Buying new clothing

[Ponderingwindow]

If you have a large amount of weight to lose, when do you break down and buy new clothing?

I’m about 1/3 of the way to a truly healthy weight. I’m going slow and steady. It has taken me a year to get to this point so I suspect it will take 2 more years to reach my ultimate goal.

My trousers are falling down so I have no choice but to buy something. Thankfully I was at home alone when that potentially embarrassing moment happened. I think I have been in denial about how much my body has changed. Tops and dresses, some just fit better. Some have been retired because the necks are now far too low.

My bras are now too big. That is the one that is really giving me pause. Even when I was an underweight teen, my cup size was huge. As a result my bras are very expensive. Replacing them multiple times is going to cost quite a bit and I feel guilty about spending so much. We can afford it and my husband will tell me I am being ridiculous.

hence why I am asking other people, how do you decide when to replenish the wardrobe when you know you aren’t at your goal weight?

I changed everything when I went from a 24 to a 20. And I'm starting again now as a 16/18.

Most decent things went on Vinted, the rest was charity or recycling bins.

I bought new jeans jumpers on Vinted but new tshirts from Next to check sizing. I'm doing the same again now.

I needed a bit of dignity. Wearing sloppy clothing as I slimmed down just made me feel fatter and more unattractive than ever..

I'm deliberately choosing better fitting and more flattering clothing. Especially bras. Just buy the damn bras.

I too bought interim clothing on Vinted , but first went to shops and bought a few staple items, then knew what I was looking for on Vinted .
Im annoyed at myself as replaced so many of my
nice clothes that I sold when I got too fat for them , it’s all going full circle

You can get away with 2 bras if need be , not ideal but do -able temporarily

It's been different according to garment type. I am still wearing my size 16 dresses (my largest ever size). With the exception of the odd one that's had to be retired, most of them still look great with a belt.

I don't wear normal trousers, but hiking trousers had to be replaced. I am mostly in size 10s now. I bought some 12s on the way down and they are big but wearable with a belt.

Bra's I just bought some cheap ones at Asda (I am also a large cup size, they still do them!)

Size 16 leggings had to be replaced, but there were only a few of these. The 14 I tumble dry to make them shrink a bit. They are the sort of things that don't last all that long so have been replaced for the most part anyway (although I have replaced with lululemon, which should last a bit longer).

Mostly I waited until I was a size 12 before replacing things. These still look ok now I am about a size 10.

It's quite funny though because I also have a couple of items that are a size 8, so will be wearing those one day and then in size 16 the next 🤣🤣

I can't stand waste though and don't want to replace things unless I have to. I just want to replace items when they are worn out if I can get away with it. It was helped though by me already having quite a few 12s and 14s from when I weighed less anyway, so just got them out of the attic

If things are falling down and look not just oversized but too big then that’s the point of changing to smaller things. With bras, it was when even on the tightest back hooks my bras were too loose and when the cups weren’t giving any real support. That annoyed me enough to want to change for a smaller size.

I have restocked my wardrobe twice ish over the course of losing 11st. Initially all my massive clothes were ok as I got a bit smaller, and I lived in tunics and leggings so they were ok for a long while. Then I bought some “one size” dresses and started wearing some old things that I’d kept hoping to wear again one day, that was around size 20 to 18. I had a couple of pairs of jeans in a 16 which lasted for a while.

Then, I’ve bought the most things now I’m nearly at target and am in mostly 14s with a few size 12 tops. I need to get a set of new bras as I’m now down to 36B but only have one bra in that size at the moment. My 38Bs are just ok on the tightest hooks and the shortest straps but not for much longer!

I sell stuff on Vinted/eBay and often buy from there as well, if I am confident of sizing. I stick to brands I know what size I am in, mainly. Or try stuff on in shops and then look on Vinted for secondhand versions.

Every time I managed to fit into a smaller size I bought cloths. I started at a 24 and have had all sizes down to the 14 I am now. I don’t buy expensive things; just Tesco, M&S sale and some bits on Vinted. I did buy some Primark as soon as I managed to fit into to their clothes but the vast majority were bad fitting and quality so I soon stopped that. I basically live in jumpers and gym leggings or jeans just now as I’m hopefully going to be a 12 by summer and will expand the wardrobe then.

I just sold all my larger clothes on Vinted and replaced with smaller sizes (from Vinted) repeat, repeat. I lost over five stone.

I am maintaining now at size 8, but I still struggle to justify paying retail prices for clothes and shoes now I know how much cheaper they are (new with tags) on Vinted.

Having gone from size 20/22 to now 10/12 I bought cheapish bras from Next, knickers from whatever supermarket I was shopping in and everything else from Vinted. A big part of the pleasure of slimming down is seeing the smaller labels on your clothing!

If nothing else, just get the bras. A great fitting bra makes you feel good. It's the first thing I bought when I hit two stones down. I'd gone down a back size but up a cup size so got three decent ones from Brastop. I need the support and a well fitting, comfortable bra gives me confidence too.

For normal clothes I'm buying in the sales - I tried Vinted but only really like it if I am looking for something specific. For bras, I bought a load of bras cheap from Matalan to play around with different styles while my boob shape settles, and once that happens I'll probably do the 2/3 decent ones to last me until I am at goal and can go back to buying really nice ones (it's been a long time!)

I bought just a few (but nice) things in interim sizes. Then did a full restock once at goal.

I’m facing this problem now! I’ve moved from 19st to 15st. Over the years I seem to have thrown away all my smaller size clothes, so I don’t know what size to try or which styles to choose. I’ve been wearing long dresses or black jeggings with dark coloured tunic tops for years and shopping at Yours Clothing. I don’t want to change my style completely but need some inspiration. I think I’m maybe a size 18–20 now, down from 24. Any tips about brands to try? I still have quite a bit of an apron belly which I think will stay and needs to be hidden. I also still have a long way to go before I’m anywhere near my ideal weight so I don’t want to spend too much money. I’ve been checking Vinted and different websites but feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment. All the tips and ideas are welcome 😄

I went from a size 18 to 10 and bought my staple black skinny jeans in every size as I went down - I hated them not fitting properly!

anything that doesn’t fit gets periodically added to Vinted or given to charity/friend.
i also bought some interim bits from Vinted/ebay if I had occasions or events.
now I’ve hit my goal size, I’m slowly swapping out old favourites to new, properly fitting clothes, but still also buying and selling via Vinted or eBay to make the financial hit less hard

I spent an afternoon in Next taking things into the changing room (sometimes 1 item in 3 sizes) because I couldn’t get my head around the weight loss.
in my head I should’ve been buying/wearing a much bigger size than I actually was and it was a real “wake up” moment when the smaller sizes fitted perfect!

My advice is don’t buy ahead too much. In the summer I bought winter trousers that were too big by the time I got to trying to wear them! I seemed to go straight from size 14 to size 10 and was only a size 12 for about two weeks!!

Dont buy too much, just things you know you will reach for regularly. I tend to stick to a neutral palette anyway so that helps.

It really is great being able to enjoy clothes again and not feel so upset by my reflection.

Be careful. I was so excited to reach size 16 I bought too much and then suddenly was size 14 with size 16 hardly worn.

Vinted is your friend especially if you are dropping sizes. If you can pop into shops to try on different sizes so you know if you are searching for Next, Weird Fish, SeaSalt, M&S or whatever

Just to add that dungarees are a good option as they can be worn oversized more easily and they also hide the fact your tops are now too big.

Second those saying buy from Vinted, particularly staples like jeans/work trousers in ever decreasing sizes.

I bought some interim bras from the M&S Rosie range - they sell quickly on Vinted, so you can get some of your money back to put towards your next set.

I had this dilemma after loosing 10kgs over the summer. My clothes were literally falling off me 🤦‍♀️I then couldn’t buy summer clothes for my trip to Australia in November in the UK .
I grabbed some lovely shorts and t shirts in Melbourne and Sydney.
Am still trying to find bras,jeans etc that now fit in the UK .

Look at Brastop for bras. Up to k cup in some styles under £20. Measure yourself using 'booborbust' site and order quite a few. Their returns are easy and I always return about ¾ of my order without issue.

I bought some new stuff as I lost. So I started as an 18/20 and already had quite a few 16s from previous hopeful dieting lol.
But I bought a few bits and pieces in a 16 in the summer.
Then when those got a bit baggy bought 14s. I actually bought quite a lot in a 14 as I was very excited at being that small and couldn't imagine being any smaller.
I'm now a 12/14 so I've started buying a few size 12 things for my holiday next month.
I sell/buy on ebay/vinted if I can - sell the big stuff and buy smaller. But I do now love looking at new clothes in shops too. Something I never thought would happen.

The sales are on!
Get out there and enjoy buying smaller sizes - I have!

My old bras looked like they belonged to someone else.

I've gone from a 20 to a 16 so far. Old clothes are either sold on Vinted or sent to the charity shop.

It's been such a pleasure to walk into a shop, try on smaller sizes and know they will fit.

I am hoping that size 14s will be a realistic prospect by the end of Feb.

If you are decreasing slowly you will get the wear out of things. Build a small capsule wardrobe and add some interesting / seasonal bits from vinted and you’ll be fine. Go and buy three bras in your current size, you’ll feel better for I.

I sold or donated everything as I went down the sizes and bought new or via vinted each time I needed it.
part of this whole process has taught me that I deserve to wear nice things and not ‘just survive with my old shapeless clothing’. Totally appreciate that not everyone is in a position to rebuy so many clothes in such a short space of time but I am so I am so that’s what did. I started at an 18 and am now an 8-10 and bought 14’s (I already had the 16’s)then 12’s and now the size that I am. Everything else that doesn’t make me feel nice or don’t fit has gone. It’s a good motivator to not go back the other way but if it happens I’ll just buy new clothes again.