Transition clothes?

easjer
easjer Posts: 219 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
It's becoming very clear I need to do something about my wardrobe, because I'm running lower and lower on clothes that fit well enough. Great problem to have, right?

Except I really don't have a lot of money available for clothes now, and I'm not anywhere near my goals yet. I've got no problem browsing eBay or similar, but I don't want to waste a lot of money on clothes that I'll be out of relatively soon (I hope!). I'm relying on some old maternity clothes I dug out, which seems to help one of my primary problems of my top half being a size smaller than my bottom half.

The other issue is that I'm all over with regard to sizing, because weight is obviously not lost evenly. Mostly, I guess I just want to know what other people have done during transition phases in regards to clothes.

Replies

  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    Have you tried hand me down stores?

    I did that for a while when I was in between a few years ago.

    Then you can just donate them right back :)
  • easjer
    easjer Posts: 219 Member
    Have you tried hand me down stores?

    I did that for a while when I was in between a few years ago.

    Then you can just donate them right back :)

    Not as many with decent plus-size selections around me, but it's been awhile since I've looked. Always worth another go! I'm currently going through my closet to donate the stuff that isn't going to fit again anyway, so I'll be making a trip!
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    http://rehashclothes.com/
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    That's why I like discount stores...Like winners/tjmax...

    I can buy name brand clothes there on the cheap...ie American eagle jeanns for 20$...:drinker:
  • zillah73
    zillah73 Posts: 505 Member
    I bought a lot of dress pants for work at Goodwill. I am all about the second-hand stores for transition pieces. I also check out the clearance racks at Macy's when I have a Wow pass and have gotten a few really nice, new pieces for under $10 that way.
  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    That's why I like discount stores...Like winners/tjmax...

    I can buy name brand clothes there on the cheap...ie American eagle jeanns for 20$...:drinker:

    +1 for TJMax
  • easjer
    easjer Posts: 219 Member
    Again, plus size still makes it harder - discount stores are hit and miss and I'm still in a 22/24/2x - good news is the bottom half is finally moving into that size range! Sleeves are also hard because my biceps are so fatty. :/

    Thanks for all the suggestions - thankfully my birthday is coming up, so I'll have a bit of extra cash to help out.
  • lzlsk
    lzlsk Posts: 10 Member
    Some thrift stores have $5 bag sales where you can get for $5 as many clothes as you can fit in a grocery bag.
  • moseler
    moseler Posts: 224 Member
    We have some great stores that allow you to buy, sell and trade clothing. When I was losing quickly, I would take my old stuff in and earn credit... then I would buy some new (to me) stuff to get through until the next size... Also, check out the Goodwill. Seriously, we have some Goodwill's in higher end neighborhoods with some great name brand stuff for CHEAP!

    Other than that... I go to Ross Dress for Less or Old Navy for inexpensive new stuff. GOOD LUCK!
  • zillah73
    zillah73 Posts: 505 Member
    I don't know if this is an option for you... but my friends and I do a lot of clothing swap parties, too. We are all different shapes and sizes and everything is free, plus you get to hang out and have fun. Otherwise, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Ross, Burlington Coat Factory. Dress Barn has beautiful plus size clothes and clearance racks.
  • 99clmsntgr
    99clmsntgr Posts: 777 Member
    All of the above and Goodwill. As I was losing weight, I donated some really good clothes to Goodwill. I know a lot (and I mean A LOT) of people who have done the same.
  • Sugarbeat
    Sugarbeat Posts: 824 Member
    Do you have a freecycle website in your area? Also check "yard" sales on Facebook.
  • DisneyBecca
    DisneyBecca Posts: 49
    Definitely check out Goodwill. Every one that I have been to has a separate rack for plus size clothes, so that makes it easier to find something that might fit.

    If you like or don't mind wearing skirts, another thing I do is quickly scan the rack of skirts for elastic waistbands. Because they stretch, they are more forgiving size wise. This means that you can fit in a wide range of sizes which makes it more likely that you will find something that fits. It also means that they will look nicer longer as you continue to lose.

    In fact, with basic sewing skills, you can even tighten the elastic in the skirt to make it last even longer. This works better wih fuller skirts rather than more fitted ones.
  • wyattj99
    wyattj99 Posts: 454 Member
    I use swaps on face book in your area or just friends gives me clothes. Sometimes area churches does free clothes giveaways ( I know they are for the less but it's not like your taking a butt load)
  • jlynnm70
    jlynnm70 Posts: 460 Member
    I love thrift stores - Heck most of my clothes come from there anyway. I love looking for 98 cent tags. Perfect for transition - and they have plus sizes there too - you just have to look a little harder, but it's worth it.

    My favorite jeans were .98 and I need to go find some new ones! YAY the belt is driving me bonkers!

    Good luck!
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    Thrift stores
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
    eBay! For work, I have to invest in a new wardrobe every time I lose a size or 2, so I post all of my outgrown clothes on ebay - work out clothes, suites, dress shirts, etc. It's worth a check. I know sizing is weird, but if you know how Lane Bryant (for instance) fits, you can be pretty confident in getting a size that will work for you (or that you can shrink in to!).
  • katew221
    katew221 Posts: 82 Member
    I just did a transition shop :smile: I blogged about it here http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/katew221 so you can read my experience more if you like.

    I would say go for it, and don't under spend on yourself because you don't think it's "worth it", each stage of this journey is a huge achievement :heart:

    If you are not sure about clothes and shopping in general like me (I was plus size for many many years and just avoided it like the plague) I would say, if you can, get to a shop with a personal shopping service. They can really help you pull clothes out that will flatter and be right for your changing shape, so you can wear them now, but also when they become looser.

    Best of luck!
  • krawhitham
    krawhitham Posts: 831 Member
    I have the same issue, and I am using my sewing machine to bring things in 1" or so. I only do it to like two pairs of pants and two shirts, and that's all I really need for now...until I go down another few sizes. I can't afford to buy any clothes at this time. Hopefully I'll be in a better position when I've lost *all* the weight and can go back to wearing my old clothing.

    In my area there are also "free stuff" websites like Freecycle and Craigslist Where I find a lot of very quality free things.
    Good luck!
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    Value Village, Goodwill, the Post, Salvation Army...that's where I get most of my work clothes. Also the sales rack at Ricki's because I'm not about to spend $90 on a blazer. I will wait until it goes on sale for $15.
  • klyn7788
    klyn7788 Posts: 52 Member
    There's certainly value in buying things that you can wear for a few sizes or that are used, but finding a few things that make you look good now can be so motivating and great for your self-confidence. I think it would be so worth it to buy something new that you love at a discount store to celebrate your achievement so far!
  • spfldpam
    spfldpam Posts: 738 Member
    While I was loosing my weight, I didn't hardly buy anything new cause it was too big in like 2 weeks! I went to my local Salvation Army store on Saturdays and they have a certain tag color that was 49 cents a pc. It is now 69 cents but still a bargain. I had never ever shopped at a Salvation Army or Goodwill store before this ever. I never tried anything on, went home washed it in hot water and high heat in dryer and then tried it on, if it was too big I would just re donate it and if too small hung onto it till I fit into it. I took all my too big clothes to consignment stores in town and made about $800 on them. What the consignment stores didn't take I either gave to friends or donated to my local womens domestic violence shelter.

    It is hard for me to buy new now too even though I am done loosing weight! I have too many clothes right now but still go to the Salvation Army store every once in a while on Sat. for those 69 cent bargains. I have found brand new clothes with price tags on them, never worn item, coats.... I did buy some clothes at the consignment stores too I got a leather jacket for $5 and Columbia jacket for $5 and then shop the $1 rack at the consignment stores.
    Good luck!
  • captmiddy
    captmiddy Posts: 147 Member
    Don't miss out on the Kohls discount racks too, I know their prices are overly inflated to start but they slash some stuff as much as 80% when they are discontinuing them and have a fair selection. I bought a lot of clothing at wholesale clubs figuring they would last a year, ended up lasting 5 months due to size changing more rapidly than I expected and spent more than I intended on transition clothing. Finally getting close to my target so I probably won't need anymore things as I did amass a fair amount on sales and such. Although I will admit it may be easier for a male to find such things as for me if it mostly fits and doesn't look horrible I am generally okay with it.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    For a long time I relied on secondhand stores.

    But now that I am getting into smaller sizes (for me, that is...14, so sizes 13-16 and L-XL) I am actually finding it MUCH harder to find good quality, affordable items in thrift stores and at consignment shops and so on. I don't know if it's just in my area or what...but they seem to have tons of excellent plus size stuff and then some good small/juniors...very little misses and larger "regular" sizes.

    So what I am doing right now is learning to deal with a drastically smaller wardrobe. For years at size 22, I had about 60 days of different outfits for each season. Now I recycle items weekly and will wear the same outfit 2-3 times in a month. For me that is a lot. Right now I own 3 pairs of regular jeans, 2 pairs of colored skinnies, and 2 pairs of black pants. That's about 1/8 of my past jean-and-pant wardrobe. But it's working for me.

    My go-to places right now are Marshalls, Ross, TJ Maxx, and clearance racks at Macy's and JC Penney.
  • superkt
    superkt Posts: 12
    do you have a DOTS near you? they have super low prices and usually have a variety of sizes including plus size.
  • Swiftdogs
    Swiftdogs Posts: 328 Member
    eBay has been my friend. What I like is many of the sellers give detailed measurements. So I've found some labels that tend to fit me better. That makes searching easier. If you keep watching, you can pick up good quality stuff really cheap, even counting the shipping. Some times I'll see nothing remotely interesting, then the next time I check I'll find several to follow.

    It's a nice problem to have, but still frustrating.
  • Lives2Travel
    Lives2Travel Posts: 682 Member
    Look at the website for Woman Within. Cheap plus size stuff.
  • SharonNehring
    SharonNehring Posts: 535 Member
    I'm in the same boat. I've already replaced most of my work wardrobe and a few wear around the house pieces. It's still cold here in MN but we are getting ready for a beach vacation, so I had to go find a few summer clothes too, which I know probably won't fit come summer. Shoot, the dress pants I bought in January are now too big.

    Besides secondhand shops, try to find someone who can see. I'm having a few expensive items altered so I don't have to rebuy them anytime too soon. I've signed up for the mailing lists at all my favorite stores. It's added a lot to my email but they send me coupons and such all the time which helps.

    JCPenney has a nice women's section for work clothes. I've found some great clearance deals there, long sleeve button down shirts for $4, dress pants for $10. They've become my go to store of late.

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