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Lisa's Style Diary

Winter Layering

After a relaxing family holiday it was time to get back to reality, it’s so nice having a break. I believe a proper holiday is not having to dress up- No make up and minimal fuss. I lived in a mix of four bikinis, flip flops, sarongs and two pretty evening dresses.

Since I’ve been back, I haven’t stopped! My production company Libra is well underway and I have a couple of projects on the go, so it was nice to get away while I could.

This season we seem to be living in a sea of black which can be so depressing! We should be looking at cheering ourselves up with bright, vibrant colours that make us feel good! The weathers miserable enough!

Winter is all about layering, but not too much. You want to stay warm without looking big and bulky. Thin layers are the key, layer silk vests with fine knits to keep in the warmth.
Donna Karan has some nice pieces in her new collection and I have my eye on a fabulous winter coat designed by Ian Garlant.

Winter dressing can be chic if you buy great basics. I can’t live without the LTS Audrey scarf and glove set as they go with everything as well as keeping out the cold and my boyfriend cut jeans are so comfortable I practically live in them.

As for the trend conscious hemlines are varied, colours are rich and necklines are high. Gilets are also making a big comeback. I love the LTS faux fur reversible gilet from the Autumn/Winter collection, definitely a wardrobe essential. I’ve also just ordered the Tokyo jacket after seeing it at the photoshoot.

These classic pieces are great for building your wardrobe around and guaranteed to keep you stylish and cosy all winter long!

Lisa

Ask Lisa

Hi Lisa

I would like to ask about cleavage!! In my experience LTS dresses are low cut. This is great- but I have a big bust and it leaves me with a lot of cleavage and makes me feel awkward. Is there a way around it?

Thanks


Hi

Good underwear is an essential foundation to any outfit – especially if you want to make the most of a great cleavage. If you still feel awkward and the dress is too low even with a well fitting bra, layer a vest or pretty camisole underneath.

However, if the style of dress is very fitted and a vest would look bulky opt for a fine knit cardigan that you can button up.

All the best

Lisa

Diary of a tall girl

The Dating Game

Why are so many short men still unwilling to date taller women? I quite often take for granted that my boyfriend Mike is taller than me. I remember teenage dating as being pretty painful as the boys hadn’t hit their growth spurt. If anything I felt terribly awkward- In fairytales the princess never towered over the prince!

This got me thinking, how do other tall women feel about dating? Does a few inches height difference really imply the man is inadequate and inferior? This is a bit of an issue for me, since I am quite tall not freakishly tall, but tall enough that some men have, tragically, been off limits because I worried that I might scare them. Surely, these tired old stereotypes should really be dead and buried by now?

Many shorter people find it hard not to be sucked into the idea that a woman larger than her boyfriend looks ridiculous. For instance former model Carla Bruni stands at a willowy 5” 11, but insists on wearing flats whenever she ventures out with her 5”6 beau, French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Is this to overcome the obvious height difference or does she prefer to opt for the comfort factor?

Luckily enough I met Mike and on date number three, I remember asking him if my height bothered him. To which he laughed at me and told me not to be so silly. He let me know that it wasn’t about height but confidence and boy did his confidence rub off on me- I actually blame Mike for my mountain high shoe collection. He finds it sexy when I wear heels!
Don’t get me wrong, love shouldn’t be about how you look as a couple, but there still seems to be a taboo about couples of different heights.

Dating a shorter man is actually quite empowering.

A day in the life of a designer..

Is London Still Swingin’?

As spring and summer 2009 are pretty much put to bed now, we are just praying that we get all the photographic samples back in time for the next shoot which is in about three weeks!

Last week Deborah (Long Tall Sally’s product manager) arranged a special jeans shoot and I have to say our jeans have never looked better. You’ll see the evidence in just a few short weeks. I’m also hoping by next week Carly and I will finish designing and selecting high summer and then it’s on to Autumn/Winter 2009…

However, rather than looking forward this week I have been looking back- Back in time that is! I went to a 60's exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. There was a film running in the background throughout the exhibition called “Look at Life – Swingin’ London – In Gear “. It was really fab all about life in London in the 60s. One of my favourite lines in the film has to be: “Everybody thinks London is Swingin’ –but is it really? You look around and here and there you see someone who looks like they might swing….”

It made me wonder, has London changed that much? Maybe it has? The clothes were truly amazing particularly the “retro look” of the 60’s which was mostly influenced by 1920’s fashion- You know the whole Biba thing with cloche hats and feather boas. However, saying that the 60’s really did design something truly special– the MINI!
That’s what I am really jealous of- it’s so hard for anyone to come up with anything completely original these days. Fashion seems to be a constant revival of something from the 20th century; from the 20’s through to the 80’s eighties everyone has their favourite decade.

Personally, I love them all but I’m on the look out for something new. Maybe London was swingin’ then or at least going in the right direction!

Talking of new and swingin’ Carly and I went to a party this weekend with pampas grass in the front garden. …Don’t worry we held on firmly to our car keys…

Carol

Ask Lisa

Hi Lisa

I am wondering if you could give me some pointers. I am 32 and just had my 3rd child. I feel young but my body looks more like a woman in her 40’s. I am pretty tall at 5”9 and slender. I have a large bust and of course a baby belly. I’m just not sure what kind of clothes would look best, please help.

Thanks

Jo


Hi Jo

My first piece of advice would be to always dress for your size- There’s nothing worse than squeezing yourself into a size that’s just too small!

It’s all about foundations. A bra that fits you properly will give you the right shape and support and will make you appear slimmer by elongating you. Control Pants (Awful name, I know!) go from mid thigh right up to under the bust but will work wonders concealing your baby belly as well as keeping your thighs and bum trim.

I hope this helps.

Lisa

Lisa's Style Diary

I have A LOT of shoes, I collect high heels but I wouldn’t say I’m a heels girl, I’d like to be. I hardly ever wear them because of my height, but they seduce me!

I’ll wear heels if I’m going out with people of similar heights, for example when I meet up with Mica Paris, I will always wear heels, she’s tall herself at 5”10. I also have a couple of male friends who are much taller than me so I would wear heels with them. But I seem to have a habit of picking short boyfriends, who usually have a complex of me towering over them!

If I’m surrounded by tall people I will wear heels otherwise I won’t. Besides there are so many pretty pumps at the moment, I like wearing flats.

I do feel blessed to be tall but I had a lot of problems when I was younger as I was literally head and shoulders above everybody else and it made me really shy. I wanted to be a ballerina but I was too tall.

When you are tall most things are not made to the right proportions and most tall sections don’t cater to my size. That’s why it was exciting for me to be able to come into Long Tall Sally and be really involved. I’ve had a real input on the clothes and that’s important to me.

I like classic lines, my favourite designers include Tom Ford and Ian Garlant from Hardy Amies. Clothes do give me confidence and making an effort to create a whole look is important. If I haven’t pulled a look together from hair and make up through to my clothes I don’t feel as confident.
In my opinion Cate Blanchett always looks immaculate. Her style is really understated which I think is refreshing. Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe also inspire me, I think Audrey Hepburn rarely got it wrong and with Marilyn I just love the era, she always looked glamorous and I think that’s something we are missing at the moment.

I find white shirts, jackets and trousers the hardest in accommodating my height. At my first fitting for Long Tall Sally’s Autumn/Winter collection I was so impressed by the cut and quality of the fabrics, and how well everything was priced. I love the Juliet stripe shirt -an essential wardrobe basic and one that fits me perfectly! I also adore this season’s full length Victoria black coat.
Finally, I can get clothes that fit and don’t need to get altered!


Until next time


Lisa

Diary of a tall girl

It’s all about the shoes

While taking the tube to work this morning, bleary eyed and in need of a coffee I noticed an article in the paper which grabbed me “Being tall is hell for me, says Liv”

I read on to find Hollywood actress Liv Tyler discussing her hatred of high heels. “In my everyday life I wear flats” She went on to mention “I’m over six foot in heels, and I feel like such a moose. I wish I was petite”

The article was driving tall women away from wearing heels instead of encouraging women to celebrate their height which really irritated me. When I was a teenager I felt more self conscious as I towered over many of my friends but now approaching my mid thirties I couldn’t care less. I suppose my confidence has grown, I’m taller than my friends anyway so why not embrace it?

My best friend Suze is great with things like confidence, she’s only 5” 2, when we meet up we look like little and large! She’s always been openly jealous of my height and encourages me to put on a pair of three inch stilettos at every opportunity. Many of my friends who are blessed with extra inches don’t feel the need to wear heels because they are “too tall already”. Of course I realise this isn’t a fully fledged reason, if high heels hurt, then avoid them- that’s a reason.

For me, heels are not a tool for being taller instead they offer a finishing touch that flats and sandals just can’t provide. Remember Naomi Campbell’s infamous trip on the Vivienne Westwood runway in those eight inch platforms? Yes, she fell but there was never one second that she didn’t look anything other than glamorous.

There’s a certain empowerment about stepping out looking long and luscious. Tall women who avoid heels don’t realise what they are missing!

A day in the life of a designer..

My Cultural Weekend

Well it’s been a busy week at work- Carly (the other designer at LTS) and I have been trying to put summer 2009 to bed – so it’s all hands on deck. We’ve been fitting all the first samples on our model. Trying to get them to fit just right is a long process especially with some of the newer styles but we are slowly getting there.

Everyone in the office is pretty upbeat at the moment thanks to all of you out there. The reason being, we have received such positive feedback regarding our new look and catalogue. Here at LTS HQ we are completely overwhelmed and I just wanted to say thanks.

At the moment I’m itching to get started on designing Autumn Winter 2009 which hopefully we will start in about 2 weeks. I will keep you posted and let you know when it’s all underway.

Anyway all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy or Sally a dull girl. So as it was a bank holiday weekend I jumped in the trusty Golf and headed for the Cotswolds for a bit of R&R.
On route to a church cream tea I called in at the Alain Rouveure gallery. They sell fantastic Nepalese and Tibetan rugs in really beautiful colours and textures. All very inspiring for next year’s colour palette. I got home just in time to watch “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” with Clint Eastwood (Well, I wasn’t actually watching it with Clint, which was a good job too as I fell asleep half way through!) None the less I have to say I am now definitely feeling a huge Poncho revival.

On Bank Holiday Monday I continued the culture gig and went to the Tate Britain to the “Lure of the East” exhibition, mainly because I wanted to see the painting of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. She was one of the first women to travel in the orient and write about her experiences. Her observations about costume and dress are exquisite.

Of course such culture was rewarded by cake… I needed the sugar rush to keep me going….

To round the weekend off I went to see The Dark Knight- The critics got it right, Heath Ledger is brilliant as the Joker. I particularly like him in the red wig and the nurse’s uniform! Maggie Gyllenhaal was great too and of course had some fantastic outfits. I think I too will be going for the pencil skirt, white blouse and waistcoat option this autumn; this was power dressing at its best. I’m just not sure that LTS will let me set up my own interrogation room in the office to complete the scenario…..

Diary of a tall girl

Meet the parents
I made a special visit to see my parents this bank holiday weekend – I don’t get to see them much these days. They’re a good two and a half hour drive from me, which would be fine, except since moving to London, I sold my car in place of an Oyster card.

I caught the train out of London; it was actually quite a nice experience - leaving all those high rises behind.

My mother is not known for her tact and I’m sure as she’s got older it’s got worse, especially when it comes to clothing. Obviously I’m interested in fashion, I work in retail after all but I’m not a trendsetter more of a fashion follower, I’m nearly thirty five but I know what I like-Great basics and key pieces for the season.

What I am getting at is she’s rather old fashioned when it comes to looking stylish. When I knocked on the door in my new LTS high waisted jeans, she remarked “Samantha, you can’t still be growing at 33 – your leg’s have got remarkably longer, I think your trousers are too small!” I was quite taken aback, although, I should learn by now, as my mother does say this to me in some variation every time I see her.

I think she is secretly jealous of my height at only 5’3, I get my “tallness” from my Dad’s side of the family you see- he’s 6’3.

My dad was his usual self and was quite happy pottering around the garden. I kept myself amused by sunbathing in the garden and walks along the coast. Although by Sunday night I was itching to come back to the big city, I’m a city girl after all.

A day in the life of a designer..

Carol is an experienced designer and has been working at Long Tall Sally for over two years. Although Carol secretly dreamt of joining MI5 before she was hit by the fashion bug. Her passion for fashion started early on when she made her first skirt at just five years old.

Growing up she was influenced by Biba, Chanel, Norma Kamali and Perry Ellis. She is particularly interested in the fabric and cutting side of design. A tall woman herself at 5’10, Carol enjoys designing for taller women as she believes that height is an advantage and even admits she would like to be a few inches taller...

Carol's Blog

Not being a natural writer, I was a bit sceptical, at first, about doing this blog. I mean, why on earth would anyone be interested in what I have to say? Well, after a bit of careful research I found that reading about other people’s lives can be pretty interesting. And, I figured if Lily Allen can do it, so can I!

I’m a mere 5ft 10 and a half, which doesn’t make me huge but I do have an inside leg which swings between 34” at a squeeze and 36” in high heels (Although I do walk like Dick Emery in heels so I don’t tend to wear them that often!)

A lot of my friends are 6 foot and over and several around 5ft. Despite the obvious height differences we would spend hours talking about the difficulties of buying clothes. Personally, I think the five footers have it slightly easier, I mean taking things up isn’t a problem but if you are tall you can’t make clothing longer! I used to buy from LTS years ago, myself and several of my friends who were hard core label queens when it came to jeans have now been converted to Long Tall Sally for all our denims.

I’ve been designing at LTS for a couple of years, I haven’t always wanted to be a designer I wanted to be a spy really but I thought I might be handicapped by my tendency to gossip!

MI5 aside I love fashion, at the moment I am busy working on high summer 2009. The first thing we do each season is look at all the prediction and trend information, then we work on a colour palette and buy in print designs. The next stage is designing shapes and working alongside the factories to get samples based on our designs. It’s quite a long process but rewarding when you see your designs come to life.

Now for my favourite part, choosing what I want to wear this season- the Oxford shift dress, Rebecca jumper, Kingston skinny jeans, Audrey beret- I want them all!

This could take hours..

Bye for now

Carol

Lisa's Style Diary

Catching up with Lisa at the moment is quite a task as she is busy putting together ideas for exciting new ventures including starting her own production company and preparing for a well deserved family holiday.

Luckily for us we managed to get a few words in between styling the nation and pitching ideas to the BBC!

Winter Wardrobe Essentials

If I’m honest, I haven’t always had a passion for fashion; horses were in fact my first love. I didn’t have boyfriends I had horses. They were much easier to control!

When I was younger I didn’t really know anything about fashion and I wasn’t really interested.
My modelling career started at a very young age when I won Elle’s face of “87 competition. This provoked a lot of press attention as I was only 15 at the time, but I guess that helped launch my career in quite a big way.

From that moment on I developed a love for fashion, before then I didn’t know who Ralph Lauren was and that was my first shoot! I had to learn quickly, but the whole point of me modelling in the first place was to earn enough money to buy a horse!

I’ve really struggled to find clothes that fit properly since I was a teenager. Yes, not because of my height, (I’m 6 foot) but my shape. Jackets and shirts in particular are always a problem as are trousers. Sleeve lengths are always too short; ridiculously I have to roll up the sleeves on a white shirt so you can’t tell it’s too short!

I’m a big fan of Religion and Hardy Amies- beautiful clothes. I don’t really go to any other high street shops other than Long Tall Sally because they just don’t make clothes well enough for taller women. I must admit I live in jeans, a great fitting pair work wonders! I’m what you would call a lazy dresser so jeans are perfect as I can dress them up or down for most occasions.

Designer labels don’t generally fit unless I have clothes specifically made for me. Ian Garlant from Hardy Amies designed a phenomenal chocolate, velvet ball gown for me. It’s absolutely beautiful; it’s rarely been worn but definitely my favourite item in my wardrobe along with my jeans.

This season sees a variety of trends to keep even the highly fashion conscious happy, including; Gothic chic, fitted tailoring, lace, flat shoes, and tartan will be making a big comeback.

I’m looking forward to wrapping up in fitted jackets with big belts and wearing big statement jewellery. I adore the LTS faux fur reversible gilet from the Autumn/Winter collection, definitely a wardrobe essential. Big jewellery can finish an outfit of nicely and when you are tall you can carry it off. I also love Long Tall Sally’s Audrey scarf its extra long, so guaranteed to keep you winter warm.

Happy Shopping!


Lisa

Ask Lisa

Hello Lisa

My sister is having an evening wedding reception & I don’t know what to wear!! I am only a size 10 but 5″11 & don’t feel comfortable in high heels. I hate towering above everyone but feel flats are too casual for such a special occasion?
Please help!!!

Marie


Hi Marie

Flat shoes are so on trend and the perfect option if you are standing up all day. There are so many styles in the shops this season you are sure to find the perfect pair.

Long Tall Sally have a great range of pretty pumps including the belle pump which have cute rouch detail and would look fabulous with any outfit.

If you choose to wear heels, you can always pick up a pair of fold up pumps for the evening. These shoes are so versatile and fit neatly in your handbag.

One thing I would recommend is that you don’t wear brand new shoes on the actual day as your poor feet will be agony!

Lisa

Diary of a tall girl

I wonder what it would be like to be an average height? How would people describe me? “Sam is the brunette”” instead of “Sam is the tall girl”.

Let me introduce myself. I’m Sam, I’m 33, I love watching old movies, long soaks in the bath and treating myself to a Caramel Frappacino every Sunday afternoon with my best friend Suze.

I work at Long Tall Sally, I’ve been working at LTS for almost two years, everyone’s great not to mention the discounts! It’s like a little community- a safe haven for other tall women. In fact I quite often find myself feeling a tad bit jealous if a customer comes into the store and is slightly taller than me. I feel as I am being outdone because I’m no longer the tallest in the room- Stupid I know but I’ve learn't to love the advantages of my extra inches.

I’m not overly tall at 5”10 but it’s still enough to draw the irritating gasps of “What’s the weather like up there” and “I bet she plays basketball”. I don’t ask short people if they play miniature golf!

But now as I’ve grown in years as well as height I have discovered there are many advantages of being tall. For instance; you cover distances faster when walking, You’re height can give you better views at the theatre and when standing in a crowded train as the tall one you get to breathe fresh air rather than inhaling someone’s hair!

What I am getting at is that there are hundreds even thousands of tall women out there who face the same dilemma’s, so let this be a place you can come and share your thoughts. Not all women have the gift of being tall. Many people would love to be taller. Surely it’s better to be looked over than overlooked?

Hello!

Hello, and welcome to the Long Tall Sally blog. Here starts our journey, with you, to create the best online community for tall women, where we can swap stories, advice and discuss everything tall. You’ll find everything from the diary of a tall girl from our very own Sam, to style advice from Lisa Butcher and design tips from Carol our resident LTS designer. We want you to be as much a part of our blog as us, so please do post comments and let us know what you’d like to see here.