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

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.