I abhor the dressing room. I dread it the same way people avoid the dentist. Whether it’s a hastily held up curtain against a wall surrounded by sale racks, or a stall with enough room on the floor for a toddler to climb underneath, the mere thought of walking into those overly fluorescent lit funhouse nightmares spikes my blood pressure.
I know I’m not alone. For many plus size folks, dressing room anxiety is real, visceral, and deeply rooted in years of retail exclusion. And here’s what’s wild: it’s 2026, and plus size people *still* barely have access to in-store shopping opportunities. Most major retailers continue relegating us to online-only sections, robbing us of the tactile, immediate experience of trying on clothes that straight-size shoppers take for granted.
The questions swirl before we even enter: Will we fit comfortably in the dressing room? Will the outfit we picked from our already microscopic selection fit us? Are people going to stare when we have to put everything back? Am I going to be okay having to look at myself from *every* possible angle in those unforgiving mirrors?
According to Psychology Today, dressing room anxiety stems from a combination of sensory overload, social comparison, and heightened self-awareness. For plus size individuals, add systemic size discrimination and the trauma of inconsistent sizing, and you’ve got a perfect storm.
Before you make your next shopping trip requiring a dressing room visit, here’s a guide to help you navigate dressing room anxiety with your dignity intact.
How to Navigate Dressing Room Anxiety as a Plus Size Person
Check In With Yourself First
We all have good days and not-so-good days when it comes to self-esteem. Even the body positive influencers you follow have days where they don’t feel great about what they see in the mirror. That’s okay.
Body image therapist Hilary Kinavey, MS, LPC notes that “our relationship with our bodies fluctuates based on stress, hormones, sleep, and external triggers. Recognizing when you’re in a vulnerable state can help you make decisions that protect your mental health.”
Ask yourself: Is today a day where trying on clothes will lift you up or drag you down? If you’re feeling particularly vulnerable, consider shopping online or rescheduling your trip. There’s no shame in protecting your peace.
Do Your Homework on Size-Inclusive Stores
If you’re unsure if a store has a plus size section, do a little research beforehand and save yourself the headache.
In 2026, it’s frankly absurd that plus size shoppers still need to call ahead or check websites to confirm whether we’re even welcome in physical retail spaces. The emotional labor of constantly verifying our access is exhausting. But until the industry catches up, we protect ourselves by planning ahead.
Our emotions can stack over the course of a day, and enduring the painful annoyance of coming up empty-handed at one store can tarnish your emotional state when you get to a store that *does* have options.
Embrace Size Fluidity
We all know this, but it bears repeating: the labeling of sizes on clothing is inconsistent and cannot be trusted.
Fashion psychologist Carolyn Mair, PhD, explains that “clothing sizes vary wildly between brands, countries, and even within the same retailer. This inconsistency isn’t accidental, it reflects decades of arbitrary measurement systems and vanity sizing.”
Sure, many of us know we’re a size X in one store, 2X in another, and a 22 somewhere else. Grab a range of sizes for each garment you like. This prevents heartbreak when one store’s 22 doesn’t fit the same as another’s.
Wear Your Real Undergarments
The process of picking out and trying on clothing is exhausting, especially for plus size folks navigating limited options. But wearing your most comfortable, worn-out undergarments won’t give you a realistic picture.
If you typically wear plus size shapewear underneath form-fitting clothing, wear shapewear when trying on new pieces. If you have a larger chest, your clothing will fit differently depending on your bra support that day.
You deserve to see how the outfit will actually look in real life, not in some imaginary scenario where you’re wearing different undergarments.
Bring Your Hype Squad
We are always our own worst critics. Left alone to our own devices, we judge ourselves far more harshly than anyone else would.
Fashion blogger and body acceptance advocate Jes Baker suggests bringing “a trusted friend who understands body positivity and won’t project their own insecurities onto your experience.”
Bring a friend to give honest feedback. Sometimes we need to hear from a voice that isn’t the one inside our head. If you feel overwhelmed or just can’t deal, you have someone there to help you through it.
Request Accommodations Without Apology
Here’s something many people don’t realize: you can ask for a larger dressing room, better lighting, or even to try things on in a different area. Retail workers are often happy to accommodate reasonable requests.
“Plus size customers deserve comfort and dignity while shopping,” says retail consultant Pam Danziger. “Stores that fail to provide adequate dressing room space and inclusive shopping experiences are leaving money on the table and alienating a significant customer base.”
Don’t apologize for needing space. Your comfort matters.
Set Time Limits
Dressing room anxiety intensifies with time. Give yourself a maximum number of items to try or a time limit (say, 20-30 minutes). This prevents the emotional exhaustion that comes from marathon trying-on sessions.
When fatigue sets in, our inner critic gets louder. Protect yourself by keeping sessions short and purposeful.
Practice Body-Neutral Self-Talk
Instead of forcing yourself to love everything you see in the mirror (which can feel impossible on hard days), try body neutrality. Focus on function rather than appearance.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Alexis Conason explains that “body neutrality acknowledges that you don’t have to love your body every day to treat it with respect and care.”
Ask yourself: Does this fit comfortably? Can I move in this? Does this serve the purpose I need?
Remember Clothes Don’t Determine Your Worth
No matter how obnoxious the lighting is, or how claustrophobic the stall makes you feel, clothes cannot measure your worth. A room full of mirrors cannot reflect who you are as a person.
Your value isn’t determined by whether you can shop in stores that refuse to stock your size. The fashion industry’s failure to serve plus size bodies is exactly that…*their* failure, not yours.
Dressing room anxiety is valid. The limited access plus size people have to in-store shopping in 2026 is wild and unacceptable. But while we continue fighting for full retail inclusion, we can also develop strategies to protect our mental health and reclaim our shopping experiences.
You deserve to try on clothes in person. You deserve adequate space, good lighting, and respectful service. And you deserve to leave that dressing room feeling empowered, not diminished.
What strategies help you deal with dressing room anxiety? Share your wisdom in the comments!
This article, Overcoming Dressing Room Anxiety as a Plus Size Person first appeared on The Curvy Fashionista and is written by BJ Colangelo.
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