YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Changing Body & Style

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Changing Body & Style https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:12:41 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Kaelyn on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227767 Tue, 28 Sep 2021 02:45:11 +0000 Kaelyn 2227767@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Janet--I'm going to do my best to be more active here now! Life has been crazy busy but I'm doing a lot better at managing everything lately. Nikki--Thank you for reading and commenting! I appreciate it! Anonymous on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227739 Tue, 28 Sep 2021 00:23:51 +0000 Anonymous 2227739@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for sharing your journey! Very astute plan. Brava Janet on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227731 Tue, 28 Sep 2021 00:10:03 +0000 Janet 2227731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Welcome back, and congrats on the new commitment to health! It sounds like you are finding the right track to update your dressing as well. Your focus on quality and what makes you feel good will serve you well. Looking forward to seeing more from you. Kaelyn on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227636 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 18:59:59 +0000 Kaelyn 2227636@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie--Thanks for linking the SIMPAT post! That was nice to re-read. Thank you, as always, for your kind and wise words! Mary Beth--Howdy, neighbor! I will send you the name of the thrift store momentarily! And I'll work on a visualization of my color palette so I can share it. Mary Beth (formerly LBD) on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227621 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 17:48:38 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 2227621@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hello, fellow Atlanta-friend!  Congratulations on making lasting positive changes for your health and well-being :)    I look forward to hearing more about your style journey, and I'd love to see your color palette.    Your celestial-inspired outfit is fabulous! When you have a moment, can you send me the name of the thrift store you mentioned? Angie on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227618 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 17:44:46 +0000 Angie 2227618@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ An uplifting, soothing and pro-active post! I love your positivity and motivation, Kaelyn. And nice to see you.  It's a privilege to be able to take care of ourselves and our bodies. I'm happy you're enjoying the process, and getting out of it what you put in.  I like your plan! SOUL SEARCH. Listen to your feelings. Think SIMPAT style: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/2020/07/22/simpat-style/">https://youlookfab.com/2020/07/22/simpat-style/</a>  Remember to TRY OUTFITS ON that you have in your head! Road test them. They must work out in practice as well as in theory Kaelyn on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227606 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 17:21:36 +0000 Kaelyn 2227606@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sal--My buying tends to be pretty sporadic, anyway; I don't have a solid budget allocated to clothing, rather, I have a small amount of discretionary spending out of each paycheck that I sometimes spend on clothing and sometimes spend on other things. I'm used to shopping that way, so it'll be pretty much par the course for me, which is nice! Donna--I'm sure your calves are amazing! Good for you! Tanya--Thanks for the compliment! I've had the necklace for a while and got the top pretty recently and just had to put them together. I definitely learned my lesson about silhouette the hard way, too. I know I mostly prefer experimenting with color and pattern rather than silhouette, so it's an area where I'm pretty conservative with my purchases. If I want to try a new silhouette, I get it in a solid neutral, usually black, so I can try it with a variety of things and see if I really like it. Sally--Very good point about paying close attention to what your essentials are! I'm keeping that in mind throughout this process and making sure I always have them available in a size that works for me. shevia--Thanks for chiming in! I'll be studying Toban's posts on this topic, for sure. Star--Thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to check out that blog. suntiger--I am also grateful for spandex, haha. I agree completely that size doesn't necessarily indicate health, which is why I'm less focused on that and more focused on improving my habits. I have PCOS, which makes it difficult for me to lose weight and regulate sugar, so the only way I could do this sustainably was to shift my focus to good nutrition and exercise. I'm happy with the path I'm on for sure and I'm seeing more consistent results than I ever did when I tried to lose weight in the past. Barbara Diane--Ooh, good point about sandals! I only own one pair, a pair of Sketchers that are adjustable and great for walking, so I'll keep that in mind and will likely hold off on buying any more until next spring, when I should be at or close to my goal weight at the rate I'm going. Definitely don't want to stretch something out and then have it not fit after a few months. I'm planning ahead for events, too; the major one is a wedding I'm attending on November 1st, so I'm thinking about what I might wear and what I'd do if those pieces no longer fit well. Barbara Diane on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227602 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 17:05:55 +0000 Barbara Diane 2227602@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Some of my shoes, especially sandals, became too loose after I lost weight. Sometimes with sandals I replaced in the same size as I had stretched out my original pair and the same size worked. And more often with shoes but sometimes with sandals I went down a half size. Especially if you are unsure if you are at your final weight or not, I recommend considering how often you wear an item, how often you repeat, how often you do laundry, etc. This will give you information on your minimal wardrobe size. Unless you are planning to shop immediately don’t give away more clothes than you can wear between laundry days. I just did laundry more often while losing weight. I also looked at how long/which seasons I wore each item and bought accordingly. And I looked at the calendar-any fancy events coming up? Can I dress up something I already own? Mostly I was shocked to realize that my wardrobe size meant some items were rarely worn, so I didn’t buy as much in my new size. I’m a big stickler for pants fitting. I think there is more leeway with tops. I replaced pants first. Have fun with this phase of your style journey. Anonymous on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227587 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 16:29:24 +0000 Anonymous 2227587@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sounds like a great plan to me! Well I'm a shapeshifter-lol I lose and gain very easily, depending on my food and exercize. At least I'm alive since the invention of spandex :) Size isn't necesarily an indicator of health. I have many clients with serious conditions that would certainly be considered "healthy weight." And there are fabbers bigger than me that could certainly outperform me in some athletics (like running). Having good habits is the most important thing! Star (Lise) on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227565 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 15:14:19 +0000 Star (Lise) 2227565@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Well done on your healthy journey so far, and it sounds like you know your wants and needs.  So important as one can get over excited and over-buy after a dramatic change in shape.  For capsule advice I always recommend The Vivienne Files blog.  It contains really handy templates and various capsule ideas. Jaime on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227438 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 01:02:43 +0000 Jaime 2227438@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So many great points in your post! I admire how you are thoughtfully distributing your no longer needed clothes, how you have committed to quality and your attitude towards fitness among others. Anyhow, as Carla so aptly put it, Toban's posts are the canon on this topic so you have a great resource there. You look happy and healthy in your picture - good luck and hope to see your new finds eventually! Sally on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227430 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 00:28:35 +0000 Sally 2227430@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have come back here twice when i have lost weight.  This time I'm planning to stay here and at around my current weight.  I lost 16 kilos last year /this year not all of it intentionally because I cut out all sugar due to health concerns and some of it quite fast so it was a shock when clothes looked too baggy on me.  I think the idea of building a small capsule is a good one.  Its fun to experiment with new styles as your body shape changes and your lifestyle changes and even as trends/personal styles change.  I held on to my old stuff for about 6 months then gave them away.  I am good at thrifting clothes/ spotting a bargain  and spend money on shoes etc which don't change as much with size so I figure if I do put on weight again, I'll be able to replace the essentials easily.   I am also analysing what my essentials are (thank you Jenn and chewyspaghetti) so it isn't so problematic if weight fluctuates again.   Tanya on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227423 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 23:12:11 +0000 Tanya 2227423@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So nice to see you here again, Kaelyn!   An congratulations on all the positive changes.   Your action plan dos and don'ts look well-thought and achievable, good luck!   Love your star top and moon necklace.   One thing I would like to mention when building capsule is to pay attention to shapes/silhouettes in addition to colors.  I have been guilty of thinking I needed an item in a particular color to go in a specific capsule, buying it, and then discovering that it does not work as well as I thought because of the shapes:  certain styles of bottoms require certain style of tops ( eg. high waisted pants require shorter or tucked in tops).  DonnaF on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227421 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 22:57:52 +0000 DonnaF 2227421@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I’ve been doing pretty well. I dress for me and have never been a sweats or yoga pants person, so not much has changed during the pandemic—other than I’ve lost a bit of weight due to increased exercise time and intensity. Who knew? Almost everything still fits thank goodness—except for my spendy exercise bras. Glad I kept the old ones. Oh, so now I have super ripped calves! I challenge anyone and everyone who says their calves are more ripped than mine. Sal on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227416 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 22:50:17 +0000 Sal 2227416@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree with Stagiare Fash that your motivation is wise and reinforcing.   I don't have a lot of advice to offer except that knowing your style, knowing what you like and don't like is so helpful.  I tried on a number of pieces yesterday that fit and looked good, but I was able to identify that they were not for me, and that they didn't work for my current gaps.  In my experience shopping is not steady - one month I will buy a number of things happily, then the next maybe one item, then have gaps with no shopping at all.  Your patient strategy will pay off!! Congratulations and thanks for chiming in!! Kaelyn on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227385 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 20:28:31 +0000 Kaelyn 2227385@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Donna--You're so sweet! Thanks for thinking of me. I've been doing well. We just renewed our lease for another 6 months and will assess then if we want to stay put or need to move to another part of town, or another state (I'm doing round THREE of graduate program applications, ha). I agree about higher quality items tending to be more forgiving with size fluctuations; they hold their shape better, which keeps them looking attractive as long as you fit into them. How have you been??? Stagiaire Fash on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227384 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 20:12:36 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2227384@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ “ I'm finally trying to lose weight for the right reasons (basically, treating it as a symptom of poor health, not the actual problem) and in a sustainable way for me.” That is very wise! DonnaF on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227383 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 19:55:42 +0000 DonnaF 2227383@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Have your ears been itching? I have been thinking about you lately and wondering how you’ve been doing after your move. FWIW, I’ve noticed that higher quality items seem to be more forgiving of weight/size fluctuations than cheaper stuff. Kaelyn on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227381 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 19:34:15 +0000 Kaelyn 2227381@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Stagiere Fash--Sleeker and chic-er, I LOVE that! There are definitely elements of my old style that I'll keep around, but I'm enjoying the shift. As for the wisdom you shared, I think if I acquire any new pieces, I want them to fit now, and fit even better when I get a bit smaller. For example, I'm considering a sweater that I'd definitely fit into a size large of (my measurements fit the upper end of their fit guide), and would end up with a looser fit as I continue to lose weight. I don't want to buy an entire size smaller because I have no idea where I'll be when I'm "done." I think I *might* be able to get down to a 12 or 14 from my current 16, but the last time I was under a size 16, I was a teenager, and thus had a very different body from the adult one I have now. Carla--Thank you! The best part of this journey is feeling better day to day, so I'm thrilled. I'm finally trying to lose weight for the right reasons (basically, treating it as a symptom of poor health, not the actual problem) and in a sustainable way for me. I will definitely keep Angie's advice to dress for the body I have in mind. Joy--Thank you for your advice! That's a good point about accessories--there are some pieces I really love and like to use and will certainly be keeping them, and others I'd be getting rid of because there's something about them that I don't care for (in most cases, the metal is cheap and turns my skin gray with wear). I'm betting my shoe size won't change, but the shoes I have will fit a little better; I was a size 10 when I was my target weight and I'm still a size 10, sometimes 10.5 or 11 if the shoe runs small. I will keep a VERY close eye on how my shoes feel on my feet and make sure nothing starts to chafe if my feel shrink at all. I also appreciate the heads up about stopping when I have enough--I can easily see myself hitting that point, so I will be careful about that! I'd like to get to a point where I have a solid foundation of well-fitting pieces and can occasionally get something new to spice it up. Anonymous on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227377 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 19:17:55 +0000 Anonymous 2227377@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Congratulations! I lost a lot of weight with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. I think you have a wise plan. I thrifted a lot while the weight was still dropping off. Decide what colors are best for you and stick with them. I concentrated on forming columns of neutrals, dark and light. You may even think which neutrals would be best at what part of the year. Then it is easy to add tops or toppers or even print bottoms and have something that you can wear them with. You are wise to get everything that no longer fits out of your closet. If you do gain weight again, you will feel better with a few new up to date things than old stuff that may have become outdated. Someone else has had a chance to enjoy them. A lot of buying goes on while your weight changes. It may be hard to stop when you have enough. It may be helpful to plan to put any money you do not spend to fill out your wardrobe toward something special. Wishing you wisdom on this journey. Carla on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227374 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 18:47:36 +0000 Carla 2227374@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Congrats on the positive lifestyle changes.  Exercise and nutrition improvements are always worthy goals.  Toban’s threads should be canon for how to manage a wardrobe when experiencing size/shape changes, so I don’t have any other advice.  I agree with Angie when she says ‘dress the body you have’.  <div> </div><div> </div> Stagiaire Fash on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227371 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 18:22:39 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2227371@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi! Good to see you again! Your new photo is indeed sleeker and “chic-er”. I liked your old style, but growth is excellent. Buying clothes a couple sizes ahead of where my body was helped while I was losing weight, but there were a couple times I got stuck with something I’d bought too far in advance that didn’t fit my new proportions. I took out the elastic on a pair of jog pants, so I like them now, but on other items, the mismatch can’t be fixed. So if you use this strategy, be careful about watching those “return by” deadlines. Another thing I gradually realized (that you’ve probably already insulated against—I’m just reinforcing/agreeing) is that I seemed to think my future, lighter self would be into “FUN” floppy, flimsily constructed pieces that I probably would not have bought if I’d tried them on. Looking to seeing more of you, especially your new color story. Katerina’s current challenge might be fun inspo for you. Kaelyn on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227370 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 18:00:59 +0000 Kaelyn 2227370@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Synne--Thank you for the kind words! I'm having a great time of it. I will definitely keep y'all posted. Trying to get in the habit of checking the forum more often and hoping to post more, especially now that I have renewed excitement about my style. Carol--Thank you so much! I'm wishing you the best of luck with your own journey, too. And thanks for the posts by Toban--the links didn't work for me, but I was able to look up her profile and locate the forum posts that way. I'll read through them shortly. CarolS on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227354 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 17:24:40 +0000 CarolS 2227354@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ First, congratulations on the healthy lifestyle changes and resulting change in weight and body composition. I'm on a similar journey and currently fighting the urge to over purchase before reaching my destination. It sounds like you have an excellent plan in place! Chris 987 kindly shared links to these posts Toban wrote about her journey, and I found them very helpful. <div> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-during-weight-transitions"><a href="https://youlookfab.com/welookf" rel="nofollow">https://youlookfab.com/welookf</a>.....ransitions</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-from-transition-wardrobe-to-rebuilding-wardrobe"><a href="https://youlookfab.com/welookf" rel="nofollow">https://youlookfab.com/welookf</a>.....g-wardrobe</a> </div><div></div><div> </div> Synne on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227352 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 17:09:11 +0000 Synne 2227352@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great to see you again and congrats on results from working on your health and fitness! You look wonderful! Seems like you have an excellent plan going further. Do please keep us updated on your stylish journey! (Love that phrase, stolen from Ledonna). Kaelyn on "Changing Body & Style" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/changing-body-style#post-2227351 Sun, 26 Sep 2021 16:59:38 +0000 Kaelyn 2227351@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hello, all! As suggested by the title, I'm experiencing some major body changes. I've been working on improving my nutrition and physical activity habits and, as a consequence, I've been losing weight and my body shape is changing a bit. At the same time, my style preferences are shifting. This is partly due to feeling a sense of boredom with where I'd settled and partly due to feeling more comfortable and attractive dressing a bit differently, in line with my body size and shape. So, I'm taking this opportunity to do a big closet evaluation/edit. I'm getting rid of a lot of things that are now too large or don't flatter me in ways I like; some are going to my mom, who is about the same size as me before weight loss, and others are going to my favorite thrift store in Atlanta, which supports homeless LGBTQ youth. I'm also being very careful about how to proceed with any new purchases. I don't want to just buy the same things in smaller sizes, I want to make sure I'm creating useful capsules that suit my changing lifestyle. Practically, I want to move toward smart casual dress most of the time; it makes me feel put together, prepared, and attractive. I have a lot of pieces I can use to achieve this, but I'd been "saving" them for... whenever I finally don't work from home anymore. My temp job that was supposed to last for up to 9 months has lasted for 15 so far--I'm done holding onto my best clothes because not many people will see them, because I'll see them, and feel them, and enjoy them. I still love comfy, more casual clothes for days off, running errands, etc. and will keep enjoying them, but I don't need as many pieces as I currently have. I need good athletic clothes to move around in, as I've started taking kung fu classes (an absolute blast) and working out at home more. As it cools down, I plan to get more into hiking, too. Aesthetically, I've got a better idea than ever about how I'd like to dress. I've worked out a starting color palette based on what's already in my closet and still working for me and based on colors I have smaller amounts of and am pining for. I've realized that I enjoy tough but polished looks for professional settings and RATE looks for casual ones. I've got a really good sense of what proportions and lengths and such I enjoy and what isn't going to work for me, even if I like the idea in *theory*. I've been feeling bored dressing mostly in neutrals and am excited to play with color more moving forward--balanced with my favorite neutrals, of course. I've realized that I'm an accessory minimalist and I want to cull my collection so I actually wear most pieces *often* and only have a couple that are an "occasional" addition. One of the most important things about this leg of my style journey is that I'm becoming much more of a stickler for quality. If something looks or feels cheaply made, I'm not going to be happy with it. For much of my young adulthood, I was living below the poverty line and struggled to find things that fit my needs that were within my budget. Now I'm a professional and I can afford to treat myself. It means buying fewer items, but the items will be higher quality. I'm also getting better at letting nice items go if I can't budget for them at the time... another piece like it will most likely come around, and it'll be worth the wait. So, here's the action plan: 1. Finish selecting items to pass on (T-shirt collection, accessories, and shoes remain) 2. Identify how items I own fit into wardrobe capsules (I already listed the capsules I have in mind that I need to create) 3. Identify what's missing from wardrobe capsules that would help the items I already have work even better 4. Create wish list of items that are needed 5. Create wish list of items that would add variety to existing capsules and coordinate well with existing items 6. Shop for those items slowly over time, being mindful of changing body 7. Continually evaluate items as body changes to make sure they still fit and flatter in ways that make me feel good And here's what I will NOT do: 1. Buy wish list items on impulse; instead, take the time to make sure they will actually serve their purpose and check all the boxes 2. Buy items not on the wish list without ensuring they fit in with the capsules I've planned and items I already have 3. Hold onto items that no longer fit, flatter, and make me feel happy 4. Settle for new items that are close, but not quite what I wanted If any other forum members have experienced major body changes (in either direction <3) and have practical advice for how to edit your wardrobe over that period of change... I'm super interested! General advice on capsule development would also be appreciated; I've combed through the blog archives already, but I'm also interested in miscellaneous tips from others who've done similar projects before. If you made it this far, thanks for reading! I've included a recent picture of me in one of my favorite outfits, featuring a black and white star blouse and a crescent moon necklace--one of the few accessories I actually wear. I grew my hair out during lockdown last year (not that we had a formal one in Georgia, but I did my best) and I recently went back to my natural dark brown color because the rainbow colors were too difficult to maintain when I couldn't go to see my stylist regularly.