A Tall Girl's Lessons from a European trip

I was fortunate enough to travel throughout parts of Europe for 2 full weeks this year. 2 weeks! I’ve never taken this long of a vacation in my life. I went to Ireland once with my best friend for 9 days about 3 years ago. It was the longest, best, 9-day pub crawl I’ve ever done. But this was different. This was with my boyfriend of 3+ years and we wanted to sight-see as well as visit his French family.
I also wanted to simply be me. When I’m me, things happen. My height attracts attention and I wanted to record the extra-ordinary events that take place when you are tall. Being tall creates opportunities. However sometimes it’s difficult to see these situations as opportunities. Every city holds a special piece of me now because I can say that I’ve been there and in every city, something special happened. In fact, it all started in the airplane. My boyfriend told the flight attendant that I was a former Miss Tall International and he wanted his picture with me. He then announced it to the crowd as we were waiting in line to get through customs.
In Amsterdam I was absolutely astounded at how tall people were. Everywhere I looked I was staring people in the forehead, or even in the eyes. Sounds silly, huh? Not if you’re 6’4”. Typically I look around and all I can see is hair or the tops of heads (sometimes bald). But this time I saw faces and it was beautiful! Amsterdam had scores of tall folks everywhere I looked. I felt very at home. When I visited the Anne Frank historical site there were several other tall folk there and we all had some trouble on the teeny tiny stairs. I had to go up the stairs sideways because of how steep they were and it gave our tall group something to giggle about even though it was a very somber historical setting. I had a feeling of camaraderie with these strangers and I wouldn’t have had this without my big feet.
In Brussels I’m fairly certain I was hit on by a homeless man. I can’t be sure of the language he spoke nor can I be sure that he was homeless but he followed me along making gestures and speaking. I simply nodded and smiled the entire time. He kept making this tall motion with his hand and when he realized that I didn’t understand, he winked. Now that I’m familiar with so I understood part of what he was saying but it’s too bad we couldn’t understand each other. That really would’ve been a fun conversation.
We took a side trip to Bruges. I would highly recommend this city to anyone and everyone as it is so beautiful! As we sat in the restaurant overlooking the smaller town square I asked the waiter if he could recommend a local brew. He suggested one and I always go with suggestions of waiters (they know what they are talking about!). He brought the glass of Leffe beer and it was huge. He had this cute little grin and he impishly said, “Grand beer for grand lady”. I couldn’t help but smile. Yeah, I know I’m grand. The beer was delightfully spicy and I was pleasantly surprised to find a store here in Portland that carries it.
In England, London Bridge was where I had the most fun with my height. Visiting the London Bridge was a popular place for schools to take tours and I ran into many, many children who would laugh with me as I had to bend over to fit through the tiny doors.
In Paris I wanted to shop. I could’ve shopped along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées but I’m a bargain shopper and I really don’t care about brand names or couture. I wandered all around Paris and I found a shop called ‘Sunshine’. I found exactly what I was looking for in this shop. Longer tops, fun and feminine, I even saw a few dresses that looked pretty good but I was looking for tops. I went into H&M and found a couple of cute shirts there too. See, tall people can find shirts…we tall girls simply can’t find pants and fitted pieces of clothing. It was fun watching my boyfriend speaking in his fluent French (he’s from Montreal) and me pretending that I understood exactly what was being said by everyone. I think the best part of shopping in Paris was when I wandered into a plus size shop and the saleswomen were trying to fit me into everything as well as teach me French, to the amusement of my boyfriend.
What I learned from my European trip is simple: People are generally the same everywhere…Period. It’s wonderful and consistent and as long as you continue to have a smile on your face you’ll be received as such. For me, this lesson was life-changing. The better my outlook, the better I feel, the better I’m received by strangers. It’s such a simple thing and it goes far beyond my vertical measurements.

Fitness meets Fashion: 38" Inseam Yoga Jeans

Jeans are not generally associated with perfect comfort. They tend to impede the large movements of the body and restrain any unusual stretching. But Second has changed all that! Combining fashion and comfort, Second Yoga Jeans are perfect for a lifestyle where the emphasis is on well-being, and where flexibility and relaxation are part of daily life.
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Offering the flexibility of a yoga garment, Second Yoga Jeans establish a perfect balance between the trendy styling of 5-pocket jeans and the comfort of lounge pants.

The secret is in the fiber Made of top-quality denim containing 97% brushed cotton and 3% elastane, Second Yoga Jeans hug the curves of the body in any position. They fit the ups and downs of a hectic day and metamorphose into laid-back fashion in the evening. For those who rack up air miles, Second Yoga Jeans are the ideal transatlantic traveling companion, because Second uses denim with 92% shape memory, while the industry standard is only 64%. And thanks to their revolutionary treatment, the cuts and styles actually shape, hold, and lengthen the body and help mask its defects. We are so excited...they will be in stores this weekend (April 30th) !!!!!

TALL FASHION FROM EUROPE

Listen up ladies I’ve got the skinny on fashion. I’ve been visiting Europe (Belgium, the Netherlands, England, and France) for 2 weeks and I’ve got to tell you what I’ve seen. Now keep in mind, I’m no fashion expert. I love fashion but I’m a stickler for being comfortable. My personal fashion mantra is “I wear what I like.” Sometimes I hit it really well, and then other times I think I miss the mark, but overall I enjoy clothes. My go-to outfit this trip were my super long jeans and favorite purple sweater (both from http://www.longlegs.ca/).

Below is my inventory of what I saw during my travels. Please keep in mind that I was in bigger cities and of course the fashion that I saw doesn’t necessarily reflect what you should wear; it’s more of a fun ‘This is what they are doing on the other side of the pond’. I always say, “Wear what YOU like.” I should also mention, it’s tough to snap good photos of fashion in action so I don’t have any great shots of what I’m going to describe below. Hopefully you can imagine all of the sophisticated women dancing lightly along the sidewalks of Europe looking fabulous!

Scarves—Holy cow! Scarves everywhere. Even the men wear scarves. I wasn’t completely sold on the look before my vacation however I’ve seen so many different looks that I’m now on the bandwagon. You can wear them in your hair, around your waist, around your neck, thrown casually about your shoulders, it’s so versatile. Plus…(this is key) your scarf doesn’t have to match. Prints go with anything and a full colored scarf will make any outfit ‘pop’. The light-weight scarves are great for warmer weather, and grab a knit when it’s cold. Love it!

Skinny Jeans—I love this look on ladies with svelte figures however this is a tough one to pull off if you don’t find the right cut of jeans. I can’t wear this look very well. I have wide hips and the skinny jeans seem to accentuate the parts of me that I’d prefer to keep hidden. Women in Europe are wearing this look everywhere and it looks really…cool. I can’t think of a better word to describe this.

Boots—Tuck your skinny jeans in your boots, throw on a scarf and off you go. Seriously, boots are everywhere too. I wish I would’ve gotten a picture of this one woman who had lighter, brown, tall boots with a matching purse. She had on dark jeans and a dark shirt with a colored scarf. It was a sharp look. I’m going to attempt this look myself with a twist on the skinny jean. (It’s going to be fun!!)

Dressy Coats—I love coats. I have way too many and I see that I would fit in very well in Europe. Coats that are fitted (Trench Coats in particular) seem to very popular although short fitted coats are quite prevalent as well.

Jewelry—Yes, ladies jewelry is everywhere. Long chains, lots of bracelets, and big rings. I love key pieces of jewelry but I actually found myself wondering a few times what the point of wearing so much jewelry when it’s covered by a scarf…but I’m only here to report what I saw, not judge. I literally found that I could sit and stare for hours at all of the fashion that walks by. In fact, that’s what I did a couple of times in London, Paris and Brussels. I ordered some local beer or wine and my boyfriend and I would split a dessert and I sat and simply enjoyed my environment. So, there you have it. These are the looks that I found extremely popular while overseas. I have to admit, I love seeing the outfits that people put together. Some hits, some misses…hmmm, a lot like me.

The New MAXI DRESS

As mentioned in many Spring Trend Reports Maxi dresses are big this season and i can't get enough of this trend. Maxi dresses with their carefree swish and sway have me swooning over them. What I absolutely LOVE about this trend is the ultra feminie look it combines with easy style. Maxi dresses are so versatile; they can be worn from day to night with a quick easy change of accessories. The key to having the perfect Maxi dress for us tall women is definately LENGTH !! Your entire look can go wrong in a hurry if the length isnt bang on. This season we have made our new cotton Maxi Dress 64" long from the shoulder seam. No more having to sacrifice not wearing heels or constantly pulling it down (hoping it will somehow stretch lol) .
This seasons Maxi dress is made to enhance your tall beautiful body....enjoy and celebrate it !

Things that make me smile?

Have you ever had one of those really crazy moments in your car where you start laughing out loud? I had one earlier this week. I was sitting at a stoplight and the song, “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns and Roses came on. At that exact moment, a homeless man with a bandana wrapped around his head shimmeyed past. I’m not sure you can call it dancing but whatever it was, he looked like he was having a fantastic time. I started to laugh and at that exact moment he turned to look at me! My first thought was, “I’m so busted”. My second thought after I saw him smile and nod at me, “He knows I wasn’t laughing at him. He knows I was appreciating his good time”. It made my day. And it makes me smile thinking about now.

You know what else makes my day? When a little girl looks up to you and wants to be just as tall as you. My friend, Teresa has a daughter who wants to grow as tall as ‘her mommy’s friend, Holli’. I love that! It’s almost as refreshing as my own 4 nieces who compete to be the tallest. I make a point to tell them that I’m saving all of my evening gowns for them someday so they won’t have to look as hard as I did and the excitement in their eyes is priceless. They can’t wait. They don’t know what they are waiting for but they know it’s something good. Height is something to behold with them. It’s exciting. It’s powerful. Kids want to be JUST LIKE YOU. But here’s the key that I think a lot of people may miss…kids don’t see just the height. Yeah that’s part of it but they see the confidence and how you carry yourself and that’s what they are picking up on. That’s who they want to embody when they grow up.

When one of my younger nieces was 4 or maybe 5 years old I visited her pre-school and she introduced me to everyone in the room. It wasn’t my name that mattered or even the fact that I was Miss Tall International® at the time. What mattered to the boys and the girls was, “Could I touch the ceiling?” (I could) and I felt like a hero that day. Had I been embarrassed about my height, I would not have walked away with that amazing feeling. My niece was proud because she had the ‘Cool Aunt’ for show-and-tell. (Okay, I might’ve made up the ‘Cool’ part, but you get my point). We both walked away feeling awesome.

Another random thing that made me smile this week was one of the many times I got noticed. I went to a comedy club and as I was leaving I passed by where the comedians were selling their CD’s and t-shirts. I walked right up to the table and all 3 of the comedians ignored everyone directly in front of them and they all greeted me, “Hey Tall Girl, thanks for coming to the show tonight.” “How did you like the show?” “Would you like to buy a t-shirt/CD?” “Is that your boyfriend with you?” “How’d you like to go out sometime with someone a little shorter?” Keep in mind, people are 3 deep in front of me but all 3 comedians only have eyes for me. Either that or I’m seriously the tallest woman they have ever seen! I’m shouting over the tops of everyone how I loved the show and that I have a saying about shorter men. I made a motion from shoulder to shoulder and I said, “Must be this tall to ride the ride, Fellas.” I smiled, waved and walked out the door with my boyfriend in tow. Now tell me, how could you NOT smile after that?

Here are some other quick thoughts on things that made me smile this week:

· Knowing that I have exit row seats for my Portland – to – Amsterdam flight because the Delta flight attendant saw our heights (both of us at 6’4”) and she knew that we would really appreciate them

· Receiving 8 free drink tickets from a co-worker for my Delta flight (what a great guy that Roy!

· Getting my hair highlighted and knowing that the lighter color makes me feel like spring is on the way

· Buying new make-up at MAC that can cover anything (you’ll understand when you read below)

Now, I do have something to tell you that does not make me smile. It doesn’t really have anything to do with height but perhaps if you have pets you can relate. I have cats and there’s one in particular who isn’t cuddly during the day, but at night he likes to sleep on my head (the cat in the picture is the offending cat, Meow-Meow). Earlier this week he was directly on top of my head and I must’ve moved during the night in a way that startled him because he launched himself straight off of my face using his back-claws. I now have a black-eye. Honestly, it looks kinda cool, like I’m rough and I got in an altercation however I’m leaving for my big trip very soon and I certainly hope that the bruising and scratches calm down. Nothing that a little make-up won’t cover, I suppose.

It’s been pretty darn good week around my neck of the woods and I can’t complain. I’ll be taking in some new adventures over the next couple of weeks which you can be sure I will write about. Until then…

Living TALL with HOLLI

Pull up a chair and let’s have a chat.
I am just like you. I made spaghetti for dinner tonight. I used a canned sauce and put extra cheese in it because no one was watching (well, except for the cats...shhhh!). And for no reason at all I opened a bottle of chardonnay because I felt like it. I bet you do that occasionally.
I have great friends, some live in Portland, Oregon where I live. Some live elsewhere. In fact, tonight I’m drinking my chardonnay out of a glass that my good friend Jane gave me. The glass has a Queen’s crown on it and it makes me feel special. I do things periodically that make me feel special. You probably do that too.
I like to write, especially about the one truly noticeable thing that makes ME special…my height. Here’s where I may or may not be like you. I’m 6’4”. I can’t go into a ‘normal’ store and buy a long-sleeved shirt because the sleeves fit half-way up my arms. Ditto on the pants. I’ve never been able to shop in a ‘normal-sized’ store. It used to bother me, but it doesn’t anymore. Why, you may ask? Because I have options now (the dress I am wearing in the picture is one of my favorites from Long Legs Fashions !!!) and I can still go into those ‘normal-size’ stores for short sleeves, skirts (not too short, mind you), dresses, and things that don’t have to be fitted.

So a little bit about me: I grew up in tall family (picture above). Dad is 6’6”, Mom is 5’7”, and my sisters are all around 6’0”. I’m wearing heels in the picture below so I look like I’m the same height as my dad! I always wear heels. The way I see it, I’m taller than most everyone anyway. (Disclaimer: this picture is a few years old and I know my sisters might have a few things to say about this-we’ve all changed a bit) .So why write, and more importantly, why write about height? First and foremost I love to write. My hope is that most tall women can relate to at least something I write about. I’m not completely delusional in thinking that everyone is going to recognize themselves in me. That would just be plain silly. Maybe I can touch a nerve sometime? Maybe I can help someone at some point? Maybe even a story I share will be mirror a story of your own. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants?!? Get to know me as I open up about my life as a tall person. There will be good and bad, probably some funny stories and my hope is that you will find something to relate to. Personally, I enjoy being tall and the attention it gets me and I wouldn’t change it for the world. My height affords me the ability to meet new people on a daily basis that I don’t think people of regular height realize. I also think that my height has given me many other opportunities in business, relationship, and even friendships. There can be downsides as well which I fully intend on discussing.
So, sit back, have your glass of chardonnay or whatever makes you feel special and get to know me. I’m pretty sure we have a lot to talk about. If there is something on your mind please email me at info@longlegs.ca and I will be sure to get back to you or talk about it !! Thanks

LEGGINGS

Leggings are really hot going into Spring 2011. Above all, they are comfortable. All of our leggings are made of super soft fabric. Leggings are great because are very versatile. They can be dressed up with your fancy tunic blouse or dressed down in a very casual way. Different ways to wear your own leggings help you enhance your strategies to be fashionable. They enjoy a wide variety of colors as well. They are designed in ways to help develop your fashion sence. More and more designers this season have made leggings a key component of their collection. Various legging styles like our new Cargo Legging offer you more opportunities to make them go with your whole dressing style. As for length – they HAVE to be long enough…make sure you get a pair long enough for your long legs. Yeah …summer is coming !!