London Times Loves: Style Writer Extraordinaire, Liz Black

(This interview originally ran on the London Times blog, you can view that article here.)

As a contributor to many of LT’s daily reads and the author of her own blog, P.S. It’s Fashion, Liz Black is nothing short of a style expert here in NYC. She’s also a pioneer for plus size fashion, and never seems to shy away from telling it like it is.  If you don’t already know her, you need to. Read up!

First off, where are you from and how did you get into fashion and blogging?

I’m from New Jersey (I currently live in Bloomfield). I always had a love of fashion (I wrote Betsey Johnson a letter when I was 10, saying I wanted to work in fashion some day because of her), and once I was out of college I began a style blog. I created it mostly so that I would have writing samples to provide if I was ever asked for any; and I’m so glad I had them readily available when I was asked to intern at an online magazine. I went from intern to fashion editor in less than a month because of those clips, and I’ve been networking my way through the industry ever since!

My current blog, P.S. It’s Fashion, is only about a year & a half old, and I was encouraged to start a style blog because my fashion industry PR contacts had never seen a stylish larger woman before! The majority of my work between the first blog I created ages ago and my current blog has been focused on other style websites and magazines, such as the Huffington Post, City Magazine, Luckymag.com and Refinery29.

Tell us how you landed the Refinery 29 contributor gig. 

I actually reached out to them to see if they were in need of a plus-size contributor and they were very receptive. I pitched a few article ideas and sent them some links to articles I’ve written (I also contribute to the Huffington Post and City Magazine, as well as my own plus-size style blog, of course), and they offered me the freelance contributor position.

I think this is an important lesson… sometimes, if you want something in life you need to put yourself out there and go get it. You can’t sit back and wait for opportunities to fall in your lap!

What are your favorite blogs/websites to visit for style inspiration?

Well, Refinery29, obviously. I also like DailyCandy, Stylecaster, Fashionista, ASOS (they have a great digital style magazine!), Luckymag, Glamour, Instyle, Marie Claire, etc. I do support a lot of other plus-size bloggers, and I love to see what they’re doing, but I actually take most of my style inspiration from straight-size websites/blogs and translate it into plus-size friendly outfits! I feel like if a smaller woman can pull it off, so can I!

Speaking of plus size style, it has really moved to the forefront of the fashion world over the past few years – why do you think that is?

The majority of the women in this country are a size 14 or above, and I think companies are finally beginning to realize how profitable that market is!

What progress do you think the industry still has to make with plus size fashion? What can brands do to better to cater to a wider range of women?

The smartest thing ANY brand can do is to make the exact same designs they have for straight-size women into plus sizes! We want those same trendy, edgy, fun, funky designs that smaller women wear, just give them to us in our size! To me it seems so obvious, but many retailers feel that plus-size women just won’t spend the money on quality or on something trendy.

Also, many existing plus-size brands need to step up their style game as well. We don’t want to wear only black wrap dresses and sack-like muumuus… Watch the trends coming off the runway, see what other straight-size lines are making, and get your designers to make those types of clothes before you lose the market to a new line!

Do you have a favorite London Times dress right now?

I really love the Garden Print Fit and Flare from the plus-size line and the Tropical High-Low Hem Maxi Dress (it goes up to a size 16).

What are you most looking forward to wearing this spring and summer?

I love maxi skirts & dresses, and the warmer months are the perfect time to break them out!

Also, I love bright, vibrant colors & prints… this is the time to throw off all the black and embrace the dynamic shades of summer!

Be sure to keep up with Liz on twitter @TheLizBlack

Dress: London Times

Shoes: Boutique 9

Necklace: Lane Bryant

Blazer: Lane Bryant