The Difference Between Long and Tall

I originally ordered these Gap jeans in the smaller of my two sizes and fell in love with them, but they were too tight in the waist (a little too much cruise ship buffet grazing, I suppose), so I returned them and this is the bigger size. Pic 1 is regular size, long length, and pic 2 is the tall size.

Pic 1 - Regular size, long length. In terms of rise, they sit exactly as they’re supposed to. They’re snug in the waist and hips but not tight or uncomfortable at all. How does the length look? Too short or just right?

Pic 2 - Tall size. The longer rise turns these into a high rise, which in turn makes the fit feel looser. If they stretch during wear they might be too big, or at least need a belt. The length is too long and hits the floor, so I’d have to hem them.

Does one look better than the other? Do you have any advice for me? I’m not sure which rise I prefer, and I feel like I’m always in between two sizes/rises/lengths.

Please excuse the messy room behind me. I’m unpacking from our Belgium/Norway/Arctic Circle cruise, where, yes, I indulged in a few Belgian waffles and chocolates. I think I no longer have a “smaller of two sizes!”

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

2 weeks ago

Lisa

Veteran

I prefer the fit of #1. To my eye #2 looks too big. I'll be curious what others think. Your cruise sounds lovely!

Joyce B

I think the regular long looks good, the tall seems big on you. Does the regular long feel comfortable? Sometimes if one hesitates there is a reason, or at least the hesitation will prevent you from wearing the item.

Karie

(website)

Joyce, the regular long does feel comfortable. I think I’m just used to wearing high rises lately, and the rise on the long sits just at my belly button, which according to the picture on the Gap website, that’s where it’s supposed to sit. The tall size sits well above that.

Firecracker (Sharan)

I agree that the fit in #1 looks just right, and the tall (#2) looks a bit oversized. I see a lot of extra room in the legs and hipline on #2, which is a look, but perhaps not what you're going for? My preference, anyway, is for the tidier fit through the hipline and less room through the thigh on the first pair.

Before this post, it hadn't occurred to me that a retailer might offer one style in both long and tall fits. I assumed the terms were either/or, that retailers used one or the other, almost interchangeably.

Suz

#1 for the win, but thank you also for showing us! I always find it instructive to see how differently items fit in petite vs. regular, vs. regular vs. tall or short vs. tall size!

Jenni NZ

What Suz said!
I like the look of the first pic better, and like the length.
I need to do the opposite to you, look for “shorter length” labels. I do have one perfect length pair that was labelled as that.

Dee

Interesting to learn that it's the rise that's higher on the " tall" pair although that makes sense.
The jeans in photo 1 look perfect on you.

Sal

I agree the first pair fit perfectly. Great pants on you.

I thought long and tall were the same.....we are lucky here if either are offered to be honest ( as with petites).

So is a tall longer overall (rise, leg length etc) and a long the same rise but longer in the leg? And the same with petite versus shorter leg?

And if you picked jeans in a size 10, would a tall, regular and petite be the same width as each other...I have always assumed the width is the same but the length is longer?

Sal, the way I understand it, a tall size will be both longer in the rise and in the length, (and in shirts that would include longer in the sleeve length too). A long pant size should have the same rise as a regular, and just be longer in pant length.
I’m not sure about the width. It might be the same, but for example in my case, since the rise is off in the tall size and it is up higher, that throws off the design of the pants and the width in the thigh area, pulling it up and making it look baggier (I’m not sure if that makes sense, sorry!).
Firecracker, a lot of retailers do just offer one or the other - either long or tall - but Gap is one who offers both, and has done that with their jeans for many years, and I love them for it!
At just under 5’8” a tall size is usually too much for me, but a long size is usually perfect.

Jaime

Agree that #1 looks best and looks great. (The difference between long and tall sizes is a mystery to me.)

Angie

Fashion Stylist

A LONG = longer inseam only.

A TALL = longer rise, inseam, (and a bit bigger all over sometimes)

Another vote for #1, Karie! KILLER cute jeans on you

Sloper

#1 from me too. I think Gap’s been doing very well this season!

Really good explanation Karie, and Angie confirmed it. I think it fits with the opposite that I found here, where my pants labelled “shorter length” would have likely been the same waist, rise, hip etc in the usual length, it worked out perfectly for me for them to offer that! It’s relatively new and I am thanking all the newer immigrants in my head, many of whom are shorter! Am only guessing that may be the reason, but there are a lot more short women here now than when I was in my 20s.

Jenni NZ, I’m very glad that some retailers are offering many different fit options for pants. They’ve been doing it with men’s pants for decades - 32 in. inseam, 34 in., etc. It’s about time they started doing it with women’s pants too. Gap’s been doing it for years with their jeans, I.N.C. International Concepts (I think they’re a Macy’s house brand) does it, and the on-line retailer Quince offers different lengths in inches similar to men’s sizing. I’m sure there are many other manufacturers that do the same, I just haven’t found them yet.

Staysfit

Karie, number 1 fits better overall when viewed from the angle in the photograph, but you said the waist feels too tight….do you think it will stretch? Can you sit in them? The legs and hips look wider in pair number 2 but I’m not sure we would have noticed that if we didn’t have the comparison of the first pair and if they were cropped to the correct length….

Staysfit, the waist is snug but not too tight. I can definitely sit in them. There’s stretch in the fabric, and I’m going to wear them around the house a bit before I make the decision to keep or not. I’m also feeling a bit bloated after spending 12 days on a cruise ship, so it’s probably not the best time to try on clothes anyway!

This is so instructive! Thank you, Karie. It makes sense that there is a tall version that has basically the opposite relation to regular sizing as a petite does.

Category