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No Faux Pas with Tall Faux Fur

Yesterday’s post was all about finding coats/whatever your closet actually needs to live a functional life. If you missed and want to catch up, click here. Coincidentally, we’re back today talking about more coats, because Wisconsin. Winter has arrived early here and we’re glad to have our coat collections in order to brave the elements. Our temperatures dropped drastically the last couple of weeks and we’ve gotten snow more than a few times already. Coping with grey skies more than normal, we like to put some “fun” in functional. That’s how Caitlin ended up with this sumptuous faux fur leopard coat. 

Isn’t it just divine?! There is something so classy and expensive looking about faux fur. Plus we’ve both longed for a tall faux fur of our own, but never wanted to spend the money because it seemed like it was a frivolous purchase. There is something to be said about delaying purchases to see if you really still remember what it was you “had to have” at the moment. We both are add to cart girls and especially in Asos we’ve got our favorites saved on their handy saved items page. When it comes a time that we’re ready to purchase though, you can always tell which items you really had to have, because you didn’t even need to save them. If they stick in your memory, you know it’s a good purchase. 

That was definitely how Caitlin felt when she saw this faux fur on sale. The price was right and she had been yearning for it. So when it arrived, it was love. It fits our tall proportions like a dream. No cold wrists here. Plus it’s pet-worthy. You’ll find yourself getting a lot more hugs wearing this coat, it is so soft. Caitlin wore it to a play last week and sat there petting it the whole time. The coziest, while still being super chic. 

You’ve seen us rocking leopard print a lot, so clearly it fits her wardrobe. I’ve been thinking about colors/prints a lot lately. Normally I’d try to build my wardrobe with different colors to stretch it. In theory that’s a good idea. But in practicality, I just went through my clothing to donate/trash and I always end up getting rid of the colors I bought to have a “different” color. One of the colors that I need to let go of, are most blues. In looking through my drawers and closet, it’s a color I just don’t reach for and don’t keep. Which is ok, and helpful to realize! As you’re going through your closet, we challenge you to do the same. 

The better you realize where your buying habits aren’t aligning with your wearing habits, the better your closet will serve you. Especially, anyone who is interested in capsule wardrobes, this will do you a favor. It will be much easier to mix and match looks, plus it will definitely help you pack for trips! Since Caitlin loves to wear black and white, this leopard coat will go great with her most worn tops. She has been utilizing Pinterest a lot lately to help her expand her fashion horizons and find fun new inspo. We’re all about building a wardrobe that is foremost well-fitting, followed closely by often worn. You’ve heard it here often, but getting that cost-per-wear is more important than ever. We definitely do fast fashion shopping, but we loathe wearing items once or twice and discarding them. You better believe we’re going to wear items until they fall apart. 

Caitlin’s jacket sparks a lot of joy in her life, and I think it’s all the sweeter because we haven’t been easily able to find tall statement pieces. It’s worth waiting around for one to show up. You won’t be wasting your budget on something you’ll eventually have to toss after you admit it doesn’t fit you as well as you hoped. I’m only speaking from experience (here’s looking at you the perfect fitting jean jacket). 

She paired it with her other surprisingly smart purchase, which is these American Eagle Black skinny jeans. She is wearing size 12L for size reference. They were inexpensive, comfortable, and a true closet staple. You’ll be able to wear them out to any events you have for the upcoming holiday season. Plus they have a great stretch feel yet maintain their fitted shape. So if you wanted to be fashionable yet as comfortable as can be for your turkey dinner, you could do it comfortably with an oversized sweater. Especially because they have a true high rise that goes past your belly button. She tossed on her go-to pair of black booties and was out the door. If you are looking to add a little height and a little class these booties are for you! 

Are there any recent purchases you were surprised to find you wear much more than anticipated? What about vice versa? Did you buy something you were sure you’d wear a ton and then it’s sat collecting dust on your shelf? Let us know in the comments below!

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Mad for Tall Plaid

Good Morning! I know we haven’t exactly been staying consistent with posting on the blog. Given that Instagram is ever-evolving, with the removal of likes and whatever will come next; we’re more resolved to stick with posting on our blog to control our content. It still seems there could be some evolution in what that will look like on the blog, but we always welcome your feedback. Whatever you’re looking for, we’d be glad to hear it and help you if possible! As for Instagram, we don’t share the same sentiments of living and dying by engagement/likes, etc. People have their reasons for why they don’t click like or leave a comment, and that’s your business. We’re going to keep on, and not badger anyone to engage with us. Know that we appreciate it when you do, and love hearing your messages if we’re able to help you!

So anyway, now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the one thing that we can never seem to avoid mentioning: the weather. It’s unavoidable and starts to get understandably annoying but it directly correlates to what we have to wear. So for that reason, we must come to terms with its connection to our love of clothing. If we love wearing clothing, we have to understand and accept the types/styles our climate allows us to comfortably do so. You can spend all of your money buying the cutest tank tops and mini skirts, but when the time comes they’ll sit in your closet collecting dust because you’d rather be warm wearing something appropriately suited to the day.

Not sure about you, but this can still be difficult to reconcile. I think as we’ve matured in years and hopefully wisdom, we’ve been able to gain an understanding of smarter purchases. So while we always admire certain looks we see on Pinterest and Instagram, we know it shouldn’t be a big part of our closets. It can be easy to focus on the negative aspect and what we can’t/shouldn’t do, but we’d also like to reframe it and focus on the positive. We can have a bigger sweater collection. Our jeans can arguably be worn year-round because of work and lower nighttime temperatures. Lastly, we can have a bigger coat collection! All of these make sense to invest in because you’ll get your cost per wear down.

There still comes a point in the winter where only the winter parka will cut it for daily use. But for the most part, if I wear a scarf, gloves, and a hat, I can easily wear my dressy thinner coats. They make for a more put-together look, which is ideal for workwear. As we all know, people are immediately making judgments/assumptions based on appearance. As tall women, we’re much more noticeable (whether we like it or not). We command attention when we walk into a room and I’d much rather present a positive, classy look, than a negative one.

So as we discussed a couple of weeks ago, we’ve seen the benefits of investing in a couple of coats throughout the years. Obviously, it isn’t feasible to go out and buy up lots of coats every year. But with sales/markdowns, it’s an option to find a tall sized coat for under $100 or right around $100! The best bet is to start with really classic prints or colors to have a versatile coat that will never go out of style. It goes back to what I was mentioning above. It can be the most fun to shop for more “fun” clothing, but it’s not fun when you have to pass by it every morning because it doesn’t work as a cohesive member of your closet. Just food for thought on building a thoughtful wardrobe. 

I paired the coat with a pretty green blouse I bought from H&M a couple of years ago. That’s another mindset shift I’ve recently realized. At first, I thought I shouldn’t have too many frilly romantic blouses in my closet. But every time I get dressed, I’m looking for something feminine and girly, that’s just like those blouses. So I pass by the other plain options that I bought because it’s the “right” thing to do. Then they just sit there day in and day out because it’s not truly my style. It’s all a learning process. 

Lastly, I’ve been wearing my new Amalli Talli denim non-stop. I have on the size 30 in 37’ inseam. If you’re wondering about sizing, I normally wear a size 10/12 which translates to 30/31. They have great stretch to them, and I’d say if between sizes size down. If you don’t like to cuff your skinny jeans, also go for the shorter inseam of 35”. They have filled a hole in my closet of a black jean with a grey tone to them. They are perfect to wear to work because they look super classy and streamlined.  In fact, we shot this over lunch on a casual Friday. I finished the look off with loafers that I found at Nordstrom Rack. They go up to size 13, and you can find some good options on their website as well.

I hope your week is off to a great start! Tell us below, what have you realized about your shopping habits that aren’t serving your closet well?

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Jord Watches

Jord (pronounced Yode) is a unique watchband brand that we LOVE! The company is run by artists, designers, marketers, and minders. They focus on creating timepieces for the modern person. They use raw materials to create stylish, different, and captivating watch bands. Typically when our family sees watch companies we don’t really even consider shopping them because we are all Apple Watch wearers. This is part of the reason we love Jord; they sell full watches as well as Apple Watch Bands. 

They have some mixed media watch bands with wood and metal combinations as well as leather bands.  All of them look timeless in their own ways but we were partial to the leather bands ourselves. We picked the Mocha Suede and the Camel because it doesn’t get more classic and timeless than that! Like all Apple Watch bands, these are extremely easy to slide on and off to change any look in just a few seconds. 

The bands are 100% genuine vegetable-tanned leather and 100% genuine grained padded leather. Both are completed with stainless steel lug end adaptors & clasps. We chose the padded leather because it seemed slightly more feminine and us. However, they also offer flat leather as well. Today you see the camel band on me, stay tuned for more to come showcasing the mocha! 

With the Holiday season upon us, this is the perfect gift for your watch wearing and Apple Watch owning friends. You can even add a personalized touch by adding engraving on the back of the watch faces; which makes any gift that much more special. 

Now and through the Holidays we strongly urge you to shop local, shop small, shop items made in North America. Skip the cheap products you can have in a day on Amazon that won’t last more than a few months and support the companies with a mission and passion for what they are doing! We know all too well that the convenience of Amazon is addicting and the low prices are enticing. Just consider quality over quantity and the ethics behind what you are purchasing. 

I want to leave you with something Jenilee saw on Instagram last week I think it’s a great reminder for us all as we head into the season of extreme overconsumption and greed. 

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Your Curves Will Thank You Later

I hope you’re hanging in there with daylight savings time change. This one at least works in our favor to catch an extra hour of sleep! On the other hand, I wondered why I was ready to tuck into bed at 8 p.m. on Sunday night. Now we will get some sunlight to wake us in the morning, which I’m sorely in need of to drag myself from my cozy bed. But I’m already ready for it to be past December 21st which is the shortest day of the year. I happen to enjoy daylight before and after work, thank you very much.

One of the things that has been nice about the weather turning cold is taking advantage to slow down the schedules. We’re so guilty of saying yes to anything and everything, and not taking into consideration how we’ll feel come the moment of the event. I ended up in three different fall sports leagues. While I always enjoy playing, compounding them leaves me feeling resentful of the little alone time I’m left with. It took a bit to catch up, but I set aside two weekends in a row where I made little to no plans. Caitlin and I are planners, especially when we’re together. 

As you can imagine, it felt foreign to walk into a weekend and have nothing tugging your time or attention. I finally got through some of my closet to sell/donate pile after putting it off for a month. My plant babies all got pruned, and just in time for the dry season of heating the house. Plus it’s all the deeper cleaning items that you don’t get to when you just need to tidy up before someone walks into your house. When you get a chance to exhale, I first typically take it to rest. So now I had a second exhale, I was able to channel my energies into productivity that I’ve neglected.

It couldn’t come in a more timely manner. We’re all going to be ramping up towards the holidays. I know the running joke is that everyone is ready to decorate for Christmas already because we’ve already gotten six inches of snow in these parts. I can’t say I oppose it, because it’s a lot of work decorating for Christmas and the longer I can keep it up, the better. Plus studies say that it makes you more cheerful the earlier you get your decorations up. I think the retail stores have taken that a little too far.

All that to say, I hope you’re going into this holiday season with a bit of intentionality. You only have so much of yourself to give. Don’t overextend yourself, whether it’s mentally, financially, or however you have a tendency to do so. It can feel countercultural to do so, but I don’t think you’ll regret it. We’re bombarded with messages about what we can do or buy to improve our holidays. Surrounding yourself with people you love and cutting yourself a break will be your best bet. 

I’ll get off my earnest well-intentioned horse to talk about the lighter part of the post; the clothing. This year has got to be called the year of the jeans. Never have I had a better year of shopping for jeans. It started with experiencing Height of Fashion’s denim launch – check our post here. From there I finally hopped on the American Eagle denim bandwagon after seeing Caitlin rock their Mom jeans. Finally, our beloved Amalli Talli launched their namesake denim line as well to ice the cake (check that review, here). So basically, feeling spoiled. 

Today we’re talking American Eagle though. I have to stop and give credit where it’s due. They’ve long been pushing for people to embrace themselves and have stopped airbrushing/editing to further solidify this positive agenda. We’ve heard so many retailers tout their inclusive sizing that we’ve become deaf to it at this point. Why? Because it’s been a lie. Inclusive sizing has pretty much become synonymous with plus sized. Which is great, and a victory for all the women that have long been yearning for options. That still leaves a portion of the population out; namely tall women. 

Luckily, I was lured in by seeing other (shorter than me) tall women wearing American Eagle. I reasoned that I had nothing to lose by ordering them and returning if they didn’t fit. So I made the leap and although the first order was a bit of a snafu with quality control and inseam length, I ended up keeping a pair. Suffice to say, I haven’t looked back since then. You could call me a bit of an expert on the fit and which works perfectly on my frame. The best part? Caitlin can order the Long length, while I fit into the XL length. Now that’s some inclusive sizing for a big-box retailer. Plus they go up to size 14 in XL length and 24 in L length. I know that still leaves a bit to be desired for anyone 6’4 and bigger than a size 14, but good progress in our direction.

As for my favorite styles, it is hands down the curvy! The rise on these is 11.25”! It actually covers my belly button. Plus because they’re curvy, there is no waistband gapping. They’re stretchy, but after wearing them and being soaked by rain continuously for hours, they didn’t stretch out either. I got them in a 12XL. I probably could wear a 10XL but I prefer a comfortable looser fit as long as they aren’t falling down. It feels so exciting to be able to buy the “fun pants” that I’ve seen on other women. 

Pairing it with my glorious moto jacket from Amalli Talli is a no brainer. You’ll catch me wearing this ultimate tall girl jacket all winter long. I have it on in size L and if you’ve been eyeing it up, only XL and S remain, so I wouldn’t sleep on it. We’ve still got our 15% code for you to use, THEREALTALL15 if you’ve been hoping for a discount. Wearing both I can still look rocker chic and ready for a day/night out, but feel like I could curl up on the couch and nap comfortably. I’ve got on my square neck t-shirt I snagged from the N-sale and I’m ready for whatever. 

Tell us below, how are you slowing down to enjoy the Holiday season this year?

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Oh Canada: Part Two

Day 3 started out pretty much the same with an early departure to Moraine Lake to hike Sentinel Pass. This hike was just pleasant. The snow-covered pines, the breathtaking views, and the slightly slower incline. We made it to the pass and quickly realized that part of the hike wasn’t going to be safe for us without more expertise and more equipment. Instead, we watched a few brave souls try to make the hike and also noticed a few avalanches. We hiked back down and again being me and being so altitude sensitive, sat out the second hike of the day. It was hard sitting them out, but sometimes you just have to listen to your body. I knew what I needed to do. We headed back to our Airbnb after they finished and showered up for our last evening in Banff.

We went to the Iron Goat first to catch the Packer Game and enjoy some beers. After we had a couple, we departed for dinner at Blake. Ironically our waiter was a Canadian Packer Fan as well, which was amazing. We shared some Bao, Crack Fries, and Pot Stickers and some delicious drinks for the duration of the game. It was another great night, that we ended with some games and hitting the hay. 

The next day we started by catching an amazing sunrise followed by a semi-early shorter hike called Upper Grassi Lake. It was definitely the easiest one we did, but it took us to a beautiful lake and we got to see a fox. That was neat until it got a little too close for my liking which led me to promptly blow my emergency whistle. After our short hike down we headed back to shower and pack up. Back to the airport, we went. We stopped at a Tim Hortons which was unfortunately extremely disappointing. 

If by now you’re wondering if I only wore one outfit this entire trip, the answer is yes. Our Airbnb had a washer and dryer, which was AMAZING and helped make packing in a carryon doable. This was my uniform every day (I shed some and added some all day):

Packing List

Pants: Wool 200 weight base layer, ColdGear

Top: 200 Weight Wool Top, Patagonia Mid Layer Quarter Zip, Vest, Nano Puff (could not recommend this jacket more for hiking and every day wear!!)

Head: Lake Effect Co. Hat(comes in gray and black-use code THEREALTALL15 for 15% off) , Headband

Hands: Light Gloves

Feet: Wool Socks

Shoes: Men’s Hiking Boots

Misc: Gaiters, scarf, backpack, bladder, fanny pack, Buff

I also packed this raincoat and these rain pants but luckily didn’t need them at all! 

We have gotten a handful of messages regarding tall hiking clothing and after doing an extremely in-depth search I can now report: there aren’t many. My smart wool pants went to my mid-shin at best which was a joke but luckily my cold gear was the right inseam. I got men’s rain pants for the length. Leggings are my comfort preference for hiking so I didn’t even look into try hiking pants but wowee do they make it tough on us. I am super pleased with my men’s hiking books and no shame in that game, just size down! 

Hiking gear aside, I am a huge fan of my Away luggage. I have the bigger carry on and the Large one. We used the large one as a group to transport our hiking boots and items that aren’t carry on friendly.

I also used my Ellis James toiletry bag and LOVED it. I have been using this all summer now and I love how travel-friendly it is. It opens on the top and sits flat so you can easily see everything. All of the dividers are moveable so you can fit any size item inside. I especially love the plastic liner on the top part because it prevents any makeup brushes from dirtying the fabric. It’s a super high-quality item and works amazingly for me! We came across the brand on Amazon and have linked to them on our Amazon shop page but you can also check it out here or on their website, here.

All in all, Canada is amazing. Absolutely breathtaking and surreal. I cannot wait to get back sometime when the weather is a bit nicer! If you ever need any other tips or recommendations or have questions I am happy to answer any of these. Until next time; your Wanderlusting lady will be over here looking for my next trip.

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