Tall story

"I used to wear men's jeans and Dr Marten's boots with men's shirts," says the York University maths student. But when I turned 17, I wanted to dress more nicely - but it was really hard."

So hard in fact, that mum Maggy had to make her ballgown for the school dance.

Things are a tad easier for Rowena now she is 19, but she is limited to shopping at just a few stores.

A lifeline is Long Tall Sally, the first retailer to provide clothes exclusively for tall women. The company has a branch in York's Fossgate and also produces a mail-order catalogue four times a year.

"I've got 12 pairs of trousers - all from Long Tall Sally," says Rowena, whose inside leg measurement is 36 inches. "Most shops don't even have men's trousers in that size!"

In the past couple of years, Long Tall Sally has introduced trendier lines for younger women, such as boot-cut style jeans and combat trousers, a move which has won the thumbs up from Rowena. But choice is still limited.

"Women are getting taller and there is a huge gap in the market for clothes to fit taller women," says Rowena.

Another problem is her bust size: "I'm a 34DD and I have to use specialist lingerie shops as I find bras that size in the high street are like harnesses."

Recently she stumbled across another most-welcome fashion discovery: tops at Bhs fitted her like a glove.

"It was a truly amazing find. I'd got used to going shopping and coming home empty handed. It is really frustrating when your friends can find nice clothes easily. So it was brilliant when I discovered that the tops and T-shirts in Bhs somehow fit me!"

But there is one downside. "I get so excited when I find something on the high street that fits, I have to buy it. I could go into Bhs and spend £150 in one go just on tops!"

money is a big issue for the student, who, to make ends meet, relies on her earnings from part-time bar work at a York pub.

"I do spend more money on the clothes I buy than my friends. Trousers from Long Tall Sally cost around £40, whereas in Top Shop they'd be about £25."

For shoes, Rowena has to rely on specialist catalogues such as Nine To Eleven Footwear or Magnus, which again are more expensive than their high street counterparts, plus she has to pay for postage and packaging.

Chains such as Dolcis, Saxone, Evans and Next offer size nine shoes, but often, says Rowena, they are still too small, or are not actually in stock and need to be ordered. "That's no use if you want to wear them that night," she says.

As for clubbing gear, Top Shop has come to her rescue... or more precisely, its stretch, short dresses have.

"They're perfect. I can't wear fitted dresses because if they fit on the chest, they don't fit on the hips. But Top Shop's lycra dresses are great, I've got three or four!"

Of course, there are other drawbacks to being tall, like having to stoop to wash the dishes, rinse her hands in the bathroom basin or write at a desk. And then there's the by no means small matter of cold feet in bed. "I've had to buy a special-size duvet and covers from Ikea to keep cosy at night," says Rowena.

Boyfriends have never really been a problem, she says, adding size doesn't matter. Current beau Phil, a fellow York University student, is just a few centimetres shorter. "He doesn't mind... but he doesn't like it when I wear my heels!"

All in all, Rowena wouldn't wish to be smaller.

"I like being tall. You certainly get noticed. The trouble is, because I turn people's heads it's even more important to me that I have nice clothes to wear."