One of the biggest issues I've had being a tall women is SHOES.
I wear a size 9/43. Most of the time. So this is the first problem. Not many places do a 43. Next do but they always seem too small. As a result I've got about 3 pairs of Next shoes that I never wear because they kill my feet. Barratts is the same. It's very hit and miss. Most of the time size 9 is too small. Yet a 10 is ALWAYS too big. Plus a 10 looks too big.
Tall Girls do shoes but they are totally overpriced and of very, very poor quality. My advice is to steer clear. I got my most favourite pair of shoes from La Redoute but I think it was a stroke of luck as I've never seen a pair I like since I bought them. They were a little more expensive but worth it as they are still going strong after a whole summer of wearing them nearly everyday. More than cen be said for my Barratts shoes which last a few months at most.
After 8 has a store near me. I was thrilled when it first opened. The shoes and boots are a lot more expensive than I can usually afford (particularly when I was a student) and a lot of the styles are aimed at an older audience but I figured I'd get one decent pair that would do me for a year or so. You can imagine my disappointment when I first visited the shop in Kingston (which has very obscure opening hours by the way) only to find that they don't do refunds. Exchanges only. A student like me is not about to spend £200 on a pair of boots if I can't take them home and make sure they are definitely comfortable and go with my clothes etc. Shops that don't do refunds make me very irate. Needless to say I've never been back!
There are quite a few other online retailers that do womens' shoes at sizes 9 plus but I've found them to be all too expensive or the shoes too outrageous. Which brings me to my next gripe: Most of the bloody shoes have ridiculously high heels. I do not wear high heels. Never, not ever. Not even a few inches. One inch is probably my limit. Yet well over three quarters of the shoes on these sites have heels 3 three inches and above. Surely there is a correlation between bigger feet and height? Grrrrrrr it's so infuriating.
So I only wear flats. But that comes with it's own issues. When I was younger I used to get so worried about my feet looking really big in all these flat shoes. I'm not so bad now, although some styles just don't work in bigger sizes. And then comes the issue of what to wear with dresses or skirts. I basically don't wear dresses or skirts. I wish I could. I SO wish I could. I envy all my friends with their lovely dresses. But what shoes do you wear with a dress if you are over 6ft and female? I would love to hear from others. Flat shoes either look too big/long, not smart enough, chavvy, or I simply can't get any that fit (I particularly struggle with the pointy styles which you can just about get away with with a dress). So ladies, if you have any ideas and/or pictures. PLEASE SHARE!
I found these shoes from Barratts which are a GOD SEND. Thanks to them I've started wearing dresses again. I think they fit because they have the mesh so they are not too restrictive. I literally couldn't live without them, although they don't last THAT long - so I have 6 pairs!! And at the moment they are only £6 a pair!
Would really like to know when you purchased the mesh shoes from Barratt. I really would love to have them as well. Can you help.