Why is it that you can NEVER find any nice, plus-sized belts???!!! I was looking for a nice leather belt to wear with jeans and most stores only carried a size Large or Extra Large (which were not very large or extra large)!!! I ended up having to purchase a belt in the mens department of a department store since I couldn't find what I was looking for anywhere!!!

I have been reading each of the girls' sound offs about plus size clothing in department stores, and I must say I fully agree. Not only have I also experienced having to look EXTRA hard for something decent to wear (mark the use of 'decent' instead of 'stylish', 'feminine', or 'sexy') only to find out whatever I want is WAY over my budget. My personal experience with department store shopping is the following: high prices, boxy, out of fashion styles, cheap, unflattering fabrics and of course, unattended, secluded sections in the stores.

High prices are subjective to everyone. In my case, I'm a full time student with a part time job (need I say more?). The ugly styles are something that simply give out a message of us curvy girls being somehow undeserving of expressing ourselves through fashion. I don't know about the rest of the world, but here in Puerto Rico (far worse than in any other place in the US), we have an even SMALLER selection of stores to shop in. We either have, JC Penney, Sears, Macys (which all carry SUPER expensive clothes, and ever so often a few trendy things) and two, ONLY TWO, well known plus size stores. Now this might make my comment a bit too long, but I just have to tell you guys this. Those two stores I'm talking about have, for the most part items of clothing that are not really expensive, but in return, you get low quality fabrics, badly sewn items, and styles that are either boring, or wrong for curvy bodies. Most items are the same cut as for slender girls, but with added fabric (no shape at all). Jeans are usually super high waisted, extremely long and have waaay too many decorations.

Another thing. I remember having to buy a dress for a recital; and going to macys. I passed the juniors' section which always has trendy music blaring all over the section, colorful mannequin displays and lots of employees. Now, the plus size section is dimly lit, next to the house accesories section, super disorganized and just depressing. NO colors, no happy ads, nothing. Just "bleh". And this is just an example of what us curvy girls go through when shoppping. That is why I preffer online shopping, which was not an option for me until about 2 months ago when i got my first credit card. It still isnt the best bet for me, 'cause I have to take everything I buy to the tailor, but oh well.

Hehehe it's really frustrating since Im a singer, and have gigs every now and then. I HAVE to look nice, and it's really difficult to do so. So far I've managed with my hair and nice accessories, but I think I (and every woman) deserve to have more options.

I would perfer to have small size clothing mixed in with plus sized clothing. In todays society we as plus sized ladies are viewed as an out - cast. We already have to deal with the pressures of being in a larger shell, we dont want to also have a problem finding nice clothes to cover it. I want to be able to go out and shop, not at just three stores in a mall that has over one - hundred stores. No matter where your at, we all know thats about how many plus - sizes stores are avalible.
Why should I be limited to only plus - sized vendors. I want to go to a department store that sells brand name clothes that you might see on a smaller lady . I want our outfits to be on the same rack, and cost the same. Dont treat me like the rest of the world, when my money is the same color as a lady of a size two. Treat me with respect. The worst feeling that a plus - sized woman has when she walks into a store is, "Wow they have some nice clothes in here, I wonder do they have my size?". The feeling that some of the customers, and workers, are thinking to themselves, "Now she knows she cant fit nothing in here". How hurtful is that. Dont you major departments know that the world comes in different sizes and shapes. Well dont discriminate against us. Word of advise, your companies will make more in profits by expanding you minds and your racks.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CHUNKY LOVER 66,

Oh my gosh -- you guys are brilliant! What a wonderful conversation and tremendous feedback -- LOVE it!!!!! It is certainly going to be hard to pick a winner!

Some of the reason why I prefer to shop at an exclusive plus size store or for the plus size department to be separate from smaller sizes in a department store is that I dislike the "disapproving" looks that I get from some of the smaller women or even snickers from men who may be with their girlfriends shopping. Sorry, but even though I am a confident size 20 woman, it's not easy to hear when people snicker and make derrogatory comments. In my world, men love voluptuous babes, and I am sexy and stylish, even if the federal government deems me as obese! As far as we have come, there are still those in the "skinny world" who separate us and look down on full figure gals. As much as I would like to think we could survive in the same department with no judgements, I just don't think that is in our near future. We keep fighting for acceptance, but we still have along way to go. We still live in completely different worlds. Besides, if I accept myself, and love who I am at a size 20, who has the right to judge me because they think I'm the "pathetic fat chick" next to the size 6 woman shopping 2 racks over? I'll take the store or department catering to me anyday over that. I do agree that setting the plus size department apart in the department stores upstairs, next to the housewares, hidden in a dimly lit corner which offers hideous clothing appalling, but I would prefer it be there...catering to me and all my voluptuous curves! Just my opinion...