Dilemma of a Plus Size Blogger

Sometimes I feel as though being a plus size woman prohibits me from being as fashionable as those thinner and/or taller than myself.  Now, don't get all in a tizzy just yet.  Hear me out.  

Of course, there is the issue of being able to find affordable, trendy clothing in larger sizes.  This is always an issue, but this isn't exactly what I am referring to.

  I feel like with my body type (size 26, pudgy belly, 5' 4'' tall), I just can't pull off some of the fashions that look fantastic on my slimmer and taller sister fashionistas, (even those who are still plus size, but perhaps more proportional than I).
  I'm sure almost every woman feels this way at some point.  Some women have short waists and don't feel that they can wear belts, or some have larger busts and don't feel right in certain fabrics or necklines.  I have a big belly, so I feel like I can't tuck in my tops because it shows off my "pooch".  I don't like to wear tops that have hemlines that come far above my crotch for this very same reason.  I also never, ever go sleeveless, and won't usually wear sleeves that hit above my elbow.  This limits my wardrobe considerably. 

I also have short, chubby legs with large ankles.  Therefore, I don't usually wear any skirts that fall far above my knee, and I try to stay away from shoes that cut me off at the ankle, thus shortening my legs further. 

I also have very wide feet, and have a hard time finding shoes that are cute and comfortable at the same time.  Many of my shoes are only wearable for short periods of time because they squish my toes, pinch my heels, or compress my entire foot.  The last time I had my feet measured in a shoe store, the woman measuring me said that my shoe size was actually a 7.5 EEE.  You try finding some cute, affordable shoes in a 7.5 triple E.  If you do, let me know, and I will owe you my firstborn child.  I usually end up buying my shoes in either an 8.5W or a 9 because I can get my wide foot in there without them flopping off as I walk.

I see all of these gorgeous, curvy, women rocking some great outfits, but I feel self conscious if I try to use their outfits as inspiration because by the time I lengthen the top and the skirt, take the heels out of the equation, and add sleeves,  the outfit just doesn't look right. It morphs into something dowdy.

I don't mean to be such a bummer, this is just something I've been struggling with lately, and it's put a crimp in my outfit posts.  (I am also doing clinicals again, which means uniforms two days a week.  Blech.)  I hope I get over this malaise soon, because it's making me feel like crap!

Has anyone else gone through a similar phase?  How did you get through it?  Any advice?