What to do with a skirt I just bought on line that's too small? Wait till I reach goal, or return?

waltzingmom

Everyone here has such great advice, so I'd like to ask this question: I just bought a gorgeous new expensive designer skirt on eBay for $46, BUT although I can squeeze into the rest of it, I can't get the zipper closed at the waist band. I still have another 15 pounds to go before goal, so maybe it will be fine then. The problem is, with eBay, you need to return things right away if you want to return them, unlike stores that give you some time. So, would you suggest returning it or holding onto it?

TavistockToad

i would return it. you don't know how much your shape will change with 15lbs, so it might not fit properly then anyway.

nchrty

I would keep it as it is a reasonable goal to get into it and it might be a good incentive. In fact I would hang it up on the outside of my closet so I saw it every day as a reminder to stay on point.

hesn92

It's really up to you. How important is $46 to you? It will probably fit by the time you reach your goal so I would probably keep it

LinCharpentier

I'm with nchrty on this. Like her idea and 15 lbs is enough that you will be able to do the zipper. But again it's all up to you

x_stephisaur_x

I'd return it, because with 15lbs to go you could find that it'll be too big when you get to target! $46 is a lot of money to spend on a gamble Xx

Lounmoun

waltzingmom wrote: »

Everyone here has such great advice, so I'd like to ask this question: I just bought a gorgeous new expensive designer skirt on eBay for $46, BUT although I can squeeze into the rest of it, I can't get the zipper closed at the waist band. I still have another 15 pounds to go before goal, so maybe it will be fine then. The problem is, with eBay, you need to return things right away if you want to return them, unlike stores that give you some time. So, would you suggest returning it or holding onto it?

I don't know. Is $46 a lot for you to spend on something you may not wear?

I'd probably want to get something that fit now so would return the item.

suzwriter

Return it and buy something lovely that you like now. You can always sell it and buy another lovely item when you hit goal. Enjoy who you are now as well as who you are going to be

RedSierra

I'm in maintenance now. When I was losing, I deliberately bought a pair of jeans that were too small and left them out as incentive. Every once in a while I would try them on until one day they fit. Return or not return is up to you. I would keep the skirt if I loved it and thought it would fit eventually.

kristen8000

I'd return it. You don't know where those 15lbs will come off and your shape will change, so the skirt may not look right then. I'd think wasting $46 would be too risky for me.

88olds

Return. You need nice clothes that fit now. Always strive to look your best.

deannalfisher

return it

seltzermint555

I'm in the "return it" camp. There's no telling how your shape will change, as others have said above.

I bought a cute denim dress in size 16 when I wore size 18 and was losing rapidly. I tried it on pretty often, hoping to get into it & enjoy wearing it, but by the time it fit my hips, I was wearing size 12 and it swam on me everywhere else. That dress was a four dollar thrift shop item, but I wouldn't have done that with a more expensive piece.

Obviously a skirt would have a better chance of fitting, but it's not a guarantee.

Penthesilea514

Return it- I bought a cute Ann Taylor dress (granted from Goodwill for like $3) that I thought I would wear once I hit that size...unfortunately, my hips weren't on the losing block during that time period and I eventually got to the point the upper body and waist was too big/loose (thanks, shrinking boobs) but my hips stayed about the same and the whole look was distinctly not flattering. Back to Goodwill it went.

katsheare

I currently have (because I have space for) an aspirational wardrobe. Almost all but my intimates shopping is secondhand, so when I see something in my size all the way down to the size I'm aiming for I'll pick it up. I rarely spend more than about £6 on something, so it's not a huge amount of financial investment, and we have the space. As I've dropped in size, I shop from that wardrobe and cull what's now too big for me.

If it's a skirt you adore, that you will kick yourself for not giving a chance, keep it. If you don't shrink in a way that matches the fit of the piece, sell it on EBay - obviously there's a market. However, if money or space are more valuable than the skirt, send it back.

DananaNanas

Keep it. Even if you can't return it after x date, chances are you can relist it if you decide it's not going to work for you!

lorrpb

Return it. My rule is don't buy/keep anything I can't wear today.

ccruz985

KEEP IT. I officially wore a pair of pants this week that I bought in FEB and they never fit but I knew they would when I reached goal. What a feeling!

waltzingmom

Wow. I love hearing about everyone's experiences with this. Still undecided though!!

waltzingmom

oh, and Congrats to ccruz985 for fitting into those pants! and everyone else who met or blew past their goals! So glad to hear this - very inspiring!

jayemes

I'm with @DananaNanas Keep it if you love it because some things are one of a kind and if it doesn't wind up fitting, resell it

Amjski34

I would keep it. Did the same thing with a pair of shorts off eBay and I'm hoping to fit into them eventually. Hopefully that time corresponds with the right season lol!

vickimckie

Personally, I would keep it, but like some others here have said, it really depends on:
Is $45 a lot of money toy you.
How much do you love the skirt - or not.
How determined are you to lose that last 15 pounds, and...
How successful have you been so far losing weight and making progress towards your goal.

Personally, I have gained and lost weight several times over the last 10 years, due to an auto-immune illness that I have. I get back down to my original weight and can maintain it for years. Then I'll have another attack of this illness and the doctors have to put me on high doses of steriods which makes the weight literally jump back on me. I was originally 135 pounds all of my adult life, but the first time I got sick, I ballooned up to 220, after two years on high doses of oral Prednisone and IV steroid. It took me a year to get back down to 135. And I've repeated that cycle twice since then. Now I'm just getting started again after finally getting off the meds again, and starting over at 188, I'm now back down to 166 within 6 weeks, with 31 more pounds to get back to my normal of 135. All of that was to explain that I have three complete wardrobes in 3 different closets in my home - sizes M, L and XL with a few XXL in there. I keep all of my clothes that I love because I keep going up and down, and I can't afford to continue buying new wardrobes all the time. So my rule is that if I love it, it goes in the closet - one of them anyway. Good luck. I hope you keep the skirt and post a picture here for us to see you when you are able to wear it with joy.

waltzingmom

Hi. Thanks for the good list of considerations, Vickimckie. I'm impressed at how you've been able to take off the weight after the steroid treatments!
I've been doing pretty well in taking off weight the past 2 months, and think/hope this will continue for those last pounds.

JensJourney11

Return it. There will always be another skirt to buy.

achagpar

Do you love the skirt? Was it a deal and a half to get it for $46? Do you have closet space to keep it? Do you think you could resell it if it didn't fit? How do you feel about potentially wasting $46? If you can almost zip it up now, my bet is you will 15 lbs from now -- it may even be too big! So if you love it, won't be able to get the same deal again, have space for it, think you can resell it and/or are ok risking $46 if you can't, keep it. But if you don't really love it, don't have space for it, don't think you could resell it and losing $46 is a big issue (i.e. You can think of a lot of "sure things" you'd rather spend $46 than on the gamble of keeping, fitting into and still loving that skirt), return it. The opinions on this thread really boil down to how people feel about these five questions. So answer those questions for yourself and decide. Good luck!

waltzingmom

Hi. Thanks so much for the good luck wishes. Great questions. Well, here goes. Yes, I really like the skirt. (Love might be too strong a word for it.) It was a "deal" - it was brand new "couture", tags still on, and the original price was over $500 (although of course no matter what the price, it won't be a deal if I don't wear it). Also, it's a nice long length on me (to the bottom of the knee) , which is perfect at my "getting up there" age (also known as that "already up there" age). That length is a bit tough to find since I'm relatively tall. And if my waist doesn't shrink, I'm thinking that maybe I can wear it with the waist band open and a long jacket or sweater that goes over the waist, so that no one will know! It also seems to be a good incentive for losing those pounds.

As for my closet, did you have to ask? LOL. Well, it's pretty crowded in there. But I'd probably be better off getting rid of the stuff that I'll never in a million years wear again - like that orange tank top that shrunk to kid size, and that t-shirt with falling off sparkles, and that short red skirt that I could get away with wearing a few decades ago. Anyway, thanks again for the good questions and the good luck wishes! All the best to you!