Finding That Perfect Outfit

As someone who has been obese and is still overweight, I know that finding that perfect outfit is a challenging and daunting task. I cannot tell you the number of stores I’ve walked out of saddened and empty-handed. Either the store didn’t carry my size or the fashion options in my size were too old for my younger tastes.

I struggled to find clothes as a kid

I’ve been heavy all my life, including my elementary school years. I remember struggling even then to find clothes in my size. I needed to go into the adult section to find anything that might fit me. Being in fourth or fifth grade and needing to already seek out adult clothes wasn’t something that I was proud of. In fact, I was often embarrassed by it.

Most clothing options made in larger sizes were what I called "grandma fashion." It was stuff that I could see my own grandmother wanting to wear, not someone who was 10 or 11 years old. I struggled to find anything that looked youthful.

I remember one instance at the mall when we went into a store and the only thing I could find were a couple of dresses. They were youthful in the sense that the skirts had cute flowers on them and they didn’t have that grandma feel. But I remember still feeling disappointed that I didn’t have a lot to choose from.

I felt different from my peers

I recall feeling different from my peers - not only because I was larger, but because I had to wear different style clothes than them. The cute t-shirts with TV characters or the blingy additions weren’t made in the sizes I wore. The struggle was real. And I can’t imagine how hard it was on my mom trying to do what she could to make sure I still felt like I fit in. I often found myself looking different from what was in style. I wanted to be invisible. But I stuck out like a sore thumb instead.

Finding fashion as an adult

Thankfully by the time I had reached college, fashion had caught up with the market and I was able to find things that were fashionably age appropriate. It was still a struggle to find what I wanted though - most stores still only carried up to an XL or 14/16. Trying to find anything bigger required some real hunting.

I had to find specialty stores that catered to women who were overweight and obese. In the early 2000s there were not too many options out there. Lane Bryant was the big name store that sold only plus sized clothing. Once a year or so I would have a small shopping spree, getting what I needed and wanted while still being able to be "on trend," as they say these days. I finally felt like I could fit in with my peers and not look like my grandmother picked out my outfits.

Plus sized clothing is expensive

But, boy howdy! That bill was horrendous. Which is why I only went shopping about once a year. I know that plus sized clothing takes more material to make, but why on earth do the stores charge us 2 to 3 times more for a shirt at the plus sized store than what we’d pay at any other store?

Now that I wear a size I can find most anywhere, I can see how vast the difference is in prices. I used to pay almost $80 for one pair of jeans whereas now I can find a decent pair for closer to $40. The way that stores up-charge for larger sizes is ridiculous.

Time for a change

Even though you can now find larger sizes online and in many stores, I still find many stores that only cater to those who are a size XL or smaller. I believe it’s time for EVERY clothing chain to carry clothes for sizes from 0 to 30 without having to up-charge or special order anything.

Considering that a very large part of the population is in the range of being overweight and obese you would think stores that cater to the younger crowds would be more inclusive rather than continuing to be exclusive.