Review of Liverpool Jeans Brenna Denim Trousers

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I got my first Stitch Fix outfit and was in love with it. I loved the vest, the sweater AND the jeans. Now after wearing them a few times, here is my review of Liverpool Jeans Brenna Denim Trousers. Tall girls, listen up! These jeans are tall girl approved. So are the sweater and vest, for that matter.

So, the jeans. I had never even heard of Liverpool Jeans before I got my Stitch Fix box last month. How have I not known about this denim company after running SearchByInseam.com for a decade now?! I have no idea. It’s a British company, I guess, and I’m not British. So anyway, I was a little skeptical when I took the pair of dark wash jeans from my Stitch Fix box. I pulled them on and was instantly impressed. The softness! The stretch! These are truly the most comfortable pair of jeans I’ve ever worn. And I’ve worn a lot of jeans! These Brenna Denim Trousers are made for exclusively for Stitch Fix, so you can’t get them anywhere else. I’d told my stylist that I needed exactly a 35″ inseam and I preferred boot cut jeans. I wrote that I normally wore a size 30 in jeans, but somehow she knew I’d wear a 29 in these. I’m just so impressed that they fit me like a glove!

Here I am in the entire outfit: jeans, sweater and vest.

My First Stitch Fix Outfit
My First Stitch Fix Outfit

Here is a closeup of the jeans. The leg does look a little funny because I’ve got tall boots on underneath the jeans. I still need to find a pair of ankle boots that I like and aren’t huge and sloppy around the ankle…

My Review of Liverpool Jeans Brenna Denim Trousers
My Review of Liverpool Jeans Brenna Denim Trousers

The wash of these jeans is very dark – a solid navy. I think it pairs well with a black boot, but the style card that came with the outfit suggested a brown ankle boot for more contrast. I think brown boots would work well, but I do like the low contrast option as well. It makes the legs seem even longer!

My First Stitch Fix Outfit

I think I’m hooked, you guys. I love my first Stitch Fix outfit! I got my first Stitch Fix box a few weeks ago and everything fit! I couldn’t believe it. I told them I needed tops with long arms and long torso lengths. I also told them I needed jeans that had a 35″ inseam. (I am 6′ tall and have a tall hourglass figure.) Well, my first box had four great tops, but sadly only one was machine wash. I forgot to tell them I only want pieces that are machine wash. 🙁 So, I kept one top. The jeans fit great, except they were a tad too long. I measured them at a 35.5″ inseam. It doesn’t seem like much, but I don’t want my jeans to look sloppy. And I rarely wear heels with jeans, so they were just enough too long that I had to send them back.

After you get your box, you go online to “check out.” I rated every piece I was sent and provided written feedback as well. I then asked if I could have my second box soon, since I only kept one top from this shipment. My second box came last week and I loved everything! I kept all 5 pieces and got the 25% off discount for keeping them all. Here’s a pic of my first Stitch Fix outfit:

My First Stitch Fix Outfit
My First Stitch Fix Outfit

The jeans are dark wash Brenna Denim Trousers from Liverpool Jeans. They have a lot of stretch in them and are SO comfortable. I love them! I’d never even heard of Liverpool Jeans before, and thought it was so fun to try a new brand. They are tall girl approved, and so is this great sweater! It’s cream with navy details at the hip and really cool zipper detailing on the back. (Why did I forget a picture of that?) It’s from 41 Hawthorn and is the Byani Color Block Zipper Back Pullover. The vest is from Fate and is the Rowen Faux Leather Quilted Vest. I love the collar and it keeps me warm on these cool fall days. The black boots in the picture are my own. Stitch Fix doesn’t yet offer shoes in size 11 . Hopefully they will in the future! Also in my Fix this time was a 41 Hawthorn Ellissa Cotton Blend Textured Weave Pullover in black and white, and the Westinn Strappy Neckline Knit Top from Olive & Oak. I would never had chosen the strappy neckline top for myself, but it totally works on me. So far, so good for Stitch Fix!

Women’s 36″ Inseam Sweatpants

It is rare to find a pair of tall women’s 36″ inseam sweatpants, so I just have to post about them when I see them! These Tall Classic Side Stripe Sweatpants are black with white stripes down the side of the leg. High contrast and high on style, these lengthening vertical stripes will make your long legs look even longer! Who doesn’t want that? The sweats have a thick waistband and tie waist. The leg is wide and comfortable – perfect for hanging out or working out. I love how they look in this picture below with a white top. They are neutral enough to wear with any color of top or shoe, though. Black and white is such a striking classic combo.

Women's 36" Inseam Sweatpants
Women’s 36″ Inseam Sweatpants

Love the length, but not quite your style? You can find more women’s 36″ inseam sweatpants here. Or, search for any inseam length you need at www.SearchByInseam.com. Earlier this summer I posted about these women’s 35″ inseam joggers that look cute and comfy. I haven’t tried the jogger look yet myself, but I have been admiring them on friends. These friends have been shorter though, and I do wonder if they will make my size 11 feet look even bigger! 🙂 The fitted ankle of jogger pants exposes the whole foot, whereas a wider leg style hides a good portion of it. Tall people problems! 🙂

Did you know we also have tall women’s workout pants in inseam lengths of 37″, 38″ and even 39″ right now? We are always adding new inventory, so be sure to check back often if you don’t see your inseam length listed. You can also send us an email or set up a notification with your exact criteria.  We’re here to help you find pants that are long (or short) enough!

Back From Vacay!

Here's a pic I took on our vacay in Bora Bora
Here’s a pic I took on our vacay in Bora Bora

We are back from our amazing vacay in the South Pacific! It’s so beautiful down there. If you haven’t been, I would definitely recommend putting it on your bucket list! Bora Bora was my favorite out of the three islands we visited; the others were Tahiti and Moorea. They are all so different and it was great to spend time on all three.

We successfully packed two adults and two kids in three roller carry-ons. And one carry-on was just my huge contour neck pillow, laptop and two large stuffed animals! We each had a backpack as well. The boys each brought six stuffed animals, their life jackets and some books in their backpacks. I had all the 3 oz. liquids in my backpack and my husband carried his camera and lenses in his. So I packed clothes and shoes for all four of us in two rollers. It was a puzzle to solve to get everything in there, but I did it! We packed light and did laundry in the hotel sinks. We had warm breezes most days on our deck or balcony, so things dried fast. On a couple occasions it did rain, but it was brief and the clothes dried out again once the sun came back out.

Overall, the list I posted in What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on was good, but I did learn a couple things. The mosquitoes on Tahiti and Bora Bora were pretty bad, so even with bug spray I wanted to cover up with clothes if I wasn’t in the water. This meant I didn’t wear the two dresses much at all. I made up for it on Moorea (where I had zero mosquito bites!) by wearing my dresses several times over the two weeks we were there, but in hindsight, I would have only packed one dress. It probably wouldn’t have been the strapless dress, because then I could have skipped packing the strapless bra as well. Because I didn’t wear the dresses much, I didn’t use the wrap much either. I did use it as a pillow and scarf on the plane, but I couldn’t have left that at home and saved more space as well. I only h ad one linen tee, one linen tank top, and two long sleeved linen tees for tops, and it would have been nice to have one more short sleeved tee or tank top to add to the mix.

It’s good to be home and doing laundry in my washing machine and having a whole closet of clothes to choose from now, but we sure do miss that clear blue water and incredible sea life!

Find Shorts by Inseam Length

Looking for some new shorts to make it through the hottest days of summer in style? You can find shorts by inseam length, brand, rise and price at SearchByInseam.com. We carry women’s shorts, women’s maternity shorts, women’s plus size shorts, and men’s shorts. Short shorts usually start around a 2″ inseam length while Bermuda shorts generally have an inseam length of 10″ or more. Shop now for your new favorite pair!

Find Shorts by Inseam Length
Find Shorts by Inseam Length

 

 

Review of Old Navy Tall Linen Pants

As I mentioned in my post, What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on, I bought these Old Navy Tall Linen Pants for my upcoming trip to the South Pacific. I actually bought two pairs because I love linen pants. 🙂 Here’s my review of Old Navy Tall Linen Pants in green. Since I’m packing light and only taking one pair of pants, these didn’t make the cut for trip. I’ll only be taking the black pair because they go with all the tops I’m packing.

Review of Old Navy Tall Linen Pants
Review of Old Navy Tall Linen Pants – photo credit Jason Henderson

OK. First of all, these pants are a linen and rayon blend and they sit low on the waist. They have a drawstring waist and a relaxed fit. I love linen pants and have quite a few colors already. Black, white, tan, and a blue and white stripe pair are already hanging in my closet. I decided to try this sage green and am happy I did! It’s a great neutral and goes well with blue (as pictured), orange, yellow, pink, white and black.

The most noteworthy thing about these pants is the inseam length listed is incorrect! I ordered a tall small and the Old Navy tall size chart says these pants should have a 36″ inseam. Yet when I got them, I measured the inseam length at only 33.5 inches. What a difference! This length actually works well for me. I am 6′ tall and normally need a 35″ inseam for bootcut jeans and pants, but these are a loose drapey fit so a shorter inseam works well.

Why is this? When measuring the inseam length you need for a pair of pants, you measure from the crotch seam to the hem. In a drapey pair of pants like these linen pants, the crotch seam is not tight to your body like a pair of fitted pants. Rather, it drapes down several inches and as a result, the inseam length needed is much shorter than normal. Also, it is important to keep in mind the type of shoe you will most often wear with pants when determining the length of inseam you’ll need. Due to the fact that I’ll be wearing these with flat sandals, I didn’t need to account for extra heel height.

Buy linen pants in the exact length you need right now at SearchByInseam.com. Linen pants won’t be available much longer because it’s getting late in the season. The best selection is in early to late spring.

What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on

What to pack for a tropical vacation where you’ll encounter sun, humidity, bugs, moisture and wind? This question is top of mind for me right now. My husband, two boys and I are preparing for 5 weeks in the South Pacific. Eeep! We are SO excited! We scored a 3 island package from Costco Travel that includes time on Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea.

My family and I have traveled quite a bit and we have this thing about not liking to check bags. In some ways it’s harder and in other ways it’s so much easier. You do have to carefully limit what you bring along. But there’s no schlepping huge suitcases through airports, hotels, tiny winding cobblestone streets, etc. We will be gone for 5 weeks this time and are only taking carry-ons.

Here are the 12-ish things in my carry-on for this trip and what to pack for a tropical vacation. You’ll notice a lot of black and a lot of linen. Linen is great for hot, humid climates because it breathes so well. Black is great for travel because it hides spills and stains until you get home and can take care of them properly. Before I pack up, I try everything on to make sure all the pieces work together. You don’t want any surprises when you get to your destination!

Here’s my list: 

  1. Linen Pants. I’m packing these Old Navy Mid Rise Linen Blend Pants in a tall 36″ inseam. For this trip, I’m taking black pants since we’ll be gone for 5 weeks and I’m hoping to minimize the amount of laundry I’ll need to do on vacation. Black is great for hiding spills, though it is a warmer color for a sunny location. When we went to Egypt, I chose a very light tan shade that was excellent for daytime sightseeing in 100′-plus temps. These are tall and say they have a 36″ inseam, but I measured the inseam and it’s closer to 33.5″. I normally need a 35″ inseam on a bootcut pant, but these are drapey and loose so the length needs to be shorter. Buy linen pants in the exact length you need at SearchByInseam.com. I’ll be reviewing these soon at blog.searchbyinseam.com.
    Old Navy Mid-Rise Linen-Blend Pants
    What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Old Navy Mid-Rise Linen-Blend Pants

     

  2. A Big Soft Wrap. I chose a Glint Metallic Wrap in black similar to this Glint Metallic Lightweight Wrap . It’s so soft and cushy and will be a perfect pillow on the plane, protect me from germs, and keep me warm. (I read that you should cover your mouth with a wrap/scarf every time someone near you on the plane sneezes or coughs.) Once we’re on the islands, it’ll be an excellent swimsuit cover-up and extra layer once the sun goes down.
    Glint Pleated Metallic Wrap
    What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Glint Pleated Metallic Wrap

     

  3. A Convertible Dress/Skirt. This Patagonia Kamala Convertible Jersey Skirt does double duty as a dress that can be worn two ways (straps can be worn as a halter or tied in front in a bow and worn as a strapless dress) as well as a midi skirt. 3 looks from the very same piece makes this a perfect space-saving item to take on vacation. I’m hoping to get some stunning Tahitian pearls to wear with this dress in strapless form! 🙂
    Patagonia Kamala Convertible Jersey Skirt
    What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Patagonia Kamala Convertible Jersey Skirt

     

  4.  A Linen Dress. I chose this Old Navy Cinched Waist Linen Blend Dressto be a swimsuit cover-up or another dress for dinner. I only see the solid black available in plus sizes now, but I found it in a regular tall size this spring. This a great fit on my hourglass shape. It goes well with the black metallic wrap and is easy to dress up or keep casual.
    Cinched-Waist Linen-Blend Dress
    What to pack for a tropical vacation: Cinched-Waist Linen-Blend Dress

     

  5. A Linen Tank Top. This Paige Analia Linen Tank is super lightweight and shouldn’t stick to me in humid weather. I got the white color pictured below so I could wear it with my black pants, black skirt, or blue shorts. If I need to hand wash this on the trip, it’ll dry in a snap!
    PAIGE Analia Linen Tank
    What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: PAIGE Analia Linen Tank

     

  6. A Linen Tee. I have a linen tee from The LOFT that I’m taking this time, but this Old Navy Relaxed Linen Blend Curved Hem Tee is similar. Mine is white with black polka dots. It works with my black linen pants, my black skirt, and the linen shorts. I like to take tops that work with all the bottoms so I can make a bunch of different outfits.
    Old Navy Relaxed Linen-Blend Curved-Hem Tee
    What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Old Navy Relaxed Linen-Blend Curved-Hem Tee

     

  7. A Linen Long Sleeved Tee. It should be about 80′ every day, but there may be some wind at night. I also need something long sleeved for the plane. So I found this Old Navy linen blend long sleeved boyfriend tee. It’s looser than I like, but if I wind up with a sunburn I’ll be thankful to have something on the looser end than on the clingy end. 🙂
    Old Navy Linen Blend Boyfriend Long Sleeved Tee
    What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Old Navy Linen Blend Boyfriend Long Sleeved Tee

     

  8. Linen Shorts. Linen, linen, and more linen! This is the last linen item on my list, I promise. 🙂 These Old Navy Relaxed Linen Blend Shorts are fitted enough to be stylish, but loose enough to be comfortable on a hot muggy day. They have a 7″ inseam which is not too short and not too long, in my opinion. The blue in the shorts is the perfect match to the blue stripe in my linen tank!
    Old Navy Relaxed Linen-Blend Shorts
    What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Old Navy Relaxed Linen-Blend Shorts

     

  9. Birkenstock Sandals. I’m packing these metallic silver Birkenstock Gizeh Birko-Flor Thongs because they work with my linen pants, shorts, and dresses and they have arch support. They take up very little room in my carry-on as well.
    Birkenstock Gizeh Birko-Flor Thong
    What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Birkenstock Gizeh Birko-Flor Thong

     

  10. Chaco Sport Sandals. I do feel a little clunky when I wear these, but I just haven’t found a better pair of sandals for arch support than Chaco Z/1 Classic Sandals. They do get stinky after awhile, but wash up well in the washing machine with a load of laundry and air dried outside in the sun. I just washed mine before packing them, so they wouldn’t stink up my carry-on! 🙂
  11. Bug Repellent. I read the Consumer Reports Insect Repellent Buying Guide and lined that up with the CDC’s recommendation for 30% DEET. Then I bought a few different brands and types (spray, lotion and wipes) on  Amazon.com to see what works best for me and my family. The wipes are nice because they aren’t liquid like the other types that need to fit in a quart-size bag. I hate that rule. 😐
    30% DEET Wipes: What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation
    30% DEET Wipes: What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation

     

  12. Sunscreen, swimsuits, and rash guards, of course! I have several 3 oz. bottles of sunscreen packed, because I’ve heard it’s very expensive to buy more in French Polynesia. For swimsuits, I’m going with a bikini top and short skirted bottom. I’ve found this style is great for coverage. I can play with my kids and not worry about the perfect bikini line shave every morning, either. I’m also taking a short sleeved rash guard and a long sleeved rash guard from Lands’ End to keep my back from getting scorched while snorkeling.

    My Lands' End Long Sleeved Rash Guard
    My Lands’ End Long Sleeved Rash Guard

I’ll buy a cute straw hat from a street vendor once we get there. And there you have it: what to pack for a tropical vacation using only your carry-on! Bon voyage!

Men’s 38″ Inseam Pants

These men’s 38″ inseam pants come in 3 colors and 4 different lengths.  Men’s Big & Tall Cutter & Buck Beckett Straight Leg Washed Cotton Pants come in black, tan, and navy. They are available in 32″, 34″, 36″ and 38″ inseam lengths. These pants have a flat front as opposed to pleated (pleated pants aren’t IN right now, guys!). You can wash these in your washing machine and dry them on low heat. On sale now for 35% off, they are only $69.99 (normally $108). These pants are only available online and fit true to size. Find more men’s 38″ inseam pants at SearchByInseam.com.

Men's 38" Inseam Pants
Men’s 38″ Inseam Pants

39″ Inseam Yoga Pants

39″ inseam yoga pants exist! Yes, they actually do! I couldn’t believe it when I saw these yesterday. I added them to SearchByInseam.com right away. They are the longest pair of yoga pants I’ve ever seen.

These Victoria’s Challenge Tummy Slimmer Compression Flare Boot Cut Black Pants come in inseam lengths of 39″, 37″, 35″, 33″, 31″, and 29″. They range in length from super long to quite petite. After you select the length, you can choose mid-rise or high-rise. I’ve never seen that option before! There’s a 30 day money back guarantee and the description says the compression fabric supports your muscles. I think my muscles need all the support they can get. 🙂

39 Inseam Yoga Pants
Yoga pants in inseam lengths of 39″, 37″, 35″, 33″, 31″ and 29″.

These multi-length yoga pants are available on SearchByInseam.com, where you can search for workout pants,  jeans, pants, and shorts quickly and easily for the exact length you need. We have plus sizes, maternity sizes, and men’s sizes as well. SearchByInseam.com is for anyone having trouble finding the right length of jeans, pants, or shorts. Start your search now!

Wearing a Shift as a Top Works Well for Tall Frame

Yes, I’m wearing a shift as a top instead of a dress – and it actually works! I’d normally nix the idea of wearing such a short dress because I’m so tall it would be super short. But I’ve been following Tanasha of Pretty Tall Style for a few weeks now and she pulls it off so well! She’s 6’4″ (which is 4″ taller than me) and I love how she wears this blue mini dress as a top. I’ve never thought of wearing a short dress as a top before, but it works so well with skinny jeans! I decided to try the trick of wearing a shift as a top for myself and ordered this Corey Red Kendra Shift from Rent the Runway as part of my Unlimited subscription.

This shift is the best, brightest color of orange. I love it how pops! It has a perforated pattern that is really fun and has handy side pockets. There is lining from the shoulder to the hemline. The three-quarter-length sleeves aren’t lined, so your skin is visible through the holes on the arms. I received a lot of compliments on the shift and I liked how it looked with my Hudson Nico Elysian Mid Rise Skinny Jeans that I reviewed here (available on SearchByInseam.com in a 30″ inseam) and my Earthies nude flats that have amazing arch support (and are available in sizes 5-12).

Other Rent the Runway reviewers wore this as a short dress. I think I’m the first one to wear it as a top with jeans! I’m going to have to try this again! No more ruling out short dresses; I’ll just re-purpose them! Thanks to Tanasha of Pretty Tall Style  for letting me in on this fashion secret for tall women. 🙂 Photo by Jason Henderson.

wearing a shift as a top
Wearing a shift as a top