Tall - Where to Shop

Amazona has set me a mission: To search the high street and online retailers and to find clothing for tall women that is actually relevant to the current season trends. It seemed an easy task at first, but not any more. Tall ranges are boring. There is no denying that. They are useful if you need a longer pair of black trousers or a longer polo neck jumper, but what if you’re 6ft tall and are fed up of dressing like a frigid office worker? What if you want to be cool, trendy and follow the trends? Well, I have scoured (and I mean scoured - for hours…) various well known retail websites and shopping centres, but to no avail. There is little out there. And that is hugely disappointing. But if you are 6ft, then this is probably not breaking news to you, so I have tried to pick the best options to hint towards the trends.

First up this week? The grunge trend. From Kurt Cobain to MK Olsen and Pixie Geldof, everyone loves a bit of grunge and here’s Amazona’s guide to rocking it out Nirvana-style for AW09:

THE T-SHIRTS:

Jersey Marl Longline Crew Neck Top With Snood Stripe Scarf £14 Next Tall

Tall black splash paint t-shirt £18 Dorothy Perkins Tall

Blah Blah top £8 New Look Tall

Tall purple gingham shirt £25 Dorothy Perkins Tall

A simple t-shirt or top is a simple way to follow a trend, and as tall ranges tend to be pretty simple, this is probably your best bet! Team a rock t-shirt or tartan shirt with some skinny jeans, biker boots and a oversized beanie for the ultimate in grunge chic!

Tall black skinny jeans £20 Dorothy Perkins Tall

35in Foil Leggings in Blue £24 New Look Tall

These foil leggings are a little daring, but pared down with some Doc Martins and a simple t-shirt, they could look pretty damn cool. And given that they are not black and boast an inside leg of 35in, they’re a great find too! Add a leather jacket for a tough edge or an open men’s shirt for a more dressed-down look.

Next Week: The 80s trend becomes a tall order for us here at Amazona!

Gosh! We’re just been reminded that our online-sister Amazona Style has their first birthday today! It’s been a whole year of fabulous designer shoes for girls in UK sizes 8-12 (US 10-14) and some great accesssories to boot, whether it’s a Dogeared necklace or a fab little clutch that’s right on trend. Not bad for a home business started in the week the UK was officially declared in recession!

To celebrate this momentus occasion, Amazona Style are offering every customer a birthday present this week - when you shop at the online store and spend more than £40, you’ll receive a super cute dogeared necklace, Twisted Silver bracelet or clutch bag absolutely FREE…

Best be quick though - as soon as the free ‘birthday gift’s’ are gone, they’re gone! SHOP Now

Hi,

I’m looking for long-sleeved blouses I can wear to work. At around 5′9″, I’m on the short end of the tall spectrum, but I can’t find blouses that have long enough sleeves. They always stop above the wrist and make me look strange. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Emily (New York, USA)

Hi Emily!

I’ve been searching around online for some good places to find long-sleeved shirts and here are some options for you:

The sleeves on this cool tuxedo shirt from J.Crew roll down for a full length or can be rolled up for a more casual look.

Currently on sale at J.Crew is a fabulous selection of shirts in a variety of colours including this blue one. You can also buy the Tall version which should have a longer body and sleeve.

I don’t know how formal your office is but this Western style shirt from Topshop looks to have a long sleeve and can be belted for a smarter look. Topshop also stock this more basic shirt with long sleeves for only $30!

Or, have you thought about going for blouses with 3/4 length sleeves which are much more flattering than a sleeve that’s too short? Try this one with pretty frills at Topshop.

Hope this helps!

With Summer disappearing as fast as we can say ‘where the hell was the bbq summer?’, you might as well turn your thoughts to shopping. According to recent retail figures, that’s what alot of British shoppers have been doing with Summer sales figures coming in far higher than expected.
Now is also a great time to check out what’s new as most retailers are getting new stock in on a weekly basis.  Amazona Style are no exception with new styles being added every week. Their shoes all come in UK sizes 8-11 (and sometimes 12) and they stock everything from flats to heels, sandals to stilettos.

Our favourites have to be the black & white brogue heels (above), the abstract print heels and brown suede shoe boots (below).

Fed up with the British Summer so heading for a last minute holiday in the Sun? Don’t panic! They still have some fabulous gladiator sandals and summer mules in stock in the Sale. Check out the Copper Leather Sandal - perfect for complementing a tan.

NEWSFLASH! Amazona Style are offering Free Shipping to all customers for the rest of of August – even on International orders! You could save up to £15.95 on postage but you’ll have to be quick though, the offer ends on 31st August.

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.

FINALLY! Here’s a trend that we all already own, have always kind of liked and are pretty pleased to see making a comeback! No matter how tall you are, for dressing up or down, you can always have denim to fall back on.

The denim jacket is a classic. My personal preference is the denim blazer. I bought one from Oasis when I was 15 and I’m excited that, not only do I still fit into it, but that I can wear it with confidence this summer! HOWEVER, I am still not a fan of jeans AND denim jackets together, so I’m not recommending pairing the two comeback trends together, but definitely give both a go separately!

There are nevertheless many different ways to wear the denim jacket this summer. A stonewash crop seems to be the most cutting edge, yet check out these pics to see how the stars are rocking the trend. Even a pregnant Nicole Richie looks fab!

If it’s too hot for a whole jacket (unlikely in the UK, but we are keeping out fingers crossed that current temperatures do not drop any lower!), then the denim waistcoat is the style savvy way to dress up any t-shirt. See modelesque Gossip Girl Blake Lively rock her on trend cover-up!

Distressed denim is also back in a big way. 5’9” actress Cameron Diaz has been pictured countless times in her distressed jeans.

White jeans are perfect for the summer months and everyone from celebs to royals have been pictured embracing the trend. Look how 5’10” Kate Middleton pulls of her casual look. The high street is FULL of tall options too, which is fantastic! Try Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Urban Outfitters, River Island and French Connection for starters. I managed to snap up a pair from New Look for just £12! I can even wear heels with them without looking ridiculous!!

Green Gladiator from Amazona Sty;e

With the world in turmoil over Kate Silverton’s revelation about her foot size (again, why did this make news!?), we thought we’d help some of your girls with, *Gasp*, big feet (we call those at LEAST a size 9) and pick some fab summer styles available to you.

Firstly, check out Amazona Style for several styles of this season’s hot trend, the gladiator sandal. They’ve got blue, black, green, flat, high heeled - something for everyone.

Bright Blue Ballet Flat

Feeling the bright blue trend? Then pop over to the Big Shoe Boutique and grab a pair of these super-cheap ballet pumps in electric blue for only £25.00.

Sparkling Sandals

Lets channel all our magpie tendencies and slip on these Sparking sandals from the Large Size Designer Shoe website for Euro $55. They will look amazing with your summer tan!

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