Wardrobe and weight loss

WVWalkerFriend

voegele13 wrote: »

I dug out my sewing machine and have altered quite a few things (we were required to learn how to sew way back when I was in Jr. High), and that sure came in handy. There were some things that could go, but I've been able to hold on to a few things I didn't want to give up yet. If you don't know how to sew, a lot of tailors will give a discount for multiple items.

I envy you on the sewing. I can hand-stitch a hem or do minor repairs but machines and I don't get along. I always ending up messing up the tension.

GrinnyMae

cross2bear wrote: »

Find a good tailor - I would get my favourite outfits taken in at least once before I went to buy new stuff. I plan to wear some oversize summer pants this year because they are a baggy, cargo style, and will just be baggier this year. I dont like form fitting shirts, so no problem with Tees being a little big. I work in an air conditioned office so sweaters can be used through a few sizes. But I have splurged on a new business suit, and can finally buy clothes anywhere, and not just in specialty stores.

I do this too. I pay my tailor around $12-15 to take in the waist in my skirts and pants to get a few more months wear out of them. This is preferable to me than buying cheap, low quality replacements. I work in a professional environment and it would be too costly to replace my clothes every time I went down a size.

vnb_208

Goodwill & consignment shops

RelCanonical

I go for Goodwill when my other clothes get too loose. I've been a big dress wearer lately, and they have the advantage of lasting a little longer because I don't have to worry about what size my legs are (I'm a big fan of the a-line dresses) and I'm top-heavy so that's where I lose weight last. I just throw a belt at the waist to cinch in the extra (although there's not much extra right now).

CatchMom11

I lucked out and saved all of my staple pieces (dress pants, jeans, etc) of all of my smaller sizes. So I have bins in my garage separated by size (4-16) that I dig into first before I buy anything. Once I get 1 more size smaller, I will be taking my work clothes to be altered.

However, I will not be holding onto any of my Fat Girl Clothes.

ShrinkingViolet1982

Varagesale is my best friend. Hardly used items for very affordable prices. (I work for the Courts, I can't look homeless and drowning in my clothes, so frequent top-ups and replacements are needed)

brendacs21

I just realized I have clothing in sizes 8-12 . What makes it worse for me is I hardly shop so even though I have 6 pairs of jeans they aren't all the same size. so im stuck wearing like 2 pairs over and over until I lose weight. I have a hard time buying clothes because I don't want to "invest" in clothing I will only wear a few times before I get into another size. But I have convinced myself i need to get rid of the larger sizes and every paycheck buy myself a few pieces of clothing in the current size im in . If i lose more weight i can donate them!

crooked_left_hook

2wise4u wrote: »

Thrift stores, Walmart and Target. Unfortunately I have clothes in about 3 different sizes and really need to clean out my closet so I'm not inclined to fit into those big clothes again. I also do Ebay also but it's hard for me to find pants that fit since I'm 5'8" and have a long inseam and my mama's hips.

Express has had great jeans lately! The fit my thunder thighs and butt, are just a tiny but big in the waist (which is better than average), and they fit my long legs. And if you get them when they have a 40% off sale they are only about $50! Target's new jeans fit pretty good (especially the high waisted ones) and you can order the long lengths on line...and they are plenty long.

DietPrada

I go to Savers every few weeks and buy 3 or 4 dresses for work. A couple of weeks ago I did a wardrobe cull and took 2 bags of clothes back to Savers for donation. Circle of life :P

I also find my "weekend clothes" are pretty forgiving and can be worn for 20kg loss or more, I wear 3/4 "fitness pants" a lot, and Target T-shirts. I don't spend a fortune on clothes.

Someone above mentioned they still wear the same size panties. What is up with that - I do too. I used to be a size 24 and I'm now a size 16 (AU sizing) and I still wear the same underwear. My bra has gone from 20G to 16F though.

nowine4me

I found a pair of nice (machine washable) black trousers and buy 2 pair online every time I drop a size. Went from 16 to 4. Pants can look the sloppiest when they're too large. I got away with larger shirts going from XL to small - nothing in between.

LonniJay

Thrift stores, garage sales, clearance racks, and lots if stretchy and versatile clothing. I also have a local catholic charities near me that has a food pantry and free clothes that people donate. Sometimes I can find clothes there.

beaglady

I love treasure hunting in thrift shops, and have been doing it for years. It's been fun lately cause I've been able to shop in the normal (not plus) section. Last week I got to shop the Rubbermaid bins of old favorite clothes in the attic that I haven't been able to wear for 5 or 6 years.

I think thrift shopping depends a lot on the quality of choices in your area. We're fortunate to have at least 10 stores to choose from and I can buy much better quality than my budget would otherwise allow.

BlueSkyShoal

I've always bought most of my clothes from thrift shops; I don't like spending a lot of money on clothes.

Unfortunately the nearest thrift shop is a ways away and I haven't been there in quite a while. I really need to upgrade my jeans. Right now they're held up by a belt and hope.

rdmitch

Had lots of stuff in the closet from before I added the extra pounds. So...closet shopping worked well for me.
All my bizillion of Medium shirts now fit again so it's like gaining a lot of free clothes. Glad I hung onto these knowing
that I planned on dumping the weights
A lot of additional items were found at great prices on E-Bay. If you know the size that fits, eBay has great pricing on stuff
like Levi's, shirts, sort coats. I just bought a great new suit for 50.00.

Morgaen73

I've replaced my entire wardrobe twice.

ruqayyahsmum

The first 100lb i was convinced i looked no different and wore the same clothes until i saw a photo of me in my favourite maxi dress. I asked friends why they never told me that you could see everything. Seriously so much bagging i was flashing boob and belly at folks from the side with every movement

I sold everything on eBay and used the money to buy new clothes along with picking stuff up from sale rails

I still buy dresses on ebay. Underwear i buy generally from tesco

Nightwear en im still wearing my old size 32's a friend of mine calls them granny nighties

briohne128

I buy my clothes from charity shops and carboots. You wouldn't believe the amount of designer stuff I've managed to get for stupidly cheap prices! I also buy from a app called Wish which is all brand new clothing and most of it only costs £5.00 (some even cheaper!).

Keapix

I've got a large pile of clothes to donate now, but I'm trying to avoid buying anything new as much as I can. Luckily I had a few old things, which were too small, in storage, which now fit me, but other than that, I'm just making do with fewer items and wearing them more. I have had to buy new underwear though, as I was getting neck strain!

tinkerbellang83

daneejela wrote: »

How do you maintain your wardrobe while loosing weight?

Belts for my old jeans and cheap tops, everything else mostly fits still, but looks better

daneejela wrote: »

Do you buy new clothes every few weeks/months or do you wait to reach certain weight goal?

I am waiting until I reach my first mini-goal (95kg from 116kg) to buy some new trousers.

daneejela wrote: »

Do you get more motivated to loose weight if you dress beautiful at your current weight or if you save money for future shopping once when you reach weight you'd like to maintain?

I'd say the opposite, the more notches I get in on my belt, the more it motivates me, because I'm seeing progress. It will however be nice to buy some smaller size clothes in a couple of months.

I was wondering the same a little while back on my blog, feel free to leave a few comments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/tinkerbellang83/view/to-shop-or-not-to-shop-that-is-the-question-923053

crystald911

I decided when I started this journey that if at all possible I would skip a size before buying anything. 30lbs ago I started in a pants size 18 and top size 2xl. So, I belted the 18's until I got into a 14 and I have bought a few XL tops at the thrift stores. So, the next pant size I buy will be 10's and you will all hear me shouting from the rooftops that I am in a SIZE 10!!

rainbow198

When I was losing I lived in the clearance sections, shopped sales, occasionally went to thrift stores and I had (and still do have) an amazing tailor who seriously does magic!

Even when I was overweight/obese I still cared about my appearance so extra baggy clothes was not an option for me. Although it was very motivating to see clothes that were once tight on me getting too big.

However, I did skip buying clothes for sizes 18 and 14 though. I flew through those sizes so it wasn't too bad.

daneejela

Thank you girls and guys for sharing your experiences and given advices!
Beside technical/financial problems with wardrobe during weight loss, I am interested also with the psychological/motivational aspect of it.
What I am curious about - which mindset contributes more to staying motivated:

1.) I am in the middle of transition to becoming beautiful and enjoying myself (so, I will postpone buying nice wardrobe, etc.)

or

2.) I am beautiful as I am at the moment and I already enjoy myself with all extra weight (so, I will dress myself beautiful everyday as if I am the tiniest version of myself).

or maybe

3.) I am completely non-vain, and not interested in how I look, I only care about health/something else

Which one of those apply to you?

Ironandwine69

Most of my weight goes to my lower body, so pants are the only one that make a difference. I go back and forth two sizes, 6 and 8, and have pants in both those sizes at all times.
When I'm between sizes I wear dresses and skirts.
I've learned to not throw away clothes when I lose or gain weight. You never know. And now I need a bigger house.

WVWalkerFriend

I'm closer to 2. I remember realizing at some point that my mentality was "when I lose weight" for everything. I realized I wasn't living my life and decided whatever I wanted to do when I was thin, I'd do now. Several years ago I found and started subscribing to missussmartypants. She is an online stylist who basically tells you how to dress well for your shape, even big ones, and get the most out of your wardrobe. I've found following her advice makes it easier to dress where I'm at rather than waiting for where I want to be.

RodaRose

My Tailor can bring in clothes about two sizes. After than I have to get rid of them.

Francl27

I changed with the seasons. Bought a couple shorts for Summer, then jeans for Fall (had to because by then the old ones were falling off). I went straight from 2X to M for tops though (and should have waited longer, I ended up in S for the same brand).

I typically bought from Kohls with 30% off coupons, or Target. I'm a SAHM so it's not like I ever had to be dressed for work or something though...

courtneylykins5

Yoga pants. Belts for when other pants got a little loose. Thrift shopping every few months for 8 to 10 items when the last lot got too baggy and ill fitting. It didn't matter making do with a small wardrobe, it would be replaced soon anyway. I learned quickly to take my husband along. He knew what sizes to try, I still pick up things that are too large. I think the biggest signal that helped for me to know I was done taking weight off was when I bought new pants rather than thrifted ones.

Lounmoun

daneejela wrote: »

Thank you girls and guys for sharing your experiences and given advices!
Beside technical/financial problems with wardrobe during weight loss, I am interested also with the psychological/motivational aspect of it.
What I am curious about - which mindset contributes more to staying motivated:

1.) I am in the middle of transition to becoming beautiful and enjoying myself (so, I will postpone buying nice wardrobe, etc.)

or

2.) I am beautiful as I am at the moment and I already enjoy myself with all extra weight (so, I will dress myself beautiful everyday as if I am the tiniest version of myself).

or maybe

3.) I am completely non-vain, and not interested in how I look, I only care about health/something else

Which one of those apply to you?

#2 & #3.
I like wearing clothes that fit and make me feel good no matter my weight. I'm not a fashionista. I do try to look nice. I did not buy a whole new wardrobe just what I need as I need it. My primary reason to lose weight is health not a change of appearance.

RaeBeeBaby

2.) I am beautiful as I am at the moment and I already enjoy myself with all extra weight (so, I will dress myself beautiful everyday as if I am the tiniest version of myself).

^^^This one primarily. I've always loved clothes and loved to find cute things at thrift stores. I have managed to dress my body (at whatever size) to it's most flattering and had fun doing it. That being said, it's sure fun to see a smaller version of myself in cute clothes when I look in the mirror. The larger sizes are gong on ebay or back to the thrift store as donation.

clicketykeys

I kept my favorites from before I really started gaining. And I'm tall, so it takes FOREVER to go down a size. After losing 50 pounds, my 18s that were uncomfortably tight now require a belt. I'm getting the 20s that I liked taken in.

And I'm incredibly vain, but I care most about comfort and durability. I look good in anything