Merry Christmas to T(all)! And to Tall a Great Wishlist!

14 Dec

I love the holiday season. The lights, the parties, the music, the cookies…and, of course, the giving of gifts to those loved. As anyone will tell you, I adore giving gifts and can spend days planning the perfect gift. I consider every year an opportunity to do better—an opportunity to show those close to me even a fraction of how much they mean to me (if you hadn’t guessed, I’m a show-er, not a teller). But—honestly—I also delight in receiving. This is the time (thank goodness it only comes once a year!) that I feel less guilty for wanting completely whimsical, pretty, and often utterly impractical things under a cute little tree. In truth, I have never *really* let go of the greedy excitable child within…and there’s always a bit of magic in waking up on Christmas morning to find nattily-wrapped presents under a glittering tree. I love you, Santa (I mean…Mike, my incredibly generous fiancé)!

So without further ado—here’s my wishlist of all things pretty that I’d like to find under the tree. Hint to all ‘Santas’ out there: All of these clothing items are GREAT if you have a tall lady in your life…but be sure to send me an email if you need a little extra help in shopping for that leggy elflette in your life. I am happy to help out with more ideas!

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1. The Land’s End Tall Luxe Scoopneck Coat: I love coats of all shapes, sizes, and fabrications. But even with a veritable wardrobe of coats for all seasons (hey, it’s New England!), I have NARY a black wool coat! This year, Santa wanted to get me a classic black coat that would stand the test of time—and I picked out the Land’s End Tall Luxe Scoopneck Coat. In a cashmere blend with on-trend, military-inspired epaulets, leather buttons, and a sweet scoopneck, this coat ticks off the boxes for stylish, high-quality, budget friendly (with the current 30% off, it’s now under $100 down from $289!), AND tall-of-all-sizes-friendly (from 4-16T). It also comes in red, yellow, green, and camel colorways. THE best tall, classic winter coat for all elflettes.

2. Madewell’s Belted Silk Dress in Dashdot: Getting dressed up for holiday occasions is a fine art—don’t we all want to look festive yet comfortable (allowing for lots of noshing)? Enter this Madewell dress. Although it is unlined, the silk fabrication and pattern is thoroughly gorgeous, and the tie-waist means a flattering, customized, yet unrestricted fit. While it hits mid-thigh on us tall ladies, it is flatteringly-short and a great companion to black tights and heels. I plan on wearing it year-round, too!

3. Long Tall Sally’s Pindot PJ Set: I’ll be honest—I spend 90% of the time when I am not in work clothes in pajamas. Red plaid flannel pajamas. Completely unsexy, unpolished, and absolutely slovenly heavenly! I love flannels (am always cold), so I would love to find this pajama set under the tree. Bonus: these PJs are far cuter and more feminine than my red plaid flannels, and would also offer necessary winter limb coverage. In teal and purple.

4. Love Knot Earrings in Rose Gold Vermeil: I wear lots of post earrings, and prefer them for professional occasions. I also prefer rose gold. These classic love knots are slightly oversized, completely chic, and would go with any single outfit I’d wear (including red flannel pajamas)…and I simply cannot get over their price. It’s $24.50! An unreal stocking stuffer from Ross-Simons!

5. J. Crew’s Copley Saddlebag: This little bag (and it is little) packs a lot of punch for its size. With multiple pockets, a removable crossbody strap, and unexpected colorways (wisteria! neon persimmon!), this petite number would be perfect for work, play, a party, a snowball fight, or any other hands-free occasion. (This is why I love crossbody bags…) With an extra 30% off and free shipping, this bag is ALSO under $100, so another bargain Christmas buy!

6. Any Fossil Women’s Rose Gold Watch…: As you know, I like rose gold. But what you may not know is that I am desperately in need of a new watch as my Rotary is banged up beyond belief. Fossil offers the best selection of fashion-forward, mid-range watches in rose gold plate—and I particularly love the chronograph, chunky ‘boyfriend’ styles (it’s all about juxtaposition)…

7. Tamarac’s Molly Slipper: Who doesn’t love/need a warm cozy slipper? With this suede, fur-lined cutie, your toesies will stay warm all through the winter. And with sizes up to 13 M, these babies are great for those of us outsized by typical ‘S-L’ slipper sizing.

Merry wishlisting to all you t(all) lovelies! Leave a comment and let me know what you’re coveting this holiday season!

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Fill my stocking with…Elie Tahari

30 Nov

“Clothing should be quieter than the woman so that her true beauty can shine through.”-Elie Tahari

Another year has come and nearly gone, but one of my greatest joys STILL remains helping women of all shapes and sizes express themselves through clothing.

But to begin to accomplish that, a woman has to know herself—and be able to articulate—and embrace—how her preferences, livelihood, personal life, and physical presence defines her. I will tell you that a woman who knows herself IS the most beautiful creature you’ll ever encounter—and you will feel her beauty as well as see it. As a stylist, I’ve worked with countless beauties who DO know themselves but DON’T know what clothing reflects them best. And whether tall, petite, plus-size, curvy, slyph-like, 25 OR 65—I start with putting them into an Elie Tahari dress and see how they feel.

In 99% of cases, they are headed home with that Tahari dress. And with about the same frequency, Tahari becomes one of their favorite designers.

L to R: Elie Tahari Cotton Lolly Dress, $498, Saks Fifth Avenue; T Tahari Calli Colorblock Dress, $128, Nordstrom

L to R: Elie Tahari Cotton Lolly Dress, $498, Saks Fifth Avenue; T Tahari Calli Colorblock Dress, $128, Nordstrom

Tahari is an Israeli-born, self-made designer whose proverbial magic bean has been his prescient forecasting of what women want from clothing—whether that was his flirtatious party dresses of the 70s, power suits of the 80s, minimalist tailored silhouettes of the 90s, or modern, elegant designs for today. Since I’ve been styling, Tahari has been MY magic bean on shopping trips—and  to great success. Luckily, I can practice what I preach. Dear readers, you know me as an exceptionally tall, curvy woman usually sized out of off-the-rack options—and I am always dazzled by how quintessentially me I feel in an impeccably-cut, jewel-toned Tahari shift (and they’re long enough, with the right proportions!).

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L to R: Tahari ASL Ivory Shift Dress, $84, Bluefly; Tahari ASL Coral Asymmetrical Dress, $50, Bluefly

While Tahari dresses and separates ($200-$800ish) certainly aren’t cheap, they also aren’t disposable. And with lower price point diffusion lines like T Tahari (modern, business casual pieces) and Tahari Arthur S. Levine (corporate and classic business wear), every woman of every size can own a beautifully-crafted wardrobe staple.

So tall lovelies, in addition to wishing for some tall-sized goodies in your stocking or under the tree, maybe take a chance and ask for a Tahari. I’m 99% certain you will be feeling your essential beauty shine through this Christmas.

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P.S. What’s on your Christmas list?

 

 

 

 

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Confession: I have the feet of a middle-aged woman…

20 Aug

I have a confession to make, dear readers. At 28, I have the feet of a middle-aged woman. Or Cinderella’s evil stepsister (even in Technicolor, her feet seem gnarled and bulbous…)

Thankfully, it has only been close friends and family members who have dissuaded me from baring my battered toes, blistered heels and bunioned arches to the world this summer. I look down and see what they mean. Years of squeezing into too-tight day-to-day shoes and too-small athletic shoes have wreaked havoc on these tootsies of mine. A doctor put it to me straight—if I continue on this (arguably masochistic) path, I certainly won’t be taking my long walks or avoiding imminent foot surgery. These doggies aren’t just barking—they’re howling like hounds of the Baskervilles!

I *swear*, this size 11 will fit with just a little more effort!!

It was not easy to go into my closet and weed out my pointy-toe pumps; *SIZE 11* oxfords; and sky-high sandals. But it needed to be done. I had thought I was saving money by squeezing my feet and curling my toes into ANY sale shoes that came remotely close to fitting— instead, the wrong shoes have added decades to the two size 12/13 workhorses that take me where I need to go. Now it’s only good fit and good feel from here on out!

My favorite of the handful of pairs left in my closet is a Fidji maryjane that I nabbed from Nordstrom Rack. I can—and have—walked miles in those gray, perforated beauties. Remarkably, the heels have held up, the cushioning has stayed spongy, the leather has conformed to my feet, and as I’ve bumped my toes, scuffed the straps, and flexed my feet, they’ve only gotten somewhat patinaed.

My Fidji E774 mary jane in warm grey…

…but there’s a catch. There’s always a catch when shoes are fairytale-perfect. At retail, Fidjis top off near $200/pair. For exactly the reasons above AND the fact that each pair is meticulously thoughtful and lovely. Fidji styles are designed in France; manufactured in Portugal of the softest leathers, rubbers, and woods; and tres-tres appealing to any seemingly-effortless, dreamy ingenue or comfort-driven, whimsical femme. I may be sized out of Chie Miharas, but size 43 Fidjis hold the trump card to fit my true age, lifestyle (ambulatory?), and if not budget, then my pedcentric investment strategy…

Tall ladies, please save some 43s for me! I am dreaming of several pairs of pumps mixed with opaque black tights, muted lace dresses, a fur-collared coat, and deep-dark plummy lipstick as a moody, autumnal spin on the neo-Gatsby look. Can’t you just picture any of these worn on a cool stroll through an enchanted forest in the waning light, or donned stepping out for a mint julep and a Charleston before the clock strikes midnight?

The Fidji Brit, $186 at Zappos.com

The Fidji Bianca, on sale for $157.99 at Zappos.com

The Fidji Baird, on sale for $162.99 at Zappos.com

Truly, I need a Fidji fairy godmother for a little more sparkle in my step (that Cinderella shouldn’t get carte-blanche access to the most perfect, magical heels)!

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The Case of the Almost-Lost Wrap Dress…

31 Jul

I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve repeated the maxim “You should dress for the career and lifestyle you WANT to have.” While, generally, I think this is good advice to keep us all aware of the trajectory we are (or are not) on, sometimes it blatantly fails…

…like the time you almost lose your dress in the middle of a crowded city intersection.

Despite my being a stylist, I am a writer first. And at my heart, I am completely hapless and disheveled and like nothing more than to bury myself in a moth-eaten sweater. Once upon a time (or, rather, several years ago)—with the dawn of my new side-gig as a stylist—I started curating my every outfit down to the charm bracelets and waist-cinching skinny belts. I continued this up until the end of this last year—riding my bike in saddle shoes, a bouffant, and quirky-prim 50s-inspired dresses—to my 9-5. But at the end of last year, I was suddenly tired of the dress-up, tired of what seemed like blatant plagiarism of Zooey Deschanel’s wardrobe. And tired of having to handwash or dry-clean the multitude of silk-blend or synthetic (and expensive) dresses…

This year, I’ve reverted to easier, mostly-washable, and age-appropriate pieces. Unfortunately, I’ve also had numerous stretches where I’ve looked positively messy for days or weeks at a time.  So after a period lately of looking especially messy and dowdy, I put on a fussy wrap dress this morning and called it ‘progress’.

I forgot that wrap dresses require their wearers to be self-aware. That they require knees together, and the occasional bathroom checks/smoothings. As I ran out to get a late lunch—the horrible-yet-highly-predictable thing happened—the tie on one side of my dress slipped (I didn’t notice it), the wind blew forcefully, and soon I had exposed my pasty torso to the (poor) citizens of Somerville. Nothing worse. I slunk back to the office clutching myself until I could get into the bathroom to reorient what had effectively become a loose sheet of fabric. And by that time, I had lost my appetite. Embarrassment could be my diet fix!

Essentially my plight as I tried to slink back to the office, unnoticed…

But “The Case of the Almost-Lost Wrap Dress” was a good wake-up call. And I listened. Aspirational dressing can be good if it makes you more mindful and feel good about yourself (e.g. polished, composed, et cetera). If—(like me)—you have no time or little inclination for wearing a high-maintenance piece or outfit, choose a piece that  fits who you are and what you do RIGHT NOW.

A perfectly-pleasing tall faux-wrap dress by LOFT…

 

And if you are at all in doubt, just choose a faux-wrap. Sometimes the faux thing is SO much better….faux-real!

 

The Height of Style Flies Low on the Radar…But Is BACK!

18 Jul

Hello, all you vertically-inclined sylphs!

Long time no see! How’s the weather up there?

Kidding, kidding. But don’t you love when people think they’re being so cute while asking that [unrelentingly banal] question?

Yeah, me neither.

(But the weather is really hot and humid up here. I sorta hate summer. I sorta hate sun. I’m sorta grouchy and sorta pale and sorta clammy. My definition of “good weather”? London in the winter. You read that correctly.)

Back on topic: I have been incognito/flying low for a few months now. I haven’t had a haircut. I haven’t been to the dry cleaner. I certainly haven’t had a manicure, a pedicure, any-cure OR had the inclination to break out the iron, let alone the camera.With my fiance and I running a no-fiscal-contributions campaign in Massachusetts for State Rep; my taking on blogging as a component of my day job; grappling with the initial stages of wedding planning AND working on an illustration project on the down-low, I have become terribly negligent with myself. Tall (and all) style mavens, I’ve missed you! I promise I’ll be better!

But as some kind-hearted, open-minded individual recently nominated me for Boston’s Best Fashion Blogger (not Boston’s Laziest Fashion Blogger), I feel even more called-into-duty. So I have been compiling a list of summer “finds” along the way—most of them ‘regular size’ pieces masquerading as talls. Hey—at this point, I welcome any well-fitting pieces that catapult me from “frazzled bag-lady/sociopath/possible hipster?!” to “land of the living”! So that list will be coming imminently.

In the meantime—I hope you will excuse this dose of heavy handed extortion—my fiancé and I have been nominated as 1 of 10 finalist couples for a honeymoon to Iceland!!! The only catch? We need votes now through July 22nd (We’re ‘The Mysterious Traveling Duo‘)!! Lots of ‘em. So in the name of love in/for Iceland (and not having lots of monies), we made this stop motion animated music video for you, dear readers and friends. There were some tears, papercuts, and “artistic differences”, but I like to think it all worked out, because now we have a little indie-rock memory of being nominated, regardless.

Please enjoy, share, and vote if you’d be so kind! And more content to come soon.

 

Dressing for Your Age?!

5 Apr

I knew someone who used to claim that the “middle age crisis” was the follow-up to the “3-0 crisis”. A few weeks ago, I stood in front of the mirror, creatively brushing my crop to hide the gray and white sprouts at my temples. As I leaned over to tighten the ankle straps of my “comfort” sandals, I had a moment of panic. I am not that young anymore.

I am eagerly anticipating my thirties, in actuality. My late twenties seem characterized by the pervasive feeling that I am 80% of the way “there”—20% shy of self-actualization. And my wardrobe has reflected that 20% of uncertainty. Over the course of a decade, my wardrobe has progressed from stodgy and aging (when I lived in rural Maine and tried to hide in my own skin) to brave and bohemian (when I moved to the city and lost the baby fat) to hip(ster) and fashion-conscious (when I started styling/blogging/trying to be recognized “about town”). Fittingly, I am coming to the last stretch in the continuum—and my closet tells the sad story of someone who doesn’t know who she is, where she is, and how old she is (I’m 28 in two months plus change).

The good news is that I have the basics I always advise my clients to acquire, regardless of age—a body-skimming LBD, tailored blazers in navy and black, a pair of dark wash jeans, black trousers, and a well-fitting white shirt. The bad news is that most of my closet is full of frills, ruffles, eyelet, pastels, and too-high hemlines. I also have foot-compressing oxfords with giant bows, patent mary janes, and heart-bedecked tights. I have nary a pencil skirt or detail-free black pump in sight.

I have started purging (reselling or consigning) those cutesy-cute dresses that delight my eyes, but aren’t made for a 6’4″ professional writer (I keep my girly-girl predilections to Pinterest now). I have started to wear my Simple sneakers on my walks into work, and switch into my (comfort) heels in the office. I have narrowed the playing field to the earthy colors and subdued styles that I *actually like* to wear. And I have identified these truths about myself—I am whimsical but I’m modest; I’m feminine but I’m utilitarian; I live in the city but my heart will always be in the country woods. And as I am older, and know better than to think that clothes are my only identity signifier.

Truth is, I will likely continue my on-again, off-again affair with fashion. But perhaps it will be from a seat high on the sideline bleachers—an observer and a critic as opposed to a daring participant. And I will be snuggled in a 3/4 sleeved dusty-hued shift, lace-up cognac knee boots, an olive wool coat, and a floppy knit hat….more me in my clothing than I have EVER been. And completely timeless, ageless.

Jason Wu for Target Launch: The Lowdown

5 Feb

9:27 a.m. on Sunday and I am up and fighting. The only reason why I am not zooming through our apartment with a vacuum in one hand and bottle of Windex in the other is a peacefully-sleeping fiance. I am neither a morning person nor a cleaner, but  waiting outside my local Target at 7:40 a.m. was more rousing than any caffeinated incentive. In a first for The Height of Style, I was there when the doors opened and the launch commenced for the Jason Wu for Target collaboration.

I never even blinked when Versace collaborated with H&M. I shrugged when Missoni collaborated with Target, especially after I had sold two Missoni sweater dresses on eBay for relatively modest prices. But when I caught wind of wunderkind Jason Wu’s low-priced collab, I cleared February 5th weeks in anticipation.

Wu is perhaps best known for designing Michelle Obama’s white inauguration dress, which catapulted him to the top of ‘hot’ lists in 2009, but the young designer has been producing feminine, ladylike ready-to-wear and evening collections since 2006. A step up in sophistication (but somehow, not ethereal femininity) from the Mulleavy sisters’ 2009 Target collaboration (Rodarte for Target), Wu’s collaboration is filled with punchy, sportswear-inspired separates, dresses, and accessories—a cross-Atlantic homage to Jean Seberg and Anna Karina.

I had readied myself to snap up the contrast-collar shirtdress and floral-printed crossbody below, but as I  walked into Target behind a rushing, half-running mass of women, I gamely followed the crowd and deftly picked all the Ls, XLs, and size 12s and 14s from the racks. In a RARE turn of events, I had my pick of the entire (small) collection in terms of sizing—so whereas you tall and/or curvy women may feel sized out—the designer collabs at mass retailers ARE FOR YOU!

Initially, top of my wishlist...

Another strong contender...

As is USUALLY the case, and fully an effect of my initial valuing of aesthetics over flattery—the much-admired shirtdress above looked miserable on me. However, the two dresses below are SPLENDID for both tall and curvy (esp. hourglass-shaped) figures. I  love the shape and substance of the navy stripe-hem dress—it is a high-quality find for the $39.99 price tag. I also recommend the trench for talls, as the sleeves are quite long.

A Wu-hoo win for big-busted, small-waisted women!

A great, wearable pick for busty ladies...

A cute take on a classic...with surprisingly long sleeves!

The lowdown? Worth the wait and worth the morning alarm. Although you’re not looking at linings and fabrics any more elevated than lightweight cottons (at best), these pieces are fun, cute, and great pieces for   a spring or transitional wardrobe for women of all shapes, sizes, AND heights. P.S. Poly-chiffon may be a little low-budget, but for those on the go, machine washability is ALWAYS a plus!

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Artifaktori Faktori Girl Styling Contest

26 Jan

Hi lovelies,

If there’s anything that will get me out of my anti-January-outfit slump, it’s a contest for which I can’t envision NOT participating. Oh, and a haircut…but more pictures to come of my pixie cut VERY soon!

Artifaktori is a fabulous vintage chain with two superb locations in Greater Boston. While I have visited and oogled the gorgeous party dresses at the Davis Square location once before, I haven’t actually purchased anything…but I do have a (growing) stash of vintage finds, and I love to get gussied up. Last evening (on the last possible day I could submit photos for the contest), I styled up my favorite casual/cocktail looks…and here are the results! (Admittedly, I was thinking specifically about channeling Doris Day in the first outfit and personifying Daisy from The Great Gatsby in the second…)

Vintage faux fur hat, Etsy; J. Crew cream cocoon coat, J. Crew 2011; vintage sequin and pearl cardigan, thrifted; vintage brocade dress, Etsy; chartreuse Hue tights; bakelite and brown leather 1960s purse; Etsy; BCBG heels***

Requisite close-up of my FAVORITE vintage hat, ca. 1960s!***

Vintage faux fur hat, Etsy; vintage black chiffon dropwaist dress; patterned tights; Tic Tac Toes bow heels; vintage Cole Haan doctor's bag, consigned***

Just as a vintage shopping hint for tall ladies—I always request the length of dresses if I am buying online, and ask sellers as to whether or not there is extra fabric to let down. I have found that 42″-43″ from shoulder to hem is an optimal dress length for me—a bit above the knee (flattering) but still appropriate! And I always check the shoe racks at Goodwill/Salvation Army as the vintage 11s/12s tend to stand out visually and be a little less popular than the size 6-8 styles.

Happy vintage-hunting, ladies!

***All photos courtesy of my lovely fiance, Mike. Please follow him on Twitter @nomoneyconnolly

New Year, New Developments!

30 Dec

Hello, friends and vertically-inclined lovelies!

I hope your holidays were splendid, and that you’ll all be enjoying a happy and healthy 2012. In light of resolutions and particularly, the future for The Height of Style—I can promise that I am going to be a MUCH better blogger (as I truly love interacting with you, my fine readers, and sharing my tall fashion findings) in the new year. This will mean more designer interviews, more product reviews, more styleboards, and many, many more outfit photos from yours truly!

And on that note, some upcoming features:

1) eShakti product review: I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of a custom (!) dress design from the ever-fabulous eShakti—an online retailer that offers affordable, customized designs. This will kick off a series of product reviews for custom and independent designers—over the course of 2011, I have transitioned my consumption habits to supporting indie designers and custom retailers, and would love to share these products with you. Look for following posts about Leah Goren, The Velvet Bird, Vanilla & Lace, and Amber and Jade.

Yours truly, far right, in a custom Leah Goren cat dress at a Boston Bloggers Holiday Party

2) The Height of Style…heads to the altar!: On December 10th, on the banks of the Charles River and en route to seeing Liam Gallagher—my best friend, dedicated style photographer, and 6’8″ tall counterpart proposed (!!!!)! Although we aren’t getting married until 2013, keep an eye out for posts relevant to tall wedding style (for ladies AND gents!) and DIY affairs…I *may* be sporting a custom Rachel Antonoff  frock for the occasion! (She is—UNQUESTIONABLY—one of my favorite designers, as my saddle-shoed feet will proudly attest…)

Ring-ing in the new year...engaged!

The Height of Style and mister, at a dear friend's wedding in September...

Much love to you, my dears! And here’s to us all, great and small!

But What I Really Want to Do is Design…

5 Dec

My dad is a big softie. He worked in IT for the bulk of his career, and donned all the trappings of curmudgeon-dom to appear to be the biggest, baddest administrator possible. When you are working within the secondary school system with a lot of impressionable youngsters, this approach tends to work well. But what he didn’t realize is that having a Fearless Leader plushie in his office window and wearing a tee emblazoned with “But What I Really Want to Do is Direct” just made him all the more endearing, sweet, and hapless to those who knew and loved him best (okay, mainly, my mom and myself).

But I digress. My dad’s said tee shirt both inspired the title of this post as well as some recent soul-searching. Not the kind of soul-searching that led me to pack up from my office job and fly off to India to get in touch with my spiritual self, but the kind that propelled me to ask myself, “But what do I *REALLY* want to do with myself?” This answer has always been there, but muddled and mired at times. It comes through insidiously when I repress it—fretting over the perfect curation of art on a wall; balking over choosing the ‘right’ white; delaying the production of a logo because the placement is slightly off—and magically when I nurture it.  Recently, I realized I was the calmest I had been in days when I was sketching up my designs for ModCloth’s ‘Make the Cut’ contest. I just can’t help designing—on paper; in my surroundings; my very identity!

The above are my two favorite sketches—while I have no illusions that I have any chance of my submissions being chosen among those of Parsons grads and bona fide designers, the process of merely making and imagining how those two dresses would look and feel in fabric (cotton blend, peachy chevron! forest-striped canvas! midnight blue velvet bows and lace!) was an illustrative endeavor that indicated what I’ve always really wanted to do—design—is always just a pencil and a few markers away.

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