Diary of a Tall Fashionista – Tall Jackets

By Tiffany DeLangie

Women's tall jackets: Tall short toggle coat - Lattice beige

The end of summer is bittersweet. Bitter because I’ll miss the sun and the beach and the pool and barbecues and watermelon. It’s also sweet because it’s the beginning of fall with all its changing colors and sense of newness. Personally I would vote for September as the second best month to make changes and resolutions, next to January. While most of those changes will entail some deep spiritual or personal meaning, others may be more along the lines of “I will find a tall jacket with sleeves that actually cover my wrists.”

I’ve mentioned before that shoes and jeans are my vices. Well my third would be tall coats and tall jackets. It can be difficult however to find tall outerwear made for tall women. Whether it’s a trench or a hip length jacket, there are often features that don’t work as well for tall women. For instance, how many of you have tried on a ‘hip length’ jacket only to find it fits like a cropped one. If I wanted a cropped jacket, I would shop in the junior section right? Or what about a jacket that is cinched or belted at the waist, but ends up right under our bust rather than at our natural waist? Or my personal favorite: sleeves that expose our wrists to the elements or leave that ghastly space between jacket and glove. Ugh. This fall make a proclamation to find a tall jacket that you love and one that fits properly (and no I don’t mean two separate jackets). Trust me, it can be done! You just need to know where to look and what to look for.

When looking for a tall jacket, consider the look you’re going for and how much you intend to wear it. If you are like me and have a million jackets, then it’s not crucial that the jacket be neutral enough to match everything. It can be on the trendier side or a bright fun color. If however, this is going to be an upgrade (i.e. one you’ll spend a lot of money on) or a tall jacket you’ll wear everyday until the real cold sets in, you may want something conservative but with trendy elements (think seams and hardware). This doesn’t mean that it has to be black, brown, or grey. Oftentimes, bright colors can work just as well as a neutral as black, beige, or gray. A bright red trench can go over black pants, brown pants, beige pants, or jeans. The key is finding something stylish with the right amount of detail to show that you are current. Notice I didn’t say trendy. It doesn’t have to come from Forever 21 to be in style. It does however have to come from this decade! So mourn the loss of summer by stepping out in style in a chic tall jacket that shows you are ready to embrace change!

We have created a special section of women’s tall jackets and tall coats at Tall Clothing Mall.

Diary of a Tall Fashionista: The Swimsuit Dilemma

By: Tiffany DeLangie, a tall fashion writer for Tall Clothing MallOk my tall sisters… I know the moment you read “swimsuit dilemma” you knew just where I was going with this. No matter what your shape or size, unless your name is Gisele, there is a dilemma when it comes to swimsuits. For us it’s the quandary of not being able to run into Target or TJ Maxx and run out with a flattering suit that fits our long torsos in all the right places. No…we try on suit after suit only to find that we are ridin’ dirty. No, I’m not referring to a Chamillionaire state of being, or the political diatribe of Reverend Jeremiah Wright. I’m referring to the unsightly swimsuit cutting into areas we would rather avoid drawing attention to as they ride up our tall frames. So what are some ways to avoid this dilemma? And what are the latest trends that suit (no pun intended) tall women with long torsos?

Well first, the most obvious is the bikini. The ‘separates’ phenomenon has in fact been phenomenal! Not only does it mean you don’t have to enlist your husband or best friend to try to stretch that one piece out with you (as thrilling as that might be), it also means you can actually buy a top that fits your top and a bottom that fits your bottom…which are not always the same size [gasp!]. But there are only a handful of tall fashionistas who are blessed to be both tall and thin (and toned) enough to continue pulling off the bikini past their prime (this is another subject for another article, but to insert a style tip: muffin top looks no better in a bikini than it looks in a pair of extra low rise jeans).

women's tall tankiniThe next option is a tankini. The tankini is more forgiving than the bikini, yet not as conservative as a one piece. It’s a great option for a tall woman with a long torso. I recently found an amazing “longer length” tankini from Alloy. Whether intentionally for tall women or not, it is a tall woman’s dream. It’s a bit more fun and flirty than a one piece, yet provides the same level of coverage without the ridin’ factor. In addition, the tankini separates the line of your body to make it appear more proportioned.

The most ideal option is a long torso swimsuit. The challenge is not only are they difficult to find, but they can also be extremely boring, conservative, and expensive. Well now there is a resource, Tall Clothing Mall, that brings tons of long torso swimsuits to one spot, saving you time in finding the unexpected, sexy, and inexpensive long torso suit (it does exist; I promise). When looking at long torso swimsuits, remember to pay attention to details such as the cut of the leg as well as the neckline. With this season’s trend of plunging necklines, it shouldn’t be as difficult to find variety. In addition to low necklines, high cut bottoms also will make your torso appear shorter. Now I am in no way intimating that we need to look shorter (that is simply blasphemous). I’m simply stating that shortening the torso will help us achieve balance.

Regardless of what trend you decide to embrace, make sure to do so with confidence. The fashion tips and tricks help, but nothing goes further in making you look your best than believing it yourself.

View the current swimwear choices for tall women.