Five take: Interview

So, if you had an interview tomorrow and had no time to go to the shops to buy something to wear, what would you wear from your wardrobe?

This was the challenge that was posed to us Fivetake lot this week by Claire. Thanks Claire ;)

Five take is where Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky and I all take a theme or item of clothing and wear it in our own way. 

I was actually in the process of ridding myself of my old Evans suit. A pair of black trousers, and a black jacket with white thread detail. I bought it in a rush when I first came over to the UK. Arrived on the Wednesday, interview on the Monday and a quick trip to Lakeside to find something to wear. The jacket never really fitted probably (boobs too big and arms too long), but it did the trick. It's going to charity. The trousers are ok, but a bit baggy and not really a great fit or the kind of trousers that make me feel fab.

That was almost four years ago. When I went for my next interview I can't remember what I wore - although it wasn't that suit.

So what would I wear now? Well now that my sole purpose in dressing isn't to disguise my size,  I would wear something that made me feel powerful, was dressy without showing boobage, professional without being too corporate.

I believe that your interview outfit should match the environment you are going to work in. If you are going for a creative job then a suit or anything too corporate is probably the kiss of death. Wearing converse and your favourite vintage t-shirt, likewise, won't work if applying for work in a bank or conservative workplace.

I work in sort of the public sector, in a professional role (how's that for vague?). No suits, but dressy casual required. The only people to wear suits are the men in upper management. The rest of us vary between dresses/trousers and even jeans if we think we can get away with it (and have no meetings).
So, what do you think? Would it suit an interview where you work?

More importantly, would you give me the job? ;)

Dress: Basque, from David Jones in Australia. Size 22

Boots: Wallis stretch boots. 

Fake pearls: Monsoon.

Black vest: bodyshaper thing from NZ. 

Five take: Primary Colour

Five take is where Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky and I all take a theme or item of clothing and wear it in our own way. 

I had lots of good ideas about how to wear the primary colours of red, green and blue but it all came to nothing in the end! It was also my birthday on Saturday so we were going away for the weekend 'podding'. It's like camping for people who don't like tents as they are not only toasty warm as they are insulated but have lights and their own heaters.

I do like tents by the way, just not in January!

So here is my Primary Camping Look. The jacket is from Very and was a complete bargain at £25 on sale. It comes with a detachable inner fleece and is waterproof and really warm. Great for dog walking and strolls through the deep dark wood.

Shoes by Asics (the best trainers in the world), cardigan from Monsoon, top (barely seen) is from H&M as is my red spotty scarf. Jeans by Evans.

Yes, shock horror, fat people don't spend ALL their time lying on the couch eating chocolate. We do venture outdoors occasionally!

 (it was a little bit chilly!)


How would you wear these colours? And what are your favourite outdoor outfits?

Playing Dress Up

I tend to buy most of my clothes online because it's easy and I don't have a lot of time.

Where I live there is a New Look that stocks the Inspire range, but it's a 25 minute walk away from work, which doesn't give me a huge amount of time to try many things on during my lunch hour. So when I found myself in London for a couple free hours I skipped to Oxford Street and played dress up, seeing if I could find something that took my fancy and could make the train journey home with me!

I'm a size 26 and 5'8 to give you some idea of length and fit.

This is the first thing I tried on. It's the Ponti Belted Dress and I LOVE the belt with it. The only thing that put me off buying it is the material. It's made out of a heavy polyester and I just thought I would get a little hot under the collar if I wore it during the day at work/play.

This one is a favourite of many bloggers, and I can see why. It looked good, it felt great and comfy on, it had birds and it had pockets!!! So why didn't I buy it I hear you ask? Well dear reader, I'm not sure. I think I couldn't see a place for it in my wardrobe or my life. It was too casual for work and I don't really wear dresses during my Mummy time. I may rethink and regret this decision though!

Liked this Stripey Woven Front top on the website and it was nice on (worn over the dress I wore to the shop so not the best combination!). Once again tempted but not head over heels.

This one, well, I thought in for a penny, in for a pound. The shape isn't great on me and the material is really shiny polyester. Think bad 70's nylon. Not me.

Boobies! A bit too close up I think, but this is a dress I have been tempted by on the website. This one is really a size too small, but I liked the shape and the material is like a light weight fake silk. Lovely on, but static central. Very clingy.

I would have tried on the coloured jeans that I have been admiring on the website, but they only had up to a size 20 so not a goer.

Over all I had fun and it was nice to try a range of things on and even like a few! The Inspire range has some good pieces, but the cheapness of the items is sometimes reflected in the materials used. It's nice having a clothing range that seems to have consistent sizing though, I know a 26 will fit.

So, any pieces that take your fancy or are already in your wardrobe?

Five take: 60's and being brave

So, this one is a bit of a challenge. Five take is where Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky and I all take a theme or item of clothing and wear it in our own way. This week the theme was 60's. After a quick google and a small panic I worked out that one of my tunics might just work.

The 60's were more diverse fashion-wise than I had previously thought, but it many ways it was the Decade of the Legs. I have spent the last 37 years of my life not wearing anything that shows off my pins so perhaps it was good that I grew up in the Decade(s) of Jeans!

Here is my version of the look using commonly found household items, namely shoes I bought a while ago from a thrift shop, a Primark tunic (bought thinking it was going to be a dress but as you will see from the length it has been worn solely with skinny jeans), necklace from New Zealand and tights from Cette Dublin (the only ones I have found that fit!).

It's nice dressing up in something I wouldn't usually wear, but I must admit I wouldn't go out in this (as my husband said - if it bent over you could see my knickers!!!). So, I am being brave, but not that brave!

And yes, this is me wearing something else from Primark! What a cheapskate I am! But this top/dress/tunic was £10, and comparable ones from plus-size stores are three times the price. It's a size 20 (I'm not).

Five take: Boots

Five take is where Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky and I all take a theme or item of clothing and wear it in our own way. This week I had the chance to choose what we did and I went for Boots.

After living for so long without being able to find any leather boots that fitted me, the fact that I now own a pair brings a smile to me face every day.

It also means that I feel able to wear skirts and dresses that I wouldn't want to wear with just tights and shoes. Also means I can wear ultra comfy leggings and thick warm socks without discovery (not a good look with ballet flats).

The outfit I have chosen is one that I was complimented on by a neighbour of mine. She said that she saw me one day wearing it and was like 'WOW! I love the boots and skirt!'. It was the nicest feeling. People have said nice things about my jewellery (a bit of an obsession of mine) but as a fat girl living with thin friends and work colleagues I don't often get things said about the clothes that I wear. I sometimes get told 'ooh that's flattering', but it's not really a compliment that thrills the heart

So, anyway. This is me wearing boots. They are from Evans, as is the skirt (a season or so ago on sale). The black under top is from H&M and cardi thing is from New Zealand (Max brand - only thing in the store that ever fitted me I think). Earrings are a new buy and from New Look, as is the ring. Scarf also H&M. Rocking the stripes and spots :)

New Year, new shopping!

Happy New Year! With all that time I've saved myself by not making resolutions I've been shopping :)

Go down any street at the moment and the shop windows are covered in sale posters. I have tried to be strong (not really) but have picked up a few things over the last week or two. No huge spurge but I CANNOT RESIST A BARGAIN.

So, to begin (and apologies for the crap photos but in most cases I took them as part of my buying process - i.e. it looks ok when I'm looking in the mirror but maybe a photo will show it differently!)

This dress is from Sainsburys, cost me £6.60 and is a size 22 (the largest size they do). Note my complete lack of commitment for trying on things properly - I've still got my jeans and trainers on from my dog walk! LOVE the pattern, so while it's a little more fitting than I would usually buy and perhaps the shape isn't as 'flattering' as some others on me, I bought this baby! Will dress it up and do a post on it and get your opinion on whether I can pull it off!

These boots are from the Next sale. Were £65 and bought them for £25. Now I love the leather, but they are a wide fit (I didn't actually realise that when I ordered them). I have wide calves, but not wide feet so they feel a bit roomy. I think some thick socks should sort it out though as for that price I was not going to let these puppies go.

This top above is my latest purchase. Was back at work today and I happen to work in the middle of town... and I went for a walk. Big mistake! Wandered into Gap and found this. Oh yes, it's patterned. I seem to be developing rather a thing for hectic, frantic patterns. I just love it, and it was on sale for £9.95. Got to love a Gap sale! Already thinking of what I can wear it with, in both summer and winter. Quite like it with the black top under it. It's a size XL.

And this is what I was wearing today, also new. A bit of a change for me in that it is both round necked (and I have big boobs so don't normally wear them) and it's loose. Baggy. Tent like. It is also made of an angora mix, has side pockets and is incredibly warm and comfy to wear. It is also long enough to wear with just leggings underneath. It's from H&M's standard range and was £9 in their sale. It's a size 22-24. I'll say it again - while their BiB range sucks the big one (excuse my French) H&M do a number of great items in XL size. You do have to buy online but have been impressed so far with the sizing and great for basics that are much more expensive at plus size stores.

So, apart from a necklace or two, that is my shopping haul. What have you been buying and what stores would you recommend fat fashion lovers have a look at for bargains?