plus size ootd!

crop top- forever 21+

maxi jacket- boo hoo +

skirt- primark

flatforms- evans

Even though it's nearly coming up to the end of the summer, I'm not finished with summer yet! I'm looking forward to autumn fashions, but this neutral white vibe has really captured my imagination really. I think a maxi jacket is a great statement piece as well, and makes me want to swoop round corners fast to make them swoooosh! Now I know how surgeons feel. Glamorous! 

This is also my first styling of a crop top, even though you can't see anything because of my high waisted skirt it's still a difficult transition to make, especially when you've spent your entire life not wearing one. Actually I think I had one from tammy girl or maybe MKONE in the sophie range circa 2000, but the less said about that probably the better. 

I'd been having a rubbish few weeks, and for my getting dressed up is a great way for me to feel good about myself- having a chronic illness like M.E, along with depression, can mean I often can't out of bed and get dressed, but when I do I try to make up for it, and take photos for me to look back on on other not so good days. Just like today on a gloomy day, I wore an outfit that would probably be more at home at club tropicana, where the drinks are fairly reasonably priced.

Have a lovely weekend!

2013 wants and needs

2013 wants and needs by banksieee featuring asos

Top
$13 - direct.asda.com

Jacket
$40 - matalan.co.uk

Aso
asos.com

Graduate Fashion Week Tie Waist Tunic - not live | Women | George at...
$25 - direct.asda.com

Spot Print Tunic | Women | George at ASDA
$22 - direct.asda.com




Twenty-thirrrteeen has to be the most boring year ever. TWENNYTWELVE had such applomb and pazzazz, how is 2013 going to live up to it? IT ISN'T, GUYS. With that, you may have noticed my palate has taken an unexpected turn to the earthier shades on the spectrum. Call it the weather, call it my soul- but I never thought I'd see the day I'd be looking at a black tunic with such unbridled enthusiasm. And not one item is bodycon! The fatphobic amongst you may be breathing a sigh of relief as the curve of my potruding belly remains hidden- but this is most unlike me! I'm even considering a pair of JEANS this winter/spring, and I haven't owned a pair of jeans since 2007.
And what's more, I may be diverting from my fail-safe shade of ice white hair. I'm currently sporting pastel pink, and while I do love it it's hard to co-ordinate with a great number of outfits. I'm big on monochrome this season, and statement coloured hair is a great way to add a flash of colour, emphasising your hair. Going on from my look at earthier tones in my palate, I may be interested in not only statement colours such as the purple featured above, but red or perhaps burgundy! Who knows! We will see, we will bloody well see!
And with that, I bid you goodnight!

Job Interview Outfits! TEAL ME ALL ABOUT IT!

Hello!

To the beady eyed amongst you, I've been off work for the past few months getting to grips with new medication and general depression crazy fun times. At last there's some light at the end of the tunnel; and I am job hunting! No sooner had I started but I have an interview on Thursday (pause for tv studio audience 'wooooo') for a shiny new job, back in the crazy biz we call SEO.

While on the phone taking down the particulars of my interview, before "smart dress code" had even been uttered my mind was transported to Helena Banks: Business Bitch. 

I had a look for some job interview clothing tips for plus sizes, and obviously there wasn't much that didn't include some dour black sack. I'm not good at dulling down my look at the best of times, and I don't see why an interview should be any different. The thought of a polyester pencil skirt and blazer combo sends shivers down my spine. To my first tip-

1. IT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF

It's so tempting to go out and buy an all singing, all dancing outfit. Seeing as most plus sized clothes exist solely online (another rant for another day), you can't bloody well try them on! You have no idea how these clothes are going to fit, and if you feel uncomfortable in your clothes it's absolutely going to show in how you carry yourself. Confidence comes from the inside and shines out (ooh get me), so wear your foolproof outfit for confidence. For me, leopard print just makes me feel like a ball breaking badass. 

This wouldn't be much of a blog if my one and only tip was "wear what makes you feel good" so on I go...

2. SMART DOESN'T MEAN BORING! 

So back to my hatred of "office wear". In an interview environment you might not want to let your freak flag fly too much, but I personally feel that you want to put across what makes you special. If you're going to be talking about fashion in any capacity, its so important to walk the walk and talk the talk. Playful accessories and statement pieces can inject some humour into your outfit without making you look like Linda LaHughes. Teal is one of my favourite colours ever, and I think that teal accents in an outfit keeps it smart but interesting. 

3. TEAL ME MORE, TEAL ME MORE...

Back to teal, (the amy winehouse b side) and my never ending love for it. It's bright, classy and suits a variety of skintones. With other really simple accessories a teal accent can really make it POP! Chelsea boots are ALWAYS in season, and worth a good investment. Using them in this outfit gives the lace top a more androgynous edge. In this set I decided to make it look like the dress had a handbag as a head, because that is just the avant garde world I happen to live in.
So in conclusion, think a little bit outside the box with your interview outfits- just because it has to be smart it doesn't mean you're confined to boring clothing. Extend this to every part of your life, and be fearless and fabulous and they won't be able to do anything else but hire you!
I'll post pictures of what I do end up wearing, and wish me luck! xxx

teal me more, teal me more by banksieee featuring plus size pants

wish list volume 10000000

wish list volume 10000000 by banksieee featuring nars cosmetics

Pink denim vest
dominodollhouse.com

Black leather skirt
$32 - newlook.com

Slipper shoes
$29 - newlook.com

Ted Baker pink handbag
$160 - johnlewis.com

Lip jewelry
$24 - cyberdog.net

Nyx
nyxcosmetics.com

Nars cosmetic
narscosmetics.com

autumn

autumn by banksieee featuring fringe shoes

Asos Curve Exclusive Peplum Skirt In Dogtooth
asos.com

Timeless fringe shoes
asos.com

Oasis black leather watch
asos.com

Asos Curve Peplum Top In Dog Tooth Check
asos.com

Swan By Clements Ribeiro Contrast Trim Toggle Outerwear
evansusa.com

ootd!

I love this top so much, and it is paired with the peplum skirt than I am in love with, but that is fading fast because I wear it so often. 

This top is really fun and I love the graphics on it, it's got a kind of Keith Haring 80s vibe, and reminds me of the video to Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club. That's personally a bit of a summer classic. 

I decided to sweep my hair to the side, I don't know why but since I've grown my hair relatively long, I want to do something with it! So in a rush I just did a bit of a side sweep. 

I'll leave you with the aforementioned song, Genius of Love- 

                                    

ASOS curve- why I think web content semantics are important

“Created by our ASOS Design Team with our customer in mind, ASOS CURVE presents a collection of plus size clothing to compliment the fuller figure. Look to ASOS CURVE for carefully considered trend-led styles from our mainline range, cleverly adjusted for the most flattering fit. This season, update your wardrobe with chic skater dresses and jersey tops, alongside playsuits and pretty blouses in bold prints and ultra-feminine lace, precisely cut for women of size 20 to 26.”

I love ASOS curve. Without them, I would no doubt be in big tunics and moo-moo’s. Everything they do is lovely. I want it all. And this isn’t JUST ASOS curve by a long chalk- a lot of other plus sized brands are guilty of this.

But I just have a serious beef with their web copy. This isn’t the hefty fucking hideaway, I am not the “fuller figure”… I do not need to be “carefully considered” or my clothes “cleverly adjusted” the whole thing smacks of walking on eggshells. The whole thing reads like ASOS is holding a huge bargepole, and only daning to touch up plus sized’s with it. 

ASOS are the leading in plus sized clothing, and they could just do amazingly at it. I know it’s only a small thing, but I read the copy and it makes me cringe. I just want fashion to be talked about with no mention to flattering my “feminine curves”. I do not speak for the majority in plus sized consumers, I am aware that a lot of people want to be flattered and they want certain aspects of their body hiding- but it feels like trying to sell hats to decapitated people without mentioning the fact that they don’t have a head. I’m fat, I wear clothes, sell them to me. I have money, I want you to take it. It would be a small step in fat acceptance, and something that I think brands could really benefit from.

Was anyone at plus north today? Unfortunately I couldn’t get up north, but I really wanted to ask people and brands about this. It just seems like there’s a huge niche market that isn’t being utilised, through things as simple as the semantics of copy.

Forward planning...

Writing in New York by banksieee featuring high rise leggings

Studded biker jacket
asos.com

Black swimwear
monifc.com

Tamara Barnoff high rise legging
$98 - ourstyle.hu

Topshop high waisted skirt
ebay.co.uk

Golden Girls Stay Golden Women's Junior T-Shirt - NBC Store
nbcuniversalstore.com








I am a massive one for planning outfits for holidays I haven't booked yet, jobs I don't possess and adventures I haven't gone on yet. Today is no different, as I'm planning on entering a writing competition to go to New York. I have decided to write a fresh script, but instead of doing that I am compiling pretend outfits in my head, and strutting down the streets of NY, jay-z and Alicia Keys serenading me, like a fat Carrie Bradshaw (nah I be trippin', hate Bradshaw with a vengence).
The spotty leggings are something I popped in, because well I wouldn't really wear them, but I'd very much like to. And I am hankering after a high waisted bikini so much, but have nowhere to wear it!
It's also a bit of an ode to one of my favourite sitcoms of all time, The Golden Girls (pause for obligatory "THANK YOU FOR BEIN' A FRIIIIEEEEND"). The handbag is a little nod to the stylings of Mrs Sophia Petrillo, my spirit guide.
In my dreams I meet Betty White in New York, this is before I appear on Jimmy Fallon, I meet Lorne Michaels and he invites me to be a writer on SNL. YES THIS COULD ALL TOTALLY HAPPEN.
So in order for all of this to happen, I need to actually go and write- what an imposition! I'll leave you with some classic Dorothy Zbornak, my favourite golden girl and feminist icon:

ootd

this is a shirt my parents got me for my 21st, it's from Americuuhh and I feel so nervous wearing it because it's so delicate but I love it- not least of all because it says DICK on the front of it. If there's anyone who loves to be the embodiment of a carry on film it is me! Paired with my ol' faithful jersey peplum skirt from asos curve- the bag is also from asos but sadly the clasp has broken which is shite. 

Anyway this outfit served me very poorly for the scorching weather- I had to take sanctuary in a beautiful air conditioned pub where beer and fish finger sandwiches awaited me. I even braved primark which was a bold but oh so foolish move. On a completely irrelevant note I also fell over on the way home- meaning I can't go out dancing tonight because I can't walk very well- what a joke. Beer crisps and the voice are the vibe of tonight (today is sponsored by beer, quite clearly)

My eyes don't always look like pissholes in the snow. My boyfriend thought that is was rissoles in the snow which still makes me laugh to this day.

Who am I (what's my name?)

SNOOP DOGGY DAWWWWWWWGGG, danaaanana heyy eyyy ey ey eyyyy, snooooooop...

ahem.
I thought I'd just start the ball rolling with a picture of me so you can... well neb on me and my life, basically. This is an old outfit of the day, I find it hard taking them as I don't have a tripod and my webcam is shitty. How do other people take pictures for their ootd? I also find it hard to find the time in the day to do it- these were taken once I'd got in from work, and I don't look too box fresh. You can't see very well (cardinal sin of an ootd, surely) but the skirt is a gorgeous peplum number from asos curve- it's black jersey and it's basically ruling my life right now.
The fat acceptance community embraces the VBO (visual belly outline) but in the journey of accepting your body the belly is often the hardest- I know that's been the case for me. This is a halfway house on the way to a bodycon pencil skirt- I never fail to feel amazing in this skirt.