Tall pants for women - why so elusive?

[rigs32]

I need suggestions for work pants. I have three pairs from New York & Company, as that it the only retailer that stocks talls that fit me. But they are not the best quality and after ~9 months, I'm going to have to replace them soon. As an aside - why is it that you can find petites in almost any retail store, but talls are only available online at most retailers?

I have long legs coupled with a high waist and I can't justify spending $5+ for shipping on pants that may or may not fit me and then having to return them in-store or paying another $5+ to return them.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for places with free shipping and/or in-store return? I need at least a 34" inseam to wear flats and 36" if I want to wear heels with them.

 

[kymickeyfan717]

I'm in the same boat you are. I have found pants at JcPennys. They even carry UltraTalls. I also get them at Lane Bryant

 

[maddiesmom0116]

I'm in the same boat you are. I have found pants at JcPennys. They even carry UltraTalls. I also get them at Lane Bryant

I am in this boat too, JcPenney only has 8T and larger, so if you are smaller then a 8 it is much harder. Victoria Secret does not have instore returns, but they do have talls and they are great quality. The limited also has talls if you have one near you and they have good quality too and you can return online purchases in the store.

 

[sbsteel]

I'm in the same boat. I buy my jeans from Gap online (they have both tall and extra tall) and dress up pants in tall from Banana Republic online. The BR pants always have enough extra fabric in the hem to let out even more if need be.

Also, I've bought dress pants from Nordstroms and take advantage of their free alterations policy to let out hems.

 

[eyor44]

Go to GAP. I have a couple friends who are happiest with the pants they buy from there.

 

[Shleedogg]

I love Gap long pants. I can almost always find them in store. I find that Old Navy longs aren't long enough and they never have long dress pants in store.

J Crew also have really nice quality pants. I know you want to try them in store, so maybe you can try on the pants, see if the size fits you then order the tall online. They have a final sale section with really reasonable prices.

 

[sbsteel]

J Crew also have really nice quality pants. I know you want to try them in store, so maybe you can try on the pants, see if the size fits you then order the tall online. They have a final sale section with really reasonable prices.

Oh yeah, totally forgot about J.Crew - I used to luck out and get talls on the clearance rack as they were catalog returns. I'm still wearing a pair of their khakis I got like five or six years ago, good quality!

 

[CherylA]

I've had really good luck with Chiccos but you have to watch for a sale. For jeans I got a great deal a while back at Coldwater Creek and I am in LOVE with Victorias Secret tall yoga pants. They are the only place I've been able to find yoga pants in tall! Just watch for free shipping offers from the stores, thay all have them from time to time. Once you are familiar with the fit that a store carries though I don't mind paying the $5 shipping if I'm pretty sure they'll fit.

 

[momsully]

Eddie Bauer - you can order with no shipping charge if you do it from the store.

 

[No.17CherryTreeLane]

Try Lands End. Many of ther pant styles give you the option of choosing your own personal inseam length and then they are tailored to fit at no extra charge. They also offer free shipping quite often and have excellent customer service. I hope this helps

 

[EMom]

Pants for tall women are nearly impossible to find because the manufacturers are using all that excess fabric to make the legs of petite pants too dang long for short women to wear without hemming them. There, that is your answer. They are determined to make my pants too long and your pants too short. They are evil.

 

[rigs32]

Thanks for the suggestions. Because of my high waist and long rise, it complicates things further. I love Banana Republic, but just yesterday I tried on some pants and even without the length issue, nothing fit right in other places. I will keep my eyes out for free shipping sales as long as I can return in store. I simply refuse to pay a fee to try on clothes that may or may not fit because I'm taller than average.

At least petite women can hem things to make them shorter. I've tried letting out the hem on normal length pants, but they still look like high waters. It's too cold to wear skirts all winter!

 

[HDCooper]

I'm 6 feet tall.. so I am right there with you. I get a lot of things from Fashion Bug and Lane Bryant. If they do not have the size that you need in store, they will ship it to your home for free. You can use coupons with the purchase too.

 

[si-am]

I have the same problem. I wear a 36" inseam (I can make do with 34" if I wear ballet flats.)

I get most of my work pants at NY & Co, but sometimes they are too high-waisted for me (I have a high waist but prefer low rise pants so that I look more proportional) and the thighs tend to be way too baggy.

I have had good luck at Gap and Old Navy, too, but more for jeans than slacks.

To be honest, I wear a lot of capris and skirts!

I hate that just about every major department store has a petite section and a plus size section, but NO ONE has tall stuff!

 

[meanser]

I hate that just about every major department store has a petite section and a plus size section, but NO ONE has tall stuff!

Amen to that!

 

[BLLB]

Talbots also has has tall pants. Jones of New York (sold at Macy's) is also on the long side.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

I feel your pain. I'm 6ft1" and it's always a challenge to find pants that work for me! And while I like some of NY&Co's pants, sometimes they shrink and they're ALL too high waisted.

My secret? Goodwill. I've found a ton of long/tall Banana Repulic, GAP, and Ann Taylor Loft work pants there. In fact I'm wearing a pair of Banana Republic ones today that I picked up there on Friday for $3. And yesterday I found a pair of brand new Ann Taylor Loft work pants with the original price tag still on them...they were $79. I walked out with them for $4!

 

[MomtoMMKO]

I usually get all of my tall work pants and jeans at the JC Penney Outlet Store. They have a Tall section and they have alot in the return goods section. I also ordered a pair of tall jeans from Kohls that I love.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I also wear a 34/36 in. inseam & for jeans I found that Kohls Apt. 9 regular length are perfect.

 

[Taja]

Pants for tall women are nearly impossible to find because the manufacturers are using all that excess fabric to make the legs of petite pants too dang long for short women to wear without hemming them. There, that is your answer. They are determined to make my pants too long and your pants too short. They are evil.

Great minds think alike! I always find tall pants and have difficulty finding petite pants! *LOL*

If you're comfortable with electronic retailing, check the DG2 (Diane Gilman) line on HSN. It tends to focus more on denim (everything from traditional indigo and chambray to over-dyed black and some fashion colours), but she periodically has dress-type slacks as well. Petite, average and tall in most styles (her petites usually are too long for me and the rise is too long, as well).

Primary disadvantage is you have to watch the HSN schedule (check it online periodically) and nip into the website and order as soon as they load the products. The talls tend to sell out quickly! Not sure if they would fit you properly, but you could try one pair to see if they fit. Her sizing tends to be consistent.