When is it safe to buy new "skinny" clothes?

nicolejo143
nicolejo143 Posts: 214 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I'm only a few pounds away from my goal weight. I want to show off my weight-loss by wearing new fitted clothes. But I'm worried that those few pounds left might be another pant size on me since I'm petite. I know I should wait and see what size I am then, but what if I reach my goal but lose even more fat in the following weeks and drop another size? I just bought new pants a month ago but now they are already a little big. I have to wear a belt with all my pants now and I had to add more notches to my belt just to use my belt. When is it safe to invest in some nice new clothes?
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Replies

  • CarvedTones
    CarvedTones Posts: 2,340 Member
    I thought I was done losing in early spring. My shorts are all pretty loose; I can slip most off with them buttoned. I would prefer not to have to wear a belt, but I am certainly not going to gain to make that happen. I worked too hard to get here. I have mixed feelings about holding off once you make goal. There is the practicality of asking "what if I let myself gain weight?" and the self confidence boost of saying "this is the new me; i need new clothes." I chose the latter. I was not slow about getting rid of the bigger stuff either.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited October 2018
    If you've only a few pounds to lose then its likely the size you would buy today will be fine in a few pounds time. I found it took me around 10lbs to drop a dress size (I had 30lbs to lose). So unless you think you will end up losing closer to that then hold off the shopping for now, or buy a few cheaper items, thrift stores or ebay are great for bargain buys.

    I dropped from a UK size 14 to a UK size 8 over the period of two years, I bought a few things in smaller sizes during that time because I wanted to look good and see my physical progress. I have since sold my bigger sized clothes on ebay and now only have size 8-10's in my wardrobe.

    Enjoy the shopping spree :smiley:
  • shaf238
    shaf238 Posts: 4,022 Member
    100_PROOF_ wrote: »
    I'd wait until you get to where you want to be to invest in a whole new wardrobe. Maybe buy a few pieces for now and see how it goes
    Exactly what I was gonna say
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    I would just buy maybe 1 or 2 pairs of pants for now, maybe try thrift stores.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    i bought a pair of trousers in spring that were a bit too tight, i figured when i lost a couple of pounds they would fit.

    over summer i started strength training, and hit an 11 week plateau.... i've lost 1lb in scale weight and the trousers are no longer too tight, they just don't fit right... had i tried them on now in the shop i would never have bought them!!!
  • vollkornbloedchen
    vollkornbloedchen Posts: 2,243 Member
    lnalangan wrote: »
    If stuff is too big get it altered by a good tailor to fit your new shape!

    ...or keep it in your closet until "oversize"-garment is hip again ... (can't last too long)
  • xmarye
    xmarye Posts: 385 Member
    RAinWA wrote: »
    I bought or was given smaller clothes all the way through my weight loss (from 24/26 to 4/6). Look for smaller sizes at thrift shops, hit up any friends/family who can donate, etc. You feel so much better wearing stuff that really fits. I did wear some stuff that I liked longer than I probably should have using belts (and staples a couple of times!).

    OMG so inspiring!! I am starting at a size 14/16 and trying to get to a size 6/8 and some days I feel like it's so unnatainable! Way to make it happen! Congratulations on your weight loss! ox
  • SummerSkier
    SummerSkier Posts: 5,144 Member
    I never had to actually figure this one out. As a yo yo dieter over the years I had a closet FULL of skinny clothes. I hit maintenance last Oct 2017 and in Dec I cleaned out my closet. Found lots of cool stuff stashed away to wear. Took a LOT of stuff to good will. Sadly some of the skinnier stuff was really pretty ugly and had to be relocated also. Come this Dec I am going to go thru again and things which I haven't worn in over a year are going to get relocated also. Best of luck. You will know when you are exactly where you want to be shape wise and at that point you should dress for skinny success,
  • Christinaluvly
    Christinaluvly Posts: 116 Member
    Thrift stores will be your best friend for awhile. You might go lower or higher than your goal weight so you might spend a lot of money on clothes that down the road won't fit you right. If you don't like thrift clothes shopping, maybe check out some cheaper options like Forever 21.
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    iowalinda wrote: »
    lnalangan wrote: »
    If stuff is too big get it altered by a good tailor to fit your new shape!

    Just a head's up - having clothes altered isn't cheap. Many times it's cheaper to buy new, especially if it's a "good" tailor :)

    Yup. I have a very small number of clothes I will take to a tailor to have altered once my weight is settled for a year at where I want it, but for 90 percent of my clothes, replacing is cheaper.
  • debrakgoogins
    debrakgoogins Posts: 2,033 Member
    Consignment stores are great for when you are losing weight. You can get new clothes without breaking the bank. If you lose more or gain a little, you can sell your clothes and get new ones.
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    lnalangan wrote: »
    If stuff is too big get it altered by a good tailor to fit your new shape!

    it probably would be more cost effective to just buy clothes that fit from a thrift store second hand store
  • Kdp2015
    Kdp2015 Posts: 519 Member
    As much as I’d love my whole wardrobe to be size 10 I am keeping my size 12 clothes for winters!
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    You could buy stretchy clothes that will fit your goal size.
    You could wear dresses instead of pants.
    You could get clothes very cheaply at a thrift store. I've gotten things that look like they have never been worn.
    You could have your clothes altered or do it yourself.
    You could get stuff that fits and try to sell what does not.
  • ExistingFish
    ExistingFish Posts: 1,259 Member
    I bought my skinnier clothes when I hit goal and then lost 5lbs more my first month at maintenance. They still fit. I'm petite as well, 5'0". When I bought the skinny clothes, I was between a 4 and 6, now I'd say I'm between a 2 and 4, but I can still wear the 4s I bought either way. The 6s need a belt now. One pair of 4s could use a belt, but not in the same way the 6s do.

    Dresses and shirts I'd go ahead and buy, I don't think I changed that much on my upper body. I could go either way on pants, and it depends on how you like to wear your pants.
  • TracyV125
    TracyV125 Posts: 100 Member
    I'd buy tops that fit you now as that size probably won't change even with a few more lbs. When I was losing, every 10 lbs I dropped a pant size. I bought 2 pairs of dress pants for work and 1 pair of jeans each time. I shopped sales and used coupons so I didn't lose much. When I entered maintenance I did lose a few more lbs so I bought just a few things in the next size down. But my shirt size has stayed the same. Nothing feels better than shopping for the new you!!! Congrats on your success!!!
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    My approach was to slowly get new clothes as occasions arose where I really had to look decent. Over the course of the year, I had a "new wardrobe" which turned out to be flexible enough to accommodate the scale range that ensued my first couple of years in maintenance.
  • dulinh
    dulinh Posts: 99 Member
    This is so difficult! As I was losing I bought a few things here and there at thrift stores. I reached my goal back in April and managed to make it through summer without buying much - dresses are really forgiving. Now that winter is here I am just not able to make my pants from last year (size 6-8) work anymore. Last weekend I bought 3 pair of work pants plus 2 pair of casual leggings/stretchy pants (size 2-4) plus a couple of tops. I erred on the side of looser over tighter - I can always alter them if I lose anymore.

    I have found that 5lbs lost is roughly a size for me.
  • kenyonhaff
    kenyonhaff Posts: 1,377 Member
    I'm a big believer in "Wear clothes that fit you properly and comfortably". If you need more pants, you buy more pants and have them fit you NOW just how you are. Just a pair or two, not 12.

    Also, some fabrics (especially knits and clothes with Lycra or Spandex) will be more forgiving than others.
  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    I like living in the present, go to the store - where clothes are actually affordable - and buy an item or two. THATS IT ...add it to your wardrobe - and go from there.

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