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Back again and trying to dress after weight loss

Sally

Veteran

Hi
I haven't been on here for 4 years. I do see some familiar names though. I've been buried under work and just finished my masters' degree last year so had been hiding under leggings and a big jumper and track pants for the past 4 years as I had put on 10 kilos. I dropped 13 to 15 kilos suddenly thanks to being forced to give up sugar due to yeast infections and an ashtanga yoga addiction. I realise I have been wandering around in clothes that are two or three sizes too big for me. I do have trousers that fit. So what do you do? Go down to a minimal wardrobe and just wear what fits, or just wear your clothes baggy. What do you think is the minimal amount of clothes you can get away with. I work as a teacher and generally wear dress jeans with jackets to work and casual jeans with a utility jacket for casual. I'm not a feminine dresser so can stick to mainly a pants wardrobe with the odd dress for good occasions. i will have more time over Easter to post photos. I'll update my profile pic.

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from Ledonna N.

Liz

Veteran

Welcome back! I would definitely go the route of wearing what fits, even if you don't have much of it right now. Put all the baggy stuff away or, if you're ready, get it out of the house.

I don't mind repeating items or outfits, and I don't crave creativity and change through my clothing, so I am happy with a smaller number of items than someone who has different desires for clothing. If I were starting from scratch, I'd want enough clothes to make about 8 or 9 outfits. For me, that would be about 5 pairs of pants, a dress or two, about 8 tops, and several toppers. A key for me is to make sure all my toppers and tops were different enough from each other that I didn't feel like i was wearing the same thing day after day. So I'd go for (for example) a denim shirt, a long-sleeved black t-shirt, a patterned peasant blouse, a graphic t-shirt, a print button-down, a soft neutral popover, a white knit wrap top, etc. I'd do the same with toppers: a long cardigan, a denim jacket, a utility jacket, a blazer -- rather than 4 cardigans.

My job is very casual, so there's not a lot of difference between my work clothes and my casual weekend clothes. When I had a more formal dresscode for work, I'd plan for about 8 works outfits, plus 2-3 weekend outfits. (Some items, not all, could be worn for work and for casual.)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I started here around the time you dropped off, think my rep is trying to make old clothes work, wearing skirts shorter than some folks like, berry colors, and a wide range of outcomes, from home run hits to my recent fashion face plant that’s giving people laughs. Welcome back!

With jeans, even dressy ones, I don’t think people notice if you wear them a couple times. So for your minimum, I’d say 2-3 pr work jeans/trousers, one for casual and enough tops to have a fresh layer next to your skin daily. How do your toppers fit?

rachylou

Veteran

Hej Sally!! Congrats on your masters! Your field isn’t history is it? Because I had a high school teacher who proved you could do with one pair of pants and two shirts for 30 years Hehe. I’ve traveled that way - well, I’ve always carried more, but I’ve ended up whittling down the wearing to one skirt and two tees. Too big tops are easier to wear than too big bottoms, I’d say - the pants fall off! If you’ve got pants, I think you can rebuild at your leisure.

Runcarla

Veteran

Forum member Anchie is rebuilding after a change in size and is building her wardrobe by putting together ONE outfit each month, with a view to having her purchases also mix-and-match with things in her closet.

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https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....ary-outfit

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slim cat

Veteran

I'd start with minimal amount of good fitting pants/jeans - 2-3 at least, couple toppers as cardigans or jackets, 3-4 tops. Some pieces in your wardrobe could be still in play ( with some alterations or styling tricks ).
Post some pics later.
I'm in the same 2 pairs of pants most of the week ( work dress code ) and 2 pairs of jeans on days off.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome back, Sally! Lovely to see you

Absolutley get a a few mix and match capsules that FIT.

I echo Slim Cat.

You are after about 10 to 20 outfits.

Start with 5 bottoms (jeans and pants), 8 to 10 tops, 4 to 5 toppers. Could be across two colour capsules. Toppers can be jackets or cardigans. Add a couple of scarves if you wear them.

Sally

Veteran

Thank you everyone. That has given me something to plan. I'm going to document my outfits this week so I can catalog which clothes actually fit and I'll post the pictures up at the end of the week. Some of my clothes fit from 4 years ago and others need to be thrown out. If I semi tuck some blouses I think I can get away with them. Its wonderful to be back and to have such support and advice. I need to keep it up this time, only problem is I am such a boring dresser.
@ Rachylou, my major is applied linguistics not history and 1 pair of pants just sounds like too much of a challenge.
@Angie, I have lots of scarves so I'll make sure I use them as my tops are often monochrome.

Sisi

Veteran

Are you Sally from NZ? So happy to see you! Congratulations for your master's degree. Looking forward to seeing your outfits (I liked your style).

The Cat

Veteran

Angie, your advice and numbers would sound great for a travel capsule too.

Sally, if you have several scarves, they will add interest and variety to your outfits, so most probably you will never look boring.

Glory

Veteran

Welcome back. I agree with the advice given here and documenting your outfits over the next while will help. Looking forward to seeing your photos.

Helena

Veteran

Welcome back Sally! My formula for necessary numbers is based on two weekly laundry cycles - so 10 - 14 tops (1-2 wears before laundering), maybe 3 or 4 pants (3 or 4 wears before washing), and a couple of toppers. Then you know your needs are roughly covered.

I definitely think you should wear what fits, even if that means repeating items etc while you get your new wardrobe in order. I think it's an affirmation of the body you have now - whatever size, shape, age, etc. - to honour it's present state as best you can However, I *am* in favour wearing a huge sweatshirt and trackers for any and all Netflix on the couch sessions, so keep a few of the comfy bits

Sally

Veteran

Hi Sis Yes I am from New Zealand but I think there might be two of us which is really funny because I hardly ever meet anyone called Sally.
Thank you to all for the welcome back and wisdom. I look forward to participating again.

Sal

Veteran

Hi Sally from Sally!! It really is not a common name here is it?

Welcome back to the forum.

l like to have about 8 work combinations - I can get by on less but 8 gives me some variation. That might mean four bottoms and six tops, depending on how mix and match they are.

Sally

Veteran

@Sal Yes I don't think I've met another Sally in years. They must think lots of people from New Zealand are called Sally. Its good to have people from the same hemisphere because we at least are working in the same seasons.
Your idea of 4 bottoms and 6 tops seems very workable and something I can manage at this stage. Thank you.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I’ve found that having my pants fit is most important. Tops worn under toppers can be a bit oversized.

I also would decide how often you want to do laundry and how often you wear items, that should give you a minimal item number. When I was losing weight but expecting to go down further I did laundry more often.

If you expect to stay this size I’d remove everything from your closet that you aren’t/shouldn’t be wearing. I find it much easier to plan outfits that way. I would leave 1 or 2 cozy outfits for days you don’t feel well, etc.

I find my mood is better when my clothes fit.

Minaminu

Veteran

congratulations on your weight loss!

if you have a particular pieces that is now too baggy but you still like it, it may be worth taking it to a seamstress to fit it to your new body shape.

Anonymous

I am seeing post this after your outfits post, which I liked very much. It sounds like you might rather get away from wearing things that are too big and I really think, having looked at your outfit posts that you are naturally good at making less look like more.

I feel like there's a similarity between your style and todays feature from Inge on Jona Peturs. Maybe while your well fitting wardrobe is small you can use accessories more?

Anonymous

Congrats on the Masters!
I'd say 5 bottoms, 10 tops, and 2-3 toppers to start. I personally rely on things that are less exact size dependent (ahem...stretchy) since I gain and lose weight easily!

Sally

Veteran

@ Barbara Diane I dont expect to lose anymore weight. My BMI is sitting at around 23 and I am down to what I was in my 20s. As to putting on weight again well that is always possible. I tend to get caught up in my work and my healthy habits drop off. I do have tracksuit pants to wear around home and I do a lot of yoga so have a lot of shorts and yoga pants for that which I am always washing. I do laundry a lot and tend to wear the same things over and over so I should probably go with that.
@minaminu. That is a good idea and I might do that with dresses.
@Pheobe thank you. I do like small wardrobes as I find a large wardrobe really stressful. I'll look at the blog you mention.
@suntiger I too gain and lose weight easily. Each time i have arrived here after a weightloss and nothing that fits. I also think I am more motivated to try and style my clothes when I am smaller or maybe when I am putting on weight, its due to being so busy that I dont think about clothes. I do have loungy things that stay with me when I go up and down sizes and my tops become nighties etc

notsaf

Veteran

Just popping in to say welcome. I started on the forum about two years ago, so will be new to you. I am also a boring dresser, so glad to have you! Congrats on your Masters!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Sally I didn’t welcome you back, so welcome back!
I do remember you as I started more-or-less as you were dropping off, I remember your Cook Islands photos, a beautiful place I have been to 3 times now ( we had our honeymoon and 20th and 30th wedding anniversaries there).
Funnily enough as well as you and Sal I know 2 other Sallys in NZ, one was a very close university friend and one is a newish friend of our 24 year old son! So that’s 4 now!
Regarding having lost weight and dressing, you could search for a poster named Toban from a couple of years back who had several useful threads that have helped a number of Fabbers.

Sally

Veteran

Thank you Notsaf.
Thank you Jenni NZ. I loved the Cook Islands and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. I would really like to go again when the borders open up and things return to a sort of normal. Also thank you for your advice to look for Toban. I can see that there is a wealth of information there. My problem is this is the 3rd time I have lost weight, but I have put it on again before...not a lot about 10 kilos. I didn't lose intentionally this time as I had to cut out sugar due to problems with yeast etc. I was comfortable in size 12/14 jeans but they look really awful now as I have very little bum. I had thrown out my size 10 jeans thinking at nearly 50 I would never be that size again and felt a bit depressed recently knowing that my pants and some other clothes which were relatively new were a bit of a waste. So I have decided the best thing to do for now is just live like I"m living out of a suitcase for a while to see if everything stabilises. I will live with a minimal wardrobe or try the 30*30 idea. I have decided to find someone to donate my jeans and other clothes to as I have a lot of contacts who are close to refugee networks and other organisations etc. I probably need to embrace a more mature wardrobe anyway as I am turning 50...not that I am giving up my jeans anytime soon.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yes I am 10 years older than you and my large weight gain was in my late 40s, I stayed that size 70 kg and the highest 71 until 2019 when a shortness of breath problem made me really start trying to lose by reducing portion sizes and carbs and sugar, I have stabilised at 65 kg and not had to edit out much, just one pair shorts one pair jeans which were NZ size 16. I am mostly size 14 now but own the occasional 12. My shortness of breath is improved but still not perfect. It has been very well investigated and is not serious but not pleasant!
I try to buy pretty judiciously these days. 12 items in 2020.

Sally

Veteran

@Jenni NZ good to hear your issue with shortness of breath has improved. I think your approach to just buying things judiciously is sensible. I think its best I move my jeans on to some young person who can enjoy them while they are in fashion instead of holding on to them just in case i put on my weight again. I am also about 67 kilos and I am healthier at that weight so just need to maintain good habits. I have 2 pairs of black pants, 2 pairs of straight blue jeans, 2 pairs of cropped jeans and 2 skirts that fit really well. Also a black dress and some tops....enough to tide me over so that should suffice for now. I'm quite excited to do the 30 X 30.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Waving hey again Congratulations on your Degree wow what hard work. my sister is a teacher and she wears a uniform as she is currently loosing weight. 7 tops and 7 bottoms and usually a soft knit jacket as the weather inside of building are unpredictable to say the least in schools