Helpful Content & Articles Archives

Best Stores for Men’s Shorter Inseam Lengths

Posted on October 7, 2022 by Corrinne

A friend of mine said she was shopping for a 28″ inseam jean for her 14-year-old son recently, and had a hard time finding something short enough for him that also had a small enough waist. Since my son is 13 and topping out of kid sizes, I started looking for the best stores for men’s shorter inseam lengths for him, too. A good portion of our sales at SearchByInseam.com are for men’s jeans in 26-28″ inseams. Besides teenagers, there are also plenty of men with shorter inseam lengths because the average American male is just under 5’10” tall. Although someone with below average height doesn’t necessarily have a below average inseam length, it is often correlated. No matter what your height, it’s important to know your inseam length, and we tell you how to measure your inseam length here.

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted about the best brands for shorter mean’s inseams (this post first appeared in 2018), so here’s an updated list with the best stores for men’s shorter inseam lengths:

SearchByInseam.com. We may be biased, but this is the best place to shop for shorter inseam lengths – or any inseam length, for that matter. The site allows you to search multiple sellers for your exact inseam and waist size, saving you time and money. You can also select your favorite brands and price range, as well as shop for jeans, pants, shorts, or workout pants.
Men’s Shorter Inseam Lengths Available on SearchByInseam.com
Express.com. While there is a small selection of men’s 28″ inseam jeans and pants, Express does usually have them. You can search by waist, inseam, and style. This store offers free shipping on orders over $50 and free returns.
Express Extra Slim Navy Wool-Blend Performance Tuxedo Pants
OldNavy.com. Old Navy’s shortest men’s jeans and pants have a 28″ inseam length. Shipping is free on all orders over $50 if you are a rewards member (it’s free to join) and $9 on orders if you’re not a rewards member. It pays to sign up! Returns are free on all orders. You’ll often see sales from this seller as well.
Old Navy Loose Non-Stretch Jeans for Men
Gap.com. Men’s short jeans at Gap start at a 28″ inseam length. Like Old Navy, shipping is free on orders over $50 for rewards members (it’s free to join) and $9 on orders if you’re not a member. So, it pays to sign up! Returns are free on every order.
Straight Jeans in GapFlex with Washwell
BananaRepublic.com. Banana Republic also starts their short men’s jeans with an inseam length of 28 inches. You’ll get free shipping on orders over $50 for rewards members (it’s free to join) and $9 on orders if you’re not a member. Therefore, it pays to sign up! Returns are free on all orders.
Banana Republic Straight Legacy Jean
Amazon.com. Amazon just recently got into the clothing market, and even more recently launched their own clothing brand! Amazon Essentials is a great brand for men with shorter inseam lengths because the jeans come in a 28″ length. In addition, you’ll also find the reliable Lee and Levi’s brands, some styles with 28″ inseam lengths. Look for free Prime shipping and a free 7-day try-on available for some products. Free returns.
Amazon Essentials Men’s Slim-Fit Stretch Jean
Lands’ End. Lands’ End has the shortest men’s jeans I’ve ever found! Their inseam lengths start at just 26″ and go up every half inch – for example 26.25″, 26.5″, 26.75″ and so on. They also carry a men’s 27″ inseam, which is super rare. Shipping is free on orders over $99 and returns are free.
Lands’ End Men’s Traditional Fit Comfort-First Jeans
Nordstrom. While you don’t often find men’s jeans in inseams shorter than 30″ here, the store offers free alterations so you can hem jeans as short as you want. Nordstrom has free shipping and returns, plus an awesome rewards program that gives you free alterations and Nordy Notes. It’s a free program and totally worth signing up for here.
Men’s Mavi Jeans Matt Relaxed Fit Jeans Available at Nordstrom.com

Hopefully this list helps you find men’s shorter inseam jeans in 26-28″. Let us know in the comments if there are any other stores you’ve found that carry these shorter lengths. Happy shopping! Post contains affiliate links.

Where to Buy Women’s Plus Size Jeans

Posted on September 30, 2022September 30, 2022 by Corrinne

Jeans are a staple in every closet, no matter the size or shape of a body. While it can be tricky to find cute plus size jeans that fit well, more and more online retailers are carrying good options today. Keep reading for recommendations on where to buy women’s plus size jeans.

Here are the best websites we’ve found for women’s plus size jeans:

1. Search By Inseam is great because the site allows you to search multiple online stores at once, saving you time and money. You can select your exact inseam length, favorite brands, high/mid/low rise, and price range, and easily compare the results. Inseam lengths typically range from 24 inches to 37 inches, with new inventory being added all the time. You can also sign up for new product alerts so you know as soon as something gets added that meets your criteria. Don’t know your inseam yet? Check out the page on how to measure your inseam.
2. Silver Jeans Co. allows you to search by waist, inseam length, leg style, rise, color, wash, style and fit. Waist sizes are generally 12-24 and inseam lengths are typically 27-35. Silver offers free standard shipping and free returns within 30 days.
  Silver Jeans Plus Size Avery High Rise Slim Bootcut Jeans
3. Old Navy sells women’s plus size jeans in sizes 12-30, and in inseam lengths up to 36 inches. Shipping is free on all orders over $50 if you are a rewards member (it’s free to join) and $9 on orders if you’re not a rewards member. It pays to sign up! 🙂 Returns are free on all orders.
  Old Navy’s Plus Size High-Waisted Wow Flare Jeans
4. Avenue carries plus size denim in sizes 12-34 and in inseams of 26-34 inches. Everything on the site is made to fit plus size women, so you won’t need to hunt around for a subsection of plus size clothing. Get free standard shipping on orders over $100, and $7.95 for orders under $100. Returns are free at select Happy Returns bars in the United States within 90 days or $5.95 by mail.
  Avenue’s Knit Plus Size Pull On Jean in Black
5. Nordstrom.com has a good selection of plus size clothing, with jeans commonly ranging from size 16-28. Check out Nordstrom’s house brand Wit & Wisdom in plus sizes here. You’ll find a good selection of well made denim styles under $90. Nordstrom has free shipping and returns, plus an awesome rewards program that gives you free alterations and Nordy Notes. It’s a free program and totally worth signing up for here.
  Nordstrom’s Wit & Wisdom Plus Size Itty Bitty Bootcut Jeans
6. Long Tall Sally is based in the UK and has plus sizes up to 28 and inseam lengths up to 38″. The whole site is designed for tall women, so you won’t find inseam lengths shorter than 32″. You will pay for shipping and returns, based on the weight of your order.
  LTS Tall Indigo Blue RAE Bootcut Jeans
7. Gap.com offers jeans up to size 35 (waist) and the ability to see products on a model wearing a size 16 or a size 4. Shipping is free on orders over $50 for rewards members (it’s free to join) and $9 on orders if you’re not a member. It pays to sign up! 🙂 Returns are free on all orders.
  Gap Mid Rise ’90s Loose Flare Jeans with Washwell
8. Macys.com has a plus size category from the main “women” tab on their homepage. From there, select “jeans” and view hundreds of plus size denim options. Sizes typically go up to size 28. Be sure and check out the brands INC International Concepts and Style & Co, both created for Macy’s. The store offers free shipping for Macy’s Star Rewards Platinum and Gold members when they use their Macy’s credit card. Silver and Bronze members get free shipping on $25 orders, and all other customers get free shipping when they spend of $49 – contiguous U.S. only. All returns are free.
  INC Plus Size Pull-On Flare-Leg Jeans, Created for Macy’s
9. Express sells women’s jeans in sizes up to 25, but the selection isn’t great at the larger sizes (especially sizes 24 and 25). There is a good selection of trendy denim in sizes that are smaller than 24. Express also has longer inseams that can reach up to 36″ at times, depending on the style of the jean. This store offers free shipping on orders over $50 and free returns.
  Express Mid Rise Light Wash Ripped Raw Hem Skinny Jeans
10. Lands’ End offers a large selection of women’s plus size clothing, including tall plus and petite plus. Jean sizes go up to 26 and inseam lengths are typically between 28″ and 32″. Shipping is free on orders over $99 and returns are free.
  Lands’ End Women’s Plus Size Recover High Rise Bootcut Blue Jeans

What other online stores do you like for women’s plus size jeans? Please tell us in the comments! 🙂

It’s Time to Shop for Shorts!

Posted on March 21, 2022 by Corrinne

It’s rainy and 42 degrees here in Seattle right now, but it’s time to shop for shorts! 🙂 Early spring is the best time to shop for shorts because stores are stocking up for Spring Break and have a great selection. Some stores are even running sales on their shorts to get their inventory moving! I’m seeing lots of colors and trends, and wanted to share those with you. I’ll also tell you how to figure out which shorts inseam is best for you.

I love all the colors I’m seeing in shorts right now, and I wanted to see if I could make a rainbow of shorts for this post. It was tough to find purple, but red through blue was pretty easy. 😉

First up, we have a red bike short from Old Navy. Bike shorts are great for biking (duh), but they also work well for yoga, running, or wearing under a skirt. Bike shorts tend to have a longer inseam length, and this pair comes in 3 different lengths: 7.25″, 8″ and 9.25″. They are often made from compression material and are great at holding you in. Look for features such as tag-free and moisture-wicking.

Old Navy Bike Shorts 8" inseam — Old Navy Bike Shorts 8″ inseam

Athletic shorts have also been a trend in recent years. Wear these for anything athletic, or simply to hang out in when the weather warms up. I wear shorts like this daily in the summer because they are so lightweight and comfortable. These bright orange shorts from Buckle are a bit longer in the back, which is super nice for extra coverage when you’re active.

Buckle Orange Shorts 3" inseam — Buckle Orange Shorts 3″ inseam

For yellow , I found this cheery pair of Juicy Couture Yellow French Terry Sweat Shorts from Nordstrom. These shorts show off the high waist trend we’ve seen a lot in the last couple years. Sweat shorts are also making a comeback, with their soft lining and laid back vibe. With a 7″ inseam, these shorts fall in-between Bermuda knee-length shorts and short athletic shorts, which might feel too modest for some, but perfect for others who want a bit longer coverage.

Juicy Couture Yellow French Terry Sweat Shorts 7" inseam — Juicy Couture Yellow French Terry Sweat Shorts 7″ inseam

Green is my favorite color, and I love the tie waist on these paperbag shorts from Buckle. To wear the paperbag shorts trend well, it helps to have a defined waist and be comfortable tucking your shirt in. Tucking your shirt in allows you to really show off the cute waist details. Many shorts in this trend feature very short inseam lengths, like this 2.25″ inseam below.

Buckle Green Paperbag Shorts 2.25" inseam — Buckle Green Paperbag Shorts 2.25″ inseam

These teal shorts from Eddie Bauer are great for outdoor adventures or casual pursuits close to home. They offer sun protection and are made from stretchy nylon with a little bit of spandex. The regular inseam length is 7 inches; the petite inseam length is 6.5 inches; the tall inseam length is 7.5 inches, and the women’s plus inseam length is 7 inches. This is a good length for casual shorts and hiking shorts.

Eddie Bauer Teal Shorts 7" inseam — Eddie Bauer Teal Shorts 7″ inseam

Jean shorts are always in style, and this year is no different. This medium indigo wash jean short from Silver Jeans has a shorter 4″ inseam that’s perfect for hanging out. It features a mid-rise which is good for either tucking your shirt in or leaving it out. Distressing is fairy heavy on these jean shorts, making them good for casual days.

Silver Jeans Suki Short 4" inseam — Silver Jeans Suki Short 4″ inseam

And finally, we make it to the end of the rainbow with purple shorts! 🙂 These high waisted purple shorts from Express have a short 3.5 inch inseam length and look best with a tucked-in top. Their shape and tailoring make them a dressier option, and they’d be great with heels or wedge sandals.

Express High Waisted Purple Shorts 3.5" inseam — Express High Waisted Purple Shorts 3.5″ inseam

Which colors and styles are your favorite shorts to wear? If you’re not sure about what inseam length would be best for you, follow the steps listed in how to measure your inseam length and just use shorts instead of jeans. The same rules apply. Now that you know early spring is the best time to shop for shorts, get shopping at SearchByInseam.com where you can find the exact inseam length you want!

Kid too tall for children’s jeans?

Posted on October 1, 2021 by Corrinne

Is your kid too tall for children’s jeans all of a sudden? It sneaks up on you for sure! We are just starting to hit that point with my 12-year-old son. For years, he always wore the same size clothing as his age. But at some point, he started moving through the sizes faster than that, and now he’s needing jeans and pants that are in the 14-16 size range. And I think another growth spurt is just around the corner! 😉

My husband and I are both tall, and he’s on the taller end of the growth chart, too, so it won’t be long before our kid is too tall for children’s jeans and pants. What then? I’m a planner and I like to shop sales and buy ahead whenever I can. So I started looking around online, and found that there were actually some retailers that went up to a kid size 20! Whew! We have a few more years (I hope!) until we need to start buying him adult jeans and pants.

Currently, we shop at a few online stores for children’s clothes. Hanna Andersson has been one of our favorites for hand-me-down quality, but they usually only go up to a size 12 for pants. Sometimes you can find 14-16, but usually that is just for tops. We like the boys’ pants and fleece at Carter’s and Eddie Bauer – and both of these stores go up to a children’s size 14. The Children’s Place carries sizes up to size 16, and that’s been a good place for kid ski pants, athletic pants, warm fleece pants, and sherpa hoodies. (Both my boys are crazy for sherpa hoodies!) We buy kid sizes up to 18 at Stitch Fix, Gap, and Old Navy. And Nordstrom, Macy’s, Amazon, and Lands’ End actually go up to a kid size 20!

Oh and in case you are looking for footed pajamas for bigger kids (both my boys still want them!), we have several pairs from Footed Pajamas and like them. After you top out at a kid size XL, you can easily go into adult footed pajamas that are based on height.

So what happens after a kid’s size 20? You enter the brave new world of adult sizing! For joggers and some other types of pants, you just start at an XS size. If your kid is skinny, get pants that have a working drawstring. For jeans, you’re going to need to measure your inseam. Once you know your inseam, shop at Search By Inseam for the exact length you need. Where are we getting our shortest jeans? With ankle length styles being so popular right now, it’s easier than ever to find a shorter inseam for your teen or kid who’s too tall for children’s sizes. You can read our blog post on Short Men’s Jeans or check our buying guide for women’s petite/short inseams.

When your kid is too tall for children’s jeans anymore, don’t panic. Yes, you can grieve that your little one is growing up – that is normal. But after that, you can move on into the adult section, where XS sizes are often on clearance! 😉

Photo by Rogério Martins from Pexels

Where to Buy Tall Jeans – Top 11 Websites

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Corrinne

I found a new website for tall women’s jeans! So of course I had to update our old Where to Buy Tall Jeans – Top 10 Websites post to the new and improved Where to Buy Tall Jeans – Top 11 Websites to include it! 🙂

Where to Buy Tall Jeans:

Have you googled words like tall jeans, long jeans, and extra-long jeans trying to find the best place to buy jeans that fit a tall woman? I’ve done it, and know it’s a frustrating experience. Here are the top eleven sites I recommend for tall women’s jeans:

Top 11 Websites for Tall Women’s Jeans:

Search By Inseam
Search By Inseam is a great place to start shopping because the site allows you to search for tall jeans by your inseam length, whether that is 33 inches, 38 inches, or somewhere in between. Firstly, there’s helpful content on measuring your inseam so you can ensure a great fit. Secondly, you’re able to narrow your shopping criteria by brand name, rise and price range. You’ll find designer denim from 7 For All Mankind, AG, Citizens of Humanity, and True Religion, for example. On the other end of the price spectrum are less expensive tall jeans from Old Navy, BP and Vigoss, to name a few. Lastly, you can sign up for notifications when a new pair of jeans is added to the site that fits your long inseam and any other additional criteria you want to add.

Silver Jeans Co.
Silver Jeans Co. lets you search for your exact inseam length, which makes it easy! You’ll find women’s tall jeans in inseam lengths of 33”, 34”, 35”, 36” and 37”. Silver offers free standard shipping and returns on all orders.

New York & Company
New York & Company has some hard-to-find tall inseams like 35.5” for women’s bootcut jeans and 32.5” for tall skinny jeans. Economy shipping is free when you spend $50.01 or more.

Express
Express shows off seasonal trends in denim, but you can also find classic tall bootcut jeans as well. Their long length is typically a 35-inch inseam, though lengths can vary depending on the style. Shipping is free when you spend over $50.

Long Tall Sally
Long Tall Sally carries extra long jeans and pants in inseams of 34”, 35”, 36”, 37” and 38”. They also have a good selection of other tall women’s clothes. For instance, I’ve seen tall shirts, sweaters, pants, sleepwear and maternity jeans. Standard shipping is free in the US when you spend $30 or more.

Lands’ End
Lands’ End stocks tall women’s jeans in 36-inch inseams. These jeans are usually under $80 and the quality is good. As a result, Lands’ End has many loyal customers. Shipping is free to the US and Canada on orders of $75 or more. This company also frequently offers free shipping on smaller orders, so check the homepage carefully for any current offers and codes.

Gap
Gap has done a good job of adding new jean lengths for tall women lately – and even some tall maternity jeans! We’ve seen inseams of 34, 34.5, 35, 36, 36.5, 37, and sometimes even 38 inches. The company offers free shipping on orders over $25 and free returns on all orders.

Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer has a small selection of jeans in their women’s Tall Shop. Their women’s tall inseam length is normally 36-inches and the jeans are priced at $90 or below. Shipping is currently $7.99 within the US. However, it’s important to mention that shipping offers change periodically. Most noteworthy, if you sign up for the free Adventure Rewards program, you’ll get free shipping on all your orders!

Banana Republic
Banana Republic offers women’s tall jeans in inseam lengths of 33-37 inches. They usually don’t make you hunt for the inseam length like Old Navy sometimes does (more on that below). Most of the time, inseams are clearly spelled out in the Fit & Sizing box or under Product Details. Shipping is free on orders of $25 or more. Returns are free for all orders.

Old Navy
Old Navy starts their tall women’s jeans at a 33-inch inseam, and they go up to a 36-inch inseam. If the inseam isn’t listed in the product details, you’ll have to hunt for it in the size chart, which I find really annoying. Tall maternity jeans generally have a 34″ inseam. Shipping is free on orders over $25 and returns are always free.

Nordstrom
Nordstrom carries a great selection of tall designer and mid-priced junior and women’s jeans. You can often find tall maternity jeans as well. Shipping and returns are free. The product quality is high and so is customer service. In addition, basic alterations and tailoring are free, which is an amazing perk!

Tall women’s jeans from all of these sellers and more are available at Search By Inseam, making it a great site to easily find your inseam and do quick comparison shopping

Note: This buying guide contains affiliate links that pay Search By Inseam a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Where to Buy Tall Jeans – Top 11 Websites – Updated

Posted on September 28, 2018October 5, 2021 by Corrinne

Have you ever googled where to buy tall jeans, trying desperately to find something that covers your long legs? I’ve done it, and know it’s a frustrating experience. It’s actually the reason the reason I created Search By Inseam! 🙂 Here’s a list of websites I recommend for tall women’s jeans. I do my best to keep it updated, and this list is current as of October 2021. The post was originally published on September 28, 2018. Read through the list and let me know if you find any other great sites by commenting below. Thanks!

Where to buy tall jeans

Search By Inseam allows you to search for jeans by your exact inseam length, whether that is 33 inches or 38 inches, or somewhere in between. There’s also helpful content on measuring your inseam so you can ensure a great fit. You can narrow your shopping criteria by brand name, rise (low rise, mid rise, high rise) and by price range. Sign up for notifications, so you know when we add new jeans or pants that fit your long inseam length. This is my favorite place to shop for long jeans. 🙂

Silver Jeans Co. is another great resource because you can search for your exact inseam length, which makes it easy and fast. You’ll find women’s jeans in inseam lengths of 33”, 34”, 35”, 36” and 37”. Silver offers free standard shipping and returns on all orders. They also have a limited selection of maternity jeans.

New York & Company has some hard-to-find tall inseams like 35.5” for women’s bootcut jeans and 32.5” for tall skinny jeans. Economy shipping is free when you spend $50.01 or more. They often carry jeans in fun colors and styles, so it’s a great place to check out if you want something new and interesting to perk up your wardrobe.

Express shows off seasonal trends in denim. Their long length is typically a 35-inch inseam, though lengths can vary depending on the style. Shipping is free when you spend over $50. Long length Express-branded pants are also available, often in lengths of 33″ and 35″. Be sure to check out the Features & Fabric under the Product Details section to make sure you’re getting the right inseam length.

Lands’ End stocks tall women’s jeans in 34- and 36-inch inseams. Their jeans are usually under $80 and the quality is high, making for many happy customers and good reviews. Shipping offers on this site change periodically, and you can often find a great deal.

Gap has done a good job of adding new jean lengths for tall women lately – and even some tall maternity jeans! We’ve seen inseams of 34″, 34.5″, 35″, 36″, 36.5″, 37″, and sometimes even 38″ inches! The company offers free shipping on orders over $50 and free returns on all orders. I’ve also had good experiences with buying online and picking up in store, if that’s something you’d like to try.

Eddie Bauer has a decent selection of jeans in their Tall Shop. Their tall inseam length for women’s bootcut jeans is normally between 34- and 36-inches, and the jeans are priced at $90 or below. Shipping offers change periodically and the quality is good. You can sign up for their free Adventure Rewards program and get points, certificates, free shipping, and more.

Banana Republic offers women’s inseam lengths of 33-37 inches. They usually don’t make you hunt for the inseam length like Old Navy sometimes does (more on that below); most of the time it’s clearly spelled out in the Fit & Sizing box or under Product Details. Like Gap and Old Navy, shipping is free on orders of $50 or more.

Old Navy starts their tall women’s jeans at a 33.5-inch inseam, and they go up to a 36-inch inseam. If the inseam isn’t listed in the product details, you’ll have to hunt for it in two different tall sizing charts, and then try to guess which is right – unfortunately, sometimes both are incorrect. They are working to correct this, and it’s getting better. Their tall maternity jeans usually have a 34″ inseam. Shipping is free on orders over $50 and returns are always free. While I’m not a huge fan of their jean quality, I do like their tall linen pants and tall pajama pants , especially the fun holiday print pajama pants that come out in October sometime. 🙂

Nordstrom carries a good selection of designer and mid-priced junior and women’s jeans. You can often find tall maternity jeans as well. Shipping and returns are free. Some products are available for in-store pickup, and they have a great free rewards program called the Nordy Club that will get you free alterations, Nordstrom Notes, and more. I also love taking advantage of their free wrapping services when I buy gifts there.

Shopbop is one of our favorites websites for just-released trendy designer denim. The company does an excellent job of keeping their inventory fresh and fashionable, and they have periodic sales where you can snatch up bargains. This is one of the few places we regularly see 38-inch inseams, and consistently see 36 and 37-inch inseams. Tall designer maternity jeans are also available. Shipping and returns are always free. Shopbop is an Amazon-owned company and Prime benefits apply.

Tall jeans from all of these sellers and more are available at Search By Inseam. This website saves you time and money because it’s easy to find your inseam and do quick comparison shopping. Check our blog and Facebook page for product reviews, sales and coupon codes. Know of any other great places to buy tall women’s jeans? Please comment below!

Back From Vacay!

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Corrinne

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!

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

Posted on June 25, 2017June 25, 2017 by Corrinne

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:

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.
What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Old Navy Mid-Rise Linen-Blend Pants
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.
What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Glint Pleated Metallic Wrap
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! 🙂
What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Patagonia Kamala Convertible Jersey Skirt
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.
What to pack for a tropical vacation: Cinched-Waist Linen-Blend Dress
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!
What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: PAIGE Analia Linen Tank
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.
What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Old Navy Relaxed Linen-Blend Curved-Hem Tee
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. 🙂
What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Old Navy Linen Blend Boyfriend Long Sleeved Tee
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!
What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Old Navy Relaxed Linen-Blend Shorts
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.
What to Pack for a Tropical Vacation Using Only Your Carry-on: Birkenstock Gizeh Birko-Flor Thong
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! 🙂
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
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

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!

Wearing a Shift as a Top Works Well for Tall Frame

Posted on May 21, 2017May 25, 2017 by Corrinne

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

Tips for Saving Thousands on Designer Clothing

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Corrinne

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

I've been using Rent the Runway's Unlimited program for one month now and I love it! You Get unlimited rentals with Rent the Runway's Unlimited subscription for $139/month but there is a code on the site for 20% off your first month, which drops the price to $111.20. I'd heard about Rent the Runway from a friend 6 years ago at a wedding, where I admired her outfit. Flash forward to this month, where I was going to a wedding where that same friend would be attending and wanted to be warm, comfortable, and fashionable. I remembered Rent the Runway and decided to give it a try. I found this beautiful Diane von Furstenberg Blue Purdy Jumpsuit and thought it would be warmer than a short dress (the dress code was cocktail). The reviews said it was comfortable and it really was! I wrote a detailed review here. I heard from people at the wedding that I looked like I belonged on the cover ELLE magazine. So awesome! Especially since I was warm and comfortable too – my primary goals! 🙂 I really hate being cold… Here's the jumpsuit:

Anyway, I could have rented the jumpsuit for a standard 4 or 8 days, but after reading about the Rent the Runway's Unlimited program, it made sense to pay a little more so I could have it a few days before the wedding and spend time finding accessories and shoes. My husband also had a holiday party at work the following weekend, and I thought I could wear it there as well. PLUS I'd get to select 2 other pieces for a total of 3 at a time. Here are the gorgeous Ciner Marry Me Teardrop Earrings I chose to wear with the jumpsuit:

I felt like a million bucks! I've never worn an outfit that totaled over $700 before! I rented 5 other pieces over the course of January. I tried another size in the jumpsuit, a fur vest, a Kate Spade purse, a warm winter coat, and a cute tweed vest. I rented a total of 7 designer pieces in 30 days, which comes to $15.86 per item. Another way to look at this is dividing the subscription price of the first month ($111.20) by the total retail value of everything I rented ($3,331) to get 3.33%. I paid just 3% of the retail value of these items to rent them! Everything arrived in mint condition and I didn't have any dry cleaning fees like I would have if it was something I owned. I also got to try out different designers and styles, which was really valuable to me. I just cleaned out my closet after Christmas, and I loved how much WASN'T in there! This allowed me to wear new things without storing them. It's genius! Here's what I learned during my first month of Unlimited:

By reading reviews of women who had a similar body type to mine (reviews state height, weight, body type, and key measurements), I was able to figure out what size to order in almost every case. In the case of the jumpsuit, the 6L fit like a glove everywhere except the torso length was just a little too snug. I could have made it work, but because I had the Unlimited subscription, I had time to send for an 8L which was perfect! Because I could keep 3 items at a time, I kept the earrings and the 6L jumpsuit just in case the 8L didn't arrive in time. I used the first jumpsuit to figure out which shoes to buy. (I sent back a coat that was too short in the sleeves so I could order the 8L jumpsuit, which did arrive in time for the wedding, by the way!)
I liked keeping 1-2 items at a time and having 2-1 in transit to or from Rent the Runway. That way, I always had a great piece at home to wear. You can have 3 items at a time.
It pays to have basics like black skinny jeans, black boots, and black turtlenecks (this is for winter rentals) so you can rent statement pieces like great coats, ponchos, vests, and furs.
At first, every time I'd get a new item, I'd send back an old one right away. I'd do it the same day since the UPS Store was right on my way to/from my son's school. Then I realized that with 2-business day UPS shipping, nothing much happens shipping-wise on the weekends and it was usually the same arrival time on the returned item if I dropped something off Friday afternoon or Monday morning. So if I could wear something over the weekend, it made sense to keep it an extra day or two.
When selecting a new item, I'd first check my calendar and see what events I had coming up and what I might want to wear. I'd also check the weather forecast. If it was going to be a solid week of rain, it didn't make sense to select a wool coat. Instead, I'd choose a vest or top that could be worn under a rain jacket. I kept a list of favorites and could easily search to see if my size was available when it ready to choose something new.
I got to try out styles I'd been wondering about – without buying them first! It's awesome to be able to try something new for a few days before you buy it. I'd been thinking about buying a new handbag with double handles since I thought they looked so cute on everyone else. Guess what? I carried the bag twice before I decided it just wasn't comfortable or efficient enough for me. I have two little boys and I want to be able to hold both of their hands (vs. one and a purse!). I also tried carrying the bag with the shoulder strap, but the handles got in the way. This was really valuable information to have prior to making a buying decision worth hundreds of dollars. So when I do decide to buy, I'm getting a bag that ONLY has a shoulder strap! 🙂
I also tried a fur. I didn't actually know it was real fur until it arrived, but it was a little fox. I felt weird about wearing it. It was super warm and might have been appropriate for a ski weekend at Whistler, but it felt over-the-top for wearing around suburbia. Now I know not to buy real fur, and I probably won't rent it again unless I have a ski weekend planned.
To me, the cost is worth it. At a monthly rate of $139 (or less with new customer codes) that includes shipping, dry cleaning, insurance, and amazing designer pieces, I can have a rotating closet of killer clothes and accessories and feel good about how I look. I had a ton of fun selecting new pieces, tracking arrivals, and wearing new outfits. I didn't have to commit to owning anything, which was really nice for someone who tries to be selective about what I bring into my closet.

These 8 lessons were gleaned from my first month of using Rent the Runway's Unlimited program. My second month is starting now and I'm excited to see what I'll learn in February. Stay tuned for more product reviews and musings!