Long Tall Sally Review

When I first opened the new summer catalogue from Long Tall Sally (LTS), I flicked through it and wondered ‘who are they aiming this at?’ I then caught sight of the ‘10% discount when you spend £85 or more’ flyer and thought ‘rich people, clearly!’

However, having been asked to write this review, I visited the website and have revised my opinion. There are some lovely (but pricey) items on sale at present. My particular favourites are this turquoise linen suit (£134) and this sequin prom dress (£79), both of which would be perfect for a summer wedding. You’d have to look elsewhere for the shoes though, as I’ve mentioned before, there are no high heels on offer at LTS and I think both of these outfits deserve a good heel. (I understand that this is something the company is currently reviewing however.)

The shopping experience at Long Tall Sally is a pleasurable one. My local store is Leeds and there is always plenty of stock. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the changing rooms are spacious and light. At 5’4” my mum’s only complaint is that “it’s designed for tall people, I can’t see the things hung at the top”. At 5’11”, this is not a problem for me! It is important for the shops to be available, it means items can be tried on before being purchased and those not yet conversant with internet technology will not be put off when the only method of shopping is online. Equally, those who prefer shopping online or cannot reach a store easily have that option. The service online can’t be faulted, with friendly, helpful emails confirming an order and any special offers that apply and a speedy processing delivery service once an order has been placed. Regular emails are also sent out detailing any new offers or promotions so the customer is always kept fully up to date. I would comment on the fact that items no longer in stock need to be removed from the site. It is frustrating, particularly in the sale section, to click on an item and find it is completely out of stock (though some retailers’ websites wouldn’t even bother to tell you that much). Also, the facility to increase the size of the pictures would be fantastic, especially for darker coloured and patterned items when it is sometimes difficult to see the details.

I find the prices of some items, especially basics like t shirts and plain shirts to be quite high, but the quality is good and the range of items is improving all the time. The store stocks basics such as business appropriate suits and winter coats, as well as more fashion-led items in sizes 8-20. An increasing range of shoes in size 7-11 is also available, as are socks and tights designed to fit long legs and larger feet.

The market for ‘tall’ clothing is still limited, and will continue to be so until every high street retailer realises that women over 5’8” need to buy clothes that fit them just as much as regular height and ‘petite’ women. But Long Tall Sally is certainly helping to improve the choices available to us and long may it continue to do so.