skin tone

And when it’s warm out? Allow me to trot out a piece of style advice that will never, ever die: Shoes that match your skin tone make your legs look longer. This includes flats. Go for something in a nude-to-you color.

Go for low vamps

I’ve seen so many women pair oxfords and dresses to great effect. I have never successfully done it myself. A high vamp shoe will cut your leg line higher up, so if you want your legs to look longer pick a lower vamp style. Ballet flats are a reliable favorite.

Experiment with shapes

I am always, ALWAYS drawn to round-toed everything. But when it comes to leg-lengthening, round toes fail. Pointy-toed flats have been trending for several years now, so consider trying a pair if they’re not too uncomfortable. If true points don’t suit you, go for a middle ground between round and elvish.

Try boots

This may or may not work for Kelly, but it’s something to consider if you prefer flat footwear but your eye just won’t adjust to other flat shoe styles. Boots offer an entirely different level of coverage and break at very different parts of the body. (Info on boot height and leg flattery here.) Depending on your proportions, flat boots may look more appealing than flat shoes. And remember, boots can work in summer!

Match shoe and dress styles

I’m a fan of juxtaposition, to be sure, but aligning styles can feel far more natural. Polka dot ballet flats with a red bow on the toe will look slightly off worn with a structured sheath and blazer. Super athletic flats probably won’t work as well with a retro-influenced shirt dress. Make sure you’ve got a few flat options available so your dress and shoes will work with each other.

Direct focus elsewhere

Even if you’ve got low-vamp flats and a slightly high hemline going on, you may still dislike the overall look. But if you’ve gotta do flats, you’ve gotta do flats. So consider diverting attention from your feet and legs. Wear a bright or printed top. Try a statement necklace. Cinch your waist with an eye-catching belt. As always, distraction tactics can be incredibly helpful. If you’re not wholly pleased with the bottom half of your outfit, make sure there’s something fabulous going on up top.

What are your tips for making flat shoes work with dresses? Do you have favorite styles that work no matter what you wear?

*I’m talking ballet flats, loafers, oxfords, and the like. In my experience, flat boots are a bit easier to pair with tights.

{ 28 comments }

Tricks for Dressing Your Apple Figure

by Ashe on March 7, 2013 · 17 comments

dressapplefigure

4 years ago, Sally responded to a Reader Request asking for help dressing an apple figure: Help for the apple-shaped people out there! What do we do with big boobs, big waist, big butt, and relatively bird-like limbs? I’ve been dying to write a follow up and share my own tips and experiences ever since.

Like many women, I have multiple goals in mind when I get dressed: is this flattering? (For me, flattering means emphasizing and creating a silhouette that I feel comfortable in.) Is this comfortable for the occasion? Am I projecting the image that I want to on this day? Is this clothing representative of who I am or a side of myself?

When I want to create a flattering silhouette, I try to create a feminine shape. I prefer to draw attention to my favorite parts of my figure (my lean limbs, slim shoulders, and décolletage), while drawing the attention away from my stomach’s girth. Sometimes that means drawing attention TO my waist, as I try to trick the illusion of it being smaller than it is.

Favorite Tips, Tricks, Cuts & Styles for Apple Figures:

As a disclaimer: unlike many Apples, I am smaller in the breasts and hips while most of my weight hits the middle of my body.  From the front, I do have a “figure,” though from the side? Not so much.  Some of these tips may need adjustment if you’re bustier or hippier than I am.

  • 1940s and 1950s silhouettes: 1940s dresses and tops are characterized by defined waists that rested at the natural waist; structure at the shoulders; skirts were knee length (or close to). Because fabric was rationed in the 40s due to WWII, skirt and sleeve lengths were shortened. This is great for apple figures who have limbs they want to show off! 1950s styles continue with a defined waist and often have very slim or very full skirts. As a result, I’m more careful about the 1950s styles, but find many flattering as well. (Favorite picks: Frenchie Dress; Annette Bow Dress; 1940s dress- I literally have 5-6 of these!)  Because fashions recycle, a lot of 1980s pieces will have similar cuts to the 1940s.
  • Skinny or ‘Slim Bootcut’ Jeans: I live in jeans, so it’s hard not to include them. While I often worry that skinny jeans can draw attention to my round belly, they’re a fantastic way to show off slender legs. Another option, while hard to find, can be “slim bootcut” jeans. These are cut with a more narrow bootcut opening, and as someone with short legs, I feel are less overwhelming. Two inexpensive options that fit great are Target’s Denizen from Levis and the Old Navy Rockstar in Demi-Boot.
  • A Touch of Elastic or Stretch: As I mentioned above, I love to buy fabrics with a bit of stretch. Alternately, more and more dresses, skirts, and tops are being created with elastic in the waist. You can even buy beautiful, slim cut jeans with elastic waists! It’s insane. It has also taken me awhile to get over the mentality and biases against elastic waists. (They’re for old ladies! They’re only in over-sized cotton pants!) But doing so has helped me find items that fit better. They’re also great for extending the life of your wardrobe if you’re losing weight, gaining weight, or pregnant.  (Examples: my mustard dress above; this Midi Dress, Lace Skater Dress, or Skater Dress with Twist Neck. All are on my wishlist!)
  • Belt It! I’ve only recently added belts to my closet, but what a world of improvement they make. Over cardigans with pants or dresses. To break up overwhelming print, or add shape to otherwise shapeless dresses. I tend to favor wide stretchy ones at my waist, but have found that a slim skinny belt can help add just a touch of shape and definition to an otherwise boxy dress or cover up that pesky elastic waist!
  • Pair volume with slimness or alter with accessories Sometimes I want to experiment with style. I may find an amazing drop waist dress or trapeze dress. This over-sized striped top may really strike my fancy and style, but  I know these pieces aren’t “flattering” for my figure. Wearing a trapeze dress with bear legs may get me a lot of pregnant comments. Pairing it with studded leggings or patterned skinny jeans makes the style more intentional. Adding a belt can accentuate that there is a figure underneath.

These are the tips and tricks that work for dressing my own (plus-sized) apple figure. If you’re of a similar Apple shape, what tips do you utilize –what styles or elements do you look for in your clothes if you’re a similar fruity body shape?

_ _ _

Call her Ash, Ashe, or Ashley– she doesn’t mind! Already Pretty contributor Ashley began blogging in 2007 about fashion and style to fill a void in her life while living in the wintery tundra of Indiana. Her blog Dramatis Personae focuses on food, life & style.  Ashley’s love of fashion began at 10, when she bought her first issue of Seventeen magazine; this also began a life long battle with learning to love her body (she never looked like the girls who graced those pages). As a plus-sized woman, she loves promoting fashion for all women and shops that want to make all ladies feel beautiful.  She currently calls New Orleans home and share her little house with a wonderful fiance and two brilliant and playful Maine Coons kitties.

**Disclosure: Actions you take from the hyperlinks within this blog post may yield commissions for Ash in Fashion. See Already Pretty’s disclosure statement for more details.

{ 17 comments }

Reader Request: Balancing Foot Size

by Sally on March 6, 2013 · 22 comments

balancing foot size

Keilexandra popped this question into the suggestion box:

I’d love to see a post on how to “balance” foot size, both small and large. Especially small! At 5’2.5″ and 120 lbs, I feel like my size 5 feet are disproportionately small. This is especially apparent when I wear heels or high-vamp shoes (e.g. oxfords, TOMS), and even more so now that I am finally spending money on good-quality shoes in my size rather than a size too large. Wearing shoes that fit is much more comfortable, but it also makes my feet look smaller… and unlike most women, I think my feet are already small enough!

When I was a teen, I, too, wished to make my feet appear larger. I had a girlfriend who carried most of her weight in her bust and belly, and wore very tight, skinny jeans, and shoes that made her feet look tiny. Honestly, it worked for her. But seeing how she handled her dressing and footwear choices made me reevaluate my own and decide that I’d rather err on the side of shoes that made my feet look actual size or even a bit larger in order to balance my hips and shoulders. So I passed on Keds and reached for Doc Martens.

Women who have feet they feel are disproportionately large also struggle, I know. Some will go so far as to wear floor-sweeping skirts as often as possible to keep their feet minimally visible. And here’s the thing: All feet are fine. You’ve got yours in their current size because of your own unique biology, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. It is entirely up to you if balancing your foot size is a figure-flattery priority. None of my figure-flattery advice posts should be considered gospel, including this one, and I fully expect you to read them with a grain of salt. Style “rules” are merely guidelines, no matter who is dispensing them. I trust you to use your judgment. And I trust you to take what applies to you, discard the rest, and assume positive intent.

For those who do wish to balance their natural foot size a bit, here are some tips for both ends of the spectrum:

To make small feet appear larger

Almond and pointed toes: Generally, you want your feet to seem longer in the length, so toe styles that add a bit of visual length will help. You don’t have to go full pointy and veer into elf territory. A chic almond toe will help somewhat.

Platforms: Heft on the sole might not add to perceived foot length, but it will still add to the illusion. Again, no need to break out the disco stompers – a small platform and chunky heel will do the trick.

Large soles: Most women’s shoes feature soles that fit well beneath the shoe body, but some styles of flat boots and rugged footwear include soles that protrude a bit. My Fluevog Lancasters, shown above, boast this feature.

Bootcut pants: Pant styles that are slim to the ankle and foot will make dainty feet seem daintier. Bootcut openings have a bit more leeway since they flare a bit, and can make feet seem a bit larger.

To make large feet appear smaller

Rounded toes: On the opposite end of the spectrum, you’ll want a toe style that makes your feet appear as compact as possible. Rounded toes are generally a good bet.

Dark colors: Shoes in light or pastel shades will add a bit of perceived length, so stick to darker shades like gray, navy, brown, and black.

Avoid strappy sandals: Showing lots of foot against thin straps will make that foot seem bigger, so stick to wider straps and a bit more coverage. Or try peep-toes, D’Orsays, or sling-backs.

Anyone else out there wish to make small feet seem bigger, or vice versa? Do these suggestions work for you? Any other tips for Keilexandra?

{ 22 comments }

Reader Request: The Pant Hem Dilemma

by Sally on January 22, 2013 · 48 comments

the pant hem dilemma

Reader Kerry e-mailed me this question:

Whenever I buy new dress pants for work, I have to have the length altered. Each time, they languish in my bedroom while I try to determine which shoes I should wear to the tailor: should I wear the heels, the flats, the in-between shoes? If I have my pants shortened so I can wear flats with them, they will look silly with the heels and vice versa. But I don’t want to have a pair of pants for heels and a pair for flats, because a decent pair of pants is expense (plus tailoring) and I don’t want to have to buy “heels pants” and “flats pants.”

So, should I wear the middle of the road shoes (with just a bit of heel) when I go to the tailor and know that the pant length may be a bit off at either end of the shoe spectrum? Is it better to err on the side of the pants being a bit too long or a bit too short? Or am I supposed to suck it up and have shorter/longer pants depending on what shoes I want to wear? Am I over-thinking this?

So, pants. If you want the real answer, here it is: You need to have some dress pants that work for flats, and some that work for heels. You don’t have to buy two pairs of each pant style and get one hemmed for heels, one for flats … but if you want to look your polished and professional best, you need to relegate certain pairs to flats, others to heels. There are a larger variety of stylish hem lengths and styles now than ever before, but especially when it comes to dress pants there are guidelines that are widely followed: Pants hemmed for heels should hit very close to the floor, about half an inch. These pants will not work when worn with flats because they will be so long that they’ll drag and get stepped on. Pants hemmed for flats should hit very close to the floor, too, or create a slight gather at the top of the foot. These pants will not work when worn with heels because they’ll be too short to look appropriate and not quite short enough to look cropped or intentional.

There are workarounds, but they’re not ideal.

  • You can use hem tape to make your heels-length pants appear shorter
  • You can use these magnets to reversibly shorten pant hems, but they’re not terribly subtle
  • For casual pants, you can cuff without any tape or magnets

None of these solutions will allow for a pressed, crisp-looking hem on dress pants, so if you work in a dressy or conservative environment they might not work at all. For more casual workplaces, you could probably sneak ‘em in.

What does this mean for tailoring? That you should decide in advance if the pants will be worn mainly with heels or flats, and bring your most-worn pair of shoes in that style to wear for measurements. A slight wedge or heel will likely work with both heels-length and flats-length pants in some cases, but true flats and true heels will look awkward worn with a hem that’s too long or short. I know it sucks, and makes it virtually impossible to know which pants to assign to which shoes.* But aside from the temporary fixes listed above (which mean you could hem everything for relatively high heels), that’s what I’d recommend.

How do you deal with pant hems? Do you stick to all flats or all heels to avoid the issue altogether? Bite the bullet and buy or thrift pants and get them hemmed to multiple lengths? Which shoes do you wear when getting your pants tailored? Any other temporary fixes or workarounds to suggest?

*Shoe choice can factor in. For instance, my straight leg pants don’t look right to my eye worn with flats, so I always keep them hemmed for heels. However this is subject to personal preference. I would never say that everyone should hem straight legs for heels. But if you can determine which pant styles work with which shoe heights/styles for your figure, that can help in hemming decisions.

All images courtesy Banana Republic

**Disclosure: Actions you take from the hyperlinks within this blog post may yield commissions for alreadypretty.com. See Already Pretty’s disclosure statement for more details.

{ 48 comments }

Guest Post: Tall Girl Shopping and Resources

by Sally on December 20, 2012 · 31 comments

Reader Megan e-mailed me with this question:

I was wondering if you could take the time to post a blog about how a tall college (aka broke) girl can go about finding dresses and skirts that cover up the you-know-what. I feel like I miss out on summer because all the cute summery (and every other season) dresses, skirts and shorts don’t give me enough coverage – my butt ain’t that big! I also don’t get to do the cute tunic trend because all the tunics are just regular shirts on me! I’ve tried Ann Taylor Loft for Tall skirts and dresses, but many of their options, while cute and do a much better job of covering up, don’t fit into my price range, and I don’t want my entire wardrobe to be from there!

I’m 5′ 5.5″. As my husband constantly reminds me, the fact that I count that half inch makes me decidedly NOT TALL. So I called in an expert: Thrift goddess, style maven, and all-around fantastic woman, Gracey of Fashion for Giants. Who is tall. And knows it. And knows how to shop for her tallness. Take it away, Gracey!

* * * * *

Hello Already Pretty Readers!  My name is Gracey and I blog over at Fashion for Giants. And I’m super excited that Sally asked me to help out with Megan’s question. Being six foot tall and a wearer of clothes, I consider myself a bit of an expert in finding clothes that fit a taller frame.

Shop Online

While there are several retailers who offer tall sizes, all of them offer longer lengths online only. And most of them only offer the longer lengths in pants; it is far more difficult to find skirts and dresses in tall sizes. My top suggestions for tall skirts and dresses online are Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic. I’ve found that these three carry the most options in tall sizes.

Two other good options are eShakti and Modcloth. Neither of these online retailers offer “tall” sizing per se, but they do carry skirts and dresses in longer lengths.  And eShakti allows you to select the length on most of their skirts and dresses, even if it’s not the length shown or you have the option to customize the piece for an additional fee.  I have two dresses from eShakti and they’re both the perfect length. Modcloth is great because they actually offer a “Longer Lengths” section so you don’t have to wonder if something will cover your heinie or not.

Thrift

My favorite place to find longer skirts and dresses is the thrift store. This is an especially great option if you’re on a budget. Of course, I’m not saying there are more tall sizes in the thrift stores, I’m saying there is a fabulous alternative. Petite dresses and skirts! Yes, that’s right; I’m advocating petite clothing for tall women. I know it seems counter-intuitive, but think about it; a mid-ankle length dress for a petite woman is the perfect midi-length for a tall woman. And a midi-length skirt for a petite woman is the perfect knee-length for a tall woman.

Want proof?  Here are few of my favorite petite thrift store finds:

And now for tunics. As with the skirts and dresses, a lot of retailers that carry tall pants don’t necessarily carry tall tops or tunics, because, apparently, most retailers are under the impression that being tall only means you have a longer inseam, not that you have longer arms or a longer torso. Therefore, you have to get a little creative.

Dresses as Tunics

Even with the new midi-length trend, many dresses nowadays are scandalously short. Take advantage of that fact by wearing those short-short dresses as tunics. You’ll find they often hit in just the right spot, unlike actual tunics. And you can find them reasonably priced at retailers like Target, Forever 21, Old Navy and H&M.

Here are some examples of regular dresses I bought to wear as tunics:

 

Add a Mini

If a tunic still feels uncomfortably short to you and/or you don’t want anyone to think that you believe leggings are pants, add a mini-skirt. Both H&M and Target carry great, knit mini-skirts that work as perfect layering piecea when a tunic isn’t a tunic on a tall girl.

 

Thrift

I’m going to offer the same advice here as I did for the dresses; thrift petites. In this instance, look for shorter petite dresses to wear as tunics. An above-the-knee dress for a petite woman is a perfect tunic for a tall woman.

For example, the polka dot tunic in this picture?  It’s a petite dress that I thrifted:

Thank you all for reading, I hope this was at least somewhat helpful.  And thank you, Sal, for including me!

Gracey

{ 31 comments }

← Previous Entries