I Never Realized I Was Different—Until I Had to Buy a Plus-Sized Prom Dress - Glamour

One of the most transformative experiences of my life was going shopping for a prom dress. My friends and I had been looking forward to this shopping trip for months and decided we’d make it a big trip, pick out each other’s outfits.

I knew exactly how I wanted to look: Audrey Hepburn meets 10 Things I Hate About You. My prom dress would be classic, floor-length, black, and fit like a glove—with glamorous hair and a red lip. (And actual gloves, of course.)

We went to the first department store at our local mall and immediately snatched up everything we could find. Sequins, silk, tulle, lace, long dresses, short dresses—the best of early 2000s teen fashion. Giddy with possibility, we headed towards the dressing rooms.

I put on the first dress—a satin, a-line style with spaghetti straps. The back wouldn’t zip.

I try the second one—a strapless ballgown with visible boning, a straight neckline, and a tulle skirt. The lace-up back wouldn’t even come close to closing.

I grab the next one. I can’t even get it up over my thighs.

I looked at myself in the mirror, my dreams of the perfect prom dress fading with every ill-fitting piece. My throat got tight. I couldn’t just back out and get a bigger size—I already had picked out the biggest size available for each gown. The tears started welling up as my friends called to me from outside the dressing room, asking me to come out and show them my favorites. It was humiliating.

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I tried to compose myself. From behind my door, I told them I didn’t really like any of the options, that this store wasn’t really my style. I’d look for something else later.

I insisted they stay and finish up. I’d meet up with them after.

I always knew I was bigger than my friends. I just never realized how much that would define my experience shopping. I had never felt truly isolated by my size until it came time to buy a prom dress.

As they kept browsing the Juniors section, I snuck up two flights of stairs, toward the back of the department store we were at. Next to the bathroom, tucked away in a corner, I found the plus-size clothes—the only I knew would for sure fit me. I was hidden from everyone, and in that moment, I was honestly grateful for it. I didn’t want to be seen there.

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https://www.glamour.com/story/i-never-realized-i-was-differentuntil-i-had-to-buy-a-plus-sized-prom-dress

2019-06-17 14:01:09Z
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