Ok stop it. I cannot believe my baby sister is 30… like completely in denial. Today’s post is all about Caitlin in honor of her entering her fourth decade. It is always nice to hear what people like about you and/or remember you best by, so I asked some key people in her life to share their thoughts! I’m going to share a mix of people’s favorite memories and things that are quintessentially Caitlin! 

  1. Caitlin is an enneagram 6 – the loyalist
  2. We shared a room until I (Jenilee) was in high school. Our neighbors had a pool that lined up to our window and we would (in hindsight) creepily call out the window to our neighbor (who was like a grandpa to us) while he swam at night.
  3. She is super organized
  4. There are many things I love about Caitlin, but one of my favorite things is her spontaneity. If you know her, you know she is a planner, so it’s really fun when she pulls a wild card! Some of my favorite spontaneous moments include; many swerves into Kopps Custard for our favorite flavor, Goodwill and dive bar stops on road trips, last minute concert tickets, accidental late nights, garbage bowl meals and so many more. I am lucky to call her one of my closest friends! – Sarah
  5. I love that my little girl picked up one of my ‘naughty’ things. Growing up I loved to moon people especially while swimming in the lake. My Caitlin has picked up mooning for the next generation! – Our Mom
  6. Caitlin is the runt of our family at 5’11
  7. As a toddler, Caitlin loved to say “mine” to everything (Nick’s favorite memory)
  8. Pasta has been her absolute favorite forever
  9. Not many people know that Caitlin is almost a man. She has been taking advanced Man lessons from the manliest man she knows, her Dad. Many man lessons were held at the manland institute for advanced man studies. She can do a lot of Man stuff and tings. – Our Dad (whose hunting land is called Man Land).
  10. One of my favorite memories is playing Barbies in our unfinished basement. We would spend 90% of our time setting up our houses and dressing the dolls (foreshadowing our love for clothing!?). We would have to turn the lights off and we would sprint up the stairs so the monsters couldn’t get us in the dark.
  11. Caitlin has ALWAYS known what she likes/doesn’t like even as a small child. Whether it was how she wanted her hair worn, or what she would or would not wear she had strong opinions.
  12. Also from our Dad – Caitlin’s hero is Top Gigio, her happy place is Happy Place (beer), she likes her pancakes a little heavy on the sap, and she is her Dad’s beer sous chef
  13. We worked together for the first three years after she graduated college, which was the highlight of working there and probably prolonged us staying in an industry we’re not passionate about.
  14. Red Raspberry is her favorite frozen custard at Kopps, followed by Key Lime Pie!
  15. That leads me to another favorite memory, which is her putting up with me and my bff stealing her clothing when we were in high school. She would leave and then discover we wore her clothing after we posted pictures online. 
  16. Caitlin is a total dog lover. We grew up with Labradors in our house and she used to lay cuddled on top of our yellow lab.
  17. We went to college together for 1 year and got to be roommates. Highlights included making some killer pot roasts, having a bowl devoted solely to consuming popcorn, fostering a stubborn pit bull named Kennedy, and the consumption of too much cherry Burnetts vodka. 
  18. Caitlin is a beer brewer, a hobby she picked up with her Dad!
  19. Favorite Caitlin moments include floating on the river and playing beer pong! We later found out the poles could have tipped and electrocuted us all (yikes!). When her parents were MIA at the S-No-W Fun Run and Joel and I got to step in and be her parents! Finally, when Joen went and partied with Caitlin and friends in LaCrosse. He told me he was sleeping in his car at 9 p.m. and I got to ask him why Caitlin had sent me a Snapchat with him still partying at 10:30 p.m. (and who knows how much longer!). – Sandee Lammers
  20. Another complete Caitlinism is the strange positions she can sleep in. It would be completely normal to walk into the living room to find her half off the couch or flung over the arm napping. It is a wonder she didn’t have any serious back/neck problems.
  21. Sara (one of her best friends) favorite memory is finishing a long day of college classes together with 2for1’s and Dyno fries at Howies.
  22. Our entire adult lives, we have been workout partners. We went through a phase of lifting on our own and then worked with a personal trainer together, but we are much happier now being at Burn Boot Camp and having someone tell us what to do every day!
  23. My baby girl was a joy to watch grow up. She loved just being with me and doing all the things I did, like helping me in the kitchen, I taught her how to sew, she even tried to like running with me. She was the cutest little gushy girl who ran everywhere when she was little but was also extremely stubborn when nap time rolled around! The most important thing about her is the beautiful young woman she has become. Her character is full of loyalty, true actions of LOVE, generosity of her time, a hard worker, creative beyond words, and most importantly her relationship with GOD! I couldn’t ask for a sweeter daughter who is also a dear friend to me. I love you Caitlin!! – Mom
  24. We went through a phase of being devoted to winning radio contests. We both won designer purses, she won a Kindle Fire and also won several concert tickets, including a meet and greet with Luke Bryan (see our Aunts back story below). Many people were angry that she took me with her (knowing that I’m not a country fan). 
  25. Holly loves that they used to order Jimmy John’s to the pool every day in the summer, driving the little red car in our court, taking shots of tequila together, and always answering her plant questions!
  26. Caitlin is happiest with her people up north living lake life in the summertime.
  27. She is extremely loyal, loving and a sentimental person who loves her family, her God and her country. She also makes the most adorable birthday cards. – Aunt Sandy
  28. Tim (my husband’s) favorite things/memories about Caitlin are Lil’ Boy (her original car), passion for homebrewing, her surprise guest bartending at BB, and her bursting into song with her favorite lyrics “late nights in the middle of June,” and having Bloody Mary’s late morning at the lake.
  29. One of my favorite memories of Cailtin was when she was just a few years old (3 at the most). She to this day has an independent streak that is as wide as it is high as it is deep.. She knows her mind. Her Aunt Sally had given her Mom a beautiful expensive tube of a rich orangish red lipstick in a gold case. Caitlin had seen her Mom put on lipstick hundreds of times, what could go wrong, especially with her twins in tow… Needless to say Caitlin’s application made Bozo look like a novice. Her face from the nose down and ear to ear was covered along with her hands. She was a sight to see that still makes me laugh. Her Mom took a picture which eventually got her concert tickets and backstage passes to see Luke Bryan! – Aunt Susan
  30. My granddaughter is a kindred spirit. She used to write me letters when she was younger which I will always cherish. She learned how to sew, which is dear to my heart. Caitlin also wanted to learn how I made my egg salad and other favorite dishes including cracker noodles. She also makes time to chat with me on the phone and visits me when she comes up north as well as takes me to the Burnt Bridge for a Big Ass Pretzel! – Our Grandma Picky
  31. Megan says, Caitlin is one of the most thoughtful, genuine, and beautiful humans out there. Her love language is sharing her plants
  32. BB Wesley says, I love my auntie, she counts my rolls and gives me kisses and makes me laugh.
  33. Another friend says, Caitlin’s hilarious, fun, and kind personality instantly brightens every room she walks into. I’m so lucky to call Caitlin my friend. Throw on a Goodwill flannel in her honor, HBD Caitlin.
  34. We both agree she’s a blast! Always have fun with her and love her fun ideas. And also that she’s just always her authentic self no matter what! Mike & Megan

Hopefully you learned some new special things about Caitlin on her thirtieth birthday. We all hope she feels the love on her birthday and every day. She is one special lady, and we’re all blessed to have her in our lives. Wish her a Happy Birthday in the comments below!

We are back today to talk about this epically good Elevated Closet tall bomber jacket. We have been big fans of bomber jackets for many years now. So when we heard Elevated Closet was coming out with a tall version, you could say we were thrilled! We’ve introduced you to Elevated Closet several times on the blog but if they are new to you, check out our posts here and here. Especially if you are in need of tall maternity denim, you need a pair of their boot cut denim, PLUS they just released a pair of straight leg maternity if you aren’t feeling the boot cut!

But back to Elevated Closet’s tall bomber jacket! Honestly it’s a must add to the closet. Elevated Closet understands what it means to be a tall women and it shows with this tall bomber jacket. Starting with the tan khaki hue, which is a versatile color you can layer easily. This is a jacket you can pack for easy layering on a trip (which I did!) and mix and match without taking up valuable suitcase space.

Shoulder Fit

My next favorite thing is how well the shoulders fit, which apparently is no small task. Far too often (even now) Caitlin and I find ourselves having to size up to fit our shoulders. That is even while shopping for tall brands! At this point we should understand that a lot of taller women naturally have wider shoulders! No more frustration for me with this jacket. I easily can reach for things without worrying about ripping the back of the jacket. I love it even more because this fabric has no stretch to it but still is so well-fitting.

Sleeve Length

Speaking of well-fitting, THESE SLEEVES. I mean, take a look and then take a second look! A lot of my jackets that I say have long enough sleeves disappoint me as soon as I bend my arm. Not remotely an issue with this Elevated Closet tall bomber jacket. It covers my wrists with ease. At 6’4, my wingspan is easily the same length and when you add in my shoulders it just doesn’t happen often enough for me to shop easily. 

Quality Tall Bomber Jacket

Lastly, the quality is there. I feel like you buy a cheap jacket and you wear it a couple of times and you know its time in your closet is limited. This jacket is a true classic. I visited the WW2 museum in New Orleans and was looking at some of the uniforms. Bomber jackets have been around since the 40’s and they will continue to be around as fashion is completely cyclical! 

*By the way, I wholeheartedly recommend anyone in New Orleans taking at least a half day and visiting the WW2 museum. It is a chance to learn about our nation’s history and all of the brave people who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms!*

It is incredible how much of our current fashion is influenced by war time uniforms. Point being, to be able to buy a tall version of any clothing is still unfortunately limited. We strongly encourage you to buy this jacket if you are forever on the hunt for layering pieces. You won’t regret it! Plus, supporting small tall businesses is the way to go, as it creates more options for us all. 

I’m wearing size large and would say it is true to size but borderline could go with a medium. I will always prefer a little extra space in my jackets however, as living in Wisconsin it allows me to layer thicker pieces underneath easily! The denim is also Elevated Closets boot cut jeans and they are amazing as well. I’m wearing a size 10 denim and they are a great fit and length for my 37.5 inch inseam! They do not bag out but are comfortable enough stretch to wear walking around New Orleans. Always happy to answer further questions.

LASTLY use code TRT20 for 20% off your order at Elevated Closet. It is good through the end of February!

I’ll be honest, it feels funny writing this post about tall women’s shorts while the two of us are facing sub zero temperatures. It takes me back to last Spring when we agreed to a swimsuit collaboration in frigid temperatures as well. It really embodies the essence of social media vs. reality. You would never know that I was numb and as uncomfortable as all get out while shooting those pictures. The things we do for a deadline and to get a collaboration done! We’d do it all over again, too!

Anyways, as we slide right into spring break season you can refresh yourself on our tall swimsuit review here. As I reminisce on that post and the frustration a lot of you faced because my shorts were sold out, I am going to try and do better this year and catch you as the tall women’s shorts drop! With that being said, we notice an unfortunate trend of no one buying an item when we first post it and then when we inevitably share it again there is so much sadness when the item is no longer available. So don’t sleep on this one if you are looking for shorts. They. Always. Sell Out. 

American Eagle

These are hands down my favorite shorts. I can’t quite put my finger on why. Distressing is a favorite detail of mine. Plus you can’t beat a denim that lets you break it in and become one with each other. I feel like after I wear these a few times they are truly mine and fit like it. 

Gap

Gap is a stalwart option for us; whether it’s denim shorts, paper bag shorts, or dressy shorts they fit our waist and thighs well. They offer a plethora of length options and always seem to fit really comfortably. They never seem to stretch out either which is always a plus!  


Lululemon 5” shorts

You can catch a full recent Lulu write up here which includes these shorts. But we love the length of these for our long limbs. They don’t ride up, the wide waistband lays so nicely and we can wear them all day with ease! I have also had great luck with their biker style shorts, and the longer length golfing skirt. 

American Tall

Technically, we haven’t tried these yet! We intend to at some point, because we like their denim. Based on the quality with the rest of their pieces we know these will be a win! 

ASOS

We have both heavily slowed our roll with ASOS lately. We’re not sure if they are behind because of all the shipment issues, making less due to demand, or their style is changing but it just hasn’t been doing it for us. They have come in clutch in the past with various denim, paper bag and just comfy lounge shorts. I have never run into a pair that are too short! 

Goodwill

One last random thought. I recently snagged a pair of men’s Levi full length jeans for $7 at Goodwill and threw them on, eyeballed the length, chopped ’em, and took a serrated knife to them a bit. They are the perfect pair of slightly distressed cutoff jeans for a bargain. I love that they are my ideal inseam and hope they wear in nicely! Whatever your local thrift store may be, they will definitely have some denim you can repurpose to your heart’s content.

This post is short and sweet for certain but will get you directly where you need to be for shorts season! Hopefully you find it helpful getting ahead of the curve this year. If you have any other spring break/summer needs you’re looking for we are always happy to share our favorites. Send us a DM, comment below, or shoot us an email at therealtallbloggers@gmail.com

Shop all of our favorite 2022 short drops here and here!

If you’re feeling like weddings are OFFICIALLY BACK in 2022, you’re not imagining things! We just attended our cousin’s beautiful nuptials and we’re getting ready for at least two more this year! So you might be scratching your head wondering where you can find winter tall wedding guest dresses. We’re back today to point you in the right direction! It’s been quite awhile since we did a wedding guest dress round up but you loved it last time, so we are back with more!

ASOS has been our easy go-to when shopping for winter tall wedding guest dresses. They usually have an extensive selection to browse and a decent price point. Last year was probably the exception, but if you had a wedding to attend, you might have been more of an exception as the world is still quite in flux. 

One of the weddings we had last year, Caitlin was the maid of honor. My mom and I both ended up recycling dresses/jumpsuits we’ve had in our closets for years. It was probably the first time I wasn’t tempted by any specific dress when browsing online! The other, we also shopped our closets again and realized we had snagged some dresses on clearance awhile back and hadn’t had a chance to wear yet. We always encourage you to check out what you have, but if you need something new, we get that too and are here to help!

Jenilee’s Dress

Case in point, my under $40 tall velvet dress! It is on ASOS in a couple of different colors and lengths. I got it in size US 10 and borderline could have sized down to an US 8, but I prefer to have it be looser than tighter! I assume you could also play around with how to tie the upper bodice, but I chose to wear it the same as the model. 

Black Dress, Green Dress, Red Dress

Another weird perk? It was super easy for me to take the top part down/off for pumping between the ceremony and reception. Could also then work well for nursing mothers as well. The only thing to note then, is to grab an extra pair of rose petals to replace those removed.

Caitlin’s Dress

Caitlin also snagged another amazing winter tall wedding guest dress option off ASOS. Her dress is a true chic classic you could wear to any wedding that basically doesn’t have floor length gowns as the dress code! You know the dress is a hit when ASOS released it in a couple of different fabrics and colors as well.

We tend to reach for midi dresses for our tall wedding guest dress needs. They feel adequately covered for dancing and church ceremonies. If we’re going to show skin, we choose either sleeveless or backless. Or in my case, being smaller chested I would do a deeper cut as I don’t have any cleavage to pop out. Point being, everyone has different preferences on what they look for in a dress. 

Black Dress, Red Dress, Pink Dress

Check out some of the options we linked below that could be great for any upcoming weddings. Consider this a winter/cooler weather tall women’s wedding guest dress list!

Full Length

Red One Shoulder, Black Halter, Red Halter

Cocktail Attire

Green Pearl, Purple Feather, Red Embellished

Modest Dresses

Green Chevron, Black Wrap

Winter Floral Dresses

Cut out Floral Dress, Belted Midi, Wrap Floral Dress

Mustard Midi

One Shoulder Dress, Belted Dress

Beach Wedding

Floral Maxi, Mustard Midi, Orange Maxi

Glorious Green Midis

Bow Strap Midi, Lace Long Sleeve

Pink Midis

Cut out Back, Ruched Halter, Sweetheart Strapless

Classic Options

Black Satin, Berry Bodycon, Black Satin (also in green and berry)

Dress the Population

We have to give a mention to Dress the Population brand because our Mom found several dresses of theirs at either Nordstrom or the Rack and they look amazing on her at 6’2! The dresses are also all classics in my opinion, so something you could reuse for years to come for weddings and other dressy functions you attend!

Red One Shoulder, Black Sweetheart, Maroon V Neck