Almost every tall woman to show up at an event in July 2011 made her appearance in a short, white dress. Across the board these women looked lovely in their near-colorless attire, but it definitely made me wonder - am I the only tall woman around who is terrified of wearing white? It seems like every time I put on white clothing, I instantly spill coffee, fall in mud or get squirted with someones stray ketchup packet. Either I'm destined to be a klutz forever or I'm just extremely unlucky.
Anyway, I digress. The point is, the white dress fashion trend is almost guaranteed to be a hit, especially when you choose body-hugging numbers with an interesting neckline.
So is this tall fashion trend one worth following? Absolutely...unless, of course, you're a completely unlucky klutz like me.
Here's What Works: Look for a wrap dress like Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge or a part-spandex, body-hugging number like Jordin Sparks. Close-fitting dresses that fall between two and four inches above your knees will look sexy without "giving away the farm."
Here's What Doesn't Work: White = See Through. Choose your under garments wisely, opting for a nude or light colored bra-and-panties combo. Also, keep an eye on the weather, if rain is in the forecast, you might want to save your dress for another occasion - a modest white dress can turn scandalous in a matter of minutes when it's soaked through.
Also, keep in mind that not all strapless dresses will fit a tall woman's frame. If the torso is cut for a shorter woman, the dress will end up sitting too low across the breasts or the darts for the hips and waist will sit too high along the abdomen. This ends up creating a "funny" fit. Dresses with straps tend to be a little more forgiving, but you're always better off shopping in stores designed for tall women's fashion.
How to Make it Work for You: Almost any tall woman can make a white dress work for her, but it's important that you remember how easy it is to get dirty. Avoid wearing white dresses to outdoor events, picnics, carnivals or anything involving young children. Also, always make sure you look carefully at your seat before accidentally sitting on smeared chocolate or barbecue sauce. Smears of brown or red across your backside are never an attractive accessory.
Adding Accessories: With a white dress, almost anything goes. Great summer accessories include nude heels, gold chains, chandelier earrings or colorful purses.
Trend Alert Grade: A