Not Impressed with LTS (Long Tall Sally)

Member Name: scottish20

Product:	Long Tall Sally
Date:	18/08/01 (227 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tall, long clothes, Well made

Disadvantages: Often hideous and unfashionable, Expensive, Ordering service could be better

I outgrew 'normal' clothes by the age of 15 but everything was OK since I had found Long Tall Sally....or so I thought!

At 15, I was 5ft 10" and very skinny (a size 10 if the clothes were small made!!). Problem was that back in 1996, the LTS range started at a size 12! So when my friends were prancing around in the latest TopShop and Miss Selfridge hipsters, I had waist high, baggy blue jeans. Luckily for me, my top half was (and still is) a regular size 10 so I could get tops in the High Street shops - only problem was I used to wear huge baggy jumpers to hide the saggy bottomed jeans :(

By about 17 I was reaching 6ft with a 36" inside leg - yep, I had outgrown LTS! These days I am now 6ft and have 'filled out' to a size 12 just as LTS introduce size 10 clothes!! The 36" trousers are no common in the LTS magazine and some trendy styles have been introduced. So I am happy...ish!

The Autumn magazine dropped through my letter box a few weeks ago, and I have to admit, I was a little excited to see what they had to fill my cases ready for my final year at university. But I was greatly disappointed. The revamped fashionably designed magazine gave me a little hope but actually did not reflect the contents one tiny little bit!

The first few pages contained the usual office stuff; the tailored skit suits, posh shirts and jackets. So I skimmed through to the 'Party' style section. But I was met with the hideous 'Satin Shell Top' with an equally disgusting matching full length, flowing skirt - not exactly on my shopping list! Next page offered me a black and red striped turtle neck jumper and bright red trousers - again, not ideal for a night out in Newcastle!

There was still hope though since I haven't reached the 'Casual' section. Unfortunately there was a selection of pink, black and red floral tops which I think even my Gran would find offensive and some o
dd looking logo-tops. Just wait one second, I think I have spied something I actually like....a Soft Denim Jacket in soft shiny navy material with a turtle neck. My heart however, sinks as I discover the price - £49.95 - just completely out of my reach (and TS could sell it for half the price!).

Well, LTS you have one last chance to redeem yourself - Tall Zone which has so far this year quite impressed me since amongst the oddities, there are usually some very trendy outfits ideal for lectures or clubbing. Not this time however. Their designers seemed to have taken the current fashions to the absolute extreme. I am aware that the 80's are coming back slightly but garish black and white striped sweaters aren't exactly my style!

Maybe I'm not being very fair here - I have bought many trousers from LTS in the past. My favourites are the hipster stretch bootlegs in black and purple (except I don't think they do purple anymore!). I used to wear the black ones to school and the purple ones to the pub (and yes, without the baggy jumper!). I think I am now on my 4th pair! I still think the jeans are Naf (but TopShop saved me there!). The pyjamas are great but so expensive and if I worked in an office, LTS would be very helpful.

But my final gripe with Long Tall Sally is that it is supposed to be a specialist mail order company but the last two pairs of trousers I ordered both took over 2 months to arrive and that was after numerous phonecalls to chase up the order - they really need to get it together especially since the emergence of the Tall section in TopShop with trousers that even fit my 36" legs! Prices need to be dropped and ordering made simpler because now us Tall girls have at least 2 shops to choose from!

I'm still waiting to see what LTS have to offer for NORMAL, SLIGHTLY fashion conscious, YOUNG tall girls on a BUDGET. But to be honest, I'm not holding my breath - I'm far too exciti
ng about the Autumn stock in TopShop!

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