How long to maintain before buying new clothes?

galadrielandme
galadrielandme Posts: 3 Member
edited December 25 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I’m nowhere near my goal currently, but my clothes are loosening up and I’m starting to dread living in clothes that don’t fit for the next few months while I lose weight. I’m planning to save some money to buy new clothes when I’m in my maintenance range. But should I maintain for a while before I buy new things, since so many factors determine the best maintenance weight and I won’t know right away? What did you do?
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Replies

  • dekrugermolly
    dekrugermolly Posts: 26 Member
    That's a really good question. I think that maybe you should get a new outfit or two during your weight loss so you have something cute that fits you. Even going to get a couple of things on the clearance rack at walmart would be helpful. I think you will know when you are at a weight you want to stay at, and that is when I would suggest going all out for new clothes :)
  • asthesoapturns
    asthesoapturns Posts: 313 Member
    As I've lost weight I've bought a pair of cheap jeans here and there. The size I was before I started losing was an 18 or 16, I'm currently a 10, and will probably be an 8 or 6 when I'm at whatever weight ends up being my final goal. In no universe could I wear those 18s, even belted now, 9mths in. For the summer I've bought some dresses since they will be more forgiving of a shrinking me.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    You could see if you can find some dresses at a thrift store. That way they will last longer on you since the waist can't fall off!
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    I don't think you have to maintain before buying clothes. I lost so fast that I was 2-3 sizes smaller and my "old" clothes looked clownish and would fall without a belt. I had to buy 2 outfits just to get me through to the next size down. Then, my aunt told me I HAD to get new clothes because the other ones were too big and ridiculous. She insisted on taking me. I ended up 4 sizes down! Just try to find sales and things that mix and match so you don't need too many items.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    I don't think you have to maintain before buying clothes. I lost so fast that I was 2-3 sizes smaller and my "old" clothes looked clownish and would fall without a belt. I had to buy 2 outfits just to get me through to the next size down. Then, my aunt told me I HAD to get new clothes because the other ones were too big and ridiculous. She insisted on taking me. I ended up 4 sizes down! Just try to find sales and things that mix and match so you don't need too many items.
  • Jacq_qui
    Jacq_qui Posts: 443 Member
    I didn't downsize clothes last time I lost weight - and life got complicated, I lost track of staying with MFP and sooner or later those clothes started fitting again! I won't make that mistake again! If you can fit in the next size, go for it. You don't have to replace your entire wardrobe. Also - clothes that fall down all the time don't make you feel your best :)
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,886 Member
    edited June 2020
    Between my starting weight and my goal weight, there is almost 60lbs difference. So waiting till maintenance to buy new clothes was never an option :smiley:

    My usual jeans are cheap - being obese, I never wanted to invest in expensive jeans at the rate I was wearing them out (thighs rubbing together). So I just bought smaller jeans when the old ones were too baggy. Alternating two jeans is plenty for me to keep my lower body 'clothed and presentable'.
    Upper body requires a larger selection. I kept on wearing some of my older clothes where I could 'get away with' a looser fit. But I still went clothes shopping a few times:
    - it's a really nice confidence booster to fit into smaller clothes, and I feel better wearing nicely fitting clothes
    - I have meetings with other organisations sometimes and I need to be a bit more 'presentable' then, so I really couldn't wear those baggy clothes in those circumstances.
    I focused on cheaper brands and sales, since I knew it was for a temporary wardrobe.

    As the summer is approaching now, I've bought some more clothes, some slightly tight still, to tide me over till the fall and winter. I think I have about 5 tops/blouses/... that really fit my current size, plus some older stuff that's still wearable. That should be enough (especially since I probably won't go back to the office till September). I'm 2/3rds to my goal, so I like showing off what I've accomplished so far :smile:
    I might try to sell some of the clothes afterwards when I've reached my goal, or I might just give them to charity.
  • koalathebear
    koalathebear Posts: 236 Member
    We call them op shops here in Australia. They and Target were my best friends and I started buying new clothes as soon as my weight loss started becoming noticeable even though I wasn't near goal weight.

    Ironically, the clothes i was buying in the op shops were way more stylish/fashionable/better brand names than the ones I had been used to wearing :P As I lost weight, I donated clothes back and bought new ones.
  • galadrielandme
    galadrielandme Posts: 3 Member
    springlering62 wrote: »
    I visited an outlet mall the other day, and the retailers had things marked down 60-80%. I bought brand new things that they were selling at near- thrift store prices. I was shocked.

    Bad for the economy but boy it was great for me.

    It’s a wierd little window, but seems you can work it to your advantage.

    It is very weird trying to shop for a new size during a pandemic! But you’re right the sales are good - I went ahead and bought a pair of jeans identical to a pair I had just in the next size down. It was a bit of a risk but it also only set me back $30 because the sales are so intense rn. And it worked out! The better fitting clothes are definitely worth the mood and motivation boost.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Buy as soon as possible. You look SO much better. Go to Goodwill or another store that's inexpensive.

    I started with a few pairs of good pants and then bought inexpensive tees at Target. Then I complemented with scarves and other accessories I already owned and built up a wardrobe over a few months.

    But dump the pants and shirts that are too big and make you look dumpy. It also makes it too easy to let your weight slip back up. All the research says it's easy to lose and hard to maintain. Support your maintenance.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I also altered a lot of my shirts and learned to take in pants. Skirts are easy to alter. Only did that with the ones I loved.
  • vggb
    vggb Posts: 132 Member
    I echo the thrift buy! When I went from a size 12 jean that looked atrocious they were so big, to a size 9 baggy I was shocked! But what a motivator. A few items will get you by and I now wear my thrift clothes for yard/barn work.
  • dawnkirkwood18
    dawnkirkwood18 Posts: 41 Member
    If you have Facebook search it for your town’s (or neighboring town’s) Buy Nothing group- it is a movement to allow swap and gifting amongst members- people post “wishes” and offerings daily. Clothes- kids and adult- go regularly. Similar postings on our town community boards and other groups. I also frequented thrift shops and consignment stores. New to me clothes are necessary to help me see the loss. . . good luck!
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    I hate shopping for clothes so I waited until I was swimming in them before buying something new. It's annoying, but not as annoying as shopping. If I didn't mind shopping it would have been a couple of cheap outfits every time I went down a size.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    The thrift store option is a good one, or just one or two basic outfits you can change up the look of with accessories. Another option is to pick some styles that have more longevity through varied weights. For example, one useful thing I got was some dark, loose, plain linen pants that have a gathered inside drawstring at the waist.

    Tops that have a tie in the side-seam then tie at the back may be an option, or a tunic-type style that can be belted for fit. In summer, tank tops with a lightweight loose, open overshirt can work in some situations (the tanks don't fit forever, but they're potentially pretty inexpensive). If you ever wear dresses, lightweight loose ones you can belt or tie can work, too.

    What did I do personally? I hateHateHATE to clothes shop. I limped along as long as I could while losing, using some of the strategies above. Because I hate to shop, and don't like spending money on clothes ever at all, my clothes tend toward civilian "uniforms" anyway: Plain pants/slacks, plain simple t-shirts or tanks, plain/simple jackets or sweaters and overshirts, with the pants and jacket-y things in neutral colors (black, gray, navy, ecru) and the t-shirts/tanks in mostly jewel reds, purples and teals. I make and enjoy jewelry, so varying the jewelry (or sometimes a scarf/shawl) changes the look enough. No one really notices if one wears the same plain black slacks every other day, so while losing, I could do with just one or two pair, depending on how well the (soon-)previous size still fit, or the next(-soon) size was getting close enough. ;) Just a couple of basic dresses (clearance or resale shop) cover dressy occasions: Right now, I have a black lace one for summer, and a red velvet-ish one for Winter, and I didn't buy either one until I needed them. It'll do.

    I finally found someone feels the same. I thought I was odd.
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