The Sweet Hell that is Clothes Shopping

Another friend of mine commented the other day about finding summer clothes and I said WOAH that is going to be a GREAT blog post!  Seriously, shopping for clothes is dreadful. I haven’t found a decent pair of shorts in years.  I bought 3 pair of shorts off ebay about 14 years ago and haven’t really found any I’ve liked since then, and those have finally worn out.

Shopping for clothes when you are plus size is terrible.  If you are a size 0-14ish you have ¾ of the store to chose from.  When you are plus size you are lucky if you have ¼ of the store.  Generally it is more like a 1/8^th.   Am I right ladies?? Then the choices?  Just because we are fat doesn’t mean we do not want to be stylish! 90% of it is old lady cruise wear looking.

There are stores that cater specifically to plus size ladies.  But they also cater to plus size bank accounts. (don’t get me started on the plus size catalogs that don’t use plus size models so you have NO idea what the item will look like on a lady of size!) Anyways….There is no reason that plus size clothes should cost that much more than regular size clothes.  I get that they cost more, there is more fabric, whatever, but there is THAT much more.

Don’t even get me started on how sizing works.  If you are a man you go to the store and you pick your waist size and inseam length, TADA done.  If you are a woman there is 0-28 (and higher).  Misses are even number, Junior are odd number. – why?  What’s the difference between a 3, 4, 5 a centimeter?  Some designers are selling jeans by waist and inseam but not for chunko’s like me.  Plus every designer/brand fits different.  You can’t just assume that because you wear a size 20 you can walk into a store and buy a 20 and think it will fit.  OHHHHH No.  You might need a 24, or you might find a designer that does vanity sizing and you need a 14.  But guess what – you pay triple for that! Then you have 20, or 20W UGH what the heck is the difference they are both in the women’s section.  Come on get it together designers!!!

Ok, you’ve braved the elements, you’ve gone to the store you’ve battled your way through the teeny, tiny aisles that are not made for the obese to look at the measly section for the plus size.  You grab a few items and you know you have to try them on, but you don’t want to.  You head to a dressing room that was designed for someone the size of a 12-year-old gymnast, with your items.  There are mirrors everywhere; there is no escaping them.  No matter where you look, there you are!  So there you are, in your bra, ya know the big ugly industrial one, and panties, ya big ole grannies, or you have big floppy cottage cheese butt cheeks grinning at you in the mirror, and most of the time what you picked out either doesn’t fit or looks horrid (or so you think).  You leave, maybe empty handed, maybe not.  And what do you do?  More than likely buy chocolate to soothe yourself.  Vicious cycle.

Is it any wonder that so many bigger people end up in leggings and big shirts?  It’s comfy and easy. I wish I could help everyone see how beautiful they really are.  Todays challenge, tell someone they are beautiful, or they have pretty hair, or a nice shirt, nice eyes, or a nice smile.  Reach out to someone that you think needs a pick me up.  You can do it. You can be that person that lifts them up!