I’m not a zombie - I swear I won’t eat your brains (ahem - until I overpower you with my zombie strength), I just need to borrow them for a while. I’ll give them back, I promise.
I gradually changed my eating habits and incorporated more exercise into my weekly routine and am now thirty-three pounds lighter! I’m ecstatic that I’ve been able to fit into clothes I coudn’t wear for years on end because of the lingering pregnancy weight.
However: I’ve had to ditch the existing wardrobe because nothing fits me anymore. It’s great when your pants start falling off because of all the weight you’ve lost! (That didn’t come out quite right, but you know what I mean…)
Anyway, I bought a few pairs of pants, some new underwear and shirts to get by until I ditch the last remaining ten pounds. That’s been the slowest going, but it’s still steady. I wager in about six to eight weeks I’ll have lost the remaining weight. Then I can get out of weight-loss mode and stick to maintaining it. Now that I have incorporated those healthy habits into my lifestyle it’s very little effort to keep it up.
So, I need your thoughts on how to replace my wardrobe. I hate clothes shopping, I really do, and I only go when I really need something. This will be a little more pleasurable because getting new clothes six sizes smaller than what you previously wore is a joy.
Throw out those suggestions as to how I should replace my wardrobe. I pretty much need everything replaced and am prepared to do it.
I work in a professional management position but I don’t have to wear formal business suits each day. I do need a few suits but I can go business casual to the office normally. I hate dresses and rarely wear them, although I should probably have a couple standing by in case I need them.
I should add I’m not terribly fashion-savvy and sort of depend on friends who are much more into fashion than I am to give me pointers when I shop.
So, Dopers, what should I shop for? Any and all suggestions are welcome as to how to get this done as painlessly as possible.
I’ll post pictures when I finish the grand wardrobe replacement project. Then you can have your brains back.
Go with one or several of your fashion-savvy friends, but in particular, pick the one who always manages to dress amazingly while talking about how little she spent on each item. Give them a budget, and just spend a day shopping. I know you said you hate it, but if you make an event out of it it could be a lot more fun. Consider getting a haircut (and colour, if you’re interested) too, since it will make you feel that much better about yourself. Basically, it can be D-Day (or D-weekend) for the new you!
As for what to get; it depends a little on what you already have. Purge your existing closet, and throw away/store everything that no longer fits or that you just hate. Then evaluate what you still have. If you have a few sweaters/shirts that you’re keeping, then determine 2-3 pairs of pants and a skirt type and colour that could go well with a few or all of the shirts, and plan to buy that. If you no longer have jeans, buy a couple of pairs in different cuts and washes. Try new cuts - your body has changed, and what looked good on you before likely won’t anymore. If you have a suit jacket that still works, but the pants are now too big, plan to buy a pair of pants that goes with the suit. Replace favourite items that are now too big with similar or better items in your new size.
Basically replace and round out what’s left of your wardrobe before looking for something new. When you do so, try new cuts and colours to better show off your new shape, but get the types of items that you normally need for work/casual/sports. Otherwise you’ll end up buying 18 tops and no pants, and 3 pairs of shoes that don’t actually go with anything you own
Good luck, and have fun with it - shopping doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful if you go out with the plan to buy specific items, with a friend you trust to tell you when you look awful in something, and a bit of a sense of adventure and willingness to try something new.
-mnemosyne, who would love to lose 30lbs and have the money to go shopping!
No no no! Get rid of the old stuff. You’ve incorporated new eating patterns, new exercise patterns and IMO you do not want to keep any reminders of unhealthy living around you. Far better to spend time and money storing clothing that fits you well and you love wearing than storing “fat” clothes just in case.
Trenchcoat? Cashmere sweater? Nice to have, but necessary?
Anyway, as for the OP, I’m afraid I can’t give any helpful advice, except maybe that you shouldn’t get anything you don’t like, no matter what people say. They’re your clothes, you’re going to wear them, and it’s your money being spent on them.
I did consider keeping a few original items “just in case” - but I tossed that idea out. If I’m going to do this all the way, I’m committing all the way. I don’t want to backslide and I don’t want to reward myself, I guess, by keeping around some larger - size clothes. It sort of feels like permission to gain weight again. Hmph. I’ll get rid of all of it - it’s already in the donation bag.
I also tossed around thrift shop stuff, but unfortunately don’t have a lot of weekend time to go through the stuff to find the gems. Good idea, though.
Personal shopper - how do you find those? Do certain department stores have them; maybe the bigger ones like Macy’s, Nordstrom, etc?
Thanks, **mnemosyne **- I do think I may bribe one of my friends to come along with me and help me get around my fashion-impaired brain. I’m not high-style and never will be, probably, but I did want to get a few things that are snappier than my usual business clothes.
I think the problem was I had no idea where to start, how much to get and how much I really needed at this point. I do tend to gravitate towards things I like rather than what’s necessarily fashionable at the moment.
I do think that I will try a couple of consignment places I’ve been to before along with getting new stuff, though; Gatopescado makes a good point about not paying full price if you don’t have to.
The underwear will be *all *new, though.
I knew I could count on the Dope! Keep it coming; I like, I like!
You’ll need em when you’re ready to test drive that new body. Well, unless you’re already attached…but every gal oughta have a pair of FMPs just because…
I’m in a similar place size-wise and I’m going through the same process of replacing the wardrobe - with the help of a fashion savvy friend. **mnemosyne ** took the words out of my mouth.
I can tell you, shopping for clothes is *heaps *more fun when you can pick something stylish off the rack without hunting for the largest possible size.
It’s heaps more fun when you try the clothes on and they not only fit, but they look *good *on your new figure.
What I did was to buy the very basics and a couple of nice pieces brand new. The most expensive item I’ve bought is in the size I will be at my goal weight. It just fits now, it will be perfect in a few more months - you’re spot on about the last few pounds taking longer. Since then, as time allows, I’ve been trawling the second hand shops, filling out and finding gems.
We’ve had lots of threads bitching about bad bras, and I’ve joined in, so one piece of advice would be: get measured and get a few great, comfortable new bras in the perfect size.
I third the idea of taking a friend with you–if I were you, I’d pick one one I feel perfectly comfortable with before one who’s fashion conscious. They’ll keep you from buying that trendy skirt that makes you feel so cute because you can fit into it now, when in reality it looks awful on you, but you won’t realize this for another year and a half. (Why yes, I do have personal experience with this.)
Thank you! You know, I hadn’t even thought of that. I don’t have a great idea of what my true new bra size is. (band size, that is…the twins are basically still the same cup size, which is D cup. I thought when you lost a lot of weight you could look forward to getting nice, perky B or even C cup girls? )
I definitely think it’s worth the effort to get measured and get some really good bras. That’s going on the list.
Guessing maybe we live in different worlds. In my world, ain’t nothing “skeevy” about a man or a woman going out and looking for a little action. That’s pretty much why singles bars and certain “adult oriented” personal ad message boards exist. They’re quite popular. And usually not very judgmental.
[hijack]
I’ve always been confused about this so I’m hoping you or Electrical Storm can fight my ignorance. Are “FMP’s” a particuar style? Or NOT a particular style? Like could you point to a pair of shoes in the store window and say those are FMPs while the pair next to them are certainly not? Or are they just any high-heeled shoes that look sexy on a person? And if you (and by you I mean me) can’t walk ten feet in heels higher than an inch without looking like a hobbling grandma, does that mean it’s not possible for you (I mean me) to own a pair?
Apologies for the…[/hijack]
ETA: the last time I was “on the prowl” I wore chunky, rubber-soled leather boots. So clearly this is not my realm of expertise. I was successful, though.
)