Diary of a Tall Fashionista: Tall Cords for Tall Women

By Tiffany DeLangie - Tall Fashion Writer for Tall Clothing Mall

I remember when corduroy was in And then it was out And then it was back in again. Well now I feel its ok to admit, I never stopped loving it (I know, how convenient right?) Now is a good time to love cords. While it’s still difficult to find tall clothes, I’d say behind tall jeans, tall cords are becoming increasingly easy to find in a plethora of price ranges and fits. Not only are tall cords easier to find now, but also easier to wear when remembering a few tips.

First, think of tall cords as an alternative to jeans. Sometimes we put ourselves into a box when we think dress pants or jeans are our only options. In the fall and winter, tall cords are an option as well. In addition to being an alternative to jeans, you can compare the fit and style to jeans also. Tall cords typically come in boot cut, and lately can be found in flared, skinny, and wide leg silhouettes as well. You can find a low rise or a mid rise. (I’m sure if you look hard enough you can find a high rise but that is a bit too 80s for me…at least right now; can’t say I won’t succumb to the fashion pressure at some point). Secondly, as a tall woman, you can get away with almost any fit but keep in mind the look you are going for and your figure flaws and strengths. If you are especially curvy, you may want a mid rise with a straight leg. If you are tall and thin, flared or skinny work well. If you are plus sized,a mid rise with a wide leg, straight leg, or boot cut will work. These are just suggestions. If you’ve read my other articles you know I am mostly anti hard and fast rules in fashion. I think too often we limit ourselves and our personal style based on some arbitrary rule someone told us once. So use your judgment and try on different shapes and styles to see what works best. Lastly, in terms of what to pair with tall cords, again think of denim as an example of what to pair with tall cords, again think of denim as an example. You can wear them with sweaters, a snug fitting turtleneck, a blazer or cardigan, or a plaid button down. Opportunities to dress them up or down, abound.There are also different fabrics you can choose from such as fine whaled corduroys (on the dressier side) or wider whaled that lend themselves to a more casual look. If you’re going for a preppy look, which tall cords often lend them to; pair it with an argyle sweater. Or if you like the punk look, thanks to tall skinny cords that can be achieved also.


The one thing I’d caution you on is that cords can look very…outfit-y (I think my husband made up that word, but I love the impression it gives). What I mean is, if you wear them with tortoise shell glasses and a turtleneck and oxfords they give off a very specific almost constum-ish look. If you’re ok with that and can pull it off (i.e. you look like you did it on purpose or you look like a supermodel) go for it. happen to read that sentence and think that outfit sounds rather cute. However, if you will look back on the ensemble later and think “What was I thinking?”—moments I have totally had-- then spare yourself what I call outfit remorse.

Tall cords are a nice staple that can carry you through fall and winter so investing in a good pair is worth it. Have fun with them-- Find the pair that works best for you and then buy two or three in various fall shades. Now if only overalls would come back into style…

Visit Tall Clothing Mall's section of women's tall cords.

Diary of a Tall Fashionista - Tall Jackets

By Tiffany DeLangie

The end of summer is bittersweet. Bitter because I'll miss the sun and the beach and the pool and barbecues and watermelon. It's also sweet because it's the beginning of fall with all its changing colors and sense of newness. Personally I would vote for September as the second best month to make changes and resolutions, next to January. While most of those changes will entail some deep spiritual or personal meaning, others may be more along the lines of "I will find a tall jacket with sleeves that actually cover my wrists."

I've mentioned before that shoes and jeans are my vices. Well my third would be tall coats and tall jackets. It can be difficult however to find tall outerwear made for tall women. Whether it's a trench or a hip length jacket, there are often features that don't work as well for tall women. For instance, how many of you have tried on a 'hip length' jacket only to find it fits like a cropped one. If I wanted a cropped jacket, I would shop in the junior section right? Or what about a jacket that is cinched or belted at the waist, but ends up right under our bust rather than at our natural waist? Or my personal favorite: sleeves that expose our wrists to the elements or leave that ghastly space between jacket and glove. Ugh. This fall make a proclamation to find a tall jacket that you love and one that fits properly (and no I don't mean two separate jackets). Trust me, it can be done! You just need to know where to look and what to look for.

When looking for a tall jacket, consider the look you're going for and how much you intend to wear it. If you are like me and have a million jackets, then it's not crucial that the jacket be neutral enough to match everything. It can be on the trendier side or a bright fun color. If however, this is going to be an upgrade (i.e. one you'll spend a lot of money on) or a tall jacket you'll wear everyday until the real cold sets in, you may want something conservative but with trendy elements (think seams and hardware). This doesn't mean that it has to be black, brown, or grey. Oftentimes, bright colors can work just as well as a neutral as black, beige, or gray. A bright red trench can go over black pants, brown pants, beige pants, or jeans. The key is finding something stylish with the right amount of detail to show that you are current. Notice I didn't say trendy. It doesn't have to come from Forever 21 to be in style. It does however have to come from this decade! So mourn the loss of summer by stepping out in style in a chic tall jacket that shows you are ready to embrace change!

We have created a special section of women's tall jackets and tall coats at Tall Clothing Mall.

Tall Maternity Jeans 36" Inseam - J Brand

By Tiffany DeLangie - Fashion Writer for Tall Clothing Mall

Being a tall fashionista is difficult enough. Being a tall, pregnant fashionista is excruciating! I have spent hours scouring the internet to find tall maternity pants and jeans (i.e. longer than 33 or 34 inch inseam) and have mostly come up empty. Enter….the
J Brand Lovestory tall maternity jeans. I am totally in love with these jeans. If you’re tall and expecting, it doesn’t get much better than this. These jeans are amazing.

First the height aspect--I am 6 feet tall and I can comfortably wear these jeans with 2 to 4 inch heels. Unlike the other “longs” I have found that still look too short with flats, these tall maternity jeans have a 36 inch inseam. And even better, they have an amazing 2 inch hem so that when I wear flats I can cuff them right where the hem begins. That way I avoid getting that ratty look on the back hem and hopefully make them last through every pregnancy. Or if you are taller than me (a blessing and a curse) you can take the hem out and get an extra couple of inches out of them.

Second the style aspect that I try so hard not to forsake just because I am tall (and now, just because I am pregnant). These look just as hot as your non maternity jeans. I personally am partial to low rise flared jeans and these are just that. They have elastic insets so that they stretch with you so there’s no panel that puts pressure just where you don’t want it. I’ve realized in buying maternity shorts and skirts that the panels aren’t made for tall women with long torsos so it doesn’t come up high enough and hits you mid belly which is not the most pleasant feeling. For that reason the ‘real waist’ version is just right. Another point worth mentioning is that I bought these when I was still at the not-at-all-showing-but-feeling-bloated stage. Now I am about halfway through my pregnancy and definitely showing. Through both stages they fit like a glove. And because they are low rise and sit under the belly, I imagine they will fit right up until the end.

Lastly, I know the price tag in this economy (or any economy) is kind of high. Prime example-- I got laid off right after purchasing them and still refused to return them; that is how much I love them! Keep in mind that most likely you won’t find other pants or jeans that fit so this probably will be your one and only pair (that’s how I rationalize anyway). Also, because they are high quality you will be able to wear them through any subsequent pregnancies. And last but not least (not to be a Debbie Downer) but throughout your pregnancy you’ll have times when you feel like crap. You might as well look amazing if you can’t feel amazing right?! Call me shallow but looking better certainly boosts my spirits and helps me to feel better. And I’m guessing it will work for you also. Click the link here and purchase immediately! I promise you won’t regret it.

Tall Boyfriend Jeans

Diary of a Tall Fashionista: Must have for tall women- Tall Boyfriend Jeans
by Tiffany DeLangie- fashion writer for Tall Clothing Mall

As a fashionista, I pride myself on noticing upcoming trends before they are…well trendy. But I must say, until I was seeing them everywhere, it never occurred to me to address the boyfriend jean. I myself like fitted jeans. Loose jeans give me flashbacks to my tomboy days, when I wore insanely baggy jeans that completely enveloped my long, lanky frame and made me appear even taller and skinnier than I already was. While that may sound like a good thing, in high school, the goal was to fit in, not stand out as freakishly tall. As if that’s not enough the baggy jeans trend also reminds me of a time I was forced to wear men’s jeans since finding women’s jeans that were long enough proved to be impossible. Ok, sorry to drag you into my pathetic “wonder years;” back to the trend at hand. I must say despite my unfavorable memories, the boyfriend jean trend is completely growing on me. Why? I’m glad you asked.

Boyfriend jeans give that “I-just-threw-these-on-but-don’t-I-look-stylish-and-chic-without-even-trying?” look that we all desperately crave and ironically spend tons of time and effort trying to achieve. (Ok maybe not all of us but us authentic fashionistas can admit that at the very least, we have those moments). There’s nothing better than a simple garment that does most of the work for you. It makes it easy to figure out the rest of your look-- be it casual or sexy or cool. I also love that boyfriend jeans look kind of tough. Those I love the most are cuffed and therefore still show some skin but look adorable with sneakers or even dressier shoes like kitten heels or mary janes. See how easy it is to pull off a tough, yet sweet or a cool, eclectic, and modern look?

The other thing I love about boyfriend jeans is that they look great on tall women. Now the average woman might retort “what doesn’t?” But us tall gals know that some trends don’t live up to the ‘model’ hype and any that do are canceled out by the spiral of depression we whip ourselves into when we search and search and search and can’t find that long torso swimsuit (that we love and doesn’t cost us an arm and a leg), or a simple pair of tall (no, not 34 inch inseam, but TALL) maternity pants, or a maxi dress that actually reaches our ankles! Oops; is my frustration seeping through?! My point is, when a trend is compatible with height, I’m all about jumping on the bandwagon.

Because we have long legs, we don’t have to worry about cuffed boyfriend jeans cutting us off at that awkward place on our calves and making us look short and, well, boyish. We can wear boyfriend jeans and still look sexy as all get out. It’s that kind of “white tee shirt” look guys claim is even more alluring than when we gals get all dolled up. The other attribute of boyfriend jeans is that they tend to have a bit of a higher rise than typical jeans. With our long torsos, the additional inch or two in the rise helps to balance our tall frames. And have I mentioned yet that this is the perfect transition piece into fall? If you buy them soon, you’ll still have plenty of wear left before I’m starting articles cursing the weather instead of reliving my “wonder years.”

With all of this said, don’t let me sell you on boyfriend jeans…see for yourself! Just try a pair on and you’ll see that this is one trend worth shopping for.

Diary of a Tall Fashionista: Custom Made Clothing for Tall Women

Custom Made Clothing for Tall Women
by Tiffany DeLangie
Tall Fashion Writer for Tall Clothing Mall

Whenever people speak of flawless fashion, invariably the word “alteration” comes into play. Regardless of how the worlds of fashion and retail have evolved, the reality is we are not built like mannequins. Having done some modeling, I am keenly aware of what you don’t see in the catalogues- the double sided tape, the binder clips pulling the shirt tighter around the waist, the clothespins grabbing the extra fabric of the pants, the stylist scurrying to pull, tug, and adjust after each camera snap, or the photoshopping that eradicates any leftover imperfections. Certainly there are more offerings of plus, petite, and tall sizes and I am grateful for those retailers and designers who realize we are not all 5’7”, 110 pounds, curve deficient, and perfectly proportioned. However there are still areas of opportunity to achieve a better fit.

I myself have gone the alteration route lately and have had some luck…and some misfortune. Why not skip alteration and go straight to custom made clothing? We all have that friend who has returned from the orient with custom made clothing. And how much do we hate it when we ask “where did you get that?” and the answer is “Bangalore.” Wouldn’t it be fabulous if such services were available to us at a reasonable price, sans a trip around the globe? The good news is it is! It takes some investigation but there are many options out there for reasonably priced and risk free custom made clothing.

One of the main reasons to try custom made clothing may surprise you: that reason is cost. Many of us assume “custom made” means out of reach, but that isn’t so. As more retailers, designers, and entrepreneurs recognize a niche market consisting of people who aren’t satisfied with ill fitting clothing, an entire industry is on the rise. Increased competition means lower prices. And while some may cringe at the term “outsourcing,” in this case think of it as a friend not a foe. Don’t forget to consider how much you spend on items you don’t wear primarily due to fit (or lack thereof). We’ve all done it before; been blinded by the clearance price tag to the fact that those pants are two inches too short and two sizes too small…or the cuffs on that shirt barely reach our wrists and our clever idea of cutting the sleeves to make them three quarter length never really panned out. If you are anything like me you could go into your closet and grab handfuls of clothes that flaunt flaws rather than flatter. I dare you to add up how much you spent on that handful. Most likely it will be more than you bargained for.

Sure you may get lucky with an item that fits perfectly from time to time (and when that happens don’t you chide yourself for not buying two?!). But really, how often are we so lucky?! If you are fortunate enough to buy designer clothes then maybe it happens more often for you than for most. But even Oprah admits to having many of her clothes tailored, and seriously if Oprah’s designer duds don’t fit her perfectly off the rack do you really think that it will happen for those of us whose “favorite things” don’t consist of a $1500 TOYWATCH? Not to be Debbie Downer, but I’m guessing no! Custom made clothing is really the only way to get a perfect fit. And while our net worth might not exactly rival Oprah’s we can look like a million bucks if we invest in items that fit us to a [tall] tee!

Visit Tall Clothing Mall for our favorite styles of custom made clothing.

Diary of a Tall Fashionista: Large Shoe Size, Great Shoe Buys

By Tiffany DeLangie - Tall Fashion Writer for Tall Clothing Mall

My only solace that summer is over is that fall has come. And with it, ubiquitous fashion magazines boasting the season’s must haves, gotta haves, wish you had. While I generally pore over such magazines, I’m especially voracious for the shoe section. If jeans are my first love, shoes are a very close second. I won’t even admit to how many pairs I own, partly because I lost count quite some time ago. Due to my collection (“collection” sound so much nicer than “obsession” doesn’t it?!) I am always eager to read what the “experts” are saying about shoe trends and how to apply them to long legs, and let’s face it- big feet. Typically I write very favorably about our good fortune in the height department. But let’s be honest. Sometimes the price we pay is looking longingly at the size 8 section while cursing our genes, or if we are freaks of the family as I am, just cursing in general. But just because we have big feet, ahem…non petite feet, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the season’s hottest trends.

I could write a novel about the many styles, designs, trends, shapes, colors, textiles, genus, species, and families of shoes. And though it would be fascinating, I’ll spare you the delightful details. I’ll just talk about a few of my favorite styles. Now this one may be disputable, but my absolute favorite fall staple is a pair of warm, cozy, and comfortable Uggs. I’m aware that every fall, some fashion columnist deems Uggs “out.” Yet, I argue that this trend has staying power. People are still splurging on the real thing, or buying every kind of knock off known to man. So apparently their appeal has yet to wane. Next is the riding boot phenomenon. Who knew equestrian wear could be so fun? Like Uggs, I suspect there will be those who label these “so last season,” but again I beg to differ. Casual boots of all styles are a staple for your fall wardrobe.

What I appreciate most about both Uggs and riding boots are that they look great on long legs and big feet. Most women might avoid cutting the line of their legs nearly in half but we have a few inches to spare. Both of these styles also typically come in flats and large sizes. Another flattering trend for tall women is ballet flats which are showing up all over the place in fall textures like tweed, patent leather, and faux animal skins. I won’t lecture those of you who do not wear heels; I understand the temptation to avoid all the unoriginal comments about already being tall enough, not “needing” heels, the air up there, yada yada yada. Regardless, I am six feet tall and I refuse to give up heels. Um, does the word “glamazon” mean anything to you?!

For those of you who are a slightly bolder and like not only a high heel, but unexpected details, you will be pleased to find that of bows, jewels, peep-toes, updated oxfords, and retro shapes. To make your foot appear smaller try round toes, the recent “cap toe” trend, with the toe in a different color than the rest of the shoe (the caveat is these heels are typically higher), color blocks, and banded flats or Mary Jane’s. These styles break the foot into smaller parts and trick the eye. No ladies, there are no Spanx for feet. I googled it.

All advice aside, if you are obsessively self conscious about your feet…they will appear bigger (terribly silly pun intended). So the balance is to wear trends that flatter, but not focus on the negative. While I have a weakness for fashionable trends, I refuse to be enslaved by them. there are a variety of options in terms of large sizes, styles and trends, so shop around until you find the perfect pair (ok, let’s be realistic- the perfect pairs) for fall.

Visit Tall Clothing Mall. to see our women's large size shoe trends.

Diary of a Tall Fashionista: Tall Jeans for Tall Genes

By: Tiffany DeLangie - a fashion writer for Tall Clothing Mall



So I finally took my Italy trip. While I realize you don’t know me nor do you know I’ve been planning a trip to Italy since before the brown/powder blue color combo became popular, I felt the need to convey that it’s something I have wanted to do for a long time. A friend of mine made a great suggestion- look for “material” while in Europe for my fashion articles. What a great idea.

While I am very patriotic and love America more than I love my new Rock and Republics, we are not known for being fashion forward. We shop at mall stores and end up wearing what we see in the storefront of our local Old Navy. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing…I think taking some risks is in order. Flared jeans have become the norm. Sure there are still a few women who refuse to give up the “mom jeans” look, but in general, everyone wears flared jeans, or at least everyone used to. In Europe one of the biggest differences I noticed was that everyone wears straight leg jeans. Maybe all of you knew that flared jeans were “out.” But I did not. Now don’t go burning all your flared jeans just yet. While tall flared jeans may not be as popular as they once were, this fashionista still believes they are the most flattering on almost all body types including tall women--i.e. I’m not cleaning out my closet any time soon.

I’ve already established that we tall women now have tall jeans in a plethora of designer brands. With that come a variety of silhouettes suitable for tall women. There are trouser, high waist, pencil, skinny, straight leg, boot cut, and more. Because we are tall, we can get away with nearly all of these styles (I know it didn’t feel lucky in 8th grade when we were taller than all the boys). However true that may be, until I went to Europe I didn’t see many straight leg (or pencil or matchstick or cigarette- whatever you want to call them) jeans. Mostly I see low rise flares (thankfully, the trend is higher rise because I am sick of panty peek and even sicker of crack- seriously, just say no!). So seeing mostly straight jeans while in Europe was like a wake up call. You may be asking “what are straight leg jeans?” It’s a little easier t o describe what they’re not…as in, not skinny jeans which typically have about a 13 inch leg opening, but they are a little slimmer than boot cut which usually have about an 20 inch opening.



I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again- we are blessed to have such long legs, tall frames, sinewy builds, long inseams…you get my point! We should be working it, right? Of course right! And the best way to work it? In a pair of long straight leg dark denim jeans. The thing that excites me about tall straight leg jeans is that they are sophisticated, whether dressed up with heels or dressed down with flats. They make tall women look fashionable without trying. I try. But I try to look like I’m not trying. And don’t lie; I know I’m not alone! That’s the beauty of tall straight leg jeans--you really don’t have to try. Throw on a white tee, metallic flats, and a funky necklace or a men’s shirt, a scarf, and a pair of classic converse and you’re instantly chic in a low maintenance kind of way-- Which if you ask me is the best way. The same rules apply for tall straight leg jeans as other styles- darker wash is typically more slimming, wear an appropriate rise, and ladies, please, I beg of you, do not wear high waters. While I fear the day of that 80s trend’s imminent return, that day is not today! We have inseams up to 39 inches now (I hope I have a little girl one day so instead of saying “I walked 3 miles to school in knee deep snow each morning,” I can say “I wore 32 inch inseams and was constantly asked “where’s the flood”…). So choose the appropriate inseam for the type of shoe you’ll be wearing. So the moral of the story is to break out of your comfort zone (be that super skinny jeans or ultra flared jeans) and try something new. I’m making it easier for you by pointing in you the right direction to find a fabulous pair of flattering, tall straight leg jeans. No excuses! And, you’re welcome.

For women's tall jeans visit Tall Clothing Mall.