Tall Women, Unconscious Bias and the Right to Wear Heels

Scene: A Business Event. A Panel of Women. A moment of realisation for tall women in a world of unconscious bias

Not long ago, I attended an Accelerating Women in Business event here in Tasmania. Four accomplished women sharing their journeys, what they are creating, building and exporting from this island to the world. It was genuinely inspiring.

I sat front row, fully immersed, mentally sketching a new wrap dress inspired by the host's outfit. Specifically the soft side split that gave such movement mid-step.

My creative mind rarely switches off.

Then I noticed something else.

All four women were wearing exceptional shoes. Sleek, confident, unapologetically heeled.

Three inches. Four inches. Power in motion.

And then that voice piped up. Mine.

"I bet no one asks them why they're wearing heels."

A sigh. A truth. One tall women will recognise immediately. The question we have heard a thousand times, phrased a hundred different ways, always laced with the same implication.

"Why would YOU wear heels."

"You know you don't NEED to, right."

"Aren't you tall enough already."

Uninvited. Unoriginal. Unrelenting.

Tall women navigating unconscious bias, in a nutshell.

The Footwear Police Are Not Required

That night, I was wearing the Miss G & Me Alva Slim Leg Pants with my favourite runners - comfy, clean, made for movement. I took to our IG stories with a thought:

"Four very established women speaking tonight, but I do wonder if any have ever been asked why they're wearing heels."

The Miss G & Me community knew exactly what I meant. Responses rolled in, resonant, funny, fiery.

One of the panellists replied directly.

"Coz I love how they make me feel!!!!"

Nailed it. That is the whole point. That is ALWAYS the point.

Unconscious Bias, Out Loud

Let's pause here. Because what we are dealing with is more than shoe choice.

Unconscious biases are deep-seated, automatic social attitudes we absorb without realising. Passed on from parents, teachers, early role models. Baked into the way we perceive others long before we think to question them.

For tall women, one of the most persistent is this.

"You shouldn't wear heels."

"You don't need to stand out any more."

The idea that we have reached some arbitrary limit on our own visibility. That by wearing heels, or any garment that draws the eye, we are somehow overstepping.

No one asks a petite woman in stilettos to justify her footwear. Tall women are routinely asked to explain themselves.

So, to those who comment. We see your bias. It is no longer unconscious. And it is time to stop.

We Will Wear What We Want

The women on that stage did not need to explain their heels. Neither do I. Neither do you.

We choose what we wear because of how it makes us feel. Grounded. Playful. Powerful.

Elegant. Or simply like ourselves.

That is the heart of everything we do at Miss G & Me.

Built for Tall Women. Designed for Wellbeing.

Miss G & Me is Australian owned and designed, with garments crafted in Australia and overseas. That is a deliberate position and we are transparent about it.

Australian manufacturing is retained where the material, craft, or supply chain makes it the right choice. Overseas manufacturing is used where it delivers better construction and accessible pricing. That distinction is intentional, and we will always be transparent about it.

What does not change is this. Every garment is designed here. Every garment is fit-tested here, by tall Australian women who live the difference between a garment that was made for them and one that was made for someone else and lengthened.

Designs informed by real lives, real legs, real posture, real feedback. Always through the lens of wellbeing.

Fabrics sourced with care, including quality deadstock. Pieces made to last, not just through trends but through life.

This is about more than clothes. It is about identity, autonomy and dignity. It is about being well in your skin, and never apologising for the space you take up.

Miss G & Me is the only dedicated, and most established Australian tall women's clothing label, and we believe we have designed the best pants and trousers for tall women. Our passion for beautiful, sustainable fashion ensures that we cater to tall women, with styles that last even beyond a few washes. This article was written by our founder and designer, Penni Lamprey, who stands at 6'1". She emphasises that clothes that fit positively contribute to an individual's self-esteem, a core value of our label.

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