The other day I was waiting for the bus, when I ran into a mutual (skinny) friend of mine.

“Look at you, you look so cute!” she said, taking in my outfit.

It was a nice day, so I was wearing a 50′s style black dress, with large lapels and a full skirt, a black cardigan and black peep-toe heels (showing off my bubble-gum pink pedicure).

“But then again, you always look nice,” she continued. “Where do you get your clothes?”

I rattled off a few stores where I shop that have both plus and regular sizes, she suggested a store in SoHo where she loves to get jeans (like I’d ever find anything there!) and we caught up a bit.

The conversation was harmless, but it got me thinking about how much effort I have to put out to “always look nice”. I’ve mentioned before that my (skinny) friends can throw on a T-shirt and Jeans, throw their hair in a pony tail and still look fabulous. But as a PSP, I know that if I pulled together that same outfit, I’d just look… frumpy. Instead, I have to plan out even my most casual looks. I haven’t worn a T-shirt since the 8th grade and shopping for a pair of gym pants can be an all weekend affair because at my current size, I am not the chick who can work out in a pair of over sized sweats, rolled down at the waist and a tank top. At the same time, I am committed to finding clothes that show off my assets while hiding my flaws.

I guess its the old adage of working twice as hard to get half as far.

For me its a daily accomplishment to leave the house looking nice, if not fabulous. Thankfully I have a passion for clothes and I embrace the challenge, but sometimes I see a PSP who isn’t living up to her fashion potential and I just want to give her the list of reasonably priced stores where I shop. Of course, lately I feel like that list is getting smaller and smaller as stores like Old Navy and Century 21 rob me of my PSP shopping experience. (Century 21 seems to be fazing out their plus section and Old Navy has banished their plus sizes to the Internet only).

On the other hand, there are plenty of PSP’s in the City who are rocking out with fabulous looks on the daily… I see you and it makes me proud! For all the trips taken out of your way, just to find the perfect black top that doesn’t hug your stomach too tightly… for all the times you’ve held your breath hoping that a pair of jeans you ordered online would fit properly… for all the shipping fees you’ve been forced to pay to stores that only cater to you online…

I commend you!