11 Clothing Problems That Plague All Tall People (and How to Fix Them)

​1. Every T-shirt, sweatshirt, and sweater you try on that isn't deliberately oversize ends up exposing your stomach. 

It's as if every top in the world shrank in the dryer.

The fix: You might not be able to make your tops longer, but switching to higher-rise jeans and skirts that fit at your natural waist will help bridge the gap in your outfit.

2. Crop tops always end up looking way sexier than you want them to. 

In stores, you often find yourself staring at the mirror, trying to figure out at what point the top you thought you were trying on turned into lingerie.

The fix: Again, try a higher-waist bottom to reduce the amount of exposed midriff in your look and if you still feel uncomfortable, try sticking with boxier crop tops and layering them over longer blouses and camisoles. That way, you get all the waist-defining advantages of a crop top without having to show your stomach.

3. You frequently find yourself staring at a piece of clothing, unable to decide if it's a top or a dress. 

Maybe if you just wear it with tights and keep your arms perfectly still at your sides, no one will realize that your ass is literally an inch away from falling out the bottom.

The fix: It's not ideal, but if you really want to wear the item in question, you can either try tying a sweater or long-sleeved shirt around your waist to give yourself a little more coverage in the back, or, if your micro dress is not too bulky, you can just tuck it into a skirt and wear it as a top. At least it will be long enough that it won't instantly come untucked like ever other top you own.

4. Tops and blouses never stay tucked in. 

They would, if only you didn't insist on walking and sitting and generally moving your body around.

The fix: Once again, high-waisted pants and skirts are the key. Not only will they hold your shirt better, but they will make your legs look that much longer and when is that ever a bad thing?

5. Jackets and coats that fit your shoulders never fit your arms and visa versa.  

The fix(es): OK. You've got three options here:

1. Embrace the whole cropped-sleeve look and invest in some longer gloves to help shield your wrists from the cold. It's a little retro, but maybe that's your thing.

2. Try buying men's pieces and then having them tailored to fit your waist. The sleeves on men's coats are usually longer than those on women's coats, so once you find a jacket that fits your shoulders, you can either have it taken in at the waist to create a more feminine silhouette, or you can just leave it straight and boxy. Sure, your new coat will button the opposite way, but I guarantee you no one will notice. Besides, menswear-inspired outerwear for women is one of those trends that never really goes out of style.

3. Stick to less-structured women's coats with rounded shoulders and more cocoon-like silhouettes. Just make sure you balance all that soft volume on top with more form-fitting clothes on the bottom, then add structured accessories like pointy-toed shoes and a boxy crossbody bag to keep from looking like a big, shapeless puff ball.

6. Short skirts can get really obscene, really quick.

The fix: Lucky for you, midi skirts are pretty much everywhere you look these days. They might look a little more conservative on a shorter girl, but on you, they're totally cute.

7. Maxi dresses are never quite maxi enough, so your look ends up being less boho and more sister wife.

The fix: Maxi dresses are tough, but maxi skirts can work if you are willing to layer. First, you want to find a maxi skirt with stretchy waistbands; that way, you can wear it a little low on your hips to compensate for any shortcomings in the length department. Then wear something long and flowy, or chunky and oversize on top — something that fully covers the low waistband on your skirt. It's a little more complicated than just wearing a nice long maxi dress, but that whole tiered boho thing is in for next spring, so it's at least worth a try.

8. Every dress ends up looking like a baby doll dress because the waistline sits right under your boobs. 

The '90s may have come back into style, but some clothes should just stay in the past where they belong.

The fix: Avoid dresses with seamed waistlines. Instead, stick to tighter dresses with stretch so they really hug the full length of your torso. Or, if you prefer a looser silhouette, stick to boxier shift or T-shirt dresses, and then define your waist with a cropped, boxy jacket.

9. Your shirts are always coming untucked. 

The worst is when the shirt stays tucked in the front and back, but the high-cut sides ride up to expose the tops of your hips — it's like love-handle peekaboo.  

The fix: Once again, it's all about styling your short shirt with a higher-waisted bottom. And always make sure, when you are buying new shirts, than you give them the "arms up" test. Just button them up all the way and then reach for the sky. If any part of the shirt hem comes above you natural waist, you know that it is just too short.

10. All pants fit you like capris. 

You're in clam-digger hell.

The fix: If the brand you love doesn't offer extra-long lengths to accommodate your extra-long legs, the best thing you can do is stick to slim, tapered styles and stay away from anything that flares out at the bottom, like a boot-cut or bell-bottom. That way, even if your pants aren't quite as long as you would like, at least it won't look like you bought them before your last growth spurt.

11. Finding nice shoes in your size is a total nightmare. 

There is nothing sadder than scoping out the selection of size 10 and up shoes on a sale rack. So bleak.

The fix: Brick-and-mortar stores are not your friends. You need to just suck it up and buy your shoes online. If you are trying out a new brand, consider taking a trip to the store in person first just to try on any and all of the shoes they actually do have in your size. That way, you will get an idea of how they fit before you have to order multiple pairs of the same shoes in different sizes and then have to deal with returning all the ones that don't fit. 

Follow Charles on Twitter.