Archive | May, 2011

Tall Style Essential: The Black Blazer

25 May

Black blazers. They too often get a bad rap for being too boring or too conservative. And ladies, I’ll be honest—I’ve spent most of my 20s avoiding black blazers, as though their structure and minimalism would somehow transform me into a corporate clone or a soap opera version of a “professional woman”. But as I get to the age where 30 is much closer than 20 and have taken on a more—shall we say, womanly?—shape, these previously-eschewed dark horses are becoming my closet essentials.

The best part is that they work for every woman, and every shape. It’s just a matter of finding the perfect cut for your uniquely-gorgeous figure.

For curvy talls with wider hips, I recommend a cropped black blazer. While the notion of “cropped” anything often annoys and disgusts tall women everywhere, it is a great shape for highlighting the waistline and lengthening the legline. A cropped cut will draw attention to your wasp-y little waist and downplay any width through the hips and thighs. If you can find a blazer with 3/4 sleeves, all the better—shorter sleeves are seasonless. Ann Taylor LOFT has a great Tall cropped blazer on sale for $109 now…

Ann Taylor Tall Cropped Tailored Jacket

For straight-waisted/boyish-figured talls, I love a great black boyfriend blazer. The fit is elongating/slimming if you’re thicker around the middle, and plays up any curves you do have. When looking for a boyfriend blazer, size down if you have to to get a body-skimming fit—if you’re swimming in too much fabric, the effect is the opposite of flattering. J. Jill has a Tall stretch linen boyfriend blazer (perfect for summer!) on sale now for the excellent price of $79, so snap up one of these beauties before they sell out!

J. Jill Tall Stretch Linen Boyfriend Jacket

And if you’re an athletic tall with a short waist and not excessively-long arms, I  recommend Elie Tahari blazers. Though Tahari doesn’t make tall suiting (shame shame!), I find that the blazers are more than long enough in arm and body length—and I love how they are cut with more room in the bust and tapering in the waist. If you can, try on in a store before buying—Nordstrom, Macy’s and Saks carry Tahari. The Ava jacket provides a universally flattering fit.

Elie Tahari for Nordstrom 'Ava' Jacket

Have a black blazer and uncertain how to wear it? Email me for more style tips, questions, and suggestions!

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Coming up this week…

24 May

Hi ladies!

Coming up this week and next…

• An interview with the tall, gorgeous designer behind Sarah Vain and Tall

• Tips on finding the perfect blazer for your shape and height

• My reviews/ styling photos for Height Goddess jeans

• Height of Style business cards! (Email me at if you want hard copies to distribute at tall clubs or to your lovely tall friends! I will mail them to you for free.)

• AND a few more surprise interviews!

• Have a style question or a suggestion for a Height of Style blog entry or interview? Email me, or Twitter message me @kacytweets.

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Tall Swimwear for Summer 2011

19 May

Per the request of  Height of Style reader Lacey (she also has a great blog here!), this post focuses on one of the most dreaded areas of apparel for t(all) women (other than pants)—swimwear! I’ll stay optimistic, tall ladies—there is a diverse array of options out there on the market that offer style, comfort and fit for tall women and equally diverse price points (from low to quite high).

I’m focusing today on my top picks for more modest one-pieces and tankinis, as any tall woman will tell you that finding a bikini is easy—finding a tank/tankini is not so easy. Also, at the end of this post, I’ll include links to various sites that offer tall and extended torso swimwear, sorted by price points. So, without further ado…

Long Torso Ruched Bandeau: At $38.50 for this cheery nylon-spandex blend tank, the price is right. Delia’s is a brand typically catering to teens, but the sizing is consistent with small-ish misses’ sizing—all their suits run from XS-XL. This particular model has a full back; detachable strap, and moderate coverage—would be best on angular figures with smaller busts. Delia’s also offers tanks in long torso sizing that have wider straps for more busty tall women.

Long Torso Ruched Femme Tank: At a moderate price point, J. Crew’s long-torso swimsuits are well worth the money. In elegant summer colors, fade-resistant Lycra/spandex blends, and flattering shapes to suit a variety of body types, these suits are a tall woman’s best friend. Snap up the retro-inspired shapes this summer—they will be flattering and look fresh for years to come. Particularly good suits for curvy shapes.

Salt Creek Siren Tall Bra Cup Tankini: Athleta’s suits are made to go the distance—literally. This retailer designs swimwear with female athletes in mind, and each suit has great features like SPF/UPF protection, breathable fabric blends, stabilizing bust bands, and fuller straps to support serious swimmers and waterside sport enthusiasts alike. All of their tall tanks and tankinis are stylish updates to traditional performance swimwear…leave that stretched-out Speedo behind!

Here is a list of online retailers that offer extended/long torso and/or tall sizing for swimwear. If you know of any others, shoot me an email and I’ll happily update this list. Price points included, low to high ($=low; $$=moderate; $$$=high).

Delia’s-$

JCPenney-$

Victoria’s Secret-$

Athleta-$$

Eddie Bauer-$$

J. Crew-$$

Land’s End-$$

Long Tall Sally-$$

Neiman Marcus-$$$

Happy Summer Swimsuit Shopping!

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Accessories Edition: A Fabulous Bag

18 May

Ladies, you just can’t minimize the significance of a fabulous bag. Like shoes, they always fit, and can be positively transformative in lifting your mood AND elevating your look. My favorite stylist of all time says it best:

“I think everyone should splurge on bags. They are great investments, especially when you buy quality labels, because they don’t lose their value…another tip is to simply splurge on pieces that are special to you and bring you joy.”-Stacy London, Stylist and host of TLC’s What Not To Wear

This year, I have been consistently trying to keep my cheap, impulse buys to minimum—as a stylist, this is hard, as you’re s’posed to look current. For Rachel Zoe, that means Chanel tweed blazers shipped in by the season. For me, that means avoiding Forever 21 and H&M, purging the junk, controlling the closet schizophrenia, and saving to invest in the pieces I recommend for EVERY client (e.g. a well-fitting suit; a versatile jean; a transitional blazer; a black sheath) that have—so far—eluded me. (Rest assured that I WILL be shopping HeightGoddess and Sarah Vain and Tall in the future…) AND—truth be told—I always recommend at least one “statement” bag that makes its wearer look and feel wonderful.

The Ultimate Maxim: Know Thyself When Choosing A Bag!

Like Stacy L says, a great bag is worth the investment. A great bag is one that makes you feel as good as it looks. Don’t necessarily be tied to black or brown—while a classic-colored bag will elegantly transition from work into the weekend, sometimes your wardrobe can use a brilliant jolt of color. Case in point—the Kate Spade Sample Sale, going on now through Thursday (great deals, ladies!!!). I decided I would add a statement bag to my collection—one that had year-round potential, and could go with me to weddings or to work or out on the town. I initially added the Westbury Large Serena in black to my cart. And then—at the last minute—I traded it for the Cheltenham Gloss Large Lucia in citronella. Truth is, yellow is my favorite color—and nothing is more me and more versatile to me than a brilliant, neon-y yellow BIG (because we tall ladies can carry off big) bag that I can pair with neutrals and prints. So, all in all, choosing the right statement bag is ultimately about knowing yourself…and knowing what will make you feel glorious!

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Height Goddess: Premium Denim for Tall Women

16 May

Maybe you tall ladies can relate to this scenario that has become all-too-familiar to me—you spot the perfect Rock and Republic skinny jean on the TJ Maxx designer clearance rack; you high-tail it into the fitting room; squeeze your legs into those narrow denim swaths; shimmy the jean over half your hips. As you stare into the mirror, you find yourself ready to make excuses for the obscenely-low rise and inevitable muffin top (“but I can wear long shirts!”) and the fact that the skinny leg that brushed the TJ Maxx floor barely skims the top of your ankle (“I can wear these tucked into boots!”). Even as you are checking out at the register, a litany of excuses runs through your mind (“But they’re designer!” “Surely $80 isn’t too bad!” “I can always return them!”). Once you get them home, they immediately get shoved into your closet—tags and all—a relic to sell on eBay for much less than you paid once the regret sets in.

Sound familiar?

Height Goddess denim: The Dakota boot cut (l); The Heather skinny (m); the Victoria trouser (r)

Historically, there has been a significant lack of options for high-quality denim for tall women who want an alternative to off-the-rack designer denim made for a much shorter, condensed-torso fit model. A well-fitting pair of jeans is universally versatile, and looks absolutely SMASHING with a silky top for evening or a blazer and button-up for work. Lameka Weeks’ Height Goddess line is the answer. Weeks created this capsule line precisely for tall women who wanted a fashionable, high-quality alternative to ill-fitting regular women’s and men’s clothing. Height Goddess offers dresses, rompers, and lovely work pants, but I was especially taken by the denim line. Height Goddess offers three classic shapes—the skinny, boot cut, and trouser jean—executed marvelously with flattering dark washes (so sleek!), comfortable mid-rises, and either a 36″, 38″ or 40″ inseam. As a stylist, I particularly recommend the Dakota in Indigo…a dark wash bootcut will be refreshing and on-trend forever…and, most important, looks great on a variety of tall shapes. Most styles run in the $130-$150—super reasonable for jeans that will take you anywhere and fit like they’re made for you…because they are!

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Sarah Vain and Tall’s Long LBDs

11 May

With the multitude of little black dresses (LBDs) out there, it must be easy enough to find one to fit a body 5’10″ and taller, right?

I can tell you from vast experience—both personal and with tall clients—that finding a perfect-fitting tall black dress off the rack is a stroke of brilliant—if not divine—luck. It certainly would be enough to keep me sated and flying high on happiness for the entire year.

I’ve tried Tahari, I’ve tried Theory, I’ve tried Donna Morgan and Donna Karan and Kenneth Cole. The closest I’ve personally come to a well-fitting dress is a black Tahari sheath I picked up from Bluefly, and the fit on that thing is wonky—the waist is too short, the hip room too wide, and the hem which is supposed to hit at my knee hits 3 inches northward. What are we tall ladies to do?

Amazing LBDs from Sarah Vain and Tall! (www.sarahvainandtall.com)

Sarah Vain and Tall. A play off of Patricia McLaughlin’s title “Sarah, Plain and Tall” as well as various competing stereotypes about tall women, Anne Shea, the stunning one woman wonder behind Sarah Vain and Tall, designs high-quality tall clothing that will make any vertically-blessed lass look like a million bucks. Her line currently consists of four gorgeous, classic dress shapes in figure-friendly stretch knits and cotton sateens—including a LLBD (long little black dress) and a black and white polka dot number that will satisfy even the most whimsical of tall ladies.

Consider Anne Shea’s dresses investment pieces. We all need that perfect LLBD for dressing up and dressing down and taking to work, and once you consider cost per wear and the perfectly-tailored fit of these dresses—their relative cost is downright reasonable.

Though Sarah Vain and Tall is based in Melbourne, Australia, Shea offers international shipping PLUS hassle free returns—wonderful for tall ladies worldwide!

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Dress for your SHAPE, not your SIZE

10 May

I’ll let you all in on one of my secrets as a stylist—I can immediately (upon looking at a client’s figure) determine his or her body shape and formulate a mental list of clothing pieces that would look good on him or her—regardless of size (whether tall, petite, plus, et cetera)! While I’d I like to attribute it to some magical ability that I possess, in truth, I’m not the first stylist to encourage dressing for your shape and not your size (okay, I’m talking about you, Stacy and Clinton!)

Most clothing manufacturers would prefer you NOT to know the exact pieces that look good on your body shape—if you’re just buying up everything in your size, you’re usually buying more! I’m an advocate of buying some real staple pieces that you can go back to again and again—there IS a black blazer and pair of jeans to fit everyone.

The point is, you should know your own body type—and at the very least, think about how your own aesthetic and some general guidelines can inform your purchases. Trinny and Susannah of the UK version of “What Not To Wear” made it plum easy in “The Body Shape Bible”—in which they detailed 12 (!!!) different body shapes and clothing suggestions for each (only 8 are pictured below).

What's your shape? Find out with this shortcut flowchart!

Use this as more of a reference guide, and realize that there will be fluctuations over time and different body weights (I go from a Lollipop to Goblet to Brick and back again). And when in doubt, start looking at celebrities and public figures who share your glorious shape for style inspiration—a brick may not sound too glamourous, but if Kim Cattrall  is a brick too, I’ll take it!

What shape are you? Need some help figuring it out? Drop me an email!

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Accessories Edition: Miansai

6 May

I am very particular about my accessories. Growing up with an amateur jeweler grandfather and watching him cut silver, solder, and set gems set off my appetite for handworkmanship and quality. With clothing, I will bargain-hunt like a madwoman. With jewelry and accessories, I will save for higher quality pieces I can afford, be them Alexis Bittar, Jane Diaz, or By Boe.

Today, good ol’ Refinery 29 featured Michael Saiger of Miansai. Immediately upon seeing his selection of rope and metal bracelets—which combine a distinctly nautical feel with a craftsman’s touch—I fell madly in love (and thought I could almost smell the sea from my office in Cambridge.)Whether or not saltwater runs in your blood or you’ve tacked and jibed your way down  coastlines worldwide, Saiger’s pieces are beautiful, utilitarian, and add a jaunty, tongue-in-cheek prep touch to any outfit (I can see a rope bracelet with my chambray dress, clog sandals, and a straw hat). I am particularly drawn in by the gold hook bracelet (below left; pun intended!) and the Z.U.L.U rope bracelet (second from below left and a nice design nod to African tribal bracelets).

L to R: Light Blue Fishing Hook Cord Adjustable Bracelet; Hunter Green Double Wrap Rope Bracelet With Bronze and Silver Casing; Brown Leather/ Silver and Rope Bracelet; Silver ID on Blue Red Blue Ribbon Bracelet

Bonus: Saiger is a dreamy Renaissance-man whose  anachronistic aesthetic and world travels have informed his design process (hand-hewn, by the way, with torches, stamps, and metal cutters and all out of a Miami studio). Ladies, save your pennies for a bracelet, necklace, or the lovely rope ring…Miansai pieces are destined to become heirlooms!

The Man Himself: Michael Saiger of Miansai


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Long on Style: Boden Dresses

4 May

A few years back, when I was doing a search for my alma mater, Google re-directed me to the Boden website (phonetically, Google had the right thing in mind). And perhaps Google knew exactly what I *really* needed to know about as Boden—the relatively-new (est. 1991) baby of unabashed Brit-prep designer Johnnie Boden—carries whimsical, candy-colored sartorial confections for even tall ladies too (and regularly-sized ladies, men, and teens, and little ones).

L to R: Bow Shift (Pistachio Mosaic Spot); Riviera Dress (China Blue Small Spot); Jersey Top Dress (Geranium Scribble)

Originally established in England as the antidote to men’s wardrobe blahs, the range has expanded vastly from the original 8 tailored shirts to finely-tailored frocks, shirts, skirts, and even handbags and shoes for women. And truly, Boden is synonymous with tailoring and quality. Their dresses and skirts are lined. Their cotton sateens are substantial. Their silks are low slub and luminous. Their seams are straight. And even their groovy florals and Union Jack colorblocked skirts are versatile and well…timeless!

Although I’m not yet a yummy mummy with a formidable salary to match, their mid-range prices are reasonable, and I know for a fact that any Boden piece will stand up to multiple washes and wears. Though their long pants only run at around 33-34″ in inseam, check out their glorious dresses in the long length…they hit squarely around or at the knee, exactly where dresses SHOULD hit on us tall lasses (and so often fall short)!

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