During my high school years, Hollister, American Eagle, and Aeropostale were all the rage. When I would enter these stores with my normal size friends, I always felt like strangers would question my presence. I imagined them thinking, "Why are you even in here, there's no way you can fit in to any of these clothes." I desperately wanted to wear the colorful tees and hoodies that my friends were wearing. I would casually wander over to the mens section in hopes that maybe a mens XL would some how fit, just so that I could own a piece of clothing from a brand my friends could wear...that I could wear anything that wasn't from the plus size stores that made me look like I shared a closet with my grandma. But I never could even fit the largest of the mens apparel. These past few years, when my boyfriend would shop at these stores, I would always follow him around very closely so that the other store patrons wouldn't dare think I was in there trying to shop for myself.

Well this weekend, my boyfriend and I entered one of these stores whilst on a little shopping adventure. I, immediately, found myself in front of a display of women's colorful tees and hoodies. Out of curiosity, I found and held up an XL. I was shocked that it looked similar to some of the other size shirts I had been purchasing. I grabbed a few shirts and a pink hoodie that I had always dreamed of wearing and headed to the fitting room. As I pulled the tee over my head, I held my breath. Once on, I looked in the mirror and exhaled a deep breath and a huge smile erupted across my face. It fit! I was so happy, that I was doing a little happy dance in the dressing room. Although the clothes seem a bit juvenile to me now, I bought a tee and hoodie anyway. I'll likely never go outside in the hot pink hoodie (especially not in this weather in Texas right now), but I'll wear that thing all over my house. I even slept in it last night...just because I could!