I haven't always been plus sized. In fact, I was a beanpole until around 9th grade- then puberty hit and I fluffed out, big-time (no pun intended). I'm not terribly large- I hover between a size 14 and 16- but it's enough to land me solidly into the "plus-sized" category. Because of this, I've struggled with body image for about a quarter of my life. Why? Why does society tell us that being a size 14 is bad? The average american woman is around my size. While most of the population of buyers is plus-sized, the least amount of care is put into making clothes to stylishly fit these women.

Most plus-sized women will tell you that shopping for clothing is a nightmare- nothing fits, nothing looks good, and there's very little variety in pattern and shape. For some reason, there is this unspoken false "rule" in the fashion world that larger women only want to wear solid colors, peplum shirts, bootcut jeans and tons of florals. I can't even go to buy a pair of knee-high boots because they aren't wide enough for my muscular calves. So what is a fat girl to do when it comes to dressing fabulously? I've devised a small top-three list of my favorite brands and sites for finding plus sized clothes- from head to toe.

1. Modcloth

Modcloth is hands down one of my favorite places to shop when I have a little extra money. They offer sizes XS through 4X, and unlike so many other brands, the plus size clothing is not more expensive than the traditional sized items! Their site is filled with quirky, cute, retro-inspired clothes and accessories, and most of the items are under $75 (excluding dresses). The best part? Free returns, and free shipping on orders over $50.

2. Torrid

I've only shopped at Torrid a few times, because there isn't one in my town, but I always love going in there. Torrid is a great place to find plus-sized bras- they go up to a G cup- and they're cute- not to mention much cheaper than most plus-sized bras, which can easily be over $100 a bra. Torrid also goes up to size 30.

3. Target

Target will always have a place in my heart, as I worked there for nearly a year. They have a huge plus-size section, including the famous brand WhoWhatWear. Everything is extremely affordable- nothing I've seen has been over $50- great for a gal on a budget.

Well, there you have it- three creditable sources for great plus-sized items for every size. As every plus-sized person knows, it can be incredibly tough to find clothes that not only fit right, but make you look stylish. Hopefully this list provides some insight for you. Happy shopping!