When to buy new clothes when you are losing weight?

They always recommend to buy new clothes as you go. Buy dresses that can be belted, so when you lose a little more, they will still look good. Wearing dowdy clothes doesn't do anything for the self esteem. Go buy some new clothes. It will make you super happy that you are fitting into a smaller size. I buy a new dress every Friday. When I started I was at a size 16 dress (18 pants). Now I'm in a 12 dress, 14/15 pants. My goal is a size 9/10 dress. (I still have 15-20 pounds to go). I will go on a shopping spree once I hit it, but for now I am slowly updating my wardrobe. Take $20 a week and go buy yourself something new. I spend a bit more than that, but I don't have any kids, so all my money goes to me (or the bank).

My jeans were literally falling off me, and my belt I couldn't even get on before was on the fourth notch in! I found 2 pairs of jeans for $1 each at a garage sale the other day, in a size smaller than I am now (motivation!). For summer clothes I got dresses at old navy, most were $8 on sale. For upcoming vacation, I did get a 2 piece swimsuit at Marshall's with a *tiny* bit of muffin top showing but should easily be down to fitting properly within the next month. Once I reach my goal weight I will get a whole new wardrobe (and a tattoo!) as a reward

I have a trip planned to Value Village in another week or two with a friend. In the meantime a newly purchased belt is helping to keep the dress pants/skirts up.

At 20 pounds down I took my clothes to a tailor. Not all of them, but my favorite jeans, my dress slacks for work, a few shirts/skirts/etc.

Tailors are your friend, and I got about 10 things tailored for only 50.00 dollars. Its a lot cheaper than buying new clothes.

I also sometimes buy "lots" of clothing on ebay, and I shop at the garage sales in SUPER nice neighborhoods.

If you can afford to buy clothes twice whether regular priced, clearance, goodwill, or the season's latest, I'd buy a set now just so you can throw away the big ones (or donate them) and solidify this current size as the real you. And no going back. For sure. Then you can look great and indulge in all the compliments which might motivate you more as you continue onto your goals. I notice it's hard for people to see your weight loss when you're wearing baggy clothes or silhouettes bought when you were bigger that were meant to cover problem areas. I notice this because this is my current MO since I don't want people to notice on, comment about, or start conversations up about my weight or goals or efforts. So it's from experience but on the other angle of someone trying to hide it still. If you're clothes are that baggy though, the compliments you get may make you feel wonderful. Plus you will look more presentable for work or whatever you do with your days.

There are even styles you could choose that will look great now and be forgiving as you slim down and won't look so off so soon.

Example: Dolman sleeve tops, stretch leggings, like the ones from Hue, Summery dresses in colors that can transition to seasons and be worn with tights and boots later, sandals now. Just nothing with sleeves that are too structured or tailored. Something like this, you can see how as someone slimmed down it would still look nice. There are no sleeve seams right at the shoulder to start falling off when slimmer/smaller.

Bump bump bump... Single mom on a budget

Good Will, Plato's Closet, Thrift Shops!! don't buy new till your to your goal weight!!!

^This. (with the exception of underwear, bras and socks)

I usually wait to buy new clothes until I'm struggling to keep the ones I have up.

edit: I should add that I do occasionally buy clearance clothing. Like the other day I decided to buy a pair of shorts (for the first time in years) to run in and spotted a clearance rack at walmart.

Danskin Shorts : $2.50
and a few clearance shirts nearby for : $3.00

Old Navy has been a Godsend, for both casual stuff and workout stuff. I shop their sales quite often. I stopped buying their jeans, though, because they're full of spandex and give me droopy-butt after about 10 minutes. I'm working on finding denim brands that don't have as much "give". Instead of jeans this summer, I'm opting for ankle/cigarette pants. They're cute, comfortable, and can go from work to casual - they can work with just about anything. Sandals, high heels, etc.

I usually wait to buy pants until they're falling off, but lately, I've started buying a little sooner. When they're too big, they just look sloppy and actually make you look bigger than you are.

JC Penney and Kohl's have some pretty awesome deals and clearance racks. I just don't go overboard. A pair of pants here, a couple of shirts there.

I have a rule in my closet regarding tops: If there are no more available hangers, there is no room for new tops. It's forced me to get rid of stuff I love but looks bad because it's too big. It's liberating to "free up" space for new stuff. I've saved a few long-sleeved things in case they'll still look good going into fall/winter, but other than that... if it's too big, it's got to go.

I don't buy smaller things that don't fit me "right now", either. My body has changed so much, that it's hard to tell whether something will look good on me or not when I size down again.

Resale shops are awesome, too - as well as Ross/Marshall's/TJ Maxx - but I don't always have the patience to dig through everything to find just a few inexpensive things.

ETA - If you can find a good tailor, you can still keep some of the more well-made things in your closet. Especially pants. I'm lucky enough to have a seamstress mom, so the pants I'm wearing right now will be altered once theyr'e too big because they were kind of expensive and I love the way they look.

I've lost 15 pounds (before joining mfp). So obviously things aren't falling off me yet--but it has been very nice to pull a few things from the rear of the closet and wear them again. I agree with what people are saying hear--buying pants (especially nice ones for work) can be hard. I think I will stick with simple easy fitting dresses & skirts for a while.

I recently read a tip that suggested getting rid of your big things when they no longer fit, to help keep from back sliding. What does anyone here think of this? (So far the scale has moved up over the years and I never dropped more than 10 pounds.)