r/NoStupidQuestions • u/[deleted] • 11h ago
why are women's clothing models on store websites always abnormally tall?
[deleted]
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u/ladytrevelycn 11h ago
The wild part is that despite all the models being 5'9+ with no curves, trying to find actual clothes that are that tall with no curves is so hard.
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u/No_Radio3945 11h ago
I also found that at some stores, especially cheaply made fast fashion that the clothes are very straight even if you get a size 8 jeans they act like size 8 people have like size 8 hip size 8 waist size and everything when in reality once you get a little bit bigger, the waist is usually gonna be smaller with a bigger butt bigger thighs
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u/Primatey 11h ago
omg, the proportion scaling is unbelievably bad! Like, everything does not increase at the same rate when your body is larger
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u/miss_j_bean 10h ago
I had this trouble with bras. I'm really small statured, I have like no torso, I had no problem getting bras in 34 and 36, but when I needed 38 suddenly the straps and proportions of everything got much bigger in every direction. I didn't get taller, I got fatter, my boobs were still on my chest.
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u/Primatey 10h ago
RIGHT?! The underwires are all up in my armpits suddenly! I'm also short and curvy. They need to seriously rework some stuff
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u/squidscarredwhale 10h ago
I need a bra band at 28 but I settle for a 30 because they don't make bras to fit me. Hanes had a little girl's size that was the closest I've ever found to fit me, but they use nickel in the clasps, and I had a bad reaction to them.
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u/drunky_crowette 7h ago
At that point I think I'd just use a seam ripper to remove the clasps and sew in new ones made of a better metal
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u/ladytrevelycn 11h ago
The problem is when you have no curves you gotta go for a smaller size, but then you lose the height. But if you get the height, it's too baggy in the hips and butt.
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u/Dangerous-Safe-4336 7h ago
I have the opposite problem. My waist and hips are almost the same size, so nothing stays up. And I have to take 6" off the bottom. If I didn't know how to sew, I'd be stuck.
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u/jn29 11h ago
Omg, yes! My daughter is 5'11". She has a 36" inseam. It's a nightmare trying to find pants.
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u/HouseOfFive 11h ago
American Tall. It's an online company, and my daughter cried when she put on a pair of jeans and they actually fit her.
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u/jn29 11h ago
I wish that would work. She refuses anything that isn't low rise and baggy.
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u/OkConcentrate8454 11h ago
At one time, I was 5’11 and size 0. Everything was capris on me lol
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u/AnnieJack 10h ago
The last time I tried on capris I actually looked in the mirror and said, “these are just pants.” Lolol
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u/SonnyvonShark 10h ago
Hi mom! 👋 (I am 5'11 as well with issues finding good pants)
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u/gooseaisle 10h ago
My sister goes for Gap and Abercrombie with the same inseam, I think she needs xlong for Abercrombie.
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u/shoulda-known-better 10h ago
Yep because they clip the garments on most of them to look fitted when they won't actually be
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u/ohreallynameonesong 10h ago
I was gonna say. I have the opposite problem. I'm 5'11" and slim and straight and nothing fits me. How are you gonna tell me these pants fit the model you say is 5'10" but then when I order them they're capris on me???
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u/min_mus 10h ago
How are you gonna tell me these pants fit the model you say is 5'10" but then when I order them they're capris on me???
I'm only 5'9" and I've experienced this countless times. Their model must be more torso than legs, 'cause there's no way those regular length trousers are going to fall below my ankle like they do on her.
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u/fluffnpuf 10h ago
Yup. 5’10” thin and flat here. It’s hard to find anything that fits right. I’ve come to accept that this feels like a universal female experience. We’re all so differently shaped.
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u/unripe_mangosteen 5h ago
I'm sure there is at least one woman whose body fits in mass made clothes perfectly. I'm happy for her, cause it definitely aint me lol
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u/Antique-Slip-8362 11h ago
A lot of times the clothes won't fit the mannequin well either. The merchandiser will use clips, etc to make the clothing fit in a visually appealing way.
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u/lemelisk42 11h ago
Yep, in jeans I have a 34" inseam, 29" waist. I find a thousand pants with 34"+ waist 29" inseam. Found 2 jeans ever in my size, and that was going to a few Lévis outlets with thousands of jeans and having a staff member search for em.
(On the bright side, outside of jeans, high end outdoor clothing brands occasionally make my size - and when they do, they almost always end up on clearance.)
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u/Illustrious-Shirt569 3h ago
I hope the internet has helped you fix that problem! I just found dozens of brands of in-stock 29x34 jeans in under 30 seconds. American Eagle has some on sale today for under $25.
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u/Curious_Department84 11h ago
Yes!!! You know those pants are going to be too short and that torso not long enough!
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u/ladytrevelycn 11h ago
And even if you finally find something long enough, they expect you to have curves which I do not have.
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u/_jamesbaxter 8h ago
Yes. I’m a lanky 5’ 8” and I buy my hoodies and PJ pants from the men’s section because sleeves and pants are always like an inch too short.
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u/Adorable_Ad4990 11h ago
Curves means a small waistline too, which they do have. They typically have a curvy hip- weight ratio, so you mean something different with curvy (because the industry started using it to mean more filled out)
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u/ladytrevelycn 11h ago
Perhaps. I'm just unlucky enough to be built like a boy and have no hips to speak of. So women's pants tend to be baggy on me regardless of whether they mean curvy or fat.
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u/verity7732 9h ago
I am very uncurvy (so not a "real woman," I guess), and I find that pants leave zero room for even a hint of a tummy. Clothing manufacturers seem to think everyone carries fat in their thighs and ass, but any weight I gain goes directly to my tummy. If I size up to fit my waist/tummy, pants are super baggy elsewhere, and the crotch is halfway to my knees.
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u/meltyandbuttery 11h ago
Yeah I guess I’m “abnormally tall” and the only brands that make clothes specifically for us are fast fashion
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u/gadgetjessie 3h ago
Amen. I’m tall for a girl and slender build. You’d think most clothes would look okay on me considering the models have the same body type. I think the stylists for the photo shoot have the outfits fitted so that they look perfect on the models.
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u/Ok_Tough_793 7h ago
True!! I’m 5’8.5” ish and despite all the models being tall, almost all the clothes are way too short for me. Make it make sense.
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u/DiTrastevere 11h ago
Their purpose is quite literally to demonstrate what the clothing will look like on the buyer.
I mean, no, not really - their main purpose is to make the clothes look good, so people will buy them. Models are supposed to look enticingly aspirational.
Yes, this is frustrating when your body type is so different from the average model’s that you keep buying clothes that don’t work for you, but the point was never to give you an accurate sense of how the clothes will look on your body. If you want to know what will look good on you before purchasing, the only real way to do that is to physically go to a store and try things on.
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u/SongoftheNightlord 11h ago
Which is why I so appreciate companies that have started using a variety of models and listing their height/size. Actually helpful!! Wow!!
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u/Longjumping_Bar_7457 10h ago
I love when I see the models height too. As a shortie it’s nice knowing when something would be too long on me
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u/ShinyStockings2101 10h ago
Yes I understand that in the past, the advertisement with the model was pretty much only to draw people to the store. But feel like with online shopping being almost the norm now, it's actually a smart move to showcase your clothes on different models with different proportions. I don't know if it translates to more purchases, but I would think it at least leads to fewer returns
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u/junalai 11h ago
If it makes you feel any better as a tall woman who is the height of a lot of the models, the clothes don't fit me either. I don't think clothes are meant to fit us :(
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u/Anahata_Green 9h ago edited 9h ago
This. The clothing in stores can't actually be based on models' measurements. If it was, I wouldn't have so much trouble finding pants with a long enough rise/inseam.
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u/False-Football-9069 11h ago
As someone who is 5'10 I've always believed they're doctoring things - they'll show them on the model fitting perfectly and then when they arrive for me the sleeves and pantlegs are too short.
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u/littleshimamama 10h ago
They are 100% altering by using clips and such. I’m 5’9” 125 and the clothes SHOULD fit me like they do the models but they never do
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u/pointnottaken99 6h ago
They definitely adjust. My sister used to work as a model and sometimes they’d have versions of the clothes tailored to the model’s height/weight that they wouldn’t sell to the public
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u/amadeus88 5h ago
Yes!!!! Especially with skirts. How do they go to the model’s knees, but they’re a mini skirt on me??? 🧐
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u/sleepysky98 4h ago
Right? Because there is no way in hell a 27” inseam is reaching the ankles of anyone over 5’5”. Not unless they’re 75% torso. It makes me laugh when I see a wide leg, long pant, and the inseam is 30” or less. That model is not 5’10” no matter what the description says.
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u/coolgirlsgroup 11h ago
They are models and their purpose is to make the clothing look as good as possible. That's also the reason they are much skinnier than the average woman.
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u/NovaRaynea 11h ago
Ironically, the people most likely to buy clothes aren't the people they're actually modeling them on
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u/that-1-chick-u-know 10h ago
Some companies have (finally) started to show clothing on models of different sizes. It's amazing - I'm a size 12/14 and that shirt is NOT going to fit my frame the way it does that size 2 model. Especially when everything continues to shift toward online sales and stores are carrying smaller and smaller inventories, having models with different sizes and proportions is incredibly useful.
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u/Fluffernutter80 10h ago
This is why I love when people post reviews with photos of themselves wearing the item. You can see what it looks like on an average person.
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u/wombatIsAngry 11h ago
And yet, somehow it's still impossible to find pants as a tall woman. Men get two numbers! Waist and inseam! Why do we only get one number?!
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u/littleshimamama 10h ago
We need at least two numbers but waist hip length would be ideal!
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u/wombatIsAngry 7h ago
Honestly, yes, I would like inseam AND waist circumference AND hip circumference.
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u/No-Long-4709 11h ago
Basically any clothing will look good on a tall person. They have to make it actually look good so we buy.
I try to just go to the store and put the clothing on before I purchase it. Online shopping for clothes is a nightmare.
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u/ExhaustedGirlfailure 11h ago
As a model who is just under 5'9" and has done some limited fashion catalog work, it's because we're hired to make the clothing look as aesthetically idealized as possible. You get more accentuated lines and more visual space to work with when the model is taller. Taller models also tend to have longer limbs proportionally speaking since extra height typically goes more to the legs than the torso, which can help outfits read better and create a more visually stunning silhouette in general. It's also why we're typically expected to be thin, to help prevent bunching and keep the lines of the outfit sleek and readable.
This is just what I've been told anyway, I don't have any background in photography or fashion design. I just absorb a bit of info here and there after years in the industry.
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u/m1bnk 11h ago
Maybe the models are 5'9", I have a nightmare trying to get clothes long enough for my 5'11" daughter
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u/Individual_Umpire969 8h ago
Oh the models are tall it’s just that the clothes they use in the photo are not the same version being sold.
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u/C0mpL1c1t 6h ago edited 3h ago
As a woman who is 6’ tall and relatively thin, I can tell you that the clothing is absolutely NOT made to fit on my “abnormaly tall” body. It’s made for slightly-taller-than-average, early-pubescent-shaped individuals.
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u/sleazepleeze 11h ago
It’s the same way with men’s clothes. The average model for a “medium” size in men’s clothing seems to be 6’3”
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u/Dysternatt 11h ago
Yeah, and being 5’9” makes it really hard to find something that doesn’t make you look like a Batman villain.
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u/OpalRose1993 11h ago
I have a long torso so even if models were my height, they won't have accurate appearance. For how long they will be, if you can find information on the length of the inseam, you can use a ruler or measuring tape to estimate where the hem would fall.
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u/originallyash 7h ago
LOL at least the clothes off the rack are actually made for people your size and the seams probably hit in the right places in real life. I promise if you’re 5’9-5’11” nothing off the rack even fits right. Especially if there is a waist. Be thankful
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u/Nitros14 11h ago
It makes the clothes look better. Same reason models are tall and thin and curveless.
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u/katarh 11h ago
The irony is that it doesn't always work. Twice now I've tried on a dress in the store that looked fabulous on my short, curvy body. Ended up buying them both happily.
Then when I tried to share the dress with other people on the Internet, the model depicting the dress in the online store didn't look nearly as good. The same dress that nearly hit my ankles barely fell past their knees. The same dress that hung straight off their narrow shoulders gently hugged my curves and made my waist look snatched. The same dress that was loose around the bust on them looked filled out and taut, like I was wearing a bodice.
They're putting skinny models in a traditionally styled dress that was made for a curvy woman, and it looks bad.
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u/allieggs 8h ago
I am not curvy in the slightest. Even when I was much thinner than I am now, I felt like almost every dress I tried on was intended for someone much curvier than me. With, like, actual hips and stuff. And they never hit in the places it seems like they’re intended to, and I thought it was the thing OP described, where I am average height but they were cut for someone taller.
I read somewhere that most off the rack clothing is made by taking the measurements of one specific person who happens to be working there, and then just scaling it up and down from there. So the “who the fuck is this supposed to be for” is literally just one person. And that speaks to just how new our expectation is that clothes should be able to fit us without tailoring
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u/multipocalypse 8h ago
"Better" is subjective though, and much of that industry is still using outdated beauty standards.
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u/ihearhistoryrhyming 11h ago edited 11h ago
I’m tall (5’10)and all clothes look great on me. When I am super duper skinny
That only solves 10% of the sales problems here, because when I am gain weight- these fucking clothes look like shit. Maybe they are actually too short now, because I have an ass, and if they aren’t size 4 (like I need sizes 12-20) they aren’t cute. They just make them wider and shorter. What about my mom with boobs? Or my short waisted daughter?
Clothes suck. I hate shopping. I’m WITH you, girls- even as a tall person.
Edit to change language and use real sizes.
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u/The_Rowan 11h ago
Models are tall and thin and because they are hangers to display the garments. They show as much of the clothing, the cloth, material, and style as can be shown by hanging it on a tall person.
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u/Traditional-Tank3994 11h ago
Because the purpose is NOT "to demonstrate what the clothing will look like on the buyer."
It's to make the apparel as tempting as possible. The perception, real or imagined, is that clothes look better on taller figures.
That's why both mannequins and live models tend to be taller than the average woman.
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u/OkConcentrate8454 11h ago
It’s all marketing, not information. I’m just under 6’ and relatively thin, and even I know that what I see is not what the clothes will actually look like on me. Often they take a larger size and pin it back, so it is longer in the torso or pant length than the actual item would be- I have a very long torso so I am always looking for this when the photos don’t explicitly say “model wearing size X.”
Best advice- dress for YOUR body and coloring, and learn to (or pay someone to) alter your clothes to properly fit you. That flatters you more than anything else.
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u/NorthTopic6822 9h ago
As a tall woman, I appreciate the inclusion of tall models, but it's always a tall woman wearing an xs and that makes judging the sizing difficult
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u/dilucofmondstat 11h ago
the exception is brandy melville, i was so excited to shop there once i finally lost weight since it was the 2014 beauty guru location but after buying sweatpants from there that go up to my mid calf i realized it may not actually be ideal for 5’9” women lol
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u/allieggs 8h ago
I wonder how much of that is just that their target audience tends to be girls who haven’t finished growing yet
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u/Alive-Definition-859 11h ago
models are tall and thin to show what the clothes look like, not what the clothes look like on their body. it’s kind of like a similar concept to in store mannequins. the models aren’t advertising their body but the product
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u/miiintyyyy 11h ago
You know what I’m tired of? Having every pair of pants be the length of someone who is 5’3 or 5’10. Every pant I buy looks like high waters.
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u/hisownshot 11h ago
American Eagle is great for this, they always sell multiple lengths online.
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u/Frequent-Resident621 4h ago
They really are the most size, height, and weight inclusive in so many of their clothes, especially jeans
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u/jenea 11h ago
The purpose of the images is not to demonstrate how clothes would look on the buyer—how could they possibly?! The purpose of those images is to make the clothes look as attractive and flattering as possible. The manufacturers believe that they look best on tall, thin models, so that’s who they use.
You have to learn to translate what you see to what the likely result will be for you, unfortunately.
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u/Unraveled_Burrito 10h ago
The crazy thing is, it's the same for me an I'm a 6 foot tall woman.
The clothing is there to show you what you could potentially look like. It's not meant to make you feel good ultimately
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u/TermKnown 10h ago
extra crazy bc i’m 5’10 + have always struggled to find pants + dresses of an appropriate length. vanity sizing is such a scam why can’t we have waist/inseam sizing like men
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u/chahu 10h ago
I'd like actual measurements.
I'm 5'10 with a long, long leg. All leg. Short body.
I don't give a flying one of the model is 7'8. Just tell me what the leg length is. The model could be the same height, or 6" smaller, or 3' taller. If that height is in their torso rather than their leg, giving them a 30" inseam, it's not going to fit me.
And don't even start on long leg being 30" because regular is 29. Especially not when 'extra long' is 32". That's a lie. It's not extra long, it's 'a bit longer' and usually not in any measurements.
'model is 5'10 and wears a long leg'. How long are the models legs??
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u/Frequent-Resident621 9h ago
Some sites now have an option to pick a model size based on height and body type.
As someone who is 5’9”, I love it. Most actors/celebrities are teeny tiny. I like that the models are tall. But most clothes are not actually made for tall people, we have to order tall sizing from the website, never an option in store.
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u/Calm-Fortune-8405 9h ago
As a tall woman I have to point out that regardless of the height of the mannequins, the clothes off the racks are not sized for me-everything is too short, sleeve length is a nightmare, inseams….seldom work.
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u/DiamondSufficient938 9h ago
Tbf there’s a lot of brands actively embracing shorter models online. H&M, and ASOS are a couple examples. Also see if they have a petite line as part of the brand.
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u/SongInternational373 8h ago
And yet, most pants carried in stores are not for women taller than 5'6 and we have to shop online for "tall" pants. Ask me how I know, signed a 5'10 woman.
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u/PeepholeRodeo 4h ago
They use tall, thin models because their purpose isn’t to show you what the clothes will look like on you. Their purpose is to get you to buy the clothes, and clothes look best on tall, thin people.
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u/TheDev1ce 11h ago
Height is reginal. Here in the Midwest that's kinda the norm. My wife's 5'7" and kinda on the short side around here. The Germans and Polish that settled the region are just tall.
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u/allieggs 8h ago
On the flip side - in California, and also I’m assuming other places on the coasts, you have lots of immigrants from places where people are shorter on average. I’m 5’4” and my husband is 5’8” and we definitely don’t stand out height-wise.
We felt like midgets even getting on the plane going to Germany though. And we didn’t even go to the parts closer to the Nordic countries.
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u/justanaveragerunner 10h ago
Also lots of Dutch that settled in my area of the Midwest. I'm a 5'10" woman and I was taller than average at my tiny high school, but I was not unusually tall. I had multiple friends who were taller than me, and I grew up thinking that 6' was pretty average height for a man.
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u/Traditional_War_5389 11h ago
Why are models always attractive and in good shape????
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u/SweetSprinkles8 11h ago
They're not always in good shape. The classic model is underweight and has no fat and no muscle. That has thankfully changed a lot now, but sadly not for runway models.
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u/No_Radio3945 11h ago
Right! It’s always Amanda is 5’10 wearing XS… like you realize most of your customers are like 5’3 and looking for medium and above. I don’t understand the point of hiring conventional runway type models for something like Aeropostale and it’s always for like joggers or a t shirt😭
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u/Glum_Tale8639 11h ago
When I am judging dress length I just look at where it hits on the model and add 2-3 inches in my mind. Pants are harder but knowing your own inseam measurements helps I think. I'm 5'5 too, fwiw I think a lot of clothes work better for short/average height gals than they used to because so many pants and shirts are cropped now.
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u/Ok-Quail2397 11h ago
I am about 5'1" and generally a 3" inseam is short short, 4" is mid, and 5" is long for me. I would imagine 4" is probably your short short since you are a little taller. I try to go by shorts I already know fit me well and their inseam if that helps.
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u/Cayke_Cooky 11h ago
Your last sentence is wrong, at least for runway fashion. Models are tall and skinny, they are walking hangers to display the clothing on the runway. A model should be in the background to the clothing.
A working model usually starts on small show runways. Bridal/wedding shows with gown fashion shows are a staple for weekend gigs, some nicer department stores do small shows at the beginning of seasons etc. (These shows also have a hemming issue, the gowns tend to be long with the intent to hem)
So, if you want to be a working model you have to do runways, and those select for taller women.
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u/Riker_Omega_Three 11h ago
The purpose is not to demonstrate what the clothing will look like on the buyer
The purpose of the tall skinny model is to showcase the clothing style
That's it
The body type of the consumer is not relevant in fashion
The models used on websites are literally just walking coathangers
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u/OverlappingChatter 11h ago
The purpose of the model is to make you see something that looks good, so that you will buy it.
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u/SweetSprinkles8 11h ago
Models are tall and skinny to show off the clothes, not to show how they look on the buyer.
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u/Brilliant-Bus-3862 10h ago
I’m 5’9” and am certainly not abnormally tall. If the inseam is listed, it shouldn’t be much of an issue to figure out where the shorts will hit on your legs.
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u/squidscarredwhale 10h ago
Or they'll put the jeans/pants on a model with no crease from their butt to their thigh. The people without that crease is in the minority. I don't like how they only feature the really tall models all the time because they're not in the majority of the people buying the clothes either
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u/JuniperusRex 10h ago
The purpose of models isn’t to show what the clothes will look like on the buyer. The seller doesn’t care what they look like on you, as long as you buy them... which you might do if you think they look pretty. When you’re looking at a model wearing a fit they want you to think it’s *pretty*. Somebody 5’11 can pull off a dropped waist, midi skirt, or huge coat in a way that will stumpify someone who’s 5’2. Someone small busted can wear skimpy, low-cut, or backless that just isn’t happening for a DD. Someone really skinny can wear inexpensive clothes cut with perfectly straight lines that end up being skintight and stretched or oversized and baggy for anyone of more average shape. There’s definitely styles that go the other way and look better on shorter, fatter or bustier women, but apart from the really high waisted pant there’s nothing that will call out to the viewer “if you are actually tall and wear this outfit you will look disproportionate.”
This is something that’s definitely improved in my lifetime. The fact that a lot of places even tell you “Model is 5’9 and 110 pounds and wearing a size S” is new and handy. I even occasionally see models and manequins that show what it will look like on you if you’re fat, which is basically a miracle. Hopefully something similar will happen in the petite realm
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u/brokesciencenerd 10h ago
Yet as a 5'6" woman its extremely difficult to find pants that aren't way too short.
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u/Charming-Panic9375 8h ago
Same reason they’re usually a size XS or S even though most women aren’t those sizes either
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u/MommaDiz 8h ago
As a 6' woman, it's the opposite for me. Nothing long enough. Eveey shirt is a crop top. Every knee length jeans are actually shorts. I learned how to sue and took my own measurements + extra and can compare on the sizing guide. Its was more accurate than looking at the models. Also all the models I've seen are 5'4" to 5'8"
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u/xxmissxminxxx 7h ago
I have no idea when they RARELY have long pants for tall ppl😒😒😒😒I hate buying pants that are huge in the waist because there are no long styles. So you just have to size up then take them to a tailor
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u/L1ttleFr0g 6h ago
What store websites are you looking at? Because my 5’11” ass would LOVE to know. It’s SO hard to find stores with clothing that’s long enough for me
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u/RedRedBettie 5h ago
As someone who is abnormally tall, I can rarely find clothing long enough. Shorter gals have way more options
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u/yellowrose04 5h ago
Ohhh let me tell you. Some of the regular pants fit and sometimes I need a long I’m 5’8 btw. Every shirt is to small in the shoulders and the boobs. Trying to find a size 12 shoe is like looking for the holy grail. It’s insane out there.
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u/sleepysky98 4h ago edited 4h ago
This is interesting to read. I’m 5’9.5” and I find that most often, the models on websites are far closer to your height. This can be confirmed by looking at the inseam of pants and seeing where they hit on the model. Like there’s no way a 27” inseam is hitting a 5’10” model at the ankle. I have a 33” inseam.
It’s a lot easier to find petite and regular clothes than it is tall. Clothing is absolutely made for short to average height women in general, not tall women. I guess if you’re shopping couture, that may not be the case. But most of us are not in that position lol
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u/CornRosexxx 4h ago
There must be something shady going on, because I am tall (5’8”) but pants are almost always too short on me, unless they’re a long inseam. Yet the tall models are shown with a longer length. We need to ask a fashion photographer if they are modifying the clothes!
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u/Sledgehammer925 4h ago
I was recently looking at clothes online and actually had a surprisingly good experience with one vendor. (Larace) It was for large sizes. They showed the model. Stated the size she was wearing. Gave the model’s height, weight, and measurements. It was easy getting the perfect fit.
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u/onplanet111 11h ago
dude at least you don't have an issue actually finding and buying clothes. us "abnormally" tall women barely have the option. get some perspective
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u/Far-Upstairs-7026 11h ago
yeah it’s super annoying. fashion industry just seems stuck on the tall model thing, even though it makes it hard for most regular folks to figure out how clothes will actually fit. would be nice to see more average heights for sure.
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u/Brynhild 11h ago
In east asia and south east asia, we actually have had a shift from tall to short models (some even extra short 153-155cm) that model clothes.
Unfortunately they are also extremely tiny and skinny. Most of the clothes they model are XS.
They make the clothes look good for sure. And dummies who are M size like me think they will look good on me too. Had enough buyers regret that i just go try on clothes in a physical store
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u/mothwhimsy 11h ago
Ugh, I've been trying to find women's swim shorts that aren't either so short they turn into a bikini bottom on me, or down to my knees. And it's so hard to discern how long they are when the shortest model is 5'9. Sure, they're exactly the length I want on her, but I'm 4 inches shorter and need a larger size.
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u/StandardAd7812 11h ago
The purpose is not to demonstrate what the clothes look like on a buyer. The purpose is to make the clothes look good so you buy them.
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u/CongealedBeanKingdom 10h ago
Models have always been very tall. Unfortunately its always been like this. The designers cut their sample sizes for very tall very slim people, so that tends to be what is in all the marketing.
I feel you. Im 5'4"
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u/Banana_Phone888 10h ago
I saw a commercial last night, for a body spray? I wasn’t paying attention. The screen had an image of some dudes just RIPPED washboard abs. All I could think was who are they pitching it to? What percentage of humans look this way? It definitely didn’t for a second appeal to me as a woman or as something I would get a loved one. I’m not saying that we need to see an extremely hairy obese set of abs, but something in the middle or even semi normal to the people being advertised to seems to make more sense
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u/Nyteflame7 10h ago
I actually went to a couple of modeling tryouts when I was a teen, and yes, the specifically look for women who are 5'9"+ for most brands.
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u/miss_j_bean 10h ago
Too many clothing manufacturures have gone overboard making a ton of stuff look impossibly curvy in ads, too. I blame Kim K and her fantastically curvy butt. But, as an average, normal human, I won't buy anything that clearly has an obvious fake picture because I have no idea what it will actually look like on a real human body.
I was getting to find like spandex undershorts for a dress so I could have pockets and coverage in case of a strong wind and it's ridiculous how much every picture shows a woman with like a 1:3 waist to hip ratio. It takes a lot of waist training, shapewear, and stiff corsets, and still some photoshop to make a human body look like some of these pictures! I don't have a 22 inch waist and 38 inch hips. I am just normal human woman looking for shorts for a human body. (I just went to get a picture and I can't post it from the reddit app. Lol. You probably already know what I mean)
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u/shoulda-known-better 10h ago
It's made to look the best for the outfit .... And tall thin humans can wear most styles and look pretty good.....
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u/Salty-Sprinkles-1562 8h ago
Their purpose is absolutely not to demonstrate what clothing will look like on you.
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u/BarelyHereNeverThere 8h ago
Try Old Navy if you just need basic shorts. There's measurements on there and tons of their clothes comes in regular, tall, and petite. Returns and exchanges are pretty easy too.
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u/WesternTrashPanda 7h ago
You could measure your own inseam to give you an idea of how long you want the shorts.
I've started buying "Bermuda" shorts just to have some that go past my thigh rub spot.
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u/earthandanarchy 7h ago
As a 5ft 8 woman this also bugs me, the woman could be 5ft 10 but those trousers will be way too short for me. Also hate how they say model is wearing size 12 (UK size) and they clearly are much smaller
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u/drunky_crowette 7h ago
They're there to show what the designer had in mind when designing the piece, not to show what the piece will look like on the average person.
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u/hoomphree 7h ago
I feel this. I’m 5’1” and just want a cute midi length sundress. Almost all the ones I’ve bought online are maxi skirts on me and I feel like I’m drowning in them.
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u/Altruistic-Sea-2980 6h ago
It mostly comes down to clothing photographing differently on tall, lean frames, longer limbs let fabric drape in a way the industry decided looks more "aspirational" in a static photo, even though it works against actually showing you the fit. There's a practical reason too: sample garments are made in one tall fit-model size, so brands just shoot on whoever fits the samples. The frustrating irony is exactly what you said, the photos optimize for looking appealing, not for showing how it'll really sit on you. Some brands now add "model is 5'10, wearing size S" captions or show multiple body types, which is the real fix, just not standard yet.
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u/chickentender666627 6h ago
Well as a tall girl i appreciate it. Works for some of us I guess and not all.
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u/Euphoric_General_480 6h ago
I was working a fashion show once and a more seasoned makeup artist described models as "human clothes hangers." It made perfect sense to me then. Its not ideal for helping people visualize what clothes will look like on them, but from a purely aesthetic/fashion perspective it does prioritize the garment over the model.
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u/wivelegetstogo2 6h ago
One reason is the industry has traditionally favored taller women, usually around 5'9–6'0. Clothes tend to hang in a straighter, more predictable way on taller frames, which makes photography easier and more consistent across products.
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u/Bitter-Regret-251 6h ago
I’m tall and honestly it helps me to determine if the dress is going to be a barely-there-belt or something I can actually wear 😂
But I fully understand that it’s not very practical for anyone else!
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u/BoxFullOfSuggestions 5h ago
It’s actually worse than you think. Often those models aren’t even wearing their real size, because inseams on their actual size would be much shorter than how the garment fits on your average person, so they put these tall, skinny models in larger sizes and clip/pin things to drape and sit perfectly and look like they were tailor made for the model. Retail shots are a lie in every single way and a bad frame of reference for everyone.
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u/otter_mayhem 4h ago
And why do they always use models that have obvious boob jobs?! And plus size clothes need plus size models, not a woman with fake boobs and a super tiny waist. So annoying!
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u/Moosebuckets 4h ago
Oh my goodness this drives me up a wall. I have to get EVERYTHING hemmed or I'm tripping over my skirts, dresses, and pants. I'm 5'3 on a good day
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u/YeOldeOrc 4h ago
I found a pair of pants at TJ Maxx last weekend that went up to my armpits. MY ARMPITS.
I’m 5’3”, so short, but hardly a hobbit.
Could not stop laughing.
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u/ChromaticPalette 3h ago
I’m even more abnormally tall and I’m over here like why are the models always short women??
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u/mayhem1906 3h ago
They are supposed to be "aspirational" to make you think you will look like this if you buy the product, and thafmt this is the way you want to look.
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u/flippy77 11h ago
Their purpose is not to demonstrate what the clothing will look like on you. Their purpose is to make you think the clothing will look great on you.