fashionista frustration

Am I the only one who while enjoying losing wieght is bothered by what it's doing to my wardrobe? I barely have any clothes that fit. I have the odd "skinny" outfit that doesn't fit, but even some of my skinny clothes are now too big. I'm still two sizes away from my goal. I cannot afford to buy a new wardrobe I'll have to replace in a couple months (that's another frustration- not knowing how much longer I'll have to wait to buy things...) nor do I like having a "few" basic pieces.

This past summer I gave away most of my skinny clothes, cuz I figured I would accept the way I am and be happy. Now I miss them :( And having beautiful suits that are 2 sizes too big is painful...

How does a fashionista survive when she can't go clothes shopping?

Tue. Mar 14, 9:02pm

Perhaps you could sell the stuff you don't wear any more on consignment or on e-bay and then use the money to buy some things now!

Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 9:13 PM

OP- My expensive suits, perhaps, but otherwise, I kinda have a standing agreement with a battered women's shelter that they get all my stuff I don't like (I am the kind to get rid of something if I find it "so last season"...).

And it still leaves me with the frustration of "will it even fit in a month??"...

Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 9:17 PM

What kind of job do you have OP? I have the same problem with my clothes but I can get away with wearing yoga type pants in the meantime. I just don't deal with zippers and buttons at this stage. Tops I seem to be safe with buying, it is the pants and skirts that I have to wait on. Good luck :)

Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 9:21 PM

professional. Yoga pants are not an option. Nor do they match the high heels I wear...

Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 9:27 PM

If you are connected to a group of women, consider doing a "clothes swap." i know of some women who do this every now and then. you have to invite a variety of women of different sizes and see what happens.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 9:29 PM

See if you can find a reasonable seamstress or tailor in your area and have them take in a few things. Alternately, you may hate having 'a few basics', but in times like these just grit your teeth and work harder. A couple pairs of dark slacks and a few nice dress shirts or tailored T-sirts (I love my Columbia ones and they can look downright dressy) go great under a jacket or sweater or can look pretty sporty and casual by themselves. Have enough clothing for a week. Then keep saving your money and when you're at your goal - treat yourself!

When you're at your goal I would definitely look into having your expensive suits tailored. I have always been thrilled with the results. A good seamstress can make them fit you better than they did off the rack.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 9:31 PM

consignment shops- you could find a few pieces cheap that could hold you until you get to the weigt you want. i personally shop consignment shops and find some awsome deals

Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 10:00 PM

I'm slightly dreading the same issue. I have a huge wardrobe that spans sizes 8 to 14. I get rid of 2-3 bags of clothes about once a month to charity. I've been trying to fit into my college interview suits, but they are 10 years old and look outdated. Still, I have some size 10 pants that I'm now fitting into, but I don't have any size 8 pants, and now that we are getting close to summer, I'll need to buy size 8 pants and shorts but by the following summer I will be size 6. I need to be nominated for What Not to Wear so they will give me $5K to spend on a new wardrobe when I reach size 6. In the meantime I will try to wear skirts with elastic waists and get last summer's skirts taken in a couple sizes for this summer to get me through. I figure skirts are probably the easiest item to take in at the waist.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 12:10 AM

go shopping. Haven't you worked hard? Don't you deserve some new clothes that make you look good?

Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 8:44 AM

Yeah, go shopping - you deserve some new clothes to show off your new body!

I asked for gift cards for Christmas and spent a whole day at the mall in January. It felt GREAT going back for smaller sizes in every store. Most of the stuff still fits, but I even have some pants that got a bit too baggy. I spent a lot of money, but it was worth it. I can't wait to get some hot new summer clothes!

Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 10:56 AM

one suit goes a long way!

could you invest in one 3 piece suit and then jazz it up with different less expensive pieces- like camis, tanks, etc? I was watching this piece on the 'Today Show" the other morning and they paired a Banana Republic suit with a $9.99 t-shirt from H&M, and it looked great. I'd also start looking at sale racks and see what they have in your current size so you can add a few pieces without breaking the bank.

good luck

Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 4:46 PM

My friend is going through the weight loss from a Gastric Bypass, and she's having the same problem-- going through sizes realtively quickly, so she doesn't want to spend money on a new wardrobe.

HOWEVER, I had to tell her 1 day-- "Take those baggy pants to a tailor girl!!! They are not flattering when you no longer have the booty to fit in them and they are hanging all over the place!!" I suggested that she get maybe 2 pairs of nice-fitting work pants and get the old suits tailored in-- she looked like a hanger the way they were fitting so loosely on her!

In the meantime, keep your eyes out on the sales racks at various stores-- I happened to see some decent suit jackets on sale at a local "all-in-one" store called "Meijer's" They were putting some things on clearance (end-of-winter season-- however, the colors were nice and pastel and because Winter in Michigan is generally very long, the sales started in February and I bought several nice jackets for her and myself-- at only $12-15 a piece! (Insane pricing-- they were about $60-80 originally, but at 75% off and an additional 50 % off , we just had to "splurge" and get a bunch of the jackets!)

Also, Target had some jackets on sale that were kind of "designer" looking--
In other words... invest in a few separates that could be put together as a suit (particularly if you are different size up top vs. on bottom) and mix and match-- Get a few black pants that can be "staples" find everything that can be mix & matched and you will find you have a bigger "wardrobe" than you thought... :-)

(She also goes to consignment shops and even shops estate sales at times.) There are lots of alternatives-- just make sure things fit well for now-- but don't go spending $5,000 on a wardrobe that you know won't fit you in 2 months!

Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 5:30 PM

Last poster here...

By the way-- I realize some people are very "designer-label" conscious-- but you will be surprised at the "look-alikes" you can find at some less expensive stores-- My mom likes to go to "Nordstrom's Rack" and get designer clothes, but sometimes, she will compliment me on a skirt or jacket that looks "fashionable" but costs a fraction of the designer label--I look in all places, including K-Mart, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and ALWAYS look at the sale racks at the larger-named department stores (Marshall Fields, Lord & Taylor, Kohl's, etc.) You'd be surprised at what you can find on clearance sometimes during the MIDDLE of the season.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 5:34 PM

Goodwill?

I've found some great work clothes at Goodwill. Because I'm supporting my husband right now while he's in school, Goodwill is about all I can afford. I love it! I've gotten many compliments on the way I dress too...
Beth

Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 5:34 PM

This is Beth again-
I also work at a rather conservative, dress professional, high end law firm, so I have to dress up!

Wednesday, March 15, 2006, 5:36 PM

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