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I’ve been asked countless times about where to find clothing for tall kids and tweens – it’s obviously a struggle and there seems to be a gap in the clothing market for this particular demographic. Tall sizes just don’t exist in the girl’s department! I wanted to create this guide for tall girls and tweens, and their frustrated parents who are trying to dress them!
By the time I was 10 years old I was already 5’7 – and I know there’s plenty of young girls out there that are even taller by that age.
Now for myself, I was not skinny so I always just wore adult-sized clothing and baggy t-shirts. I was totally not fashionable at all when I was a kid and just kind of wore whatever my mom got me and fit.
Back then there were just way fewer clothing options than today. Plus size girl clothing wasn’t a thing, either, so there was no way I could have fit my 5’7 (then adult size 10) body into anything other than well, adult clothes.
I remember being upset I couldn’t shop in the American Girl catalog for clothing. This was the 90s – people still clothing shopped through catalogs and you actually had to call up a number to place your order. Wow, have times changed. I don’t even know if American Girl still makes clothing in girls sizes, but they did back in the day.
While times have definitely changed for the better and there are so many more options now for clothing, they still just don’t offer the “tall” sizes for kids. I guess very tall children’s clothing is just not in a high enough demand for companies to market it.
Well, I’ve done some research into this topic and come up with a list of tips, things to look for, and places to shop when you’re trying to find clothing for a taller young girl.
When trying to find clothes for a tall child or tween…
Try Old Navy
Old Navy’s children’s line is cut longer than other kids’ clothing departments. On average, the pants, jeans, dresses and tops are 2 inches longer in length for their size. This could possibly be a great choice if you have a child who is just a little bit taller than average. All the pants that are button up also have adjustable waistbands as well, so you can possibly size up to get even extra length. Check them here.
Look for “slim” girls sizes and adjustable waistbands
Stores like Justice, JCPenny, Old Navy, and Gap all carry slim sizes for girls – These are typically 2 inches slimmer through the hips and waist than the regular girl’s sizes which allow for many girls to size up in clothing for length, without the pants being too big or baggy. Many of them also have adjustable waistbands.
Look for tunic or tunic length tops in the girl’s department
Tunic tops are a really good option for tall kids because they’re longer length than a normal shirt. They’re typically designed to fit below the hip -(and sometimes to mid-thigh) so if you’re needing to dress a longer torso you can probably make sure at least it covers appropriate skin. Also, it offers hope that you can actually shop the children’s department and still get the cutesy/kiddish stuff.
Just keep in mind – there’s no universal length for retailers to label something as “tunic” so you probably want to make sure you either try it on or if buying online look up the length of the shirt in the description information. Many times this is available, but not always. You can also (sometimes) get useful information from the review section.
Surprisingly Amazon has an extensive selection of tunic tops for girls – check them out here.
Try junior sizes
If you are dealing with an exceptionally tall child/tween even sizing up with slim sized girls jeans won’t help – you’re probably going to have to head for the juniors department. Juniors clothing is sized smaller than women’s and is also geared toward younger girls.
Keep in mind you might have to pick through the selection to find appropriate items, but most of the time you can still find basic pants, tops, and tanks within the juniors section that would still be OK for a young girl to wear. Often times you can find smaller sizes (XXS/XS) that are cut tiny and comparable to girls sizing, only it’s cut longer.
Aeropostal may be an option for really skinny girls since they make sizes 000, 00 and 0 with the adult length you need. Their 000 size is a 22.5 waist, 32.5 hip which is comparable to Justice’s 12 girls slim size. They have inseams ranging from 28 – 34”.
You can also pick through their stuff to find basic jeans and tops that aren’t inappropriate. Their clothing is also cut smaller than most other junior lines, so it is a possible option for young girls who really need that extra height.
There are also other clothing lines such as American Eagle and Buckle that are geared toward young girls and even offer extra-long inseam options.
Recommended: The BEST Shops to Find Tall Junior Clothing
Consider leggings…
Because leggings are designed to be tight around the legs and are so fitted, the length is a little more forgiving than with traditional pants. You can check Old Navy’s girl leggings since they’re sized longer, or even size up to juniors if you need the extra length (Aeropostal would be a great place to check since they are sized very small and carry the 000/00)
When it comes to looking for things like leggings and long tops for young girls, Amazon can also be your friend.
I know it’s really difficult to find clothes for young girls who are so tall. The selection is limited and many may find items from the junior section to not be appropriate for a younger child to wear. Usually, you can pick through and find basics that are ok to wear but I still acknowledge that it’s not a walk in the park!
Need shoes for size 11+? Get the full list here
If you have any other tips or questions, let me know in the comments!
It’s great to learn that tunic tops are a good option for children that are taller than other kids. My daughter is struggling with fitting into her clothes and she is wanting to get shirts that look good and fit her tall frame. I’ll be sure to ask her if she would like to wear tunic tops.
Hello my name is Lindsay and I have a 6 year old about to be 7 in April and she is already in a size 14. Its so hard to find her clothes that are age appropriate because all of the cute little girl stuff doesn’t fit her. If you could give me some suggestions for her age that would be great. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Lindsay
Hey Lindsay! Yeah I know it gets frustrating because once you get up to the “big girls” sizes they don’t always have the same selection of the super cutesy little girl clothing anymore, especially in the sizes 14+.
My first suggestion to check out would be a clothing website called primary.com They carry up to a girls size 14 and have a lot of basic items. You can shop clothing by color and the selection is very casual and modest. They don’t have all those crazy fashion pieces that they often times do in the big girls clothing, you know ones that you wouldn’t want a 6 year old wearing!
However if you shop around other stores do carry clothing appropriate for a 6 year old in larger sizes as well… you just may have to pick through it to find the more basic age appropriate stuff.
You could also try checking Old Navy and JCPenny – you do have to pick through some stuff but I feel like they have a decent selection of appropriate clothing for girls.
Old Navy’s Extended Sizes (Girls 14, 16, 18+)
JCPenny’s Extended Sizes (Girls 14 and 16)
Thank you so much. I did go to the stores you recommended and especially old navy. I was able to find a lot there. At least I know she has cute styles that are in for her age. I will definitely be shopping there again. ☺ also I hope she feels comfortable to.
Oh that’s awesome! So glad you were able to find stuff! :)
My daughter is 9 years she is 5ft2 size 5 adult shoes I struggle finding clothes to fit her she wears age 13-14 ..
My daughter is also 9 and is 5’3”. Wears a size 7.5 shoes, luckily my MIL wears the same size and a sneaker freak so my daughter has gotten sneakers from her. My daughter grew 5 inches last year. We have resorted to a lot of leggings and poshmark for jeans. I can’t bring myself to pay $40 for jeans that she may only wear for a few months. My problem has been finding age appropriate shirts. The juniors section is all cropped tops who no will not let my 9 year old wear.
My daughter is starting kindergarten in a month. She needs tights. Hates all other kinds of pants. ?
She’s 5, but has the waist size of a 2/3 year old. Of course no pants will be long enough.
She’s 46 inches tall and so skinny.
Wondering if h&m pants are longer than old navy?
She can’t wear Carter’s because KID sizes are too wide.
I need help!
?
I am desperate for help – my daughter just turned 13 and still needs like an 8 in waist but she has long legs. 000 don’t fit and anything bigger than a 10 just gaps up at the waist. Is there any stores that have an unfinished hem or have really long lengths. We are struggling and for her she’s about the only one in her grade that has this issue.
Thanks Wendy for sharing your experiences & tips! My dd is tall & it’s such a struggle to find clothes that still look cute & girlie , but tall size. Your page is helpful!
Thank you I’m glad you found it helpful!
I have a 10 y/o that has super high metabolism and an ADHD med that kills her appetite. At 5′ 2″ tall, she can still fit a girls’ size 8 in the waist, but she’s a girls’ size 16 in length. Slim sizes do not fit her or are non-existent after slim 14 because they get too big in the waist! Help?! While I can be honest and agree she may not be as tall as some girls in her 5th grade class, she is much thinner and trust me, she eats like an elephant when her meds wear off for the day. I had the same issue with her older sister and my mom had the same issue with me until my mid-teens.
I’m not looking for diet help, I am looking for apparel help!
Yes that is definitely a struggle! Have you tried some of the junior stores like AE or Aeropostale? They have very slim sizing that’s roughly equivalent to a girl 8 in the waist, but would still have the length. If that isn’t an option, I would maybe consider buying clothing and then having it tailored to fit her.
Thanks for this info!! My daughter is 10 and wears a 12/14 in length but a 7/8 in waist- she’s a little tooth pick. Finding her pants is becoming a major challenge.
I will look into the brands you recommended! I will try anything!
My thin 9 yr old appears to have long arms and legs. I have found the 12 slim works great but still struggling to find shirts that work. The necks in 12s tend to be too large but the 10s sleeve length. Is two inches too short. We live in cold weather so would be great to find a brand or sizing that would work.
Hi my daughter is 10 and 5’ 4” and skinny. She is in size 18 kids clothes now but would need size 20 kids to teens clothing by fall. All teens clothing I find are inappropriate for her age (belly shirts, short skirts and shorts, etc) and she dislikes women’s clothing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.