How important are clothes to you?

yes. i definitely agree with you.

Because I am long waisted, some of my things need to be for talls. Like bathing suits. I bought nice ones a few years back at Sears. I try not to pay full price for anything either. I saw a really cute pair of pants in a new shipment at Wal Mart, and finally calmed myself down about them, decided to wait. I used the tactic of figuring out how many hours I would have to work to pay for them. It sure helped.

GardenGerty, you sound like me when I shop. I don't count the hours to pay for it. But I have been known to shop all day, pick up stuff, take it around the store, and then argue with myself and take it and hang it back up. I figure, if I have that much time to shop, I probably don't need it in the first place. I've been many times looking for something and come home empty handed. I do know how to NOT buy, believe me.

I'm way smaller, but I sew and adjust for I can use.

Kitten, I always did that when my kids were home. Now I buy more for my grandkids and my daughter than I do myself. I could never wear hand me downs - I'm WAY taller than my Mother.

I was taught to sew by my Mother. We both made custom draperies, and we also sewed for ourselves. But I just haven't wanted to make clothes for a long time. I had rather buy them. But I have made some very nice things, including long coats for myself and also jackets for my husband. Now, I'd rather buy than go through the hassle of finding a pattern, the material and getting it made.

She shops at Consignment shops. Consignment shops and thrift stores are completely different. Clothes in consignment shops are high-class clothes brought in by people who can afford them. They sell them for whatever the owner of the shop can get and the owner gets a percentage of the amount they sell them for. Clothes coming from consignment shops are usually just like new. I have a friend in Missouri that does most of her shopping in consignment shops there and has beautiful clothes. If you pay attention to Sarah Palin's clothes, most of them are hers that she bought there, and they look just as nice as those that the woman bought for her at Neiman Marcus or Fifth Avenue (or wherever she got them). I think anyone who can afford better clothes has the right to buy them or if they want to shop at Consignment shops, great for them. If I had any near me and they carried tall clothes, I'd be shopping there, too.

I know what you mean having problems finding things that fit. I've always had a smaller waist for my hip size and a smaller bust line. I like it when the outfits are inner-changeable. You can buy a skirt/pants in one size and a top in another. But then, again, if the pants are not by a company that makes for tall only, the waist is always way too large! I hate that, too. I have found some slacks, though, that fit in the waist and I bought several pairs. I hate flouncy clothes, too. I'm more for the tailored fits. I don't mind some decoration being on a jacket or blouse, but I don't go for the new skirts/dresses that have pleats around the bottom, or something like that. Just isn't attractive to me at all.

You have to be very slender to pull those clothes off. I once could say I was in that category but not any longer. But I wouldn't have worn them even then. But I do have a granddaughter who could wear almost anything and look good!

I completely agree! I often see women in flouncy clothing and just cringe because they go from being healthy looking to chubby. Flouncy clothing is tough to wear and very few body types can wear it.

I am 5' 11" and a normal size - not a plus woman. I have found tall slacks at Penney's. They used to sell Counterparts which was not stretchable and came in several colors, but they quit having those pants. I really miss them. They have had 2 different kinds of stretch slacks, and now there is one. But I wear hose, so they look very nice. There is no way I could afford to go to a Tall shop anymore, now that I am not working. I did buy all my clothes at a downtown Tall shop when I was working. But things have gotten so high, that's impossible anymore. You almost have to be rich. I don't like ordering from magazines unless they have the same name brands I buy. You never know what you are going to get. Either the hips are too tight, or the waist is way too big. In fact, most you find in the stores that aren't tall are the same way. That's why I like Penney's. I have also bought Tall suits at Penney's, but, as far as I've seen lately, they no longer have those. Thank goodness I have a solid black one and a black pinstripe. I just wish we tall girls could find colored slacks. I have grey, black, and cream. I want some brown slacks! As for jeans, I haven't worn them since breaking my hip 7 years ago. They seem to pull on my hip and that doesn't work.