Buying clothes when you are losing weight

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So I am in the process of losing weight (and doing well so far). However, I have a long way to go and many dress sizes to pass through before I reach my goal. 🙂

Any ideas on how to go about buying clothes without spending too much money, when you are just going to shrink out of them in a few months? I do have a few things in my closet leftover from when I was smaller, but not many. I am thinking I will mostly try to hit the secondhand stores until I reach my goal, and maybe I could get a few of my favorite dresses taken in.

If anyone else has been there and has ideas, they would be appreciated.
 
Hi EnglishTeacher,

I was going to suggest doing just what you’re thinking of doing, and that would be to check out the secondhand stores.

I like going to them anyway, as I love looking for bargains and you can get some really great items there.

I would also think about getting some separate pieces that you can maybe mix and match that you can also wear together, like maybe a skirt that you can wear with a blouse/top that can also be worn with a different pair of slacks–that type of thing.

I’ve done that where I didn’t want to get too many items of clothing while I was in between sizes while losing weight, so I would just buy some things that I could wear together while I was going through that phase, and then I would see what I already had available in my closet.

Congratulations on your weight loss, and I wish you continued success going forward, too!

God bless you! 🙂
 
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I saw some advice in a book to avoid blazers in this situation, because they need to fit just right to look good.
 
Goodwill has pretty nice things these days, it’s not like olden times when it was mostly junk. Try going there. I buy a lot of things like sweaters there because they are nice things very cheap. Also try some of the low cost clothing stores like Target and Kohls and try to get sale bargains.
 
I’m sorta in the same boat - got a new job that is very physically demanding. My belt has gone from the most distant to the most closest in a month!

I’d for sure go to thrift shops. You can get some great deals. I’d also recommend tights/stretch pants/ yoga pants because they can flex a lot and they pair so great with dresses (also can flex with your weight). Don’t buy used tights though - you can get real good deals at the Target or the WalMart. Tights/stretch pants/ yoga pants also fit real nice with boots/sneakers/whatever.

Congrats with your weight loss! Feels great, huh? 🙂
 
Loose fitting shift dresses that can be cinched with a belt.
Palazzo pants and shell tops with a sweater / cardigan layered over.
 
I went through the same thing. I got lucky though. I went to a department story that forgot to take down its sales signs from the previous day. So, because they honoured their simultaneous sales signs, I got something like $160.00 US worth of clothes for like $60.
 
Thrift stores and charities.

St. Vincent de Paul, Goodwill, Savers - all great places to look.
 
Yes, it does for sure!

Thanks everyone for the good ideas!
 
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Nowadays there’s some drapey, unstructured blazers out there. I have one and it’s been very handy in maintaining one formal outfit. It’s the kind that’s meant to hang open rather than button up like a traditional blazer.
 
Congratulations on your success!

I would suggest going to a shop like Ross Dress for Less, I have found some very good quality clothes there on occasion, but often it’s just fine for work wear that is reasonably priced. Dillards has a HUUUUGE sale on New Years Day I’ve been told.

The unstructured blazers DarkLight suggested is a great way to get several sizes of wear in one article of clothing.

I do also use a tailor for taking in clothes for my family if it’s an expensive dress or pants. But sometimes you can just do a simple tack or elastic add in waistbands. Goodwill’s Boutique/Salvation Army/St. Vincent DePaul’s are all pretty good as other’s suggest.

May I ask what plan or method you are using?
 
EnglishTeacher said:
Any ideas on how to go about buying clothes without spending too much money, when you are just going to shrink out of them in a few months?
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Wear what you have, even if baggy, until you can’t and then… Thrift stores.
 
Relevant question - what kind of clothing do you need? Do you have a job that requires nice clothing, or can you wear more casual stuff most of the time?
 
EnglishTeacher said:
Any ideas on how to go about buying clothes without spending too much money, when you are just going to shrink out of them in a few months? I do have a few things in my closet leftover from when I was smaller, but not many. I am thinking I will mostly try to hit the secondhand stores until I reach my goal, and maybe I could get a few of my favorite dresses taken in.

If anyone else has been there and has ideas, they would be appreciated.
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I lost 50 lbs at the start of the year, and have another 50 to drop.
Visit your local Salvation Army or GoodWill store to find transition clothes.
 
egretps said:
May I ask what plan or method you are using?
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Using MyFitnessPal to track calories and nutrients, and doing it with a sister and friend so that we can encourage each other and hold each other accountable. Also exercising 6 times a week.
 
DarkLight said:
Relevant question - what kind of clothing do you need? Do you have a job that requires nice clothing, or can you wear more casual stuff most of the time?
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I need nicer business casual for my work. I often wear dresses, just because I like to, but I can and do also wear dress pants with dressy tops and with a cardigan or blazer.
 
Thank you so much for the information.
I am staring straight ahead at Christmas, and am hoping to start eating better before Thanksgiving. (Lucky me I’m only a fan of the cranberries.)
 
egretps said:
Thank you so much for the information.

I am staring straight ahead at Christmas, and am hoping to start eating better before Thanksgiving. (Lucky me I’m only a fan of the cranberries.)
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I hear you! Luckily, Thanksgiving is just one day. It’s the Christmas season with all the associated parties and sweets that can be a problem.

I have found that tracking everything with MyFitnessPal makes it much easier to eat in moderation because you are more aware of what you are putting in your body, and how much. It’s easy to be in denial otherwise. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: Also, doing it with a couple of friends who are equally committed is very helpful.
 
I would recommend buying inexpensive “casual” clothes, adjusting how much you spend on them by how quickly you’re losing.

I would invest significantly more money in “formal” clothes. Formal clothes are more reasonable to have altered, as they are designed for that purpose.
 
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