Tis the season to be jolly
So Christmas is nearly here- Ahhh!
I can’t believe it, where has this year gone? I can’t even go into my local shop without being dazzled by fairy lights and Santa Clause wrapping paper and it’s only early November.
I do love the festive period though parties, drinks by the fireplace, Grandma coming over for a quick Christmas sherry and repeatedly telling me: “My, haven’t you, grown!” .She still can’t quite come to terms with the fact I’m so tall!
And my favourite bit Christmas dinner! I just love turkey with all the trimmings and can’t help but over indulge. You must know the feeling,When you’ve eaten too much festive food and now your favourite jeans feel like they’ve been sprayed on. It’s definitely time to renew that gym membership!
I’ve been rushed off my feet at Long Tall Sally; customers have been going crazy for the new range. With such a variety of new products including essential suiting, brilliant basics and gorgeous new party wear (Which really is good enough to eat) there’s so much choice!
The stores Christmas party is only a few weeks away, this got me thinking,what am I going to wear?? As you know, being a taller lady it can sometimes be a little tricky picking up outfits from the high street. Trawling the shops for those extra few inches can be so frustrating. That’s why Long Tall Sally is my saviour!
I’m always in trousers, so I’ve decided this year to get my long legs out and party in style. So, with this in mind I went on a mammoth trying on session. Yes, I’m a Gemini indecisiveness is my middle name! But eventually I got there, I decided on the Ingrid beaded tunic- A sultry grey tunic that is oh so pretty! It will be perfect for all the up and coming Christmas parties and can be worn with either tights and a glitzy clutch for party perfection or with jeans for understated glamour.
Now I’m really ready to embrace the party season, hopefully I will get a few kisses under the mistletoe- From Mike of course!
Posted at 04:04PM Nov 07, 2008 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Diary Entries" Comments (0)
A day in the life of a designer..
Harem pants and slips
It’s barely Christmas, only 11 weeks to go and already the press is full of spring 2009- I think we are all wishing our lives away…
The catwalk shows started in New York-Traditionally safer than Paris and London, but because of this ultimately commercial, more wearable and well worth looking at.
The New York catwalks were filled with neutral and sherbet colour palettes in a variety of different shapes and structures. There were lots of ruffles and frills on the catwalks of Preen and Matthew Williamson. Preen (again) and Jonathon Saunders also showed off plenty of asymmetric hemlines. While DKNY’s catwalk was flooded with mini length dresses and rolled up jeans.
Personally, I loved the leather jumpsuits by Proenza Schouler also the cropped trousers and halter neck maxi dresses on Tommy Hilfiger’s runway.
Marc Jacobs also seems to have had a return to form with lovely 1920’s and 40’s silhouettes topped off with cute little hats. Ralph Lauren’s “Arabian Nights “inspired collection conjured up visions of “Hidalgo”, starring; Viggo Mortensen and Omar Sherrif. Rest assured, you will get tasters of these silhouettes in Long Tall Sally’s spring 2009 collection!
Whilst we are on American culture, I have just finished reading “East Of Eden “by Steinbeck. I couldn’t put it down! What attracted me was the 1965 Pan cover showing Cathy –“the most evil woman in fiction” standing their in her “slip “. I love a slip, women look great in slips – think of Liz Taylor in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and Mrs Robinson in “The Graduate”. I bet Dita Von Teese has got some good slips. They are hard to come by these days but you can’t beat good foundation garments like a decent slip.
Posted at 02:44PM Oct 15, 2008 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Diary Entries" Comments (2)
Winter Layering
After a relaxing family holiday it was time to get back to reality, it’s so nice having a break. I believe a proper holiday is not having to dress up-No make up and minimal fuss. I lived in a mix of four bikinis, flip flops, sarongs and two pretty evening dresses.
Since I’ve been back, I haven’t stopped! My production company Libra is well underway and I have a couple of projects on the go, so it was nice to get away while I could. This season we seem to be living in a sea of black which can be so depressing! We should be looking at cheering ourselves up with bright, vibrant colours that make us feel good! The weathers miserable enough!
Winter is all about layering, but not too much. You want to stay warm without looking big and bulky. Thin layers are the key, layer silk vests with fine knits to keep in the warmth. Donna Karan has some nice pieces in her new collection and I have my eye on a fabulous winter coat designed by Ian Garlant.
Winter dressing can be chic if you buy great basics. I can’t live without the LTS Audrey scarf and glove set as they go with everything as well as keeping out the cold and my boyfriend cut jeans are so comfortable I practically live in them. As for the trend conscious hemlines are varied, colours are rich and necklines are high. Gilets are also making a big comeback. I love the LTS faux fur reversible gilet from the Autumn/Winter collection, definitely a wardrobe essential. I’ve also just ordered the Tokyo jacket after seeing it at the photoshoot.
These classic pieces are great for building your wardrobe around and guaranteed to keep you stylish and cosy all winter long!
Lisa
Posted at 02:04PM Oct 07, 2008 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Diary Entries" Comments (2)
Hi Lisa
I would like to ask about cleavage!! In my experience LTS dresses are low cut. This is great- but I have a big bust and it leaves me with a lot of cleavage and makes me feel awkward.
Is there a way around it?
Thanks
Hi
Good underwear is an essential foundation to any outfit – especially if you want to make the most of a great cleavage. If you still feel awkward and the dress is too low even with a well fitting bra, layer a vest or pretty camisole underneath. However, if the style of dress is very fitted and a vest would look bulky opt for a fine knit cardigan that you can button up.
All the best
Lisa
Posted at 12:16PM Oct 07, 2008 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Diary Entries" Comments (11)
The Dating Game
Why are so many short men still unwilling to date taller women? I quite often take for granted that my boyfriend Mike is taller than me. I remember teenage dating as being pretty painful as the boys hadn’t hit their growth spurt. If anything I felt terribly awkward- In fairytales the princess never towered over the prince!
This got me thinking, how do other tall women feel about dating? Does a few inches height difference really imply the man is inadequate and inferior? This is a bit of an issue for me, since I am quite tall not freakishly tall, but tall enough that some men have tragically been off limits because I worried that I might scare them. Surely, these tired old stereotypes should really be dead and buried by now?
Many shorter people find it hard not to be sucked into the idea that a woman larger than her boyfriend looks ridiculous.
For instance former model Carla Bruni stands at a willowy 5” 11, but insists on wearing flats whenever she ventures out with her 5”6 beau, French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Is this to overcome the obvious height difference or does she prefer to opt for the comfort factor?
Luckily enough I met Mike and on date number three, I remember asking him if my height bothered him. To which he laughed at me and told me not to be so silly. He let me know that it wasn’t about height but confidence and boy did his confidence rub off on me- I actually blame Mike for my mountain high shoe collection. He finds it sexy when I wear heels!
Don’t get me wrong, love shouldn’t be about how you look as a couple, but there still seems to be a taboo about couples of different heights.
Dating a shorter man is actually quite empowering.
Posted at 05:18PM Sep 29, 2008 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Diary Entries" Comments (9)
A day in the life of a designer..
Is London Still Swingin’?
As spring and summer 2009 are pretty much put to bed now, we are just praying that we get all the photographic samples back in time for the next shoot which is in about three weeks!Is London Still Swingin’?
As spring and summer 2009 are pretty much put to bed now, we are just praying that we get all the photographic samples back in time for the next shoot which is in about three weeks!
Last week Deborah (Long Tall Sally’s product manager) arranged a special jeans shoot and I have to say our jeans have never looked better. You’ll see the evidence in just a few short weeks. I’m also hoping by next week Carly and I will finish designing and selecting high summer and then it’s on to Autumn/Winter 2009…
However, rather than looking forward this week I have been looking back- Back in time that is! I visited a 60's fashion exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. There was a film running in the background throughout the exhibition called “Look at Life – Swingin’ London – In Gear “. It was really fab all about life in London in the 60s. One of my favourite lines in the film has to be: “Everybody thinks London is Swingin’ –but is it really? You look around and here and there you see someone who looks like they might swing….”
It made me wonder, has London changed that much? Maybe it has? The clothes were truly amazing particularly the “retro look” of the 60’s which was mostly influenced by 1920’s fashion- You know the whole Biba thing with cloche hats and feather boas. However, saying that the 60’s really did design something truly special– the MINI! That’s what I am really jealous of- it’s so hard for anyone to come up with anything completely original these days. Fashion seems to be a constant revival of something from the 20th century; from the 20’s through to the 80’s eighties everyone has their favourite decade.
Personally, I love them all but I’m on the look out for something new. Maybe London was swingin’ then or at least going in the right direction!
Talking of new and swingin’ Carly and I went to a party this weekend with pampas grass in the front garden. …Don’t worry we held on firmly to our car keys…
Carol
Posted at 10:46AM Sep 24, 2008 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Diary Entries" Comments (0)
I have A LOT of shoes, I collect high heels but I wouldn’t say I’m a heels girl, I’d like to be. I hardly ever wear them because of my height, but they seduce me!
I’ll wear heels if I’m going out with people of similar heights, for example when I meet up with Mica Paris, I will always wear heels, she’s tall herself at 5”10. I also have a couple of male friends who are much taller than me so I would wear heels with them. But I seem to have a habit of picking short boyfriends, who usually have a complex of me towering over them!
If I’m surrounded by tall people I will wear heels otherwise I won’t. Besides there are so many pretty pumps at the moment, I like wearing flats.
I do feel blessed to be tall but I had a lot of problems when I was younger as I was literally head and shoulders above everybody else and it made me really shy. I wanted to be a ballerina but I was too tall.
When you are tall most things are not made to the right proportions and most tall sections don’t cater to my size. That’s why it was exciting for me to be able to come into Long Tall Sally and be really involved. I’ve had a real input on the clothes and that’s important to me.
I like classic lines, my favourite designers include Tom Ford and Ian Garlant from Hardy Amies. Clothes do give me confidence and making an effort to create a whole look is important. If I haven’t pulled a look together from hair and make up through to my clothes I don’t feel as confident.
In my opinion Cate Blanchett always looks immaculate. Her style is really understated which I think is refreshing. Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe also inspire me, I think Audrey Hepburn rarely got it wrong and with Marilyn I just love the era, she always looked glamorous and I think that’s something we are missing at the moment.
I find white shirts, jackets and trousers the hardest in accommodating my height. At my first fitting for Long Tall Sally’s Autumn/Winter collection I was so impressed by the cut and quality of the fabrics, and how well everything was priced. I love the Juliet stripe shirt -an essential wardrobe basic and one that fits me perfectly! I also adore this season’s full length Victoria black coat.
Finally, I can get clothes that fit and don’t need to get altered!
Until next time
Lisa
Posted at 10:41AM Sep 24, 2008 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Diary Entries" Comments (3)
Hi Lisa
I am wondering if you could give me some pointers. I am 32 and just had my 3rd child. I feel young but my body looks more like a woman in her 40’s. I am pretty tall at 5”9 and slender. I have a large bust and of course a baby belly. I’m just not sure what kind of clothes would look best, please help.
Thanks
Jo
Hi Jo
My first piece of advice would be to always dress for your size- There’s nothing worse than squeezing yourself into a size that’s just too small!
It’s all about foundations. A bra that fits you properly will give you the right shape and support and will make you appear slimmer by elongating you. Control Pants (Awful name, I know!) go from mid thigh right up to under the bust but will work wonders concealing your baby belly as well as keeping your thighs and bum trim.
I hope this helps.
Lisa
Posted at 10:33AM Sep 24, 2008 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Diary Entries" Comments (4)
