For the longest time, I have shopped at a store called Catherine's. This store had everything I needed-clothes for work, relaxing clothes, bras and underwear. More importantly, they had all that in my size. A little over a month ago, I walked into Lane Bryant for the first time in about 20 years. That was a very exciting experience for me. It was also very daunting. The idea that I could fit into "normal" sized clothes at a LB was outside my realm of reality. Yet, there I was-buying clothes. Even more bizarre was the fact that the clothes I bought were not the largest size that LB offered.
This weekend, I decided that my shorts I have been wearing for the last five years were just ridiculous looking and that I needed some new ones. I wanted to be frugal and buy shorts that came with an elastic band, so I could maybe still fit into them next year, or, at the very least, not have to buy more at the end of the season. I had my birthday coupons, extra percentage off coupons, and an "in store only" coupon/check all set for Lane Bryant. I walked in and asked them for knit, elastic banded shorts. No dice. They said that they only offered twill and tweed. WHAT??!! How could a large size clothing store not offer comfort and elastic?? So, Love of My Life and I left LB.
The store next to Lane Bryant was JC Penny. I turned to Love of My Life and said that I wanted to see if I could fit into something from a normal store. He grabbed my hand and said that we would go in, but I should not have my hopes too high. He wasn't being mean. He was trying to keep me realistic. I marched into Penny's found the Maternity section and then the WOMEN section that is blended into Maternity. I have never understood that. What idiot decided that plus sized women want to shop next to maternity clothes?? What idiot decided that pregnant women would want to be lumped in with plus sized women?? It doesn't make any sense. The plus sized section is miniscule, as is the maternity section. However, there is no separation between the two. For me, at least, it takes a little while for me to realize I'm looking at a maternity t shirt and not a plus sized one. I don't know. Is that supposed to shame us big girls? The other message being sent is that the natural beautiful state of pregnancy just means that the pregnant woman is considered fat. Neither message is a pleasant one. Someone should write to Penny's and point out that with obesity rates sky rocketing they need more choice, a larger section, and that maternity clothes should go elsewhere-perhaps next to the infant section.
I digress....again. I found shorts. I bought shorts. I got two pair of shorts for less than one pair would have cost at Lane Bryant. I fit into shorts from a "normal" store. If I wanted to, and had the spare change, I could go into any store I wanted and buy clothes. I now have choice. I now have options. I now have the ability to say, "I don't like how this looks, let's go to the next store." I no longer have to say, "This looks stupid on me, but it's the only thing in my size, so I have to buy it." The second statement typically came with a huge sigh when I looked at the price tag. I can participate in the One Day Sale or the Door Buster Sale, or any other sale at any store! There is also no point in me going and buying everything I see, because in another three months, those clothes won't look right either. So, now I have to implement my inner cheapskate and only buy what I absolutely need at the best possible price.
The reality is that I have lost a lot of weight. My body has changed. I can fit into clothes that I choose rather than pick the best of the worst in my size. It's exciting and daunting at the same time. I am going to wind up creating a whole new style for myself. I have no idea what looks good and what does not look good. What might look spectacular now, may look ridiculous in another 50 pounds. This is going to be an interesting, and probably not cheap, adventure.
