Get the look: Plus Size Edition

Being a curvy size 18 myself, I can understand the frustration many women over size 12 feel when it comes to finding plus-size outfit ideas that perfectly fits both our style and our bodies.

Runways, magazines and even the majority of blogs are inundated with images of impossibly thin women in the miniest of minis or second-skin trousers, looking effortlessly stylish, and as much as we love what she's wearing, it can be difficult to imagine it on ourselves. I can't tell you how to get her body (I assume you're happy with yours anyway!) but I can help you figure out how to get a plus-size version of her style.

First, you need to know that not every outfit can be successfully translated into plus-size but there quite a few that can and it just takes a bit of careful analysis to figure out which. In order to know if an outfit can work for your body, you need to first understand what your body shape is. Here is a very informative visual guide that can help you figure out exactly what shape you are.


Once you know what your shape is, the next thing you need to do is examine the silhouette of the outfit. Particularly for larger-sized bodies, it's important to have balance when it comes to clothing. If you have wide hips, wearing a spaghetti strap top with a harem trousers is only going to make them look wider. Similarly, if you have a large bust, wearing a frilly high-neck top with pencil skirt will definitely place more emphasis on that area. And while those baggy, shapeless tops definitely cover those mid-section lumps and bumps, they often make us look equally baggy and shapeless.


When analyzing an outfit, ask yourself questions such as:

Which areas are being downplayed and which are being highlighted?
Does it nip in at the waist to create a more balanced, hourglass silhouette?
How does colour/pattern work to attract or detract from certain areas?

Generally, the easiest looks to translate to plus-size are the ones with somewhat basic, layered items with one or two statement pieces thrown in that take it to the next level.

I've selected three street style insiration outfits below and found some very stylish items to help you create the plus-size version of each look.

LOOK 1

photo courtesy cosmopolitan.hr



PLUS SIZE VERSION

Simple Sparkle Stripe Tank

Price: US$7.79

Long Sleeve Lightweight Cardigan
Price: US$59.50


Moroccan Market Scarf
Price: US$24.99


ASOS CURVE Chino Trousers
Price: UK£28.00 (US$48.27)





LOOK 2


photo courtesy refinery29.com

PLUS SIZE VERSION

Black Shrunken Rolled-Sleeve Blazer
Price: US$52.00

Frill Neck Dress
Price: US$58.00

Black Wedge Ankle Boots

Price: UK£35.00 (US$55.55)

LOOK 3

photo courtesy carolinesmode.com/stockholmstreetstyle

PLUS SIZE VERSION

Reversible Gilet

Price: UK£39.50 (US$62.74)

Garden Dance Blouse

Price: US$20.99

Torrid Roxanne Bootcut Denim Jean

Price: US$38.00

Fashion Inspiration - Business Chic

When it comes to working in fashion, it can been a bit of a challenge sometimes trying to figure out what to wear during the interview stage and even after you've got the job.

If there's a uniform or specific dress code guidelines (for one job, I was required to wear all black everyday), it can be restricting and boring but it certainly makes picking out work wear much less time consuming.

However, if no dress code has been identified, it can be an intimidating task trying to pick out the right look.

I've asked a few fashion insiders what is the key to a great fashion interview outfit and they have all said, "Be yourself and show your personality". It's great advice because the truth is, if you don't feel like yourself, you won't be yourself.

Personality is such an important part of making a good impression in a fashion job but it can be tricky to find the right balance of personality and professionalism.

What you wear can say a whole lot about who you are and what you're about before you even open your mouth so you don't want it to say the wrong thing. If your outfit is dull and frumpy, they may assume that you lack personality, creativity and you're the type to always play it safe. However, depending on the job, if your outfit is too casual or too crazy, it may give the impression that you're a flaky type who isn't really serious about working.

A good way to keep the outfit looking business smart is to include a structured piece of some sort, for example, a sharp blazer or tailored trousers and personality can be shown through interesting prints, colours, accessories and more.

Doing research on the company should give you a good idea of their style aesthetic and you can find a way to incorporate an element that reflects this into your outfits instead of sacrificing your own style.

Below are some fantastic business chic inspirations, both simple and adventurous, that strike the right balance of professional and personal style.

photos courtesy style.com, luckymag.com, waynetippets.com,
facehunter.blogspot.com, vanessajackman.blogspot.com,
stockholmstreetstyle.feber.se, altamiranyc.blogspot.com,
thesartorialist.blogspot.com, nitrolicious.com,

(Please let me know of any sources that I've left out and I will add them asap)

Any Fashion Designers want to work for Celine?

That's Shoe/Bag designers to be exact.

I've never posted about fashion job opportunities before but this is such a great one that I felt I had to share it.

photo courtesy taistoisoisbeau.com

French fashion label Celine is offering a paid (£280/week) Shoe/Bag Design internship for six weeks at their offices and studio in London's West End.

The student will be supervised by the Head of Bag Design and could learn about the workings of a busy design studio and the creative design process, and also be an assistant to the Leather Goods department.

This placement is a great opportunity for an organized, flexible student with a fashion background who is seeking hands-on industry experience and is available for an immediate start.

Closing date is ASAP so send your CV and covering letter to g.trembath@uk.celine.com quickly to ensure you get a shot at this job.

All the best to those who apply!


For the original job posting, visit the University of the Arts London website.

Pop down to these Pop-up Shops

I visited Sketchbook Magazine's much discussed pop-up shop on Saturday in London's trendy Soho area. Since I printed out the wrong map to the location (of course), I had to ask around in various stores around the area (including one with a cute guy behind the counter "Hello you" *winks*) and after walking around like a headless chicken for 30 mins, I finally found my way to the shop on Newburgh Street.




I was a bit ruffled from the confusion but my spirits were quickly lifted when I stepped inside and I was engulfed by a wonderful mood of creativity and artistic expression. Covering the previously pristine whitewashed walls were gorgeous fashion illustrations in stylized marker-drawn picture frames as well as books, clothing, accessories and much more spilling out of every nook and cranny of the downstairs room.





A number of other fashion lovers soon arrived and we all took our seats for the upcoming event which was a lecture/discussion by prominent UK stylist, Rebekah Roy who took us through her journey of becoming a stylist which involved plenty of hard work, determination and even a few interesting career-propelling chance encounters with well-known fashion personalities. She was very warm and honest and eagerly dispensed a lot of helpful advice to the aspiring fashion stylists in the audience.





The Sketchbook Magazine Pop-Up Shop is located at 10 Newburgh Street, Carnaby, W1 and it will be hosting a variety of fashion and music-related workshops, lectures and other exciting activities from now until April 18, 2010.

For more information on the Sketchbook Pop-Up Shop, visit the Sketchbook Blog.





Another Soho area fashion attraction is the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) White Gold Pop-Up Shop which I chanced upon during my search for the Sketchbook Mag's event.




Inside the store was the uplifting sight of colourful furnishings, cool clothing and tasty cookies and cupcakes - a winning combination.









Two friendly volunteers happily welcomed me inside the store and explained EJF's mission and the purpose this pop-up shop.

The EJF's 'Pick Your Cotton Carefully' campaign features T-shirts designed by Giles Deacon, Betty Jackson, Christian Lacroix, Luella among others, and the tees were photographed on popular models including Devon Aoki, Coco Rocha, Lily Cole and Irina Lazareanu.




The eco-friendly shirts are designed around the theme of "childhood, lost innocence and hope" and they highlight EJF's newly released and highly anticipated report called "Slave Nation" on their campaign to end forced child labour in the world's 3rd largest cotton exporter, Uzbekistan.

It's difficult to imagine that the reality for an estimated 1 million children, some as young as 10 years old, are forced to work in Uzbekistan's cotton fields day after day and are subjected squalid living conditions, paid very little to nothing and contract dangerous, sometimes fatal, illnesses.

EJF aims to provide an alternative to these terrible labour conditions by using organic, fairtrade Continental cotton from Turkey and printed with organic certified inks. Additionally, the money raised from the sale of the 'Pick Your Cotton Carefully' tees goes towards EJF's work to eradicate forced child labour and the use of dangerous pesticides in cotton production.





The EJF 'Pick Your Cotton Carefully' T-Shirts can be bought for just £30 at the Pop-Up shop itself, in selected stores worldwide and also online at www.ejfoundation.org/shop. The shop also showcases chic clothing and accessories by other ethical fashion labels which are also available for sale.







Go check out EJF's Pop-Up Shop on Carnaby Street, Monday to Saturday from 10am – 7pm and on Sunday from 12pm – 6pm to pick up some stylish, exclusively designed clothing and support a great cause at the same time.

Head over to www.ejfoundation.org for more information on the Environmental Justice Foundation.