Tall - Where to Shop

There are many things which I cannot live without. If you ask me for my top three desert island must-haves, I’d be at a complete loss. I’d be paralysed with the infinite choice. All I know for sure is that lip balm and a kikoi would be there.

I should be the founding member of LBA (Lip Balmers Anonymous) – I am never without some tube, pot or applicator. It’s never coloured, always clear and ruins my day if I leave the house without it.  Honestly, I’m more upset if I find myself lip balm-less than if I’ve forgotten my mobile phone.

OK, so weird lip-moisture issues aside, the other item I absolutely cannot live without is a kikoi (pronounced  ‘kick-oy’).  If you don’t know what I’m talking about then listen up! A kikoi was originally a mans sarong from the East Coast of Africa but has now evolved into a multi-functional garment for both sexes and for all ages.

A typical kikoi

Celebrities are also fans of this African essential. Keira Knightly and Kate Hudson are always spotted in theirs. Even Brad Pitt sported one in Vanity Fair!

Traditionally woven on looms in Africa in 100% cotton, they are brightly coloured, nearly always 60 inches by 40 inches square  and lightweight, so they dry super-fast .   Most commonly used as a unisex sarong, this nifty bit of fabric becomes irreplaceable to any who have had one – I used mine endlessly:
-     when I’m just out of the shower and running around the house
-    On the beach as a windbreak, beach towel, head rest or picnic blanket
-    As a shawl or scarf (great as a muffler for skiing!)
-    At home as a table cloth, chair throw or cushion cover
-    As a temporary cover for the back seat of my car when I’ve got dogs with me
-    As a baby blanket

I always keep at least one kikoi in the back of my car for ‘emergency use’ and you’d be surprised how often it’s called on!

For under £20.00, you could grab one of these and try it for yourself.  Do make sure you’re buying from a responsible and ethical supplier as this is one product where you could really make a difference to a small industry in a third world country.

So, if you’re shooting off on holiday soon, pick one up and start a life-long passion!

Kikoi’s are currently on sale at Amazona Style (including fab new beach kikoi’s featuring ultra-lightweight towelling on one side!).

My feet are so tired they feel as though I’ve run London Marathon (which I didn’t). This is an unfortunate side effect of my new weekend job in a restaurant. Love the job but my feet need a bit of T.L.C.  by Sunday night. The implication of this work-induced injury is that Mondays are now a No Heel Zone! Yes, really.. you heard me correctly. I have resorted to flats on Mondays to give me toes a little time-out.  Despite being a true high heels lover, I have found some flats which don’t make me look like a Yorkshire housewife (I know!? How can this be possible, you say?!). Here’s my favourites at the moment:
£83.00

On Sale at £49.00

On Sale at £59.50

All from Amazona Style.

Everyone says you don’t get ‘Something for nothing’ n this world and that ‘if it seems too good to be true, it probably is’. Well, maybe it’s the recession, maybe it’s the millenium or maybe it’s just a full moon but over at Amazona Style, if you sign up to their newsletter you get £10.00 off every pair of shoes you buy (up until 16th April). What’s even better is that the discount applies to all sale shoes too so you can get many styles for over 50% off! Bargain!

Once signed up for the newsletter, you won’t be bombarded with useless emails. Amazona Style will only contact you when they have something to tell you, whether it’s new stock arriving or another great offer like the current one. We hear in the future they plan to run some great offers like free postage, prize draws and even a brilliant payday offer where one style will be only £25.00 - but only for a day!

If I were you, I’d head over to Amazona Style and sign up - seems like money for nothing to me!

Six years ago I was in New York when I saw my first Victoria’s Secret store on a stroll through the South Street Seaport.  For a farm girl from the rural Welsh Borders,  this store had a kind of mysterious, un-attainable air about it. It was something I had heard of on US shows or had caught of glimpse of when the press mentioned their legendarily glamorous annual catwalk show.  The VS models were astoundingly attractive with their eviably fit figures and phenomenal busts (how can you be supermodel slim AND have boobs? It’s just not allowed!!). I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first went in - bras in every shape, size, fabric and colour. It was the epitome of glamour. I’d never been anywhere like it.

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Great news in the battle for longer (and curvier fit!) jeans! Atlanta-based PZI Jeans has announced the launch of a collection of skinny jeans made just for curvy women.What’s even better is they’re making these new styles in very short and very long inseams… Jeans for real women!

PZI now offers ten different styles of Skinny Jeans that are said to be becoming all the rage of curvy fashionistas. “PZI Jeans was one of the first denim lines to develop a Skinny Jean for curvy women, we have taken it a step further to offer an entire collection of PZI Skinny Jeans, designed especially to meet the fit challenges of curvy women,” explains PZI Jeans Co-Founder and Vice President, Claire Jason.

“The industry said curvy women should never wear Skinny Jeans or they would look like an ice cream cone, so many lines did not offer a Skinny Jean for curvy women. Initially we did not offer our customer the Skinny Jean either. But, our customers kept asking for the Skinny Jean. So we started researching, studied and developed the perfect Skinny Jean for curvy women,” explains PZI.

Although PZI Jeans designers constantly follow fashion trends they do not take everything written in the media about what a curvy woman should or should not wear to heart:  “The curvy woman’s concept of her fashion style is misunderstood by a many in the fashion media, the success of our PZI Skinny Jeans is proof of this fact.”

PZI Jeans are available in sizes 4-16 with short, regular, long and extra-long inseams (up to 38 inches!) so that women short and tall can buy their jeans off the rack with no more costly alterations. PZI Jeans are available at select Macy’s Stores and over 600 retail stores in the United States and overseas with plans to expand into South America. For international customers, check out the website and give them a call and PZI will endeavour to supply any customer in any country.

http://www.pzijeans.com/

Everyone loves Oprah. How can you not? She is such a strong, independent and positive force.  Everyone now and then I check out her website. Today I found this article on tall women and their top tips on shopping and dressing their tall frames. Each woman has a very different style to the others but they all look brilliant. Although, we all know that this has far more to do with their confidence than anything they’re wearing.

Check it out and be inspired here

The black clutch is a wardrobe staple. You can carry it going out for drinks or even if you’re planning a longer night! It can be formal with a dress and heels, or informal with jeans and an oversized boyfriend blazer. It is a favourite of celebrities and fashionistas alike, and is not some fad that will be forgotten in a few months time.

Amazona Style has recently got hold of an plethora of on-trend clutches in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes, but as any fashion maven worth her salt will tell you, the black clutch is the classic. The bag that you’ll always grab when in a hurry and need something stylish to perk up an outfit.

For styling ideas, look no further than La Moss for her casual yet ultimately chic display of such a bag or even her more elegant, yet sexy evening look with a similar patent creation.

Long-legged fashionista Chloe Sevigny has also pulled this look off effortlessly and I love Evan Rachel Wood’s simple clutch at this year’s Golden Globes.

Amazona’s offering on this trend is just as tempting, especially with a jaw-dropping price tag of just £35, how can you resist?

Grab yours at Amazona Style before they sell out.

March is one of those months where not alot happens and what is there to look forward to? Easter? Since nobody has given me an Easter Egg for over ten years, that doesn’t really excite me. So, I want to shop. Plain and simple. I’ve been good and economised for well over two months now in 2009 and quite frankly, I need to be a little irresponsible.

Seems like the Amazona Style team have similar thinking as they have reduced many of their designer shoes in UK sizes 8-12, jewellery and handbags by up to an extra £20 off the SALE price for ONE WEEK only. Until Wednesday 18th March, you can get your hands on some serious bargains.  Check these out:

This lovely pair of leather loafers are £69.00 in the SALE (originally £95.00) but only £49.00 until the 18th March and come in brown, tan or black.

These white patent leather pumps with a wedge heel are ultra comfortable and a complete steal at £29.00 (originally £57.00) until next week.

More than half price at £51.50, this gorgeous olive leather clutch from British Designer CHEET was originally £105.00 but grab it quickly! From 18th March it will be back to it’s orignal sale price of £71.50.

A favourite of mine, this pale gold coloured bracelet from British Designer Delaila is now £49.50, reduced from an original price of £110.00 (next week it will be back to it’s previous sale price of £79.50).

This is just a few of the bargains available for the March Madness Sale at Amazona Style - go and check it out for yourself!

Luckily for tall women all over the world, the first ever blog radio broadcasts (just for us) were launched in February. Tall Expression is an online Magazine for tall women but also hosts weekly radio broadcasts discussing tall issues. Founder Adrienne Williams’ aims were to have a place for tall women to express themselves and to find helpful information.

Tall Expression is a place for fashion, shopping tips, advice and information - a community. Like many a tall girl, Adrienne started the magazine after years of trying to find advice on anything from fashion to relationship issues for tall women, and finding very little:

“There are many issues surrounding our unique life experiences, dealing with dating someone taller or shorter than you—finding the right size shoe that is fashionable, and self-esteem issues from teen-to-adult and beyond. This is the place—the moment is now and Tall Expression is here for everyone who continues to see challenges in everyday life and a community where you can meet like-minded people just like you!”

Why don’t you check out Tall Expression and listen to their latest podcast interviewing Roy Parkin of Tall Genez - the first ever designer range of jeans, soon to be launched, which are available in up to a 45 inch inside leg!