Tall Girl Treat: Miss Selfridge Flapper Dresses

I know. Let's take a moment to reflect on a Tall Girl Treat from Miss Selfridge, which I have historically found to be a petite/extremely slender girl's heaven. But OH! These dresses are the bomb. I walked past them while using Miss Selfridge as an escape route from Oxford Street Topshop the other day and you've never seen my head snap round faster.

I am a sucker for 20s and 30s dressing, and even more of a sucker for bright colours. Not only do these fabulous dresses combine the two, with some extremely good attention to detail, but they are oh so long. I mean, mega long. The right length for me (6'1) long and so therefore hopefully the right length for you.

Let us begin.

Red flapper dress

Bonnie fuchsia flapper dress

Bonnie coral flapper dress

Absolutely mad love for the Bonnie flapper dress. I had a brilliant one with spaghetti straps that I got from New Look for about £15 when I was a university fresher, and it lasted years. These, and indeed all the Miss Selfridge dresses are SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive, but the detail is amazing. No idea why the red one isn't listed under Bonnie as it is exactly the same style.

Seriously. Go to your nearest branch and peer at them. They are, to misquote Eddie Izzard, covered in beads. Beads, glitter and utterly spectacular fringeing: these are amazing. Let's have a look at them with a woman in them.

 

It's here that cries of "But I bet the model's only 5'8!" will start - but no. The fabric finishes on the knee on me and there is loads of below knee fringe swishing.  Go and try it on now as they are running out online. The dresses come in sizes 8 to 16 and cost £190. I know, ouch. But these are monumentally good frocks.

Nude embellished maxi, £120

I only held this embellished maxi dress up against myself to curl my lip at the inevitable swinging that would ensure (cough, Monsoon). But no. This was brilliantly long and went right to my feet. Reader, I nearly fainted and squashed a teenage girl. Sizes 4 to 16, £120, wear them with a pair of really gorgeous flats.

 

If you prefer something a bit more traditionally 30s, then it also comes in a purer nude without the pink. LOVE that cutout back. Sizes 4 to 14, also £120.

These are the ones I got my hands on, but Miss Selfridge has a more extensive range of flapper frocks in different styles that could be worth a whirl. In the meantime, ignore the godawful film and get your Gatsby on in style.

Tall Girl Treat: Missima by Shoesissima

I was clicking through the large shoe guide the other day when I stumbled over some fantastic shoes on Shoesissima. I was stunned. This was the same level of stunned as when Clarks suddenly and massively upped their game last year. 

Properly nice shoes that go up to a 12, you say? Wearable heels? Flats with colour? HELLO!

I've never wanted to buy anything from Shoesissima before, too expensively dull, but their Missima summer collection is a cracker. And they're also selling some of the collection on ASOS, which makes the whole thing less specialist and a bit more "Oh I'll just buy these fit heels with this dress, thanks very much indeed."

Phoenix red suede court, £79.99

Asta black block heel, £74.99

One thing that has always exasperated me about many large shoe brands is their 1990s determination that everything has to be sensible: I loathe sensible, which is not the same as practical. Sensible has no joy about it and a worrying tendency towards sturdiness. I am a woman, not a cow in need of transportation.

The new Missima collection is practical, but it has style, colour, gold touches and a sense of anticipation about it as though it's gearing up for a brilliant party. The mid-heels are exactly right: that slightly ugly-pretty shoe thing going on, but there are also great flats,and stilettoes if you are the sort of magical witch woman who can walk in them without instantly attaching yourself to the nearest cobble (me. Always, always me.)

Black Polly mule, £64.99

White Polly mules, £64.99

 

These Polly mules are just super. I love that gold, and the turquoise (my favourite) are cheaper for some reason at £59.99.  The Shoesissima site has the winners though - the poppy red variant is STUNNING, and also £59.99 (sizes 9 to 12).

 

Anyone for electric blue? God these would look good with a tan. *makes appointment at nearest spray booth* The Farah heels are £74.99 and also come in black. The Dara crystal trim sandals are £64.99. Oh, let's have a look at some more black while we're at it. Shoe free-for-all!

Caren black flats, £72.99

Dara crystal trim black sandals, £64.99

Phoenix black court, £79.99

A reader emailed me last year to ask about shoes for her teenage niece who has size 11 feet. When I was a teenager, any large women's shoes beyond trainers were rubbish. I would happily wear anything in this collection if I were 17 (except, again, stilettoes, which I did try back then, and twisted my ankle).

Andrea white, £79.99

Andrea poppy red, £79.99

Andrea red, £79.99

Ah, joy. Wearable heels! The Andrea style is my favourite, so let's just take a moment to bask in these: giant high heels for those who want to wear them, but giant high heels that are elegant and well-crafted. Definitely didn't have these in 2000. The white and poppy red are from the Shoesissima site, and the red from ASOS.

I'm really thrilled with this lot - huge props to Shoesissima for getting some great designers on board, and for ASOS for broadening their tall range. I can't wait to get my feet into these this summer.

Tall Girl Treat: Fix Up, Look Sharp

Girls! Tedious in-between seasonal weather means it's Goldilocks out there - too hot, too cold, always wrong. The solution: harness your inner tailoring guru, or Dizzee Rascal, whichever you prefer.

Note: this doesn't mean digging out that suit you got from a charity shop for a work experience interview in 2001.

Jackets are the perfect in between coat, not least because you can layer them with anything - scarved, jewels, vests, tees, whatever you like - and paired with a nice pair of trousers or jeans, they just look good.

Topshop's new Tall vintage-wash jeans have come in just in time (£40, sizes 8-16). Not that I put on my beloved six-year-old Baxters yesterday morning to find they had gone on the arse or anything. These aren't the most exciting jeans, but that's what I need: dependable ones that go with anything. These are slim rather than skinny cut - which should relieve anyone still trying to climb out of their ivy-clinging Leighs - and cut on the ankle. I'm going to roll them up. Sorry.

Part of the reasons I want dependable jeans is so that I can go to town on my trousers. I am SO in love with trousers at the moment. These fabulous pinky-red crepe numbers are £30 from ASOS Tall, who are still rolling out the new line ahead of the April fashion apocalypse (i.e. full launch).

When I was angsting over what to wear to a wedding last autumn, my incredibly stylish colleague Harriet had the answer: black jumpsuit and a fabulous blazer. Paper Dolls's tall jumpsuit is gorgeous. £65 to you, sizes 8 to 18.

Roll up, roll up (your sleeves - or don't, if it's chilly out) for this fabulous collarless jacket, also by Topshop Tall. It's £48 in 8 to 14 (although do always ask in store as they may have more sizes).

 

I live in my Long Tall Sally boyfriend blazer from last year, and their blazers for spring (£65) are gorgeous. Roll up the sleeves, and crack on. You'll have to move quickly for the Bluebird one, as it's sold out in all but 10, 12 and 22, but Tangerine - my favourite - is still available in 10 to 22. Boyfriends probably would not wear these blazers, but they should at least admire them on you.

Um, can we have a chat about the embellished hem and sleeves? And the colour? And just how generally great this shift is? I am tragically self-banned from shifts due to my hips making it look as though I'm smuggling watermelons in a pillow case, but if you want to rock this dress, with or without blazer, it's £65 by Little Mistress's Tall collection.

Finish it off with these frankly banging silver stud flats by Shoesissima. They're £72 in sizes 9 to 11, and they also come in red. Lovely.

You will no doubt have heard of L'Wren Scott's death earlier this week. She was a wonderful designer, and her grace and style made her a real tall girl inspiration. Here's to you, Ms Scott.

Tall Girl Treat: Be A Lady (Well, Sometimes)

 

I'm in flu hell this week - I'll try not to cough all over you - so pretty much all I'm capable of is sleeping, looking out the window, and pointing at things and going "That's nice", most of which are my cat.

With that in mind, here are some absolutely scrumptious ladylike offerings to adorn your frame this week. Happy shopping!

First up, rhis gorgeous red midi skirt from ASOS Tall, who have indeed started gently rolling out their new range. It's made of scuba fabric, which many hate (cough, Elizabeth), but it's a stunning shape, has pockets, also comes in black,  and is £35 to you. Sizes 4 to 18.

Let's stick with ASOS Tall for a bit. This lace midi dress is a dream. It's £40, again sizes 4 to 18, and also comes in blue. An absolute dream. Stick a bright coral or green necklace on that and you're laughing. Mwah.

Over at Long Tall Sally, this floral print pencil skirt is a dream (size 10-22, £45). Wear it with big pearls, a bright green cardigan and a belt. Oh, and probably a top too so you avoid boring things like being arrested.

Ooh, this shade of green should do it! Or maybe a tad darker. Tragically,  I love this shape of dress but it looks dreadful on me. *Nobly adds it to TGT anyway for the person who can pull it off*. This fabbo green t-shirt dress is made of textured jersey and is £55, also LTS, same sizes as before. Accessorise the hell out of it.

Half the stuff in my wardrobe is Marks and Spencer, and this house-print dress, while not specifically tall, is one that will look amazing on us. Also, HOUSES. Love it. It's sold out in a size 22, but is available in sizes 8 to 20 and currently onsale at £31.60.

PRETTY!

These geometric pumps are on sale at Debenhams for £23.60 and go up to a size 9.

And finally...well, sometimes being a lady can just sod right off. And for that, you need a cheery, ridiculous clutch. Like this one.

This Monki lips clutch is £18 from ASOS.

Tall Girl Treat: Your Pre-Spring Wardrobe Update

  

Is it spring yet? Is it? What do you mean no? There's loads of nice stuff about, I don't want to spend more time in an anorak.

Fine, fine. There's plenty to keep an eye on. Hush Puppies, for example: and here is where I apologise profusely for being on holiday for the last fortnight, because their absolutely gorgeous new range of 10s has pretty much sold out. No really, look, they were amazing.  Sorry.

But never mind! I've picked out some of my favourite pieces/bits/gorgeous things from the new ranges. We have so much to look forward to, not least spring lines, and the slavering prospect of April, when ASOS finally launches its Tall range. *does fanfare*

ASOS have been dripfeeding in a few bits and pieces of Tall stuff, but as it's mostly cut-offs and crop tops, I wouldn't get too excited yet. It's a work in progress. April my friend, April.

This beautiful obi dress is one of the few pieces that's on the money right now. It's £40, you can also get it in black, and it comes in sizes 6 to 16.

Before its own range however, ASOS gets Taller Than Your Average, who launched last year. Their range of jersey basics will be stocked on the site from the end of this week priced between £30 and £60. Here's a sneak peek of what to expect.

Flippy dresses? Yes please. Colour? Yes please. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this range pans out.

I keep looking at this cardigan and smiling as though it's some kind of brilliant puppy. Instead, it's a completely brilliant colour block cardigan from Long Tall Sally (£55, sizes XS to XL).

If you can't stretch to £55 - and fair enough, I say - then head to H&M where their excellent cotton basic cardies are just £9.99 in a rainbow of colours. I've just bought yet another in coral to replace my haggard old one, and the sleeves come halfway over my hands. #bliss

Arm this folk dress from Topshop Tall with a really good, thick belt and you've got yourself a winner. This is £42 and in sizes 8 to 16.

The new spring stock from Tall Girls comes in next week - this Aztec midi skirt is £25 in sizes 10 to 18.

And how gorgeous is that swallow blouse (top, in stock now)? Lovely detailing on the collar, completely bomb-proof fabric (I have two blouses in that material - no ironing needed, no special washing cycle faff either). It's £42 in sizes 10 to 16.

Shoes!

(I literally can't be bothered with non-colourful shoes at the moment, but all of these are available in other colourways if you're feeling less over the rainbow than I)

YUM! Yum yum yum yum yum! These gold heels are fan-freaking-tastic, in sizes 9 to 11 and £39. GET THEM, YOU FOOLS. Ahem. There are also some beautiful blue patent ones, and a collection of lovely suede in various colours, most of which have their 10s and 11s on sale still. Beautiful.

Block heels are having what is obnoxiously referred to as "a moment", but they are so endlessly comfortable and useful that they should be having "a forever". These gorgeous, smart, fabulous navy ones are £50 from Long Tall Sally in sizes 7 to 11.

Swoon heart print slippers from Topshop, up to size 42 (9), £28. Delicious. Done. Charlotte Olympia on the (very, very) cheap.

I LOVE these Ardon monk straps from DUO, available in scarlet, black and brown. They're £110 and go up to a size 42 (9) in a choice of three widths.

Mmm, now all I need is to tell the crocuses in the park to carry on with their endeavours and it'll be spring before we know it.