Tall Role Models

Hmm.. Flats…For me they are something akin to tweed mid-calf skirts,  school PTA meetings and suburbia. They’re all comfort and no style. No glamour. They are what librarians wear in mid-Wales.

I think my aversion to flats could be due to my inability to get heels in my size (UK 11, US 13) until my early 20’s. It felt as though I was the only girl in the world who was forced to be frumpy. You know how it is – as a teenage girl, heels are the epitome of glamour, sophistication and most importantly – adulthood. I remember feeling completely excluded from what I saw as one of the main transformations from girl to woman.

Well, after several years of seeking out heels of all sizes and shapes from all over the world, my collection is now extensive. So extensive in fact that is has excluded any flat shoes at all. I may have some low heels  (couldn’t tell you when I last wore them) and several pairs of mid-heel wedge boots (which I live in) but flats? Proper, flipper-style flats that make my feet look like their size 18? Nope, not a pair.

My thoughts on why women (and particularly tall women) should wear heels are well known (see here), but even I have to acknowledge that many style icons, particularly the young Hollywood crowd are flats-fanatics.  One of the UK’s most popular young celebrities, Alexa Chung, is rarely seen in heels - supermodel Agyness Deyn and actresses Emma Watson and Sienna Miller are also huge fans of  this practical chic trend.  But is it really practical if you are anything other than a size 6? I rarely look a woman and believe she looks truly amazing in flats. The way she walks, the angle of her posture, her perceived confidence  - they’re all improved vastly by the addition of a heel.

Maybe I have to concede that flats are here to stay but even if Vogue broadcast that heels were ancient history in the fashion stakes, I don’t think I’d ever consider slipping on a ballet pump in place of an eelskin, cone-heeled boot.  Maybe I’m just truly flat-phobic?!

(For you flats lovers with big feet - check out a selection here, or if you’re with me as a ‘flats facist’, then check out some fabulous heels here.)

It’s official. Tall people can’t dance. Ok, it’s not really official but as a life-long complete loser when it comes to any kind of dancing, I was so happy to read that it’s common knowledge in professional dancing circles that tall people can’t dance.

The discussion came to light when Jade Johnson (the British Olympic athlete who’s 6ft1) made her first appearance on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ (if you’re in the USA - your version is ‘Dancing with the Stars’)  this weekend.  Instead of, as the professionals had predicted, messing it all up and looking like an ungainly giraffe, she was reasonably elegant and did a great job. She certainly didn’t embarrass herself like her tall former contestants (model Jodie Kidd to name one!). Having said this, I truly think that the shorter celebrities seem to find it easier… and look more professional as a result.

What do you think? Can us tall girls ever be stunners on the dance floor well?

NOTE: After the tragic death of Patrick Swayze last week, apparently many Newlyweds are choosing to recreate the ‘Time of my Life’ dance from Dirty Dancing as an homage. Personally, I think the whole choreographed ‘first dance at your wedding’ routine is now incredibly naff. However, if you can’t get that Dirty Dancing tune out of your head… then take a look at Paddy McGuinness and his hilarious version for UK Charity event Comic Relief  HERE

1991 Versace Show - The Birth of the Supermodel

I blame Cindy Crawford for my new, punishing training regime.  I bought my housemate Nick a copy of ‘Playboy: Celebrities’ for his birthday and as we were flicking through the book at his party, we came across Cindy.  Amongst the many gorgeous women in the book, a handful of them stood out against the others and these were all women who had become famous in the 90’s or before.

Unfortunately, whilst reviewing the book  I happened to flippantly ask another friend (the Personal Trainer)  whether he could make my body look like Cindy Crawford’s. When he answered ‘Yes, if you do what I say’, I nearly choked on my mojito  and unfortunately agreed to start training with him three times a week.  I’ve also managed to drag a group of my friends into the torture too by arranging a circuit training class for us in a local park.  Now they are all coming up with celebrity bodies that they’d like to aim for – Sandra Bullock in her new film, ‘The Proposal’ has been a popular choice, as has Halle Berry (no doubt helped along by the infamous bikini scene in the Bond film ‘Die Another Day’).

Sandra Bullock in The Proposal

If you stop for a second and think about the  women my friends and I are holding up as perfect body role models, you’ll realise they all over 40. How bizarre is that? My friends and I are in our late 20’s or just turning 30 and the women we look up to as having desirable figures are all at least a decade older than us and well into a time in their lives when many women consider themselves to be less  attractive.

Maybe it’s something to do with my age and the images that influenced  me during my formative teenage years, but personally I’ve always seen the original Supermodels as the ideal aspirational bodies. Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington are slim, yet curvaceous. They represent glamour, feminity and strength in a way that modern day actresses and models just can’t do. The desire to imitate the likes of of Kate Moss, Lily Cole and Mischa Barton has never occured to me.

It seems I’m not alone. Many of the original Supermodels are making waves in the world of lucrative beauty and luxury fashion advertising which has primarily featured actresses for the last few seasons – it’s goodbye to Uma Thurman or Scarlett Johanssen at Louis Vuitton and hello Naomi.

• Linda Evangelista fronted last season’s Prada Ad campaign and has been L’Oreal’s International Spokewoman for well over a year.

• Naomi Campbell was chosen to front Yves Saint Laurent’s latest campaign

• Christy Turlington fronted Escada’s campaign recently.

• Claudia Schiffer is back working for Salvatore Ferragamo and Chanel.

Even Vogue, who’ve had celebrities on the cover for the past 14 months, have Linda Evangelista as Covergirl on the August edition.  Maybe in times like these,  the professionalism of these women combined with their enduring appeal is what big brands want to kind of ‘play it safe’. Interestingly, L’Oreal has seen sales jump 20% since Linda started featuring in their campaigns. Now in a recession, that has to say something about how modern women feel about the Supermodels.

What’s more, they don’t fall out of nightclubs drunk, go to rehab for drug addictions or get prosecuted for drink driving. They’re  also candid about how the look good – yes, Linda had botox and Cindy admits she works out alot and watches her diet – no phoney ‘fast metabolism’ stories here.   It’s not only their figures which we should hold them up as role models for. I for one hope that they are here to stay.

Cindy Crawford in 2009 for Allure Magazine

P.S. of course I don’t really think I’m going to end up with Cindy Crawford’s body, but I’m sure as hell going to give it a good stab.  It’s going to be a long relationship between my Trainer, Cindy and I because for well over a decade to come (and into my 40’s! Eek!)  I’ll know that there are women my age who look amazing.

Eek! This is a trend that I’m not sure many of us will follow unless your under 20 but thankfully, it is a recession busting trend that all of us can afford (even if your mother is never going to understand).

It first started appearing on the catwalks (mainly Alexander Wang) at the end of 2008 and can now been seen on every city street.

A big hit with young Hollywood, stars from Miley Cyrus (trying to make herself a little edgier, I’m guessing) to Linday Lohan and Mischa Barton have been flogging this trend (with Li-Lo you’re never sure whether she’s being fashion-forward or just plain old skanky).

Think Grunge meets Rock Chic and you’re getting it. Whatever you do, don’t mix it with sharp tailoring or crisp shirts or you’ll look like you had an unfortunate accident on your way to the office. Instead think leather, mini’s, ankle boots and studs and you’re on your way.

So, what do you think - stylish or skanky?

Photo credits: fashionising.com; wenn.com

It’s one of the most observed issues surrounding tall women: Should you date significantly shorter men?

Personally, I’ve never bothered to read those articles in the past as I don’t recall a time when I have ever been attracted to a much shorter man. AT 6ft2, I’ve had dalliances with men of 5ft10 and possibly 5ft9 when I was a teenager, and I’ve dated men of 5ft11, 6ft and 6ft1 far more than I’ve dated men of 6ft5 and above but what about proper ‘short’ men? It’s never really crossed my mind, until the other day….

Following a friend’s party recently, I’m now racked with a gigantic schoolgirl crush on one of the sexiest men I think I’ve ever met.  He was so much fun, so hot I nearly fainted and had a body that could make you think that skinny dipping in the Thames in Spring was a great idea (don’t worry, we didn’t).  And to be honest, it wasn’t so much a case of ‘You had me at hello….’ like the movies, since his first words were  ‘F*!k me, you’re f*****g massive’ (a line usually guaranteed to ensure the cold shoulder from me all evening).  However, when he was maybe 5ft7 and I’m 6ft5 in my heels, he might have had a point.

Short man/tall woman couples are all over the media, even more so since Sophie Dahl started dating Jamie Cullum.  So, why are shorter men attracted to tall women who only accentuate their lack of stature?

Several studies have investigated whether height is  a major factor of attractiveness to the average man and almost all of them have found that it is definitely not .  Whilst supermodels are almost always over 5ft9, singers and film stars are often far from statuesque.  Much of the earlier research seems to suggest that  tall women are not more physically attractive than their shorter friends but are perceived as more glamorous and prestigious.

Therefore, to the extent that tall women are preferred as mates, it is probably so that the man can show her off as a hard-to-acquire status symbol, like a Lamborghini. If you’re honest with yourself, you know that when you see a shorter man with a very tall girlfriend or wife, you do wonder just who the hell he is or what he has. It is possible that broadcasting his status in this way may also allow him to be taken more seriously by his male colleagues, friends and inferiors, and so to rise further in status: “Hey, that guy has a 6′ tall wife — he must be a real go-getter”.  And more importantly, parading around your tall wife is a far less vulgar signal of status than, for example, driving up in an obscenely expensive car or sporting tons of jewellry. Consequently, the man does not suffer a loss of reputation as he would with those other signals, and because it is less conspicuous, he is less likely to draw the jealous scorn of those around him. He will provoke class envy in them, for sure.

I was lucky enough to be sent to Monaco yesterday for my day job and I bizarrely ended up at a dinner party with 15 of the most beautiful, supermodel-thin, tall women and 5 older, very successful and much shorter men.  The men were more than enthusiastic about their taller wives and girlfriends and explained that it was almost the norm in Monaco and many have only dated women who were much taller than themselves. It seems the notion of tall women as a status symbol is definitely a reality.

So, the question still stands, do I choose to pursue a man significantly shorter than me? Or am I too tall for him? Maybe, as he’s not an international financier, film star or Formula 1 boss, he doesn’t find tall women attractive and doesn’t need the status boost.  As he’s not wealthy or famous (and those things have never been attractive to me), I’m guessing that I experienced proper sexual  chemistry and, alas, I don’t think there’s a cure for it.

Now, can someone just pop round and explain to him that I’m the next best thing to a Lamborghini except I’m more affordable and I handle better than a Murcielago….

I only have winter shoes. This never really conciously occured to me before and it’s quite a shocking discovery. I’m guessing it’s not because I have a phobia of any footwear in a bright colour, or that I mind showing parts of my feet in mules or sandals. I think it’s because I don’t see clothes like other women do. Clothes cover me up and, if I’m lucky, might make me look a little slimmer. When you’re 6ft2 and you’ve have a life-long fight to find anything to fit you, even a t-shirt, then fashion doesn’t really hold the same excitement for you as it does a 5ft6 girl. So summer clothes? No, I don’t have those either.

Anyway, since starting the blog I have got better - my wardrobe is no longer just filled with midnight blue jeans and navy trouser, a couple of more interesting items have found their way in. Shoes however, are a different matter.

I don’t know about you but summer shoes are things that elude me every year. In around April, I think to myself, ‘There’s lots of lovely summer clothes around but I don’t have any shoes to go with them. I should pick up some sandals and wedges’.  So I’m going to get some, I do some research, I even choose my favourites, and then I never get round to buying them.

My entire Summer months are commenced every morning with a choice between what I’d like to wear (linen trousers), and what I end up wearing (which is always sensible cords or jeans so I can wear them with some shoes I actually own).

The thing about most summer clothes is that they don’t go with your winter shoes. If you feet over a UK size 8 (US 10), then finding something summery to put on those big flippers is akin to finding a unicorn on Oxford Street on a Wednesday afternoon.

Well, thank your lucky stars that the girls over at Amazona Style are coming to your aid. For the next two weeks, you can pick up any of their summer sandals for half price (saving over £50 on many styles). Whether it’s blue or green, pink or metallic copper, they’ve got something to flatter you at Amazona Style. Flat Gladiators you’re after ? Or even some platform, heeled ones? You’d better be quick - they’re selling fast.

As it’s Bastille Day, when could be better to discuss the First Lady of France, Carla Bruni, who at 5ft10 is considered a role model for many tall women. But really, is this woman a role model for any girl?

Bruni was born into a wealthy, Italian family who moved to France when she was 7. After an education in Switzerland, she returned to France for Art School but quickly left to pursue a modelling career and several other women’s husbands.

She is unashamedly honest about her dislike for monogamy and her actions seem to prove she is far from ‘all talk’ : she is said to be the reason Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger finally split up; and she once fell in love with a french philosopher, only to get bored shortly afterwards and decide his married son was far more to her liking (she subsequently had a child with him too). What’s slightly more terrifying is that she was once quoted (pre-Sarkozy) that she “wanted a man with nuclear power”. Are you getting the idea that whatever Miss Bruni-Sarkozy wants, she gets? Yes, me too. Thank God she keeps herself to mainland Europe.

Apologies for getting slightly diverted by Bruni’s ruthless determination for a moment, but it’s an alien concept for someone to be quite so calculating and in control at all times. Having said this, her State visit to England last year saw Bruni make some incredibly ‘well thought out’ choices, mostly through the choice of Dior (happy French fashion journalists) with their chief designer John Galliano (happy British journalists). Several demur and sensible suits later and everyone moved on from the naked images recently released from her modelling days. Although, that arrival outfit? Was she actually trying to look like Lady Penople from Thunderbirds when she got off the plane?

Anyway, yes she dresses nicely but I’m not rushing off to get myself a pair of ballet flats and a pillbox hat any time soon. Maybe I’m not fashionable enough to get why she is a style icon, or maybe my views are tainted by that fact that she seems like a cold, predatory, manipulative woman who I don’t wish to admire in any way, shape or form. I can think of 50 other women in the public eye who I would see as more of a style icon than Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy but maybe that’s because style, unlike fashion, is simply not just about your clothes (quite frankly after 20 years in the fashion business, she’d better know about clothes).

Maybe she really is a misunderstood style icon, just like Grace Kelly - another woman who came from the entertainment world, got a reputation as a homewreckers after having a couple of affairs with married co-stars, then married her Prince and lived quietly as the perfect royal wife.  So is that what the future has in store for Carla? Can you really see her suddenly finding monogamy so enticing now? Hmmm.. I’m not quite sure.

However, I do know that it’s a damned good thing that France’s President had his wife sign a pre-nuptial agreement contracting her to stay married to him for as long as he’s in power. Now that might be the first time a man has got the better of woman who was one of the World’s most famous predators, oops, I mean supermodels….

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.

Lisa Leslie with Barack Obama

The Amazona team were overjoyed to hear President Obama’s first comments on meeting the stunning US women’s basketball star Lisa Leslie (6ft 5).  Apparently he opened with “Oh My Gosh, You know I love tall women” when he met Lisa during the Inauguration. As if to prove his sincerity, he also pointed out his statuesque wife, Michelle, walking past by saying “Now you know I love tall women, right?”!

We know Michelle Obama is a fantastic role model for tall women and that Barack is the best thing to happen to the World for a very long time, but now we love him even more for celebrating tall women! That man just keeps on creeping closer to perfection every week.  Now where do I find a man like him….

Photo credit: AP Photo/Ron Edmonds