We all know that it's a tough world out there for the average fashionista, especially when you don't look like one of the Olsen twins. LeeLee's Valise is the plus size boutique in Brooklyn that has been making major tremors in the blogosphere since its opening on May 5, and Weetabix spent a scinntillating hour talking to proprietor Lisa about fashion designers, proper foundation garments and the bullshit surrounding how much body hate can be lurking behind the door of a dressing room.

Weetabix: We all know that it's a pain in the ass to find clothes when you're wearing plus sizes. Does that mean that we shop differently?

Lisa: I feel like we have to reteach people because they are so accustomed to just going in and grabbing for sizes that fit and don’t think about shape. I’m trying to change it from settling to getting to choose what you want. You want a dress for your shape, but then, you can pick out things that can reflect your personality. You have a variety of clothing just like the rest of the world. What a concept!

Weetabix: It is a concept that I'm not accustomed to, personally. I have totally bought things just because they fit, even if they weren't perfect, because it's the only choice I have. It's depressing!

Lisa: The dressing room is psychological. People have been made fun of, everyone has, no matter what size you are. Sometimes in the store, I see that negative look cross over their face, and I am the person who reminds them to remember that feeling, that they look gorgeous right now. Remember that feeling, because that’s the now. No magic wand is going to allow me to change them into a size six, but you can dress beautiful for the size you are right now.

Weetabix: You know I'm dying for designer plus size stuff, what have you got?

Lisa:  C.enn.V has these jeans that do apple shape or pear shape. The apple has a little more waist with a tailored leg, while the pear has less waist with a larger leg. Jessica Svoboda has the newest dyes and washes for their jeans, sailor pants, cool stuff. Two companies right now are making plus-size, just-for-me loungewear made out of bamboo. It’s so gorgeous and comfortable! I was the only boutique that ordered Jessica Svoboda's bubble skirt for the spring because no one is daring enough to take a chance. I trust that she’s going to tailor this enough and not have a bunch of voluminous material. When Anna Scholz stops by, she just hangs out, she doesn’t go home! The week of Fashion Week, there are no plus-size designers in Bryant Park, so the designers brought their new designs down to the store and you could see the next season right here.

Weetabix: There totally should be plus-sized collections in Bryant Park! What the fuck? When are they going to capitalize on a huge segment of the population who don't exactly want to walk around naked?

Lisa: It’s not that the designers can’t do it, it’s that they don’t want to. They feel like their clothes should be this certain image and until it affects their pocket, they won’t do it. And that’s the sad part. There are so many women that want to have that fashion forward look.

Weetabix: What's the resistance about? Is it sizism or what?

Lisa: Like Tracy Reese is a plus-sized woman, but she can’t even wear her own clothes! If she wants to wear something, she has to make a pattern for herself, but why can't she make that pattern and make that available for everyone? But no, she’s been accepted in the skinny world and she doesn’t want to depreciate her line by making plus-size clothes. A lot of other designers were in plus sizes too and yet making skinny clothes. I can’t wrap my head around that. If I met them, those are the questions I would ask them! That’s why I can’t be around them because I’d get thrown out.

Weetabix: Well, it might be the design concept. The clothes you design for people who are shaped like a plank? Those are not the same clothes you design for someone who is shaped like, well, me. You can't just make the pattern bigger.

Lisa: No,things with those backs that go all the way down to your butt, you can’t wear because you can’t go braless, you can’t wear Spanx. I may love a strapless dress, but how is that going to translate to a plus-size dress when a strapless bra smashes down your chest and it isn’t flattering.

Weetabix: Don't get me started on the bra thing. It drives me crazy when I see bad bra situations.

Lisa: That's one of my rules in the store. Every girl who walks in here is something DD.

Weetabix: That's what I am!

Lisa: But most people can't find their bra sizes anywhere, so they’re compensating the cup size by going up a band size. Someone walks in with a 40DD and walks out as a 36G. I have handmade gorgeous PrimaDonna Belgian bras. People feel weird about it, but I'm like, "Please, honey, I can never go to a strip club because all I would be doing is guessing bra sizing."

Weetabix: And it's SO important to how you look in clothes!

Lisa: Right! When the fit model put on that dress, she was wearing the perfect bra, so if you’re wearing a crazy bra size, the dress isn’t going to fit right. We also have Spanx interventions. It's so funny. Someone will say that they've never heard of Spanx and every head in the store will turn and people will be "What!? Spanx are everything!" I also don't let anyone try on a dress over their pants. Take the pants off. How could you throw a formal dress over a pair of pants? I’m not going to see how that is falling on you!

Weetabix: I do that all the time. Duh, that makes so much sense. You've totally converted me!

Lisa: I’m not trying to create a club or a movement, I want to dress in high fashion because I want fashion. I don’t want sympathy! I don’t want chubby girl sympathy! I want fashion! That’s it! I want fashion! Period! That’s it! Women love clothes, no matter what size they are.

Weetabix: Hallelujah!