Is it worth getting clothes taken in / adjusted (weight loss)

[windygallows]

I've lost 3 stone and aiming to lose a bit more. I mostly wear dresses and many in my closet don't fit or are loose. Many dresses are quite good quality and brands so expensive to replace. It also seems a shame to get rid of them as some I really love.

Has anyone had their clothes taken in en masse by a tailor / seamstress and if so did it work out (did your clothes look ok after and did it work out financially)? I haven't yet priced this up but imagine it will be fairly costly.

I lost a couple of stone and had some trousers taken in at the waist. But that was all. Tops I still wear the big ones and can't really tell. Coats look fine, except one very fitted jacket that is now too big. Skirts I've just bought new ones. Dresses just lie better (I was squeezing myself into some before).find out how much it will take to get the ones you most love adjusted, get that done, see if you are happy, and then work your way from there.

I have had trousers taken in before after weigh loss and am planning to do so again - it only on expensive ones.

I've never had it done, before I lost weight all my clothes were frumpy and ancient so when I lost, I threw them all out and started again. But I wanted to say that wearing nice clothes that fit has really boosted my confidence and it was been well worth the extra cost...so I guess alterations to clothes you love would feel similar.

I use a fantastic seamstress a lot - am always getting clothes altered in one way or another - well worth it Imo - particularly if you really love something (and thanks you've just reminded me I need to take some trousers to her to be taken in!)!

If you haven’t reached your target weight yet I think you’re better off waiting and just getting used to your new shape.
Or rediscovering things you had stopped wearing as they didn’t hang right.
I’m on a weight loss journey too (for health reasons) and last week I took in a pair of trousers that conveniently had an extra 3cm panel up the outer seam which I just ironed and sewed up, leaving the extra fabric inside. They look fine and I ‘m delighted to have brought them back into circulation. I wouldn’t be so confident about doing it if the seam showed, but I’m an amateur seamstress to say the least! A professional would know more tricks for alterations or restyling.

Another thing I’ve done is buy a classic cut pair of dark jeans in a size that JUST fits right now (obviously not poured into them, but a comfortable snug fit) and I’m looking forward to them getting looser as the weeks go by. They weren’t expensive but I’m enjoying matching them with my previous pieces.

But today I tried on my lovely, flamboyant handmade vintage camel duster coat and realized it would need a complete overhaul to make it look good on the new “me”. Since I bought it in a charity shop I can’t justify the cost. So it’ll go back and hopefully make somebody else happy...

Thanks all. Dorajar how much does it cost you to get alterations done? I probably need to take a dress in to see how much it costs per dress - just worried it will get crazy expensive and may be tricky to take in. But best to see!

I have lost 4 stone over the last 16 months
The only things I bothered having altered were some jaeger wool coats, it cost me £35 per coat and as they would cost £3-400 each it was worth it
All my other clothes I just sold on eBay and used money to buy replacements (some also bought on eBay)
I still want to lose 2.5 stone so will do same when I get there!

I've lost 5 stone over the last year. Initially I was all about the alterations but to be honest, I didn't enjoy wearing my (altered) bigger clothes as I got smaller. Once I hit 'mainstream' sizes - about an 18, I bought a few cheap things at each size to keep me going, and it's only now that I've started to buy a decent wardrobe again. Coats were relatively expensive to alter (I paid about £50-70 for a complex coat alteration), trousers were only about £10, dresses were usually not worth doing unless they were simple shift styles to start with. I would say getting my winter coat altered was the only thing that was really worth it, even though it cost the most. Plus size clothes sell well on eBay, especially decent brands in good condition. Although I hate ebay selling with a passion, I gritted my teeth and got on with it, and have more or less financied my new wardrobe that way.

Before you decide to take all your clothes in - wait and see how well you maintain your weight loss. I lost weight 4stone but have only really maintained a 2st loss, which means I am still wearing some of the bigger clothes.

good suggestion Busymom as, just as the sun rises and sets, so too am I likely to regain some of the weight!

Depends on how expensive they are. I get my Hobbs stuff taken in, but don’t worry about the rest.

I suggest not keeping your old clothes. I have maintained a bigger weight loss by only keeping my smaller clothes; it meant I could see the inch gain better and took action promptly!

If you’ve lost three stone you probably look different now. Your face will be thinner and it’s likely that you’ll suit new shapes and styles. I wouldn’t keep the old things. Doesn’t matter how good the quality - you’ll still be seeing the old you in the mirror if you wear them!

(I think alterations are very worthwhile if you’ve maybe dropped one dress size and the things are already in constant use. Or for new stuff obviously.)

The most I have paid is £65 to get a dress altered (it is a beautiful silk whistles dress I paid £45 in a second hand shop and would have cost I think around £250 new - I feel the proverbial million dollars when I wear it!). It had a full length gold zip - I had this removed and a half length invisible zip put in instead, then from the hips down it was taken in as well as the length shortened - so a lot of work! I was very very pleased with the results - and for me it was well worth the cost. I usually pay between £10 and £30 for 'simpler alterations' - this includes changing dresses to just tops.

The trousers I want taking in are part of a fab Paul Smith trouser suit (again second hand bargain of around £25) - but I want the leg shape changed from boot cut to straight leg - due to the pattern am expecting this to be at least £30 - but will get a lot of wear out of the suit so happy to pay this.

I can sew myself, have lost two sizes this year. I have a few favourite items I will alter, such as skirts and trousers where it can be done on the side seams without spoiling the proportions. I may also alter a few t shirts, but quite a lot of the rest will go on ebay. Sometimes you can find the same item on ebay in a different size.