I have a wedding coming up in the next few months. So I decided to look online for some dress options. I rarely make it to the mall, so online stores like SHEIN, Lulu’s, and Showpo are usually my go-to websites for dressy outfits.
I fell in love with a dress in my size on Showpo. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the money for the dress at that moment, so I had to hold on and wait. But when I went back to the site, I found out that the dress had sold out completely.
Bummed and upset, I looked for some other dresses, trying other sites. I found a few dresses that I liked, but the stores didn’t offer any of my sizes, which really frustrated me.
I am 5’5” and have a little bit of a larger size frame — I would definitely call myself curvy.
My waist is defined, and I don’t carry much weight in my stomach for the most part. However, I am a DDD in the chest, which leaves me shopping within the plus-size sizes at times. While a dress can fit me beautifully in the waist area, my girls will be suffocating up at the top, making me feel pretty uncomfortable.
It took me a while to get over shopping in the “plus” or “curve” area of clothing stores. But if it means being comfortable with what I’m wearing, then I shop there. It doesn’t define me, and regardless of where I shop, I can feel confident I will look great in whatever outfit I choose.
But despite my confidence, I sometimes struggle to find an outfit I actually like in the plus-size section.
Half the time, I can’t find the pieces in my size, and when I do find them, they usually sell out quickly. I click on a dress that I like, thinking it will fit me and match what I like, only to find the only size they offer is an XXS in a bright neon color.
Just because I shop in the plus size section of stores doesn’t mean that I can’t wear clothing that those who shop in the “regular” section of the store do.
If I fall in love with a dress, I should be able to find my size every time I click on the link.
Honestly, “plus-size” doesn’t make sense when it comes to shopping – why not keep all the clothing together?
It feels like stores are trying to shame you for shopping for bigger sizes. So they make you go to the “plus-size” area or have you click on the “extended sizing“ tab on the website. And I think that’s ridiculous. (Not to mention, the plus-size options don’t have nearly as cute clothing as the other sections.)
If I see one more grey clothing option in the “curve” area while the regular-sized clothing has all the pretty floral colors, I will lose my shit.
Let everyone buy the clothing they want, and let them buy it in the same area of the store as everyone else.
In 2023, two differently-sized women should have the option to wear the exact same outfit. Both girls can look good in the same outfit, not just the one who fits the “beauty standards” our society came up with. Let’s get with the fucking program already.
Until then, I’ll keep buying clothes that fit me and make me feel confident. And I will continue to compliment others who rock their own style as well.
Featured image via MART PRODUCTION on Pexels
