I'm melllllllllllllllttttttting...

October 13, 2005 2:11 PM

What do I wear or how do I modify my current business wardrobe when I'm in the middle of losing weight and my clothes are too big, but I've still got a long way to go?

I'm currently losing weight and my clothes (mostly pants) are falling off me. Since I plan on losing a lot more, I don't want to have to buy a new wardrobe every time I drop a size. The problem is that I'm mostly worried about my work clothes, which are nice slacks that I wear with jackets. They're not elastic waists and don't have belt loops to cinch the fabric up. So what do people do when they're losing weight? I plan on losing about 3-4 more sizes, so suggestions on long-term solutions would be great. More information to help answer the question: I'm female, still in the "plus size" category, and work in a conservative environment that requires a "suit" look, but ensemble pieces are allowed. Email: [e-mail] if you prefer. Thanks!

posted by anonymous to clothing, beauty, & fashion (10 comments total)

Get thee to a tailor.

If you bought the clothes at a department store, check to see if they have an alterations dept. They might to do basic alterations--e.g. cinching in the waist--for free or at least very cheaply. (I know Nordstrom's does.)

(c'mon...doesn't it feel good to even ask this question?)
posted by luneray at 2:26 PM on October 13, 2005

I'm in the same boat. I lost about 50 pounds last year, and really have another 20 to go, and probably 2 more sizes. My clothes are falling off me, too. I can't replace everything, and I sympathize with you. Here are my solutions, such as they are:

1. When something gets too big, I give it away to Goodwill or consignment. I think this is an important part of a weightloss committment. Closing the back door so that you don't allow yourself to ever think 'I'll just set this aside in case I get fat and need it again.'

2. I have some very nice wool/silk trousers that I just hated to lose. I actually had the waist taken in at a professional tailor. They were loose-fit, straight-leg trousers anyway, so the legs don't look to weird and big. I think a lot depends on your body here. Most of my weight came off my midsection, not thighs or butt, so taking in just the waist worked pretty well on those pants. Women that are built differently might have different experiences if their leg proportions have changed. And it's sort of expensive, so you have to really like the pants.

3. I buy wicked cheap clothes now, because I know they're a temporary fit. I patronize the Old Navy and Gap clearance racks and the department store sales. There's just no point investing in things that won't fit next year. These clothes hold up well enough in the short term, and you can find office-appropriate items.

4. I'm also not above looking in consignment and Goodwill stores myself. I've found a few very nice pieces this way. Typically, though, you have to wade through a LOT of junk.
posted by Miko at 2:29 PM on October 13, 2005

Go shopping. Figure out what's the minimum you need to get through a work week - say a short black skirt, a couple blouses, a gray skirt, a jacket - and plan on buying cheap and fast. Or, shop a lot and buy just one thing at a time. Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Goodwill, your local consignment - you'd be surprised at how little you can spend. Most importantly, this will make you feel good. Having clothes that fit is great, and you will look and feel terrific. So okay, they have to go back to Goodwill in a few months. Fine. They will have served their purpose. I think you'll feel happier in new clothes that fit even if they aren't expensive than you will trying to make old clothes work again. This is the beginning of the new you. Go a little wild. You deserve it. Oh, and congratulations!
posted by mygothlaundry at 3:31 PM on October 13, 2005

Congratulations!

I second the Old Navy and Gap clearance suggestion. I've lost 4 pants sizes so far, and I would be broke if it wasn't for Old Navy. Their women's plus line goes from 16-26 (I think), and their regular women's line goes up to 20. The plus line has an extra inch or two in the chest, waist, and hips.

Lots of stores give you 10% off if you get a store credit card, and then send pretty good coupons.

I don't know if you have a Nordstrom Rack in your area, but they have great prices and carry plus sizes. And you could also try Ebay. Sometimes people will sell "lots" with 25 or so items in one size.

And, yes, give away your old clothes! Business clothes especially are badly needed by women's shelters that are trying to
help women find jobs.
posted by amarynth at 3:39 PM on October 13, 2005

My weight fluctuates, so I have experience with mild changes up and down for a few years. H&M also has some nice looking suits (plus sizes too) that are inexpensive. They've been a favorite of mine.

Also, if the waist area is a problem and otherwise they look OK, just stitch the waist in and wear shirts that fall over your waist. This way, you have to buy new pants less often.

Also, you could buy a shirt that is a little too small right now and wear it as an over-shirt, and when it gets small enough to close it can go as a normal shirt under one of your suits. Wearing that shirt closed can be a special accomplishment along your path.

When you get clothes, try to get clothes that stretch, and are a little bit stretched out on you (this works especially well with pants, since any waist can be hidden by an overshirt/jacket), and they will continue to fit as you lose be careful though, some stretchy clothes will lose their springiness.

To the extent you can, get pants with belts next time. They're harder to find with women, but they are out there. Oh, and buy very common fabrics/colors so you can mix an old jacket with new pants, etc.
posted by lorrer at 3:45 PM on October 13, 2005

a) congratulations.
b) this months GQ has an article about a basic wardrobe, and the philosophy behind buying the right clothes for yourself.
c) armed with the knowledge of what you need (in abstract terms), hit up eBay.
posted by heeeraldo at 3:46 PM on October 13, 2005

I lost a ton of weight (fortunately) after buying my first batch of grown-up interview clothes (unfortunately). The easiest things to salvage were the wrap/sarong-style skirts. You can move over the buttons easily, without having to deal with a tailor.
posted by divka at 5:02 PM on October 13, 2005

I have lost 35 pounds so far myself. How I manage is buy things with either elastic waists or things that have overblouses. I also just buy the minimum I can get by with, in basic colors. Right now I only have two pairs of dress slacks, a couple of dresses and a pantsuit, along with my jeans, blouses and sweaters.

If you have a few accessories your basic stuff can be made to look like more of a wardrobe than it is.

Oh, and congrats on the weight loss!
posted by konolia at 5:32 PM on October 13, 2005

you guys! gap? old navy? for business wear??

well, one thing you can do is use some small safety pins on the inside of the waist of your slacks to create and hold pleats. that will bring them in some.

also, get thee to goodwill. or i have better luck at savers (aka value village in canada).

if wading through all the bad stuff there is tiring, also, you might look in the phone book under "consignment shops" which are basically second-hand shops where the owner gets some % of the sale price and the store gets the rest. they are usually more upscale than thrift shops and you can find some very nice stuff for pretty cheap.

however, my experience with weight loss was that the previously awful and humiliating experience of clothes shopping suddenly became a really fun activity. so i suspect that you'll really enjoy the task of re-stocking your wardrobe. course, ymmv.

at any rate, congratulations, and let this be a lifestyle change, not a dip on a rollercoaster!
posted by sergeant sandwich at 6:29 PM on October 13, 2005

Oh, and in addition to the wrap-style skirts I mentioned in the previous post--look for wrap style sweaters if you'd like them to last a while. Usually you can get through several sizes (and by sizes I mean cup sizes!) by cinching it tighter without it looking silly.
posted by divka at 7:26 PM on October 13, 2005