Tall Moms

The swimsuit search is on.

Ten years and a couple kids ago, shopping for a swimsuit was much easier. My younger tighter body was able to get away with grabbing the first cute print I saw on the swimsuit rack. Boy have times changed. I still like two piece suits. They just feel more comfortable on my long body. But because of the new addition (the “mom squish”), if tankini tops aren’t long enough, they give me what I lovingly refer to as a jelly roll. Like I need something that accentuates that.

I now look for suits that are a bit more supportive. And tops with a ‘long torso’ option are a must! Lands End is known for great quality, and backing up their products if something wears out quickly or doesn’t live up to your expectations. They are not the cheapest, and don’t have a lot of trendy suits. But they are made well, are comfortable, and last for years.

Buy Online: Lands End
Price: Varies

Collarbones Baby!

I love the neckline on this ‘Everyday Tee’. I’m not a big fan of cleavage spilling out everywhere -maybe because I’m lacking in that area. But there is something sexy about showing a bit of collarbone. Plus, because it’s from Long Elegant Legs there is extra length in the torso and sleeves. Available in a bunch of colors, from dark & neutral to bright summer shades.

Buy Online: Long Elegant Legs
Price: SALE $19

Let’s try this again.

Something fishy happened last week, and I was cut off mid-post. So let’s try this again. Ann Taylor Loft has many pants and jeans with inseams up to 35″. The upside? They have a decent selection, and many are reasonably priced. The downside? Their alternate views don’t include pictures of the back. It’s tough to buy pants without seeing what the butt looks like. But because they are reasonably priced, it may be worth paying shipping to find out. They also have tall sized jackets.

Buy Online: Ann Taylor Loft
Price: Varies, from $29.99 up

35″ Inseams

I just discovered that Ann Taylor Loft carries many pants in inseams up to 35″.

Buy Online: Ann Taylor Loft
Price: $54.00

Band Collar Shirt

This band-collar shirt from J. Jill comes in tall sizes at 27″ long. It has 3/4 length sleeves, pearlized buttons, and a notched band collar. To top it all off, it’s machine washable. And nearly half off. But hurry over, some sizes are selling out quickly.

Buy Online: J. Jill
Price: $19.99

The Ruffle Skirt

This is one of my favorite styles for skirts. They’re cute & feminine, but also super comfortable. Available in tall sizes and many colors at The Gap.

Buy Online: The Gap
Price: $39.50

Square Neck Top

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is just something I love about square neck tops. They are hard to find in tall sizes though. This one is not tall-sized, but is from Shade Clothing, whose tops are notoriously long. It has vintage crochet trim around the neckline, and the shoulders are a bit gathered. Available in three colors.

Buy Online: Shade Clothing
Price: $28.50

Dare wear silk?

I’ll admit, I usually don’t. With two food-slingers under the age of four, I generally stick with low maintenance tops. Ok, low maintenance everything. But if you can pull off silk, this is a great blouse for evening or the office. Because it comes in tall sizes, the wrap around waistband may actually hit you at the waist instead of the ribs.  Not for the faint of heart though, this blouse is 100% sillk and dry clean only.

Buy Online: Banana Republic
Price: $69.99

Ode to The Buckle

I so want to be a $30-50 jeans girl. But with a 36″ inseam, it’s usually not going to happen. I’m not willing to pay $150-200 for ‘designer’ jeans. But The Buckle offers a happy medium. You can find a decent pair for $60-80, and inseams go up to 37″. Their website is fantastic. You can shop by inseam, waist, rise, fit, & more. This saves time, and narrows your options quickly, especially if you know what you’re looking for. It keeps me from getting excited to find a 36″ long pair of jeans, only to find that they have a super lowrise that accentuates my spackle crack. My thrifty side has finally caved, and decided it’s better to have a couple $75 pairs of jeans that fit great, than to have 5-6 cheap pairs that don’t.

Buy Online: The Buckle
Price: $68.00