Tall-girl Style: Long Lines For The Amsterdam-london Wardrobe

The trick is to lean into length rather than hide it, then build a carry-on that works for canals by day and cocktail bars by night.

Here is a fashion-first guide to proportion, fabrics, and pieces that travel beautifully between Amsterdam and London.

Start with silhouette: column, then structure

Your best friend is a long, clean column.

Think slip or column dresses, straight-through maxi skirts, pool-skimming trousers, and longline coats. Add structure where you want definition: a neat shoulder, a waist seam, a well-placed belt. Avoid chopping yourself into thirds with fussy peplums or harsh crop lines.

If you want a cropped moment, keep the rest elongated, for example, by pairing a cropped knit with a high-rise column skirt.

Proportion rules that never fail

• High rise and proper inseam: Tall frames need rises that actually reach the waist and inseams that meet the shoe without puddling.
• Long sleeves, more extended cuffs: Choose sleeves that hit the wrist bone, then add a bracelet or watch to anchor the line.
• Necklines that lengthen: Square, V, deep crew, and soft funnel necks emphasise verticals without looking severe.
• Belts for balance: A slim belt centers the eye and prevents a long outfit from looking like a tube.

Fabrics that travel well

Amsterdam’s breeze and London’s drizzle reward cloth with body. Crepe, bonded jersey, viscose satin, with weight and compact wool blends hold their line in photos and resist creasing on trains. Save ultra-floaty chiffons for high summer. For denim, choose rigid or ecru jeans with a grown-up rise and a long, straight leg.

A 12-piece carry-on capsule

1. Long trench in a shower-resistant cotton blend
2. Tailored leather or faux-leather jacket
3. Column dress in crepe or fine knit
4. Bias-cut slip skirt
5. Wide-leg trousers with a full-length break
6. Straight-leg ecru jeans
7. Silk or cupro shirt
8. Fitted rib top or second-skin turtleneck
9. Cropped knit to pair with high rises
10. Sleek ankle boots with a subtle tread
11. Kitten-heel slingbacks
12. Structured shoulder bag that keeps its shape

You should always mix textures to elevate neutrals. For example satin with matte leather, crepe with polished hardware, rib knits with smooth suiting.

Color cues from both cities

Amsterdam loves a soft, art-school palette: cream, slate, bottle green, painterly blues. London nights skew deeper: black, oxblood, charcoal, navy, chocolate. Bridge the two with one accent shade that repeats across pieces, such as bronze hardware or a moss scarf that appears in outfits throughout the week.

Planning a spring city break around the blooms and museum days in AMS? For itinerary ideas and a mood board of colour inspiration, see this tulip-season note in this luxury Amsterdam Companion’s journal.

Outfit formulas to copy-paste

Day in De Pijp
Ecru straight jeans, silk shirt tucked cleanly, cropped knit, slingbacks or sleek trainers, small shoulder bag. Trench on top if the air turns cool.

Museum to wine bar in Jordaan
Bias slip skirt, rib top, leather jacket, ankle boots, structured bag. Add a narrow belt to centre the look.

Soho dinner in London
Column knit dress, long trench, slingbacks, brushed-gold hoops. Hair tucked behind one ear, brick-red lip.

Mayfair cocktail
Wide-leg trousers, satin camisole, sharp blazer, pointed ankle boots, box clutch. Keep jewellery close to the body.

Footwear and hems that behave

Tall-girl hems should skim, not drag. Ask a tailor to set the trousers to the exact shoe height you wear most. A small platform or a midi kitten heel keeps dresses off wet streets without sacrificing stability. Sole grip matters on canal bridges and London pavements, so choose leather soles with a discreet rubber insert for added traction.

Outerwear that frames, not hides

Your coat is the outfit. A long trench with crisp storm details or a single-breasted wool coat with lightly built shoulders gives presence over simple columns. Belt cleanly, never loosely. If you prefer a shorter jacket, keep the underlayers long and uninterrupted.

Packing smart: space and maintenance

Steam rather than iron to protect fabric finishes. Roll knits, fold tailoring. A travel fabric spray refreshes between wears. Keep a small brush for suede or wool and a soft cloth for leather. A compact umbrella with a solid handle reads like an accessory, not an afterthought.

Quick fit checks before you leave the hotel

• Does the hem clear the pavement and sit neatly on your shoe?
• Are your layers creating a single, continuous line rather than multiple cut points?
• Do belts, bag straps, and jewelry sit on purposeful anchor points, such as the waist, shoulder, and wrist?
• Is your outerwear doing the framing, not the hiding?

The tall-girl advantage

Length is your luxury. Choose pieces that honour it: columns, grown-up rises, long sleeves, coats with real swing. With a slight rotation that plays well in both cities, you can move from canal paths to late dinners with nothing more than a lipstick change and a different bag.