10 best tall clothing brands for women that don’t fall short

We considered inseams, style, quality, value for money and the breadth of options available

(The Independent)

When it comes to size inclusivity, the fashion industry has been under scrutiny for its lack of plus sizing in recent years. However, its lack of height inclusivity is also stark, as sizing in mainstream fashion mainly caters to average height, which is 5ft 5in for a woman in the UK, making many pieces inaccessible to taller shoppers.

For many of us who stand head and shoulders above this national average, fashion can seem a little shortcoming – literally.

From short cuffs to even shorter hems, finding clothes online, or even in store, that will fit comfortably can be challenging. So when tall sections came to high street stores, we breathed an audible sigh of relief.

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Long Tall Sally was a pioneer and Topshop followed by introducing its tall section more than 10 years ago. More recently Asos and Missguided have launched tall ranges of its trend-led fashion, making clothes that fit even more accessible.

Meanwhile, other labels are increasingly offering longer inseams and stocking fuller-length styles. So with more options on the market, we’ve scoured to find you some of the best brands that cater to tall women. We considered inseams, style, quality, value for money and the breadth of options available from both specifically tall ranges and labels that tend to sell lengthier pieces.

One thing to remember is to always check the inseam – for women 5ft 9in and above, the inseam is best being 32in (81cm) or longer. And for the six footers, we’d recommend going for inseams from 34in (86cm), if you like a longer length.

From dungarees and jeans, to jumpsuits and trench coats, we’ve picked out some favourites from the brands helping us avoid the dreaded ankle swingers.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

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Asos design tall high rise kick flare jeans

The tall edit from Asos is one of our go-to’s for key pieces in longer styles. Boasting far more options for tall sizing than most shops – the retailer has its own collections as well as stock from third party brands – we’ve found it to be a consistently reliable place to buy jeans. With its clear waist and inseam lengths, ranging from W24in and L36in to W38in and L38in, there are plenty of fits to choose from. This particular pair of tall high rise and kick flare jeans are the perfect throw-on-and-go pair. The subtle rip on the right leg gives the jeans nice detailing and if you’ve picked the right size, they fit like a glove.

Buy now £32.00, Asos.com

Mango belt knitted jumpsuit

Mango is great for affordable, trend-inspired fashion and, surprisingly, a good option for longer lengths. Most tall women would agree that dungarees and jumpsuits are usually a complete write off and more often than not, a sartorial mishap. The inseams are too short, the torso length lacking and the sleeves not quite reaching. However, we found this knitted jumpsuit to be a great fit.

This Seventies-esque one-piece comes fashioned with a belt and blouson sleeves. It’s long enough for a 6ft frame while happily avoiding ankle swingers. An easy throw-on piece that looks immediately put together, we paired it under a trench coat for a daily lockdown walk. The removable belt is good for creating a flattering silhouette and the fabric is soft and cosy enough to get you through a day working from home.

Buy now £69.99, Mango.com

Free People florence flare jeans

With Free People’s vast jean collection, there’s plenty of opportunities to find a pair that meets lengthier requirements. The American brand leans toward the bohemian with its flowy dress and shirts, and its jean collection has a similar feel, featuring full length pairs, flared and wide leg styles.

We tested the “florence flared denim” pair which sat comfortably below the ankle on a 6ft frame. The high rise style and flared silhouette make for a flattering fit, with a seam detail running down the front. With brands such as Free People it’s always best to check the inseam before buying – this pair is 33in (85cm) and just as good a length, if not longer, than offered by some tall fashion ranges.

Buy now £88.00, Freepeople.com

Lucy and Yak easton organic denim dungarees

This independent brand has been making waves recently with its sustainably sourced, ethical and organic handmade dungarees that come in an array of colours, styles and most importantly for us, lengths. Lucy and Yak has recently introduced longer length inseams for size 8 and above, which range from 80 to 83cm (31 to 32in). The longer pieces also have an extra 5cm on the torso.

We love the retro style of this denim pair of dungarees in midwash blue. Boasting five pockets including two large hip pockets and a high-waisted fit with belt loops, the piece can be fastened on the shoulders with the brand’s signature tie straps. Slightly oversized and with a straight leg fit, the length was perfect for our 6ft tester and there was even room to turn up the hems.

Buy now £65.00, Lucyandyak.com

New Look tall grey cuffed tie waist joggers

Sales of loungewear skyrocketed last year as we were all plunged into lockdown, and this penchant towards an elasticated waist looks set to continue well into 2021. However, finding a pair that don’t sit awkwardly above the ankle as if they shrunk in the wash is a challenge for the longer limbed.

Whether it’s smart casual on Zoom or out for a socially distanced walk, we think this pair from New Look Tall is a great reliable loungewear option. They’re a steal at under £20, and the perfect WFH accompaniment: cosy, soft and most importantly, long. Even though New Look only introduced its tall range a couple of years ago, its already made a range of basics and essentials in longer lengths and continue to sell trend-led fashion with all shapes and sizes in mind. We love to see it!

Buy now £15.99, Newlook.com

Long Tall Sally black 3 pack 15 denier tights

Another woe for the taller woman is the frequency of tights ripping, as most standard sizing mostly concerns waist rather than inseam. And, if you miraculously evade the pair ripping, then you spend the entire day pulling them up. This trusty – and affordable – pack from Long Tall Sally have endured multiple wears, with no rips yet to be seen from our tester.

We think 15 denier is the perfect compromise for spring while the weather remains chilly, and a reliable hosier choice for an evening out when the pubs reopen. As the name suggests, the London born brand solely caters for the taller woman and has been supplying longer length goods since 1976. From basic tops to dresses and jeans, make Long Tall Sally your go-to brand for lengthier essentials.

Buy now £10.80, Longtallsally.com

Zara wide leg full length jeans

Only in recent years has Zara become a trusty option for lengthier styles and while its range of trousers still fall short, the full length jeans now regularly seen in the high street stalwart’s collections are favourable for taller women. These wide leg, full length jeans in navy blue are set to be a spring staple and also come in light blue, white and black.

The relaxed fit and wide length style of this denim won’t see us missing an elasticated waistband too much after lockdown. Zara rarely lists inseam lengths on its website but we’ve found any style listed as full length reliably fit women 5ft9 and above. This pair were around an inch off floor length for our 6ft tester.

Buy now £29.99, Zara.com

Musier Paris esther coat, camel

French brand Musier Paris is another label that has a penchant toward longer styles, whether that’s with its trousers, jeans or coats, such as this woolen offering. The double-breasted camel coloured coat is a blanketing 130cm long. The shoulder tabs add a boxy and masculine feel to the coat while the fastening belt tie creates a flattering silhouette. We folded up the sleeves so the statement lining peeped through.

This is a coat to last and unlike many trench options on the high street, it does not fall short. Unfortunately, this particular coat from the brands Autumn range is now in very limited supply, but this similar trench is a great option from the label’s latest drop.

Buy now £208.61, Musier-paris.com

Topshop Tall mom jeans

No tall clothing round-up is complete without Topshop Tall, which at one time or another has been a staple of every tall woman’s wardrobe and for the long-limbed teens, it’s been a clothing saviour. While in recent years, its popularity may have declined somewhat as other high street names released tall ranges, Topshop remains a reliable source of good quality pieces.

Asos recently acquired Topshop in a buyout, so we’re hoping to see more styles evolving from the iconic British fashion brand online. You can’t go wrong with a pair of mom jeans and this acid wash black pair comes in a range of waist sizes and 36in inseam. Black jeans are probably the most versatile item in your wardrobe, and you know you’re in good hands with Topshop.

Buy now £40.00, Asos.com

Missguided tall sand quilted longline bomber jacket

The online retailer Missguided launched its tall range for women 5ft 7in and above in 2015, stocking everything from jeans and dresses to coats and trousers. The quilted coat is very much en vogue as we all crave comfort and warmth during our lockdown walks and the duvet quality of this one is perfect for your next coffee excursion. We love the earthy sand tone and longline fit of the bomber jacket from the tall range. With both a zip and popper fastening, pockets and ribbed neckline, it’s extra long-lined and insulating.

Buy now £38.25, Missguided.co.uk

The verdict: Tall clothing brands for women

We’ve chosen the Asos design tall high rise kick flare jeans as our best buy, purely for the breadth of options available. Unlike most other retailers with more limiting tall edits, it’s a go-to for everything from jeans to longer line dresses, plus the availability of tall sizing from third party retailers including River Island Tall and Vero Moda Tall, is a bonus.

If you’re after stylish and good quality pieces beyond the often constricting realms of tall ranges, Musier Paris is a reliable bet, but, just like with Free People and Zara, it’s always best to check the inseam length before buying.

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