Sunday Service: Pixiwoo Style, Short Men and Cobblestones

Just a round-up of life, news, links, and things I like.

Just in case some of you missed the post about Sam Chapman (one half of Pixiwoo) and her amazing style then click this link.  I've had some great feedback from it, and there are some more in the pipeline.  She is 5' 10" and a style inspiration.

Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum

2) I was interested to read a BBC article this morning about how short men make better husbands.  This quote stuck out;

"In fact, people who have this kind of freedom rarely use it well. Fashion models, free to choose, inevitably choose rock stars - and since rock stars, freed by their glamour to choose, invariably choose to take a lot of drugs and go on the road and smash up hotel rooms in preference to being in a stable relationship, the models are always badly disappointed by their choice. You see them crying on the shoulders of the short men - dipping their long swan-like necks way down to do so, perhaps, but there you are, they do. Frequent failure is the true price of free choice"

The article touches on how short men are cute, like penguin chicks... That and how Napoleon wasn't actually as short as we generally make out (due to different measuring systems).  I'm not sure I agree with the article completely though it would be interesting to know how many if us girls have dated (or married) a shorter guy (or how many of you guys have dated a taller woman)?  You can read the piece here (link ).

Cobblestones and high heels.... potential for danger!

3) I went out to a nice traditional English town this weekend and found myself walking on some rather small cobbled stones, in heels.  I had to slow my pace quite considerably, to try and avoid damaging my ankles.  It got me thinking about how ladies (and men) have worn heels and attempted to walk over those very stones, and potentially done themselves a mischief.  I'm not saying I would get rid of them- they are far too pretty!  Is there a knack to walking over cobblestones in heels?  Answers in the comments below!

That's all for this Sunday.  I hope your weekend has been good!  I have been posting daily, and I am trying to keep posting regularly.  Let me know if you have any post requests.

Don't forget my giveaway is still open, but is for legitimate blog followers only.  It's a pretty big giveaway so if you like my blog then please feel free to take a look.

Stand Tall x

Jennie Runk: 5' 10" plus size model for H&M

I came across this image of Jennie Runk "Plus size model" for H&M.  Jennie is a US size 14-16 (UK 16-18).  Now I don't know about you but my first thought on seeing the campaign picture was that she looked pretty and healthy- I then found out that she was classed as 'plus sized' in the modelling world (although I thought she looked like a UK sized 12 so I'm not sure if that's 'model sizing').

Stunning Jennie Runk H&M dress

 The photo above is for H&M's beachwear line.  I thought it made a refreshing change to see normal healthy models used in a campaign.  I'm hoping that they make the dress above in my size as I'll be hunting it down in whatever H&M decides to using as my size that week.... (I fall between an 8-14 depending on the high-street store but that is a whole new post/rant!!)

Flawless Beauty!

Anyway I did a little research on Jennie, and was really pleased to see that she has the same issues with trousers as me..

"..... I was wearing sweat pants because my thighs were the size of their (her classmates) waists, and those pants were embarrassingly short because I was taller than the average adult, but still shopped at (pre-teen clothing store) Limited Too."

Glad to see that even models are not exempt from clothing woes!

Jennie off duty! Solve the trouser issues by wearing shorts! :)

Jennie for la redoute

25 year old Jennie has a Bachelor's Degree- pursuing academic studying alongside her modelling career.  She is an advocate for positive thinking and embracing health body confidence.  She has a facebook page (link) if you want to read her lovely thoughts or see more 5' 10" clothing inspiration.

Also she has written an article for the BBC website online (viewable here) which makes interesting reading.  Being 5' 10"  I thought Jennie made an excellent addition to 5' 10".

Have you seen many other campaigns using 'plus sized' models?  Any campaigns you'd like to ban for using unhealthily skinny models?  Any thoughts?

Stand Tall x

Tall Stories: Tall person + Heels? Ummmm

While high heels (3 or more inches) can 'look' pleasing they can throw up problems-

• Being tall and wearing heels can be undesirable (giant syndrome anyone?!)  Not to mention the ache from your neck after stooping to chat to all the small people who didn't get the memo to grow tall!
• They are impractical for wearing all day!  Fine if you are Nicole Richie or Tamara Ecclestone who has a stylist choose their outfit, prep them in a car before they walk 10 paces before the press and then sit for an evening before walking another 10 paces to the car (while the photographs lead us to believe that all they wear are skyscraper heels day in day out)!
• They hurt your feet and cause posture misalignment which can lead to all sorts of varied and related problems you never knew about until your doctor/osteo/chiropodist tells you some long latin words and then explains some horrible condition that all relates to your choice of footwear...

Christian Louboutin made these en pointe shoes to raise money for English National Ballet.  Pretty or pretty uncomfortable?

On the plus side they make your feet look smaller.  Yes I am talking about 'that' episode again.  Some of you will have read this before but I'll share it again... I'm talking about the time I went to try on some shoes.  I just wanted some day to day Mary Jane style shoes (like normal office heel shoes but with a strap so they stay on your feet when you walk).  I opted for the 1-2 inch heels but the Sales Assistant said I should try on the 3 inch heels just to see.  I do like tall heels, but I am not a fan of sticking out all the time- plus I worry about getting posture and arthritis when older so I'd rather reserve higher heels for occasional wear.  Anyway I tried on the lower pair, which fitted fine, I then tried on the higher pair wondering if the height would hurt my feet or turn me into Godzilla... then came the sting.

"How are you getting on?" said the Sales Assistant.  "Yeah, I'm not sure about these" I said, eyeing up the skyscrapers on my feet.  Then came the immortal words I have never forgotten... "Those look good.  They make your feet look smaller"... You WHAT?  You're saying I have big feet?  And that wearing cripplingly high heels will make my feet look smaller and this is a good thing?

Lobster shoes! Comfortable and height? Or just plan daft?

I wasn't really hung up on the size of me feet too much until that day.  Don't get me wrong- I know they are big- but my shoes size always sells out so I know it is popular.  More importantly they balance my height and I would look very odd (and fall over) if my feet weren't proportionate.  I may feet like I have to wear small canoes on each foot (especially when wearing flat shoes) BUT DONT USE MY SIZE TO BRIBE ME INTO BUYING ITEMS!!  And certainly don't give me complexes about fitting in when I am perfectly normal!!  I know that now, but at the time several years ago I just wanted to blend in and it seems that every store I visited for shoes just stocked skyscrapers and no alternatives.  Thankfully nowadays the flat shoe trend is hear to stay and mid sized heels which look fashionable AND comfortable are here to stay!  And even if they aren't 'fashionable' they are vintage styled which also appears to be cool nowadays!

Freya Shoes from Hush Puppy (link) £35-£60 with a normal heel! Get in!

I have some posts coming up about shoes for tall-ies.  Shoes that won't hurt your feet, cost the earth or make us stick out for the wrong reasons :) Having struggled in this area for many years I knew this was one of the topics I wanted to share on this blog- so keep your eyes peeled for some shoes posts!

Do you wear high heels?  How high will you go?  Do you have special trusted shops?  Any shoes secrets or stories?

Stand Tall x

(P.s. I didn't buy those shoes.  I removed them, smiled, thanked the guy and left the shop- and took my 'big feet' elsewhere to shop!)
(P.p.s. 5 foot 10 is now on Facebook (link) and Twitter (@5foot10blog) so more ways to stay up to date :) ) 

 

Tall Stories: TALL is not BIG!

This post was planned, but after a chat with  @Domrocks on twitter I bumped it to the top of the pile.

Ever been called 'big' when people mean 'tall'? Yes? Hurts doesn't it!

Just because we have height does not mean we are tall round our bellies!! We are not vertically challenged, but we might be horizontally challenged!

I have lost count of the amount of times I have gone into a shop and picked up a 'tall' item, only to find that it fits like a tend.  Since when does 5ft 10" mean that I am a size 16, 18 or more?  I look after myself and am a healthy weight for my height.  Of course I would like to be a bit thinner, a bit more toned, but then who doesn't?!  However I fall into size 8, 10 or 12 depending on the store (now THAT is a topic in it's own right!!).  A number of times these items will fall short on the torso, and if I want to cover it up, I have to go up a size or two!

Being called 'big boned' is one thing.  We tallies are big boned if you think about it, but being called 'Big' is a whole different kettle of fish. 

So to anyone reading this, the majority of us are tall but never 'Big'.  Most of us already feel like giants, but please don't make us feel like big fat giants!  It's amazing what affect a simple comment can have on our self-esteem and body image.  Our shoes might look like small canoes on each foot (Tali's phrase), but at least our feet are not too bloated to fit into shoes!!  We might need an extra bit of leg room on airplanes or aisle seats for our legs, but we never need to book two seats just to fit out bottoms in!!  (And even if we are a little on the podgy side, then have some tact and don't mention it!!) Got it?!

Have people ever used different words to describe your height?  Any tales to raise a smile?

Stand Tall!

P.s. Don't forget that 5foot10 is on blogspot and twitter.  Feel free to post a link on your twitter/blog to draw fellow 'tallies' into the family xx

More posts to follow, I've just had a bit of a tough week.