Why do fashion retailers continue to overlook tall women?

The average height of a woman in the UK is 5ft 3in, granted, and while I can totally appreciate that shorter women than me have the opposite issue (i.e. everything on the market is too long), at least they have the option to alter items and have the hems taken up by a tailor. I do not. There’s no magic wand that lengthens items for me; if something is too short then it goes back on the rack, no ifs/buts/maybes.

I’ve always loved a mini skirt, but I cannot bear feeling uncomfortable every time I step out in one. Spring/summer 2023 trends insist that shorter than short hemlines are ‘in’ right now, but I don’t think they quite had the ‘cheek skimming’ lengths that Daisy from the Dukes of Hazzard might debut in mind. There’s absolutely nothing worse as a tall woman than having to pull whatever it is you’re wearing down every five seconds for fear of revealing a little too much leg.

Some online stores now offer items for a wider range of body shapes, heights and differences, but its no where near as broad as it could be, and it often promotes a less sustainable approach to buying. When have you ever seen a designer label cater to tall women, for example? The answer is never. 

We’re reminded every day that we shouldn’t shop at fast fashion brands and how bad they are for our planet, but if tall clothing is something that’s only accessible via the websites that often sit under that umbrella, how are we meant to help?

The momentum I’m seeing behind the industry’s issue with plus sizes needs to be extended to all areas lacking in diversity; tall clothing included. The world is a hard enough place to live in as it is right now, and shopping shouldn’t add to that.

Do better, fashion.

For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.