What do you do about clothes while losing?

onsugarhill

I have a good problem - my clothes aren't fitting me well. I've lost the first 9 pounds of a 27-pound goal, and it's definitely starting to show.

My question is, what have you guys done about clothing? Most of my shirts fit just fine (and look much better than they used to), but my pants (especially work pants) are almost falling off. I can't afford to buy a lot of new clothes, then get rid of them in a few months when I lose more weight.

I'd love to hear any strategies you guys have used to dress well while losing without replacing your wardrobe every 10 pounds. )

ms_leanne

I'm forever tightening notches on belts because I have to lose a fair bit to go down a UK size. Usually when it starts looking like a potato sack rather than a pair of trousers I'll go smaller if I can or buy a different style.

dqgirl1

belts.......simple fix and cheap...I wear my clothes til I REALLY cant anymore!!

Lyerin

If a belt won't work, you still have some options. You can take your pants to a tailor to have them taken in - if they are nice work clothes, this will cost less (or should) than the cost of a new pair. You can wear a belt like other posters said.

One thing that I have done is shopped for smaller stuff (sort of the "interim" stuff) at thrift stores. I didn't want to spend $30-50 on something "new" when between sizes, but I was totally okay with spending $10 on something that worked better than my current stuff.

juliekins64

I love shopping at consignment boutiques, top name stuff for 1/4 price.
Wear dresses if you can, they look nice even when weight fluctuates.

onsugarhill

Thanks for the tips! I've been using belts so far, but like ms_leanne said, I'm starting to get the "potato sack" look on a few pairs of pants even with the belt. I'll look for consignments stores.

Great idea on dresses, juliekins64! Now that dress weather is finally starting back up, I have a lot of work dresses that I'd love to wear to show off my skinnier legs. )

nokanjaijo

I take them in myself. I inherited a sewing machine when my mother passed away and used it to finish a project she was working on for my niece. I couldn't believe how easy it is to sew.

My last project was turning a pair of size 10 boot cut jeans into a pair of skinny jeans fitted to my body. So comfortable.

Meaganandcheese

I don't spend a lot of money on those in-between sizes. Target, Old Navy, and Kohls are good places to look for work clothes that aren't huge investment pieces. I have found that skirts and dresses transition better than pants too.

dwh77tx

I leave them alone, in case I have a "bloated day" for whatever reason it may be.

sPaRkLiNgLYFE

you could have them taken in, but if they're really too big, donate them

Daysednconfused

I shop at consignment/thrift stores as well. On Friday, I bought a very nice skirt, blouse and a pair of leather heels for $4! On top of losing weight, I am also unemployed and seeking work as a legal asst. I can't go to interviews without being nicely put together and my unemployment check barely lets me eat, much less shop for new clothes. I've gone from a size 18 to an 8 and can't even imagine how much money I would have spent on new clothes.

AmyRhubarb

Thrift stores! I bought new jeans last spring for about $3 a pair, wore them for a few months and then they were too big! I donated them back to the store.

pa_jorg

If you are in the US, this is the perfect time to hit some sales! I went to Kohl's yesterday and scoured the clearance racks. I bought 12 items (including 5 work shirts, 1 gym top, 1 dress, 1 pair of shoes and a few odd and ends) for $42!!!

Otherwise, consignment stores are key!

I also think if you look under MFP Groups you might find several that do clothing swaps.

fougamou

I have dropped 25 lbs and still haven't dropped a size

I have the clothes I wore from when I was gaining, so I plan on just starting to pull those out and putting the bigger sizes away

twentyco

Thrift stores and clearance sales. :-)

kosuski

thrift stores for sure! I usually don't find much at like Goodwill, but we have a Plateo's closet and a Fashion Shack which both have nice stuff at very good prices---Also look for local owned shops--they tend to a nicer selection--more name brand items.

kr1stadee

I look on Kijiji (Canada's Craig's List, I guess)
And there's some yard sale type groups on Facebook that I belong to, and I sell my bigger stuff and buy smaller stuff (usually pretty cheap too!) on there!

Laura8603

I agree with using belts. I also shopped at Goodwill. Actually, I am frugal and STILL shop at Goodwill even now that I'm at goal.

shayemimi

Thrift stores! I donate my bigger sizes, then go get smaller ones! Plato's Closet is great , and Clothes Mentor if you have those stores (I live in Canada and always visit those stores when I drive down to the states (North Dakota)) , they have current, newer styles for cheap! And they give you cash for your old clothes, if they take them.

hkmurphy83

I'm making temporary darts with safety pins in my dress pants. They don't look stellar (too baggy in the bottom), but it is getting my through. After I reach goal weight, I'm going to take my nice dress pants and skirts to be tailored.

JeneticTraining

Definitely shop at thrift stores. Keep the clothes to remind yourself of your progress. Once you reach your ideal body, splurge a lil.

cmeiron

I'm cheap and I rarely have luck at second-hand stores for pants (I have really long legs). I wore the same dang pair of jeans, with a belt, all the time (my smallest pair) for almost a year. I could sort of get away with it because I'm a student and work from home 95% of the time (so could wear my ridiculously huge pairs at home where no one would see :P) Finally broke down and got a few new pairs a few weeks ago when a really good sale came on, and after my labmates at school started making snarky comments about all the loose material hanging off my *kitten* :laugh: Also, go shopping in your own closet and pull out the stuff that didn't quite fit properly before (I found a few nice button-up shirts this way!) Shirts aren't really an issue for me generally because I pretty much live in t-shirts and hoodies I'll splurge on a few new things this summer though (I don't think I have a single pair of shorts that will stay up anymore!)

boroko

If your shirts are still OK then treat yourself to a couple of pairs of inexpensive trousers to remind yourself how well you've done so far and keep you focused. If the weight is coming down then you need to dress proud and comfortable and baggy trousers really don't do you justice, especially in the workplace. Sure you'll need to buy even smaller ones before too long but just think of how much money you have saved by eating less?!

Songbirdcw

Belts, belts, belts! I use my husband's military style belt with no notches. I can pull it as tight as i want. I am hanging on to every last piece of clothing until I've cut my bodyfat percentage down.

lizlkbg

I basically just look frumpy.

mrsmarit

Thrift stores! I bought new jeans last spring for about $3 a pair, wore them for a few months and then they were too big! I donated them back to the store.

This is exactly what I do. I mostly shop @ Value Village, wear it until it doesn't fit, and then re donate it back to them and get a coupon for $3.00 off and a tax write off.

I have donated 6 bags of clothes in the last couple of weeks already and there are 2 more in my car right now to get rid of.

kimbojo67

I just read this and saw your post!

Building a Weight-Loss Wardrobe on a Budget

6 Tips for Finding Clothes When You're on Your Way to Your Goal Weight

-- By Caitlin Boyle, SparkSavings Contributor
If you ever stared at your closet full of clothes and thought, “I have nothing to wear,” imagine how Amanda McQueen, a 28-year-old from Alabama, felt during her weight loss journey. “I’ve lost 115 pounds in total. I started at 260 pounds and a size 22, and now I’m at 145 pounds and a size 8,” she says. “I’ve gone through five or six wardrobes in the weight-loss process.”

If it weren’t for her smart shopping tactics, Amanda could’ve burned through her checking account faster than she burned away the fat. Instead of going wild with her credit card, Amanda purchased clothes that would last through several sizes and shopped at second-hand stores. Now in maintenance mode, she focuses on buying quality essentials, like the little black dress, that works well for many situations. “Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I’d be a size 8,” she admits. “I’m still working on rebuilding my wardrobe for good!”

Lose Weight, Save Dough
For Marisa Gizzio, a 42-year-old who lost 65 pounds, buying new clothes was an important emotional milestone in her weight-loss process. “It makes you feel good about yourself to wear something that fits you well,” she points out. “It doesn't have to be expensive – just treat yourself to a nice fitting outfit because you are worth it and deserve it!”

To reward yourself for your healthy weight loss, save some cash for each pound you lose. “It is such a great motivation,” notes Beth Klein, who saved $5 for each of the 55 pounds she lost in the last year. “It was so exciting for me to see the jar of money get more and more full, and was great to have it there when I really needed new clothes.”

Don’t be tempted to rush into a pricey department store. To save at name-brand stores, sign up for their e-mail blasts to get coupons and take advantage of seasonal sales. Alternatively, spend some time browsing the racks at discount chains like Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, and Ross, to get more bang for your buck.

If you love to hunt for a good deal, second-hand stores or thrift shops are another excellent option. “I shopped at Goodwill a lot, especially during the early stages of my weight loss,” says Marisa. “Believe it or not, I got some really nice, name-brand pants/shirts (like Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Gap, and Old Navy). At $3 per pair of pants and $2 per shirt, I could shop away and not feel guilty about spending clothes that weren’t going to fit in a few months.” Additionally, try asking your family and friends if they have any gently-worn items they’d like to donate to your new wardrobe. Marisa’s mom cleaned out her own closet and donated many essentials to her daughter.

Buy Smart
Depending on how much weight you have to lose, you may have to buy "transition" clothes as you get closer to your goal. Alexis Burnett, who lost 50 pounds, tried to only buy a few new items during her transition stages. “Once I realized this was a long-term journey, and that I planned to lose even more weight, I would not to buy expensive things in my intermediate sizes,” she notes. Instead, Alexis used belts to cinch larger tops and altered skirts and dresses to fit her new body.

As you rebuild your closet, you may be tempted to buy trendy clothes to show off your new frame. At first, “stick to the basics,” advises Alexis. “That way you’re covered in any situation.” Women should invest in dark denim jeans, a crisp white button-down, a stylish dress, a blazer, a practical winter jacket, and other staples. Men should focus on purchasing a crisp polo shirt, great-fitting jeans, a versatile jacket, trousers, khaki pants, and button-down shirts. Try on items in new shapes and cuts than before – you might be surprised at what looks great on your new body.

Consider materials that are more forgiving, like stretch jeans or wrap dresses. “I found stretchy, but not too-tight dresses to be my savior during the weight loss process,” says Beth, as the dresses would look great through several sizes. Also, buy some clothes a tad too small if you anticipate you will continue to lose weight.

Don’t forget the most important essential – underwear! In particular, a properly-fitting bra makes or breaks the entire outfit. Buying underwear in your new size is a fun way to increase confidence and feel sexy in your new body.

New Body Nerves
Shopping for new clothes can be more than a drain on your bank account – it can also be an emotional drain. “It was always weird shopping for smaller sizes. I would always be convinced it was a mistake. I would think, "There is no way I'm a size 4! These pants are marked incorrectly,” Alexis remembers.

Katie Suchman, who lost 50 pounds, agrees with Alexis. “It definitely felt weird shopping in regular mall stores at first. It was a strange mix of being overjoyed that I could even find clothes in regular (non-plus sized) stores, but at the same time, I sometimes felt embarrassed that I always had to start my search at the back of the racks where the big sizes were,” she recalls. Over time, Katie says she adjusted to her new body. “The joy of being able to find clothes that fit well eventually overcame the rest of those insecurities.”

It’s common for people who have recently lost a significant amount of weight to struggle with their body image. Shopping can elicit feelings of self-doubt, fear of regaining the weight, and other negative emotions. View each shopping trip as a chance to celebrate your accomplishments and reaffirm your commitment to a healthy lifestyle. To further increase your body image, get in touch with your new body through body-mind exercises, like yoga.

Your Old Clothes
Negative feelings are the exact reason Amanda gave away or donated all of her larger clothes. “I saw it as a commitment to myself to not go back to that place,” she says. “By keeping the clothes I would have felt like I wasn't fully committed to myself and my new lifestyle. I wanted someone to have them that needed them.”

If you choose to donate your old clothing, save the receipt for a tax credit. Alternatively, sell your larger clothes to a second-hand shop, such as the national chain Plato’s Closet, for extra cash to fund your new wardrobe.

However, you may want to hold onto one pair of larger pants! Whenever Alexis feels overwhelmed or stalled in her progress, she pulls out her size 12 jeans to comparison next to her size 4 body. “It’s like my personal trophy,” she says.

skinnyvegan108

I shop at forever 21 lol I shop whenever something gets to big but nothing pricey Cus I don't plan on it fitting that long

madbrewer

THRIFT STORES!

thisisme13

When I need a new pant size when losing weight I go to my local thrift store. I recently went there and spent $30 on six pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts and a few shirts.

I don't see the point of buying new and spending that much money when you can get really cheap clothing at a thrift store.

I wear clothes until they just don't look good anymore and than bring them to the thrift store.. while I'm there I shop.

JeneticTraining

Keep them to remind yourself of your progress. Use it as your motivation to keep going.
Thrift on.