I realize it’s a challenge, not as much for me, writing this article, as it is for you, my darlings, who have the height and the troubles that come with it. I set out to write this piece after receiving a letter from a reader, asking for some help. All I can say is that I completely understand the challenge. I am tall myself, although not 5’10”, and I do have tall friends, my lovely giraffes, so I know the kinds of thoughts that come with finding shoes that fit, trousers that are long enough, and simply having a bird’s eye view on everybody, especially men. Every time I think of tall women, I remember a friend from college, Cristina. She was the wild one, 6’1” and always wearing high heels. She wore size 12 shoes and bought them in a transvestite shop in Milan, Italy, because you couldn’t get the size in Trieste back then. When she came to my house for a visit, my father thought I brought home the craziest soul from the Psychology department, but I loved her to bits and thought she was so beautiful, that I oversaw her height. I actually found it amusing, the way she embarrassed other people, especially on the bus, where everyone else instantly turned into gnomes. Even though this is her story, I believe many other women face strong emotions, when they try to make the most of their natural beauty. So, let’s take a look at what to wear to look gorgeous and elegant, and perhaps a little less tall.
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The must-haves
I realize you probably have a complete wardrobe and I sincerely hope, everything is a good fit. If you’re extra tall, your must-have pieces include these: maxi dresses (floor length, which you wear with flat sandals‒in the summer, of course), skinny pants, long blazers, lots of belts (they provide structure to the silhouette and define your waist), knee-high boots, midi skirts, statement jewelry, prints, and matchy suits or sets.
The dont’s
These aren’t necessarily dont’s, because it’s a matter of personal taste, after all, but let’s just generalize for a moment and say, they don’t suit you best … cropped pants or micro skirts, mid-height heels (they should be either low or high), vertical lines (because they make you appear taller), spaghetti straps (they elongate the torso), ruffles and frills (you’re too tall for these kinds of adventures), Capri pants (they cut the leg).
Image source: Pinterest
Image source: Pinterest
Some advice
There are many wonderful tall women, with a great fashion sense. Models and actresses, such as Charlize Theron. Study their style and draw inspiration from it to make it easier. Skinny pants are always a good choice, even if they are a bit shorter, because you can play with the hem, roll it up and wear pretty ballet flats. If you have large feet, opt for round shoe tips instead of pointed ones. As far as shoes are concerned, I warmly advise you to shop online, because there aren’t many specialized stores around. And the ones that are don’t exactly have gorgeous models to choose from, as you have probably noticed. It’s different around the world, there are places that carry large women’s shoes that don’t look as if they were meant for work in the mine, but are feminine and lovely. If you opt for statement jewelry, pair it with a smaller bag. If you happen to love bold colors, that’s great, because you can definitely pull it off! Even in a head-to-toe or matchy version: suits, dress and jacket, skirt and jacket … All these combinatios work great. You can opt for polka dots and florals, what matters most is finding the right footwear: if you want to seem smaller, you should choose flats. As I’ve mentioned, there is some choice online: ballet flats, sneakers, men’s style shoes. Don’t forget the belts, which will give you a nice hourglass definition. You can get away with many things!
Always midi
This is undoubtedly your best length and your height lets you wear it with low shoes. Your endless legs were made for midi skirts and dresses, and if you happen to be slim, opt for tight and stretchy materials. This ladylike look was meant for you and it will make you dazzle, so go for it. A final piece of advice: mind the hairstyle, you can wear an updo, but never very high.
Image source: Pinterest
Image source: Pinterest
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3 thoughts on “What to wear if you’re very tall”
Shop Swedish! They are all all!
Dungarees, jumpsuits and playsuits are usually a total write-off. Thus far in my search I have found one pair of dungarees from ASOS which fit like a dream, while my endeavour for a flattering jumpsuit is ongoing.
Wearing a mini skirt verges on indecent exposure: bending over, ascending stairs and walking anywhere without having to constantly tug on the hem of said skirt are near impossible feats.