This diary entry has two main characters: Abraham Maslow and Goldilocks, the latter needing no introductions.
Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who created Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health which states there are five levels of human needs. From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological (food and hygiene), safety (job security), love and belonging needs (friendship), esteem, and self-actualization.
According to the theory, for our motivation to progress stages, each prior stage must be satisfied ie I have food and shelter, I can now seek family, health and security...
Here is where I introduce you to Goldilocks, Me - Penni Lamprey 6'1 Founder + Designer of Miss G & Me
For a full back story of how I arrived here designing beautiful clothes for the tall, check out Where to begin: diary of a tall women wanting (beautiful) pants that fit .
Previous to founding Miss G & Me to receiving an invitation somewhere, getting dressed for work each day, going to the shops for groceries, or planning an event - every day, every event, I would reenact the 'what am I going to wear dance' mentally if a minor thing or dramatically if a significant one, while my husband took his cues and would a. tell me I looked beautiful in everything, b. suggest a(nother) stylist appointment, c. encourage me to buy something else, or d. leave quickly - his intent was always one of support.
I'm pretty confident he felt hopeless and cranky there was no consistent silver-bullet solution for the Groundhog Day scenario - for sure, our love and belonging needs were challenged...
July 2020, I had three pairs of jeans and a dress I would wear to all my work or official engagements. Not one jumper, shirt or blouse fitted my arms, and most struggled to be long enough. If I had a little sister, I'm certain I felt like I was wearing her clothes.
I've sat through as many stylist webinars on dressing confidently as I have tried on pants that don't fit, and TBH, if I hear once more that all I have to do is understand my style vibe and shop to that list or know my body shape, I'll scream.
You may recognise this position too - if your clothes don't fit lengthways, what you'd like your style to be, to show the outside world or what style you identify with, really becomes redundant - you force your feet into shoes that don't fit, you wear clothes that are too short for you but are better than going nude.
Source Tall girl Homour IG
well, not always..
😫You size up to gain a little extra length, but it's too wide
🥴You wonder where to find a longer top that covers your backside when you sit down
🙄You feel annoyed at the distraction the whole mental load requires when choosing an outfit
😮Modesty in summer becomes a thing, shorts really are short
😞You buy clothes you constantly regret
🤨You only buy second-hand - which is perfectly excellent, but what's it telling your subconscious?
😖Statements such as 'cropped are in' are like listening to a chalkboard being scratched
💪You teach yourself garment-altering skills as MrsSmythmadeThis can
Source IG - Mrssmythmadethis
😱You fret about the conference/funeral/presentation/musical/dinner event you're attending - if pants and a blazer that don't fit aren't uncomfortable enough, knowing you're sitting in a chair that is too small for you is the icing on the cake...
Oh, Goldilocks...it's no wonder you laid down to sleep.
Imagine though, imagine receiving an email one night inviting you to share your business story with a group of women on International Women's Day and the first thing you think of is 'how can my experiences and story best serve these women?'
I have seen how you started and how your business is unfolding for you and would love other women to hear your story and get inspired...my intention is for women to hear that regardless what ever our backgrounds are, as women we all have similar challenges and if we are determined we can do what we want.
Aimen Jafri, Multicultural Council of Tasmania
Woah, nowhere was there dramatic 'Goldilocks' squawking 'shit what will I wear, OMGawd, here we go again..."
This was my experience recently, and it wasn't until I went to bed I noticed and acknowledged the change in me, I wrote back to Aimen in the days that followed saying it was hard to succinctly describe my reaction, but it was significant and fully embodies why I started this label - elle va bein dans sa peau - well in ones skin.
Back to Maslow, the bottom of the pyramid is basic needs, physiological needs such as food, air, heat, water, hygiene and get this - you'll love it, and CLOTHES.
Clothes are a basic physiological human need.
I'd like to extend on that and suggest, that clothes that fit an individual are basic human needs - a bit like shoes for running, not 100% necessary but make all the difference to cognitive and physical performance.
The realisation that this was my experience was nothing short of breathtaking, I don't know yet what I'll wear to present to this room full of people, most likely our 'Valda' dress or the new upcoming design 'Una' Wool Pant - but I do know that the two aspects of my esteem level: for oneself and others are also being fulfilled simply by receiving the invitation and my desire to give to others.
It is only now my basic need for clothing is being met, can my unconscious mind proceed unflustered to the next level - such is the freedom of my thoughts, the script for the presentation is already half composed.
I was a Health & Wellbeing coach prior to founding Miss G & Me, and would always encourage my client to explore what's changed since we'd last met, it's ever so important to go look, to seek out what new positive thinking patterns are developing, and personally, I can't think of anything more liberating than a positive unconscious response to what was once a life long emotional burden.
Phew, when you stare at the closest full of emotional hangovers that didn't fit or calculate the time spent in worry and angst, what's that worth?
Clothes are a basic need, beautiful clothes that fit you as a taller woman, life-changing.
Miss G and Me is the only Australian-made tall women’s clothing label, which reflects a passion for beautiful and sustainable fashion that fits tall women and lasts beyond a few washes. This article was written by the founder + designer, 6'1 Penni Lamprey who has a passionate focus on 'well' and 'being' and how clothes that fit positively contribute to an individual's self-esteem - the heart of the label's values.
elle va bein dans sa peau
