What do you do when you are loosing weight

ramya

I am mad right now. Active lifestyle meant I lost weight and now none of my bottoms fit. Except may be the jeans which I can pass as bf types. The tops are floating around me. I can only change minimum with my wardrobe budget. Suggestions ladies?
The skirts are like 2 sizes to big

12 years ago

Dressing

12 replies

Latest reply was from Gaylene

abc

Veteran

Perhaps you could take in the skirts with some darts? Same goes for tops, depending on the cut (ie, button downs may be able to be taken in vs knits not really possible I don't think).

I know it is frustrating but hang in there. In the meantime maybe it would be wise to invest in a few items (as your budget allows) so you don't have to feel overwhelmed when dressing. It's worth it to have a few key pieces that fit well, even if/when you are losing weight. Those key pieces would be determined by you and your lifestyle. Good luck.

12 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

As someone whose weight changes constantly I definitely understand. A lot of skirts can be taken in--do you know anybody who sews? Some dry cleaners can help you get alterations that are quite reasonable. Also, try places like Target or H&M or Costco--they can have classic styles that will tide you over for very, very little until your weight stabilizes and/or you can afford higher quality pieces. That's what I do anyway.

12 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I would recommend either tailoring the items or working through your budget to purchase a few staples to see you through to the end of your journey. These do not have to be expensive pieces, but quality is key as you will wear them a lot until your weight stabilizes.

Adelfa had some good ideas, you can also try consignment stores or thrift shops. Some ladies here (Rae, MaryK and Shannon come instantly to mind) get beyond steals at second hand shops.

12 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I lost a lot of weight a few years ago and while I was losing I filled in from thrift shops and discount retailers like the ones Adelfa mentioned. Once your weight has stabilized it is definitely worth looking into having your items altered.

12 years ago

marit

Active Member

I thrift, and hit the clearance racks at Target, whenever I am gaining or losing weight; I feel really crummy if I don't have at least a couple outfits that fit me correctly whatever weight I'm at so it's important to me to grab something even if I can't spend a lot. Maybe you could swap clothes with a friend too? Many women have different sizes of clothes in their closet that they're not currently wearing.

I also keep an eye out for clothes that are adjustable or forgiving (like wrap skirts, loose dresses I can belt, elastic waists I can cover with a top) if my weight is not going to stabilize anytime soon - then I can justify the money spent since I can use the piece at different sizes.

12 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

I bought skirts and avoided trousers until I felt like my weight was set. Skirts are great because they fit higher or lower on your waist/hip depending on weight, but they still fit. Your profile says you are a pear, so you are ideal for skirts as a transition piece. And totally agree with Marit on adjustable clothing types, like wrap skirts. Ponte knits can be great too.

12 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

I find tailoring costs more than new items, unless you can sew.

I am not sure where you live, but secondhand and thrift if your body is changing can be a way to save $ and wear clothing that fits.

12 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I had a massive uterine fibroid removed a year and half ago, and had the same problem. My tops were all fine, but all my skirts were too loose. I took my favourites to the tailor and had them altered, either by adding darts or mucking with the side seams. I donated the rest.

Are you likely to keep losing weight? This might affect how much you want to spend on alterations and/or new clothes. For me it was a little easier to decide, because I wan't losing fat; I simply had a bulky mass removed which affected the circumference of my midsection. By the time the swelling went down, my belly was a new size that was unlikely to change. But if you are planning to lose even more weight, costly alterations might not be worth it. You might want to invest in a few "transition pieces", kind of like pregnant women do as they try to accommodate an ever-expanding waistline.

12 years ago

ramya

Veteran

Thanks for suggestions ladies.
Ik you are bang on tailoring is out of question I live in Norway. Not happening.
K your idea is what I am doing. At present they are on my hip bone.
I hope this is it and would stay at this weight. But economic s say me I can't invest much on clothes yet.
Jeans and few proper fitting tops are what I am doing now

12 years ago

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

With a small budget it's important to really nail down what would make the most difference and start small, I would take the time to make a list of wants and hunt them down at lowest prices possible. Going slow and with purpose is at least moving forward.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Freak out, personally. Sorry no help! I feel like this happens to me a lot.

12 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

When I lost weight a few years ago, I dropped two sizes on my bottom in a couple of months so I can definitely empathize with what is happening to you, Ramya. I was happy to see the weight go and I loved to see the muscle definition, but I was sad that all my favorite clothes no longer fit.

If your lifestyle has changed to a more active one, and assuming you prefer your new body shape, I'd pack, or give, away anything that really doesn't fit your new shape. LIke you, I found that I could wear a few items even if the fit was baggier if I belted, or tucked, to hide some of the extra fabric. But I also found I couldn't avoid buying some new items if I wanted to look half-way decent.

What I'd suggest is to think of a very small capsule that could get you through the transition phase so you can slowly start to re-build your wardrobe. My transition capsule was two pairs of pants (one jean and one smart casual), a skirt, a dress, a cardi, and a couple of nice tops. These six items, along with what I could salvage from my previous wardrobe, kept me going for several months. I set a budget for this capsule, and then shopped around to find the best buys, with the important factor being that every item had to work double and triple duty. I actually spent 75% of my budget on the smart/casual pants and the dress in order to find something that looked good enough to wear day after day. The tops, skirt, and cardi were inexpensive items bought on sale; they were not as durable, but they got me through the transition phase. Fortunately, my feet didn't change size and had a couple of pairs of shoes from my closet to complete the capsule.

It was suprisingly easy to get dressed using these basic pieces. My outfits may have lacked variety, but I always felt that I had something appropriate to wear that fit my new shape.

12 years ago

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