Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with tall

Why don't they have Big&Tall stores for women?

decathecting — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:28:33 -0800

I need to buy a warm winter coat for a woman who is a size 18 and is 6'2" tall. Where can I find such a thing? Many retailers have long wool winter coats. Some sell size 18. Some sell tall sizes. But I can't seem to find a warm winter coat in a size 18 Tall.

I'm looking for a long coat in the classic wool overcoat style. Single-breasted is preferred to double, but at this point, I can't be too picky. The coat should be warm enough to wear at a 0 degree F temperature. Something with Thinsulate or another super-warm lining would be ideal. Hoping for a standard, conservative color, so bold prints or hot pink are not ideal. This would be absolutely perfect, but since it doesn't come in tall sizes, the sleeves would very likely be way too short. Given the price for these sorts of things, I'd prefer to buy something that will last a while.

Some of the places I've already looked include:
L.L. Bean (no tall sizes)
Land's End (no tall sizes)
J Crew (only goes up to 14T or 16)
Old Navy (nothing warm enough, quality likely lacking)
Burlington Coat Factory (website and store near me had no tall sizes for women)

Can anyone find this coat? Thanks!

How to cover 8ft windows?

cali59 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:19:28 -0800

What is the best way to cover 8ft high windows? Just moved into a new apartment, we've got two windows, one of which is normal style, the other is just panes of glass in a recessed area. The problem is they're both over 8ft high. What is the best way to cover them? Googling returns results for 95" or 108" curtains which would be sufficient, but would people suggest an alternative? What about spring-rods, will they hold up? I'd like to avoid putting holes in the walls if possible.

Recommendations for tall indoor tree?

chaoscutie — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:25:51 -0800

I am looking for recommendations for a tall indoor tree--6-7 feet- -I have very high cathedral ceilings in my family room, and just bought a large leather sectional couch. I realized that the couch now dwarfs the plant I currently have--I would like a tall indoor tree to balance the whole look. Help me hive mind! I don't have a clue what to look for, and my google fu is not helping me

My reel mower is fight?

barc0001 — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:32:31 -0800

Does anyone know how a gas powered reel mower will handle tall grass? I've got a lawn that I mow... infrequently. Exacerbating the issue is the fact that a section of my back yard has an underground water flow so that area's soil is perpetually damp, and the grass grows like mad over it. I've been doing the "weed whacker it down and then mow it with an electric blade mower" thing for a while with moderate success. Things have gone spring-like enough that last week was time to go out and start the cycle again this year except my mower broke on me, and the weedwhacker is starting to smell like burning resin when running so I think it's not long for this world either. So I am looking to see if there is a better way. I've decided that my next mower is going to be gas, not electric, since when I was a kid I had a gas mower and it kicked all kinds of ass compared to the electric I just killed.

I've located someone selling a gas powered reel mower and was wondering if this might be "something better". I've used a hand-powered reel mower and know they don't work with tall grass or weeds very well, but does anyone have any input on a reel mower with some actual horsepower behind it going up against tall grass?

Tall bike jerseys?

rachelpapers — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:04:14 -0800

Bike jerseys for tall people? I have an extremely long torso (I'm 6"5' and wear 32 inch inseams) and have gotten into biking. I'd like to get a jersey and a bike jacket. Outside of athletics, this can be done by buying "tall" sizes. All I can find is stuff from Aero Tech that I'm not that excited about. Any cooler stuff out there? I wear an L or an XL tshirt depending on the brand, so the "big" is far less of a concern than the "tall."

Thanks!

Jackets for Tall Guys Please

tomcochrane — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:07:34 -0800

How do I find a warm jacket to fit me, a tall and skinny 21-year-old male? I've always had a lot of trouble finding jackets that fit my form. I'm tall with a long back and long arms, and when looking for coats and jackets anything that fits my torso (ie. is 'skinny' enough) won't be long enough for my torso or my arms, and anything that is long enough for my torso and arms, I feel like I'm swimming in.

I'm not really a fan of long jackets or 'pea coats' and usually look for something more along the lines of a bomber style. No leather though please.

I really liked the look of the jackets H&M had recently - bomber-ish style with lots of pockets. The problem was that I couldn't find one the fit my long back and long arms. Any ideas where I could find something like that, except for a taller guy?

Looking for a tall thermal layer

michpinkston — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:52:22 -0800

I'm a tall gal (5'10") and am looking for a thermal top (like a patagonia half-zip or a northface baselayer type of deal) that comes in a tall or long length to accommodate my long torso - any suggestions?

Where can I buy tall sweaters?

rocks009 — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:18:48 -0800

Do trendy sweaters exist for tall skinny men? Ideally size Medium Tall, and woolen. Where can I get one? I'm 6'4", 150 lbs, and I like woolen sweaters, but have never found one that fits. Big & Tall stores do Big AND Tall, and even outdoor clothing outfitters only do sweaters in tall for large and XL sizes, which are too wide (droopy shoulders). Normal Mediums are way too short in the body and arms. I generally like Columbia styles (like this, this, and this), but they don't fit. I live in Vancouver, Canada, but am happy to buy online.

Too tall for an Altima?

Tubes — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:31:45 -0800

Tall guy + short car: I have a chance at a great deal on a like-new 2001 Nissan Altima. Trouble is, I'm a little tall for it and am not really comfortable. The seat mounts look unneccesarily high to me, but local dealers know of no seat-lowering kits. I'm having no luck on the web. I'd even consider a swap for a power seat if I knew it would lower more. Any suggestions?

The hidden haberdashery of secretly tall pants.

mecran01 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:48:14 -0800

I am 6'7 and bought a pair of brown Wranglers that were 34 inches long, but they fit. They fell apart in the wash. Please recommend pants that run long, i.e. they may say they're 34" but I can get away with wearing them. I am tired of being a freak and want to buy affordable pants like everyone else. I have a 40" waist. Links to ebay appreciated. Khakis or work pants would be ideal. Even black jeans. I just can't bring myself to spend $65 for bugly "Big and Tall" pants that don't hold up that well.

I'm 30 years old and don't know how to dress myself

mezzanayne — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:15:59 -0800

Where can a tall woman go to buy a dress for a company holiday party tomorrow that she forgot all about until today? The person in question is in Lawrence, KS. So my conservative, medium-sized (40-ish people) company is throwing their annual holiday party tomorrow and I don't have a thing to wear. The 2 dresses that I own have been worn in past company parties and I don't want to be seen in the same thing twice. The party has no theme, no entertainment, and consists only of a dinner and gift exchange. It will be held in an old theater that is commonly used for such events.

I live in Lawrence, KS. I'm 6' 1" tall and slender. I prefer to shop the local stores but any big-box that has clothing for the taller set will be considered. Cost is no issue. I'm looking for something a little less formal than evening or cocktail attire. Bonus points if the store has helpful salespeople that will help me find something that actually fits.

Good lord I HATE shopping.

Inexpensive, Attractive, Well-Fitting Shirts

rossination — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:09:49 -0800

I'm 6' 5" and wear an 18 37/38 dress shirt (or an XL Tall). I'm looking for some more shirts to round out my collection, but the catch is -- they have to be inexpensive. I buy 80% of my clothes from Gap. Sure, the quality isn't great, but I know that their sizes always fit, and I appreciate the wide variety of colors. But I'm a college student, and too poor to buy even their shirts at original prices -- I realize that $40 is not considered a lot of money for a shirt, but it is for me. I usually shop online and snag a bunch of fun, nice-looking shirts for between $10 and $20 each from the Gap clearance section. This is awesome. 80% of the time, I wear the shirts untucked with jeans and nice shoes; I will occasionally wear them tucked in with slacks if I'm "dressing up" (If I'm wearing a suit and tie, I usually wear a solid-colored shirt). A Gap XL Tall fits me great; not too boxy or slim in the chest and waist, and plenty long.

But lately their selection hasn't been so hot, and I'm in need of a couple of shirts. I'm at a loss as to where to look. The usual selections seem to be --

>> H&M. We don't have any in Seattle.
>> Thrift stores. This would be fantastic, but I never find anything in my size at any of these places.
>> Lands End/Eddie Bauer/L.L. Bean. Good sizing, but really very little in the way of styles that I'm interested in. I'm a college student, not a 45-year-old golfer. Lands End is great, though, if I'm looking for dress shirts in "conventional" colors (blue, white, pink).
>> A place like American Eagle or Abercrombie. No thanks. I don't need to look like a high schooler or frat boy.

As you can imagine, I never find anything in stores, so I'm looking for places I can get this stuff online. I refuse to buy clothes that don't fit me well in the sleeves (I have enough "XL" shirts that I don't like to wear because they just hang weirdly on me).

I realize that conventional wisdom says I should buy fewer pieces of higher-quality clothing. This is great, but my budget is $100 or so. I'd rather get 4 pretty nice shirts than one really great one.

Any suggestions? I've read this thread but most of the suggestions are out of my price range. Am I asking for too much? I'm afraid I might be.

Tall suits... for women?

you're a kitty! — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 23:30:45 -0800

Tall, skinny girls - where do you find your suits? For those of us who are tall and gangly without the blessings of what it takes to make a modeling career (in which people would make clothes for us), shopping for certain things can be a challenge. I'm in search of a good black suit, or even just a nice form-fitting blazer. I've found "tall" pants that fit at J.Crew and Banana Republic, and I guess I'm more proportional on the bottom, but their suit jackets only come in either (a) 2 Tall or (b) 0 Regular. I need a 0 Tall. They don't seem to exist.

So, my tall, slim sisters - are there are brands or designers (within the even remotely reasonable price range) that make tall, form-fitting jackets? I just have absurdly long arms, I guess, and I've never found "regular"-length sleeves that fit except at American Eagle, which doesn't really make the kind of professional or adult clothes I'm looking for. Maybe I need to try some new places - FCUK, Club Monaco? I could take a trip to the city if anyone thinks it would be worth the trouble. Thanks!

Clothes and the man

objdoc — Sun, 20 May 2007 05:17:26 -0800

How can a tall, mid-thirty's male put together an inexpensive but stylish wardrobe covering casual, business casual, going out, etc. using as few repeated pieces as possible... ...I'm thinking about simplicity as well as looking good. I see this sometimes covered in women's magazines but never in men's. Bonus for links to pictures, resources, and even bigger bonus for clothes that will actually fit someone tall with 37" arms...

Shopping tips for the young, lanky urbanite?

freudenschade — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 09:14:47 -0800

TallGuyFilter: Where can a tall/lanky (6'7", about 200 lbs.) young Canadian guy such as myself purchase clothes reliably? I know that there are Big & Tall shops pretty much everywhere -- in my experience, these tend to cater to men who are BOTH big AND tall (I am really only the latter), and who like to spend lots of money on tapered/pleated polyester dress pants. This is not for me. Please don't suggest one of these unless there is a secret gem one that I have probably overlooked.

If I had my way, I'd be wearing a combination of nice vintage pieces (boot-cut jeans, non-pleated wool pants, v-neck sweaters, single-breasted blazers, long/slim t-shirts, etc.) and new-but-relatively-classic stuff (button-downs, polos, etc.). I'm not too much of a sucker for right-now-this-moment trends, but I am known to indulge in them every once in a while.

I'm also the kind of person that doesn't mind spending a bit more on something that is classic and will last. Current places that I SOMETIMES have some luck: Club Monaco (shirts), the Gap (ugh, I know, but they make long bootcut leans), American Apparel (for basic t's and stuff, they make 'em long), the J. Crew catalogue (pants for work, etc.), and random vintage shops.

C'mon, people, I know there are others like me! Let's unite in our quest to find and frequent business that acknowledge our existence and our disposable income! I live in Toronto, if that helps. Oh, and sorry about the rambling.

Anyone?

Sometimes being vertically blessed isn't such a blessing

hazelshade — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 08:57:11 -0800

Tall, female MeFites: where do you find buy pants? I'm a tall-ish girl (5'8") and have a hell of a time finding pants that are long enough for me. Anthropologie, for example, has awesome pants but very few options that are appropriate non-shorties.

What American stores have a good selection of "tall" pants? Any recommendations for particular clothing lines/designers? I'm looking both for pants that are appropriate for work and casual pants -- willing to pay in the under-$200 range for slacks that will fit.

Is he really that tall?

aerotive — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 11:34:11 -0800

How accurate are player's listed heights in college football and pro basketball? And are they measured with shoes on? These are the sports I'm most interested in but I'd be interested to hear about other sports as well.

Regarding college football I go to games at a big football college frequently. The players generally seem to be listed an 1in, maybe a 1.5in above their actual height. If they're listed height includes shoes, that'd be more accurate. I'm 6ft 3in, and the guys listed at 6ft 4, even 6ft 5 often don't look any taller than me.

Never been to a pro basketball game but I watch a good amount on TV. Here, to me, there's a split. The shorter guys, say Steve Nash & Allen Iverson, don't look like they are as tall as listed. The taller players, say Dirk Nowitski & Amare Stoudemire, seem to be taller than listed. That might just be my own perception though.

Keeping the Giant Warm

barrakuda — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:12:00 -0800

[bigfeetlongarmsfilter] I need to find a winter coat for a very tall man. I've been asked to procure a winter coat for a friend who is a basketball player - he's 7" tall, I think (maybe a bit taller) he told me that he's looking for sizes 3XLT with the T denoting tallness (i.e. it would be longer/have longer arms). Other requests: long (down to his hips) and with a hood and warm. Help hivemind, which retailers, brands carry 3XLT coats/jackets? I would be interested in finding Internet sites as well as particular stores in Washington DC area.

"You kids better pray to the god of skinny punks this wind doesn't pick up, cuz if it does..."

hermitosis — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 13:00:52 -0800

What sports, exercises, and activites are best suited to tall skinny people? To turn this question on its head, I am 6'3" and 160 lbs. I like being this shape; I eat well and am very active and flexible. I currently ride my bike 15 miles a day and have powerful lower body strength, but a really pitiful upper body. I'd like to engage in some great strength-building or body-equalizing activities. True to my form, I have to be respectful to the limitations of my knees and my lower back.

I've started doing pull-ups, and I am up to 4 a day. I would love to do push-ups, but the angle works against the shape of my body and they are pure hell. Same effect with yoga workouts that emphasize Downward-facing Dog. I gave shovel-glove a try but the emphasis on shoveling-type motions were too hard on my back, because it wound up doing all the work for my skinny arms. I have an opportunity coming up to join either a gym or a swimming pool, and am not sure which would be best. I live in NYC.

So, fellow gangly types (or former ones), what can I do to capitalize on my particular shape while hopefully drawing more strength higher up where I need it (it sure wouldn't do my appearance any harm either). I like sports and games, I like working out alone, and am willing to try just about anything-- what do people who are my size and shape excel at, and how do they train?

Need help finding a cheap car for a tall guy

svdodge — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 10:20:55 -0800

My 6 foot 5 inch tall friend is looking for a car. He doesn't have too much money to throw around, but he's tired of being cramped. TALL PEOPLE! What do you drive? Main thing is price, car or SUV doesn't matter as much. He drives a Geo Tracker right now, and it's just not working out. Thanks.

omgz, so tall

trevyn — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 08:47:23 -0800

I'm 6'8". People are always asking me how tall I am. Instead of telling the truth, what are some witty, non-confrontational responses I might use? In consideration of your time, I will share this story: I was next to a guy carrying a young child, and the kid pointed at me and said "look dad, a monster!" The father replied, "That's not a monster; monsters don't wear jeans." Teehee.

Baby crib for tall parents with bad backs

Alex Marshall — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:32:50 -0800

What's a good baby crib for tall parents with bad backs? Our son is five months old, and we're finally getting around to buying him a real crib. What kind should we get? We both have bad backs. And I'm 6'7" and my wife is 6'2". We've heard that some baby cribs have sides that drop down, which can make it easier to get the child into the crib without so much lifting. Some may release with only one hand. Maybe there are other features we should consider. We both like good elegant design, but we may not find a crib for a tall person that works and is nice to look at. Any ideas? Our son is already 20 pounds. Looks like he'll be tall.

How to Gain Weight

dflemingdotorg — Thu, 22 Apr 2004 11:36:05 -0800

Weight gain techniques for the slim and tall [more inside] I just turned 21, am 6' and 140 pounds (I also like long walks on the beach) and I've decided that this is the year I gain some muscle mass. I have a high metabolism and I'm a runner (which means I'm not interested in becoming a "meathead", just to get to a comfortable weight and to look good in my clothes), so I'm obviously working against putting on fast muscle mass. I eat 3 meals a day and have been trying to up my protein by snacking on left-over meat and cheese and I don't find it to be too hard. I've spent some time at the gym lately and while I've added some muscle mass, it's mostly toning what I have now (I'm slim but I've got a little muscle on me). For someone who's starting out with a relatively small amount of strength and a high resistance to weight gain, what are some good resources for information on the types of exercise/diets I might need to put on about 30-40 pounds of muscle?

I'm patient, so a slower-moving system would suit me fine as well but I, like everyone, also like to see results NOW. What can you suggest?