"in-between" clothes?

RichardJWalter

Greetings,

Since starting MFP seven weeks ago, I have lost 20.lbs (YAY me!). Now, I am noticing my clothes are looser (YAY me again!). However, I still have more to lose. How do I deal with the clothes that are now too big? I don't want to invest in "me-at-220-clothes" just to have to replace them when I reach my goal?

Also, over the years I have accumulated a lot of "me-at-240-clothes." I know I shouldn't keep them (to tempting!), but some are pretty nice. I'm sure I'll donate them to charity...

Richard

deb3129

I have lost over 80 pounds, and this is a constant struggle for me too. I have been fortunate because a couple of people have given me some clothes that have either gotten too big or too small for them. I have also done a little bit of shopping at resale shops, which are much cheaper. My wardrobe is a lot smaller right now than normal. but when I get to where I want to be I will restock!

Cathy7794

I've lost almost 40 pounds and am working on another 25-30, so none of my old clothes fit me anymore. Resale and thrift stores are the way to go. You can get clothing really cheap and when it gets to big on you, you can donate it back to the thrift stores.

Congrats on your 20 pound loss, btw!

ccburn5

I had a all "me-at-260" clothes and the only "me-at-218" clothes I have bought are for work, minus a couple of pairs of shorts. I had no choice though as they were litterally falling off. I do plan on revamping most or all of them when I get to "me-at-205ish" clothes.. Haha!!

And congrats on your loss!!!

sarahharmintx

Im currently in between pants sizes (18 is too big/most 16s wont zip) and it sucks. But as for buying new clothes, I watch for sales and check out stores like Ross and Goodwill. Some items like shirts are easier while losing weight but pants are a whole other subject (a shirt wont fall off your hips and leave you mooning the neighbors). Also garage sales if you have them in your area. I know I've got a large box of stuff ready to go for my next garage sale.

TheRealParisLove

I took several pieces to the tailor yesterday to have them taken in. They were from last fall's closet, and I'm not quite ready to commit to a new wardrobe just yet, either.

I try to buy clothes that hold their resale value whenever possible. Especially jeans and outerwear. That way, if I shrink too much, I can resell the clothes either to a consignment shop or on eBay. For really trendy items, I just buy the cheap knock offs because the designer brands are going to look as dated and silly as the cheapos anyway. I don't expect to see anyone wearing brightly colored skinny jeans next spring, so I bought my pair at Ross Dress for Less for $12.

megaron01

I've just been buying new belts..................

beattie1

I buy clothes at charity shops - I think they're called thrift stores or goodwill in the US? I keep an eye out for the next size or two down while I'm browsing there. At home I have an "aspiration pile" - nice clothes that almost fit, and have taken clothes I've shrunk out of back to the charity shops when they're too big. You can get some great stuff - well known labels & high street brands & often new with tags, or almost new.

kimad

I bought a couple 'transition' outfits. So I had like 2 pants and 4 shirts, I found mainly sales.
You will feel so much better about yourself in clothes that fit.

My problem was (or maybe not a problem haha) that I was just getting back on the dating scene so appearance was important.

Lots of people on here recommend thrift stores or consignment stores.

changling82

Thrift store, friends, family....they were always my go to's for "new" clothes during transition. That and a good belt! Clothes that fit always made me feel better, so if i had to i would go shopping for a few things every couple of sizes. I went on a big one when i got to my halfway point, and then just picked up a couple things here and there since then. I'm still holding out on the shopping spree until i hit goal.

oh, and get rid of those old clothes, best thing i ever did!

hookandy

I bought a couple of pairs of cheap supermarket black jeans £12 each and am making do until the end of the year. Lots of new holes in belts and going for the baggy look in shirts.

Those bits that are obviously way too big leave the house. I am not going back so they can go out the door.

amswanson3

Greetings,

Since starting MFP seven weeks ago, I have lost 20.lbs (YAY me!). Now, I am noticing my clothes are looser (YAY me again!). However, I still have more to lose. How do I deal with the clothes that are now too big? I don't want to invest in "me-at-220-clothes" just to have to replace them when I reach my goal?

Also, over the years I have accumulated a lot of "me-at-240-clothes." I know I shouldn't keep them (to tempting!), but some are pretty nice. I'm sure I'll donate them to charity...

Richard

I try to make the ones I wear last as long as I can.. using a belt, etc. When that fails, then I start to get rid of the old ones (yardsale) and then go to yardsales to buy some cheap temp clothes. I won't buy anything nice until I get to my goal weight.

XXXMinnieXXX

Ive sold easily 50 clothes items on ebay and bought new with it. It helps a lot! If it's nice stuff it should sell! :-)

barney50501Missy

I am right there with you! Once I dropped two pant sizes, and couldn't get away with wearing the bigger ones any longer, I went out and bought new clothes for work and some other stuff just because I could actually pull them off now that I was thinner. Problem now is my smaller clothes are now too big (Yay Me! ). I don't really want to buy all new clothes again...who can afford that? I have been hearing I should hit thrift stores but I am hesitant...not sure why. I may just buy some new work pants for now, the shirts will hold out a bit longer. Kind of nice that these are the issues we face right now huh? :laugh:

Congrats on the loss...great job!! :drinker:

marz31

if its something you like, get it tailored to fit the new you, otherwise, sale racks and thrift stores oh and check out your local freecycle or craigslist for people giving away bags of clothes. you never know what you might find! and then you can pass them on further (either the same way they came or just to goodwill/salvation army etc).

I'm not yet back into my old work wardrobe that I spent plenty on, but I know when I shrink out of that, I'll be having things taken in as I love the pieces and even then, it'll still be cheaper than buying all new stuff. not that I won't add to my work wardrobe, but pants are no fun to shop for.

cinsuccess

I've been able to find staple items like pants and jeans on eBay. As soon as I fit into the smallest size I own, I immediately scour for the next size down. I always manage to find a "lot" of 3-5 pairs in the next size and then bid for them. If the bidding gets too high, then I look for another "lot". I generally spend about $5-7 per pair of pants/jeans so a "lot" of 4 pairs woudl caost me about $20-$30 including the shipping. Unfortunately the Goodwill and other thrift stores don'thave high enough quality for me to wear to work so eBay has saved me during all of my transitions.

phynyxfyre

I got a third of the way to my goal and bought one new outfit to celebrate. I am in between a 16 and 14 now, so juniors 15 is what I ended up buying because they fit perfectly. I will have to buy new workout clothes soon, because all my beloved yoga pants are literally falling off my waist when I jump now.

If you have a bunch of friends, you can always try a clothing swap party where everyone takes their old clothes and you take what you want and donate the leftovers to charity. Of course, you have to have friends close to the sizes you need for that to work.

MemphisKitten

Get some cheap clothes from Wal-mart!

rainbobrite929

My gym actually does a once-a-month clothes swap. It's a bring an item, take an item type of thing.

kairisika

If you need nice clothes for something - business or whatever, then buy just a few items for your current size. You may have to run the washer more often, but you can get by, and avoid going through four whole wardrobes. For general clothing, used is awesome. I'm all about the thrift stores - especially for things I have no plan on wearing for very long.
It's pretty easy here to go to a large thrift store and come out with 2 pairs of pants, 1 pair of shorts, 3 t-shirts, and 2 tank tops for $30-40. If you're willing to go to the smaller stores and spend some more time looking for the decent clothes, you can probably halve that.
Even lightly-worn business stuff can run $5-8/item.

kstep88

Donate them, and buy like two cheap outfits. When I first started I only bought clothes on sale. They may have been designer, but I never paid even half price. Transition clothes go by pretty fast. Keep it cheap and simple. If you have someone that sews, maybe you could have them altered.

bekkaL85

Buy as needed. I've lost 123..and let me tell ya, you can go broke just keeping up with pants alone!

Personally, I buy as little as possible, especially underwear and stuff like that. I wear it until it literally falls off of my body. The same with shirts. Pants are a different story of course. Just buy one or two at a time. It helps if you get neutral colors so that you can wear them with lots of different outfits.

Occasionally I WILL buy a complete brand new outfit if there is a special occasion coming up like weddings or a huge family function. Things that you would ordinarily buy brand new for anyway. BUT if you just need clothes to get you from A to B, I agree with everyone else....good will and thrift stores are the way to go for everything but undergarments. Those I refuse to buy new for obvious reasons. A lot of them are still in fairly good order and once you get them them home and wash them no one can tell the difference.

And PLEASE keep in mind that you don't need brand name everything until you are at your goal weight!! Except for a few items (like weddings, family reunion type things) buy as cheap as you can because they will all be replaced eventually!

logicman69

I'm going through that as well. I usually just buy one pair of jeans and a couple shirts to get me through. Trying to hold off buying untill christmas or my B-day. I can just ask for gift cards to go shopping!

The part that bums me out was my new suit I got just a bit less than a year ago. It is like a tent on me now. I'm going to need another one soon.

PatrissiaLu

I have lost 40 pounds and still wear most of my old shirts and some of my old jeans with a really tight undershirt that helps hold them up...lol. I've purchased new clothes only because I wanted to award myself for my weight loss by going on a little shopping spree...I'm okay with going shopping again for more clothes once I lose more weight ;-)
But, something that the girls around the office have done is they've been rotating their clothes as they've lost weight too... so I let my co-worker have my old size 18's and 16's, my other co-worker let me have her old size 12's and 14's, another co-worker let her have her old size 8's, etc. Other option, secondhand store!

GrammyPammy145

I am having the same problem... 18's are too big.. some 16's fit but others wont zip.. I found something that fit nice and bought two of them..lol And I've been to Salvation Army.. they actually have some nice things.. and for 2 or 3 dollars!!!

MrsWilsoncroft

Leggings and vest tops u
I lived in while I was still shrinking weight lol x

tlsayers00

I've lost 62 lbs so far, and I took all my clothes to a seamstress here in my town and for around $30-$40 she took them all in and it was like having a new wardrobe. I think I'm about ready to take them to her again to take them in a little more.

reggiepe

I am in the same boat. I just bought about $150 worth of clothes a month ago as I could not wear the clothes I was in before. I just noticed this week that they are already getting loose on me. The shirts I can wear big for a bit, but the pants will have to last with the belt cinched tight. Hang in there.....it is a wonderful feeling. As was stated before.....feel like a new person when you get into clothes that fit right.

Otterluv

I am just starting to really deal with this. Fortunately, I wear a lot of skirts & I sew, so I can take them in.

For bras, I just bought a couple a band size down and made a little extender, which I can take out when it fits right. Some shirts I can add a little tie onto to tighten them up. As for T - shirts, there is not much I can do with them except to replace them.

At my size, I rarely have much luck at the second-hand stores, but I may start frequenting them again to see if I can find some things in the next size down.

Men's clothes are much more challenging, it's difficult to take in a pair of jeans or a dress shirt. To be honest, I would just bite the bullet, find somewhere inexpensive, and pick up a couple of things. They won't be part of your regular "at goal" wardrobe, and you probably won't be in them long. But, if your current clothes are way too big and are driving you crazy, it may be your only good option.

sugboog29

I usually check out my favorite designer.....Clearance! I've found some great buys on the clearance racks! Bought a denim skirt and black dress jacket for $1.99 each. Last February I got two pair of cords for $4 each! If it isn't marked down or on the clearance rack I don't buy it. As for the clothes that have outgrown me I used to give them to a co-worker until the sizes got too small...now they go to Goodwill.

nxd10

My clothes fit loosely now and will fit looser still (I hope). I decided last week I"m not buying anything new because it's too expensive and I don't know what my final weight will be.

As a woman, I can do lots of things with my blouses that can make them go up or down a size. And I'm tall so I can gain or lose 40 pounds and just change one size. Skirts and dresses are really forgiving. Pants are harder, but I have belts and can easily take in a tuck or add a pleat.

You can add a bit of elastic at the back and it will take in the slack while you wait for your weight to stabilize.

If you get stuck, there is also my favorite store - Goodwill. Mens clothes tend to be particularly nice and inexpensive (says the woman with three guys in her family).