June 2009

Seriously, it’s actually a newsflash – if you’re not in the UK then you probably don’t know who Kate Silverton is. She’s the 5ft10, effortlessly stylish and mega-successful news anchor from BBC Breakfast News.

Have you ever seen such a fuss over nothing? For the last 3 days the British newspapers have been all over the story that Kate, whilst interviewing the Nolan Sisters who had commented on their foot size (one is a size 3), had mentioned that she had Size 9 feet. Apparently an uncomfortable silence fell upon the entire studio, followed by repetition of the fact (“Size 9!!!” ) and ‘Wow’s’ from the dated 80’s singing group, before Bill (Kate’s trusty and reliable co-presenter) justified it with “She’s very tall!”.  If it’s not bad enough that the English press can’t get over it, it seems from a quick search on google that websites from Hawaii to Japan and Europe have now picked up on the..er.. story (really? Is it really a story?).

So many ridiculous points about this situation I don’t know where to start but what annoys me most? Why did Bill have to JUSTIFY her big feet by  saying she was ‘really tall’! What does it matter? And not everyone with big feet is a giant too! Having said this, I have size 11 feet and I’m 6ft2 – surely Bernie Nolan would have had a stroke if I was presenting BBC news.

Maybe this hoo-ha is a good thing which will make girls and women with larger feet feel more normal. Kate is just admitting to joining the 2.2million women in the UK with a size 9 foot or over – a fact which I know will shock many of you. Yes, we flipper-footed women are taking over the world.

I’m feeling like an old Granny right now. I usually consider myself to be very aware of new trends and brands. I am the one who knows about that obscure flip-flop, the hot NYC handbag designer or even the name of the Obama’s dog. I know those silly random facts as I have some weird ability to retain lots of information, providing it’s generally useless (this skill did not extend to exams unfortunately). Hollister? Who-ister?  Never heard of them. Oh God, is this the first step on a slippery slope in to middle age?

My (23 year old) housemate had this fab t-shirt hanging up to dry and I noticed it was longer than usual, with overall larger proportions. I tried to persuade her to sell it to me, assuming it was some weird Aussie brand she had bought with her from the Antipodes, before she told me to nip down Westfield (the latest monster shopping centre in London, for those of you non-locals) and pick one up.

Yes, it appears Hollister Co, or HCO, or just plain Hollister as it is usually referred to, completely passed me by. Now of course I am far better informed and know it’s an American Lifestyle Brand which is an off-shoot from Abercrombie and Fitch. Really? Has anyone over 5ft4 or larger than a size 10 shopped in AF recently? Maybe it’s just me but their women’s clothes might just fit one of my legs and even in the gents styles I’m a XXL (I’m 6ft2 and around a UK Size 16 - not usually an XXL!).

Despite being the second most popular brand of US teenagers in 2008, it was only in October of this year that the company came to England with it’s first store in Brent Cross, shortly followed by BlueWater, Westfield and Southampton. With plans to open several new stores across the UK this year, Hollister is not only affordable but also accessible.

So, as I was saying, Abercrombie is sized for midgets who don’t eat. Hollister t-shirts, however, seem to be cut perfectly for tall girls and women! With good length, shoulder width and excellent deep v-necks in many styles (perfect for tall girls with broad shoulders to balance the body shape), there’s lots of colour and design variations for only around £20 per shirt.

Loving the Hollister this Summer. I’ve already got three. Maybe the Oh-So-Sexy, sepia surf adverts are working too well on me. Do I resemble a Californian surf chick? Maybe.. from a large distance, with a substantial amount of fake tan, providing you squint….

Why don’t you go and have a look? If you’re miles away from any of their stores, they also do mail order online from www.hollisterco.com

Finally, after years losing the race in the fashion stakes, Long Tall Sally has come up with something wearable…. even more, it’s desirable!

LTS has spent the last few years designing frumpy, dowdy clothes and as the only high street store specialising in clothes for tall women, this is annoying to all of us girls over 5ft9.  If the designs were hideous enough, the cut was phenomenally bad meaning it’s been well over 5 years since I’ve shopped there.

Imagine by surprise when the Summer catalogue drops through my letterbox (yes, 5 years not having shopped with them but they STILL send me marketing literature. Desperate?) and there is a fab dress on the front cover. What’s more, it’s a maxi dress! The bain of tall women everywhere, the maxi dress is one style that often eludes very tall girls as they are just never long enough. And nothing looks worse than an ‘almost’ maxi dress.

Anyway, back to the dress in question. It’s blue (my favourite colour) and has a bohemian edge to it, fitting in with this seasons trends.  It’s not that cheap at £75.00 but I think it could be a good buy.

www.longtallsally.com