How tall *are* you?

Well, thanks for asking... I'm 6'0". While I don't really mind this question... I still think it is a bit rude to ask, unless you're having a discussion and things turn to height. To just walk up to someone and say... 'How tall *are* you?' really is rude. Don't do it. I don't walk up to you and ask, 'How short *are* you?'

You know what else, don't ask me if I've played basketball, volleyball or any other 'tall' sport. You know why... because it's none of your business. I don't know you, and the first question you ask of someone you don't know, doesn't really need to be about a physical attribute. Ask me what I do, what my name is, how my day is going. I don't ask you if you are a jockey, or are a gymnast, do I?

Oh, also... I don't really need you to point out that really tall. Yep... I know that too. Thanks.

Okay, just a mini rant today. Thought I'd share.

When Things are Too Low...

I've come to the realization, as I've gotten older (now in my mid 30's) and had a few back problems creep up, that things are too low, sometimes. Like, dog food in a nice rubbermaid container. It's in a good spot, but is quite low to the ground. There are other things like this... the dowel in the track of my sliding glass door, the lowest drawer in my kitchen and bathroom, etc.

Well... for those things I can change, I'm going to. Drawers are what they are, but dog food containers can be put onto a nice clean shelf and dowels in the sliding glass door can be replaced with locks that are attached mid-way up.

In my kitchen, I tend to put things I don't use very often down low, and things that I use often up higher. This is why our cabinets are all the way up to the ceiling... we need space for things up high.

What type of modifications do you make around your house for your height?

Surfing and other balancing acts...

I watched, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and was reminded of the time I attempted to learn to surf when I was about 13 years old. This seemed like a good idea... but, no... it was not that great of an idea. My center of balance has never been great, and to pop up on that board (which by the way, seemed to shrink to about 6" wide the minute it was in the water) seemed impossible. I did manage to get up once or twice, but really, surfing was not my sport.

I know a lot of tall people who surf. I. am. not. one. of. them. Any sport requiring a very good center of balance (like surfing or gymnastics) pretty much didn't work out for me. But, I'm glad I tried them. Some tall people I know don't even try because they've been told they can't. I, personally, would rather try something and then figure out if it works for me. So... I tried surfing and gymnastics, and will try other things to.

So, what have you tried?? Maybe I'll get some ideas for new things to try.

Height and Weight

Did you know that a healthy weight for a 6'0" female is between 145 and 176? Did you know that the average height and weight of a model is 5'11"/110 lbs. That is quite a discrepancy, and absolutely unattainable if you are living a healthy life and getting all of the nutrients that you need. It scares me to see how thin some of the models out there are. They look sick... at least to me.

As a tall girl, I was always told that I should try modeling. I heard this a lot from some friends parents who wished their girls could get into modeling but they were too short. I never wanted to even try and go that route. It just never seemed appealing. Now, as an adult, I'm so happy I never went that route. It is not only a hard industry, but one that requires a tall girl to be unhealthy at the time that her physical body is changing and growing the most.

I'm thankful for my height, and thankful that I never used it to get into that industry. I must say that I'm happy to see some agencies and brands revolting against that ultra skinny (i.e. unhealthy) look and are starting to use women who look like women. This is a great change, and I do hope I see it become the norm instead of the obvious exception.

Stop Staring!

All you tall girls out there... I know you've experienced this... the STARE. People stare because we're tall, because we're wearing heels that make us even taller, because we're so much taller than the people we're walking beside. They stare, stare, stare... and it is freakin' annoying. So... I. stare. back.

The worst stare is from icky guys who don't just stare, they leer. They think they can, and I have had 'average height' friends confirm that I do get more of these stares than they do. One of these days, I swear, I'm going to go over and ask if they need a close up and then tell them off. It drives me nuts, and it happens a lot around the area I work (not with colleagues, with people outside the building). Same guys, day in and day out. I want to tell them, "yeah, I'm tall, I don't stare at you because you're short." But I never will.

I don't mind the usual 'looks', but the leering stares... just creep me out. At least I know I can take them down, if I need to.

Big Dog, Small Dog

We have two dogs. I wanted a big dog, and my husband wanted a mid to small dog. I always think tall girls with big dogs look cooler. Don't ask me why, I. Just. Do. So... found a great rescue, found a German Shepherd/Lab Mix and a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix at the same rescue. They were friends, and we brought them home. I thought for sure the big dog would be my dog and the smaller dog would be my husbands dog. I. Was. Wrong.

The small dog is completely my dog, and the big dog... well, the world is just not right until Dad gets home. I mean, it's okay with me around, but when she hears his car pull up... well, forget about it. I thought this turn of events would bum me out. But it doesn't. Both dogs are great, and the littel one and I hang out... he likes to lay next to me while I type away. I train the big one to at least have that bond and my husband trains the little one. It works out.

So, now I'm a tall girl who walks a small dog. Go figure. Never thought I'd see the day.

The Business of Being Tall

When I was in Jr. High in the 80's, there were no businesses that focused on tall women. Men had a few options, but even they were under represented. Now, there are many more options, but I think business catering to tall people is still in its infancy. Just look in my side bar to see some businesses I've called out. I'll continue adding more. One thing I have noticed is that the big department stores are starting to add 'long' or 'tall' sections to the clothing area for women. This is a great sign.

Clothing appears to be the most mature area for tall business, some other areas where I think there will be growth (and thus opportunity for anyone who may be interested in catering to tall people and women in particular):

• Auto: More headroom, extra leg room (front and back)
• Travel: More options for extra leg room on flights, more options for hotel rooms with higher shower heads and longer beds, bike rentals that include extra long seats and frames
• Home Items: Shower head extenders that look nice (for those who can't open their wall and re-do their shower), higher counter top options for bathrooms and kitchens, a way to make a doorway higher without taking away structural integrity
• Shoes: CUTE SHOES that are not 5 INCHES HIGH. I love heels, but do wish there was more to choose from in the 1.5 - 2" range. There must be some great shoe designers out there who can help a tall girl out.
  

Okay, I admit, the shoes are clothing, technically... but I don't really put them in the same category. :-)

This list is very short, but is a high level look an issue that I think will spawn many new business over the next 5-10 years. Especially as we are seeing the population get taller, in general.

What are some ideas you have about this? What things do you want in your daily life that you find it hard to get now?

Obama, "I love tall women"

Our President has admitted that he loves tall women. Why this is news, who knows. But I found it funny, and it was glaring at me while I read Politico.

As a tall woman, should I be offended that this is the first thing our President said to a tall woman, or should I think it is cool. Me, I'm shallow enough to say I think it is cool. I still do hope that he loves more about a tall woman than her height. I think his wife is proof positive that this he does. Standing at 5'10 3/4", Michelle Obama is in the 'tall woman' category and with her achievements and brains, she is clearly in the 'smart and ambitious woman' category as well.

So, all you tall girls out there, stand a little taller, we've got good word of mouth working in our favor these days.

Movies & Theaters

I saw Star Trek last night (and I am by no means a Trekkie!), and I loved it. Great action, great story line, fantastic writing. Everything that makes me love big Summer blockbusters. This really is my favorite time of year for movies because I get to let go of reality for a couple hours for pure entertainment. No thinking, no heavy message... just great fun!

If you have a chance to see Star Trek in the theater... do... the sound and effects are incredible and deserve the attention that a theater and big screen give.

Now, before you start saying, "Tallgirl, what on Earth does any of this have to do with being tall?" Well, let me tell you, theaters are a lot like airplanes. There are good seats, and there are horrible seats when it comes to leg length. As much as everyone will say the middle seats are best, for me, the aisle is best. Why? Because over the course of 2+ hours, I may actually want to cross, uncross and re-cross my legs so my feet don't fall asleep. To do this requires more than four inches of room, and I don't know about you, but I hate to have my seat kicked, especially while enjoying a movie, so I will do everything I can to Not. Kick. The. Seat.

Some theaters that are a little more pricey have started making comfy seats with lots of leg room... but I don't always have the opportunity to attend such a theater. This, and the fact that people seem to think that a theater is a great place to ANSWER THEIR CELL PHONE, TEXT FOR TWO HOURS or have an AUDIBLE CONVERSATION with the person next to them, is the reason that we generally watch movies at home. No screaming kids, no cell phones, and plenty of leg room on my couch to stretch out.

But, some movies must be seen in the theater... such as Star Trek. So... for those movies, I'm willing to contort my body for two hours. Why? Because a good movie, with a bag of popcorn with extra butter is something that still makes me smile.

Go see a movie... and remember to thank that tall person behind you doing everything they can to not kick your seat. :-)

Time for my Summer Hair Cut

I'm getting my hair cut this weekend... and will probably add some more wispy bangs or something fun for summer. I've always wanted to get a really short do, but the one time I did... ahem... in 7th grade... I learned very quickly that short, Does. Not. Work. For. Me. All I need to do to remind myself how bad it can be is pull out my 7th grade pictures. It makes me wince just thinking about it. Oh, what a sad time in hair that was for me... the Pat Benatar look just didn't work for me.

Now, that was about 20 years ago (yep, you now know I'm in my 30's), but the hair and height are the same. I know tall women who can pull of short hair... I. am. not. one. of. them. I've come to terms with this... so instead of going short I get more layers or bangs or go with a fun color.

I've learned to not fight the hair... the hair will always win.

Swimming and the suit...

Let's all take a moment and think about what is right around the corner... summer. What does this really mean? Time to start looking at swimsuits. It's hard enough as a woman, but when you have a torso that is the size of a small child, it is mission... impossible.

For me it becomes double hard, because I am a person who likes to get a 'lounge around' swimsuit a swimsuit for exercising. Two very different suits, which means at least double the frustration when buying a suit becomes necessary.

For my workouts, Speedo is the brand I choose. Check out their 'Ultraback Long Contemporary'.

For lounging, it's a bit harder as I like to try on lots of styles. I find that I almost always end up with a tankini. This allows me to get the bottom I want, the top I want and coverage I want. Can I just say... another tall. girl. miracle!

Here's a google search for tankini, should you want a LOT of options, as I always do. :-)

I'll post any good swimsuit finds I come across. What are some of your secrets for swimsuit shopping?

Stand Up Straight!

To make myself feel shorter, I used to slouch. My Mom would tell me not to, but as soon as she was out of the room, I'd be slouching. What a horrible habit I formed. This stopped as soon as I learned to embrace my height, but I still notice that I do it occasionally, usually when I'm tired, or sitting for a long time at my desk.

One thing I've found that really helps is low impact Yoga... usually Hatha yoga. The long stretches, the forced back work and really feeling what it is like to have my back straight all help. In fact, I think I'm a whole half inch or inch taller since starting to practice yoga a few years ago.

If you're looking to make your posture better, I highly recommend checking out the available Yoga classes in your city. Not only will you gain better posture, but the other side effects are fantastic as well. Things like not wanting to scream at every driver on the road next to you in rush hour traffic. :-)

Coffee Does Not Stunt Growth

Coffee won't stunt growth, but oh how I wished that it would when I was growing up. Coffee was around me everywhere in the town I grew up in, so I started drinking it at a young age. I always hoped it would stunt my growth in my teenage years, but I was 6'0" by the time I was 14. I am proof positive that coffee does not stunt growth in any way.

Growing up I wished I could just be a little shorter. I would dream of wearing pants that looked good (I was so uncool in the eighties), and shirts that had nice long sleeves. But, of course, I never did get shorter so instead I had to learn to live with it and get comfortable in my body. Once I hit college, I met other tall women, and guys that were taller than me, and it was then that I got comfortable. In fact, I started really loving my height. Clothes in the 90's helped... extra long, grunge looks were somewhat easy to pull off. But what really happened is that I stopped fighting my body. I learned to accept it. Of course, having clothes that fit properly make it easier to accept. When I'm not pulling at my clothes and they fit, I look better, when I look better, I feel better, and this leads to acceptance and good self esteem.

So, to all of you designers making nice long inseams and nice long sleeves... I salute you. You have made it easier for me, and others like me, to look good... and therefore feel good. Thank you!

An Amazing Tall Woman - Honored At U.S. Capitol

An Amazing woman was honored today, Sojourner Truth. They placed a bronzed bust of her in the Capitol. A woman who fought for the rights of slaves and women. Oh, and she was 6' tall, as clearly called out in the article.

Buying a Suit

For my current job, I do need to wear a suit every now and again. This also means buying something that is expensive, that better fit perfectly. This also means that I will spend days, weeks, months... trying on suits. To date, the best suit I have found for my height and body shape is from Theory. You can find Theory suits at some Macy's, most Nordstroms and all Bloomingdale's.

This suit is the suit that I can generally purchase and wear in the same day. It may need slight alterations, but the length is generally good in both the legs and arms. All you tall ladies out there know... this. is. another.tall. girl. miracle!

I have friends and family members who can take a trip somewhere and buy something at the last minute. They saunter into a store, try on multiple items, and can then go straight to the party, reception or wedding that they flew in for. Well, this may not be as extravagant as all of that... but finding a suit that I can buy on Saturday and wear on Monday... that is damn exciting for me!

So... go check out some Theory suits. You may be pleasantly surprised. By both the fit, and the comfort.

Can you grab that _______ off the top shelf?

At any store with high shelves, I will almost always be asked if I can grab chips/pants/tampons/etc. from that top shelf way up there. When I do it, the person asking always says something like... I wish I were that tall, Don't you love being tall? My answer... yes I do, but not because I can get things off the top shelves.

I wonder how people would react if I asked them to get stuff for me on the lower shelves (you know, cuz it really hurts my back when I bend over from way up there). I don't think it would go over to well. I'll probably never know. Why? Because I'd never ask someone who is not an employee, who is a complete stranger, to grab something off any shelf for me. It's rude.

Thanks for allowing the mini-rant. Just got back from a trip, and for some reason got asked this question frequently.

Bring on the Heels!

One thing people always ask is, 'Do you where heels?' Why yes, yes I do. I love love love heels. Now, I admit, I generally don't go higher than 2 to 2.5", but, oh yes... I where heels.

In heels, I am 6'2", generally. That makes me taller than my 6' husband, who is possibly 6'1" in his shoes. The best part... He. doesn't. care. In fact, he thinks it is great! Did I mention that my husband rocks. Why yes, yes he does.

When I Fly...

I wear comfortable shoes that I can slip off at security easily (but of course, they are still very cute!), and I check-in early and ask for a Exit row. If I'm flying Southwest, then I check-in early so I can get an 'A' boarding pass and do my best to get an exit row. On short flights, it isn't such a problem. But, on long haul journeys, I will do what I need to do to get one, even if it means forking over a few extra dollars for the 'economy plus section. '

Now, inevitably, if I don't get an exit row seat and I'm on a short flight... I will always sit behind 'put my seat all the way back' person. ALWAYS. The 5' woman next to me, nope, the person in front of her will stay straight for the 50 minute flight. But me... oh no... I get the seat pushed into my knees, which I know they can feel... and THEY. DON'T. CARE. It is frustrating and grates on my last nerve. People, dear people... please have some consideration for the people behind you. When you put your seat back, can you do it half way? Seriously... this may not mean much to you, but the extra 2" it gives me is priceless and will stop me from wishing bad things on you.

What are your tricks when flying? Do share.

Yoga Pants and Cargo Pants That Hit the Floor

Let's all just pause for a moment to say thanks to the long pants gods. I ordered comfy yoga pants that also look good and a pair of cargo pants that have a nice shape to them. Both types of pants are hard to find for me, because inevitably I look like I'm ready for the next flood.

So, when I ordered these pants from J. Crew, I was hopeful, but not excited. Well, I'm now lounging on a Sunday in my nice long yoga pants, and eating bon-bons and my husband is looking at me like, "Lady, what has happened to you?" I just look back and say... "do you not see the beauty... the wonderfulness, the all out miracle that has taken place. I have lounge pants, that I would actually consider wearing outside of the house becuase they are LONG LONG LONG and CUTE CUTE CUTE." He then goes about whatever he was doing because he is celebrating the fact that he no longer needs to hear all the reasons I think yoga pants are made to make tall people feel they are not welcome.

No more, tall women. Do Yoga, lounge around the house, go outside in comfrotable yet cute pants. You are now free to join the club... you now can get comfy pants that are long!

J. Crew Lounge Pants
J. Crew Cargo Pants

New Jeans

I went shopping yesterday, knowing I would need to try on 100 pair of jeans, just to get to the one pair that was long enough. I knew that this would involve many four letter words, crushed dreams, and at least one complete meltdown.

Why all the drama? Well, I'm 6' tall, with a 36" inseam if I wear even a 1.5" heel. The same height as most models who show us all of the wonderful clothes we should be wearing. Funny how all of the clothes they wear, are never long enough in the store. Never. ever. never. This drives me to have a meltdown at least twice a year, as I cannot and will not wear pants that are not long enough.

So, I scour and search, for the one pair that was made with end material, or accidentally got cut long, or by some miracle were made to be long, on purpose! Well folks, yesterday, was the day that I found not one, but TWO pair of jeans that were long enough and looked good on. This miraculous event deserves a party, a celebration.

Ladies and gentlemen I was able to walk out of a store with two pair of jeans that I could wear, immediately! No trying to find the long version online, no boo-hooing because I didn't find anything. No... none of that. Instead, choirs were singing, birds were chirping, and I... I was floating on air because I had done the impossible.

In case you tall girls out there want to know what I found, here they are:

7 For All Manking - Dojo (They say 34" inseam on the site, but the pair I found in store... 36")
Citizens of Humanity "Amber High Rise" (They also say 34"inseam, but the pair I found in store... 35", perfect for flats and tennies, also, the rise is not THAT high, still below the waist)