Lane Bryant, Torrid, and Old Navy Plus Sizes, I'm talking to YOU.
I now wear a regular size 16, sometimes a 14 depending on the brand. It's been YEARS since I could shop anywhere besides the regular old plus size sections or stores. Maybe 2001? And as we all know, the selection for plus sized women is limited. Now that I can fit into clothes at many more stores (soon to be LOTS more when I get into 14s for realsies!), I am finding myself needing to figure out what styles I like and which stores I like because I haven't even walked into so many stores in so long. And it's exciting!! I can't wait until I get to buy a bunch of clothes at my goal weight.
This is the number one thing I look forward to when I meet my goal! Not only just being able to shop in these places...but to also to actually look good in the majority of things i try on! To wear cute summer dresses and shorts and not be ashamed of my legs will be amazing. Right now just because things fit doesn't mean they look good :/
I actually bought a pair of jeans from an American Eagle store a few weeks ago. It was a strange feeling. I've been wearing American Eagle jeans for awhile, but I always have to order them online because the stores only carry up to a 14. I had a little, thin sale girls helping me decide on a style and she never even batted an eye at the fact that I was shopping in a store for normal sized people. I could get used to that
It is a bizarre feeling. A few weeks ago, I went clothes shopping with my normal-sized friends (hadn't done that since high school... I'm 34) and I could try stuff on! And I bought pants at Gap! And they fit!
Thats such a great feeling =D...Last summer I slipped into size 16's. I couldn't believe that for the first time, I was able to shop at the same stores my friends did. I ended up spending WAYYY to much on new clothes just because they wern't plus size. I won't buy any more clothes until I hit my goal, but I still go to stores like Macys, and JCPenny's just to try on their stuff
I'm experiencing sort of the same thing, even though I'm WAY too big for "regular" stores. However, until recently, I had to get most of my clothing online (or drive an hour or more to a shop that carried the 5X and 6X that I was wearing), so just being able to shop in typical plus-size shops is a real treat.
I cried the first time I was able to fit into stuff at Lane Bryant, again.
I was nearly as excited today when I was able to buy a top from Dress Barn. Even though I'm still a 28/30, and Dress Barn only carries to size 24, I was able to try on a few sweaters and tops half of which either fit and looked nice or came pretty close. The top I bought had a loose-fitting, drapey style, so I think I should be able to wear it all the way down to size 20 (it was marked 22/24).
Berryblondeboys: Thanks! I loveeeeeeeee TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I have gotten some really nice brands there this year so far (Calvin Klein, Cynthia Rowley, etc) for next to nothing, they are CUTE, and well made! The "regular" size racks are so much more fun than the plus.
Volschika007: I hear that! I have to remind myself to be nice to what I see in the mirror in the dressing room because I'm a work in progress and my stomach and inner thighs are definitely sore spots for me right now.
WildThings: I smiled when I read your post because I TOTALLY know what you mean. When you start feeling like you can go into a store and not feel like people working there are like "Why is SHE looking at the skirts? It's not like they are going to fit HER!" It is an awesome feeling. Although at the same time it makes me sad that I ever felt that way and would avoid going into certain stores with friends for that exact reason.
juliana77: Awesome!!!
baker23: Thanks! And I definitely know what you mean. I try on clothes for fun now, and I never would do that before. Although it is SO MUCH PRESSURE to know that you have all these choices and can buy what you really like and not just what fits (or in my case, it was usually "fits close enough").
When I started, I was in danger of not fitting into lane bryant sizes. I was a 28, which is the largest size they carry. Now, I am a size 14, which is the smallest size they carry. I am getting most of my clothes at thrift stores because I am still loosing weight and aren't ready to invest in clothes yet. It has been fun being able to fit into smaller sizes. I have Layne Bryant and Roman's credit cards that I am going to cancel. The thing is I am so out of touch with the smaller sized stores I don't know which credit cards to get. I know that sounds stupid and ditzy but I like to have credit cards for my clothes.
Last edited by Madame Souza; 03-30-2012 at 10:54 PM.
I just made a post about this in the Mini Goals section... I fit into the regular section at Kohl's! I mean I'm still an 18, but just knowing that I don't have to stick to the plus size section there (and possibly other department stores that size the same way) is so awesome! The misses section has WAY cuter stuff and I now have WALLS of clothes instead of just one tiny corner of stuff that is geared towards women who are 10-20+ years older than me. So exciting!
I can so identify!! Different shops here in the UK, but exactly the same experiences. I used to shop in Evans (plus size store) and just run in (hoping noone saw me) buy any old thing that would fit me and run out again.
Now I find myself wandering around regular high street shops like River Island, Next, H&M etc and happily trying on size 14s (US 12 I think) and even 12s - yay
Suddenly I'm getting excited over fashion and it's like a whole new world opening up!
It can be pretty overwhelming for sure. I had a great time with it before my regain, mostly because my sister has always been a clothes horse, and we could finally go shopping together without me being miserable the whole time. I am looking forward to getting back there again!
(20 pounds down and I'm still in size 16 jeans. I am REALLY hoping to get into a pair of 14s soon. I wish I wasn't so short!)
Shopping at new clothing stores is weird.
