A curvy banker from New York has pressed charges against her former employer, saying that she got fired because whe was too good looking.

According to 33-year-old Debrahlee Lorenzana, she was sacked from her job because her Citibank bosses found her a major distraction to her male colleagues.

She was instructed not to wear turtle neck tops, pencil skirts, fitted business suits and other "properly tailored clothing".

"Shortly after the commencement of her employment, branch manager Craig Fisher and assistant branch manager Peter Claibourne began articulating inappropriate and sexist comments concerning plaintiff's clothing and appearance," The New York Post reports Ms Lorenzana's court papers.

"As a result of her tall stature, coupled with her curvaceous figure, she [was told she] should not wear classic high heeled business shoes, as this purportedly drew attention to her body in a manner that was upsetting to her easily distracted male managers".

Ms Lorenzana joined the bank's Manhattan Chrysler Building branch in September of 2008. She said that the management ignored her female co-workers who dressed more provocatively.

She was transferred in July but was terminated the following month due to alleged disciplinary issues and poor performance.

The court dismissed Ms Lorenzana's discrimination suit last month on grounds that her contract with Citibank has a clause that says any dispute will be settled in private arbitration.

She is still seeking for compensation through this avenue.