Major weight loss - clothes

[WineThirty]

I am very determined to lose weight (I have about 4.5 stone minimum to lose) and am moving to a new job in a couple of months which is part time and largely working from home so i think this will make it easier to make the lifestyle changes i need to make. I am currently researching what approach is likely to work best for me. As I am taking a pay cut to go part time, i also need to budget more than currently so am trying to factor in weight loss costs, for example cost of drugs like wegovy if i go that route .
One question i have relates to clothes. If I am successful, there will be more than one size difference between my current weight and my target weight. For people who have lost substantial amounts of weight, i would be interested to know what you did about clothes in the stage while you were losing. Did you replace your entire wardrobe several times over or make do with baggy clothes and belts for a while, or did you still have some clothes from before your weight gain? Or stock up on fast fashion (Primark etc) for the interim sizes?
Trying to work out what to budget for clothes costs (obviously i would be buying some clothes anyway but that would typically be supplementing current wardrobe rather than replacing entire wardrobe potentially more than once).
Overall, how did your clothes spending compare in the period during which you were losing compared to before and after?

Sorry, one other question: Is it inevitable that weight loss of that amount (age in the 50s) will result in lots of lose skin and, if so, how easy is it to disguise with careful dressing while still "showing off" the weight loss? I have some savings i can put aside for surgery if necessary.
thanks

I lost a lot of weight last year and bought a new wardrobe of nice stuff inexpensively and entirely on Vinted. Sold lots of my old stuff too, which provided some of the funds for the new things. Good luck with your journey!

I have clothes in all sizes due to losing and gaining, and buying clothes 'to fit into one day'.

I don't recommend this 🤣

Thanks - Vinted is a great idea. i keep meaning to sell stuff online but never have time so it ends up going to charity (which his also good obviously), but going part time should help with that too!
I am really determined for the first time ever!

I do have some "fit into one day" things in my wardrobe (mainly stuff i have outgrown but did not wat to get rid off) but i have generally kept the pricier stuff which is mostly work clothes which i wont need so much of anymore.

I did have clothes from before my weight gain, but when I lost the weight my shape totally changed, even from what it had been previously. When was slender when younger, I had a small waist, big bum, and small bust. Gained loads of weight, eventually lost it all very quickly (more than 5 stone over about 2 years), and rather than being slender am now scrawny: no bum, no bust, no waist! If I was able to exercise I think it would have helped, as I’d have muscle tone, which would give shape and would also stop the saggy skin. Luckily the skin sagging is quite minor, so it’s not something I’ve worried about. For context I went from size 16/18 to size 6, and am 5’2”. I went for charity shops when possible as needed to be able to try clothes on as really had no idea what would suit me. I’ve used Vinted a lot as don’t get out to the shops more than a few times a year, and it’s so annoying as at least half of what I’ve bought didn’t fit / didn’t suit. I’ve learned to ask for actual measurements rather than rely on the size label!

Don't get ahead of yourself. Keep clothes until they don't fit, then gradually replace them over time. It won't be as quick as you're perhaps thinking. Also, as someone who has lost weight in the past and now needs to again, I can tell you that you really don't need to wait until you're WFH. You can lose weight just by eating less that you burn, and you can do that wherever you work. If you're in the mindset of "I can't lose weight until X, Y or Z happens" then you won't be able to do it. Start making changes NOW. You're apparently researching approaches that might work? Instead of spending time doing that, put an exercise video on YouTube and do it, go out for a walk, dance round your living room, ANYTHING to get you moving. You seem to be looking for a secret answer that doesn't exist.

Also FWIW I lost 12st in my early 20s and had no loose skin. I don't know how age impacts it, but equally I know people my age who lost less and had major loose skin. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule. You're really getting ahead of yourself. Make the changes, and as and when things become an issue, you can deal with them.

I'm not sure how much weight I lost but went from a size 14/16 to an 8 last year.
I did a bit of both making do and buying a few items (like a couple of pairs of jeans, few long sleved tshirts). I put a cardigan on this morning that I haven't worn since probably August and realised I'll need to buy some new ones, I'm replacing a few bits each month due to tight budget.
I dieted on a tight budget so used a meal plan, I could easily calorie count and shopped online so no temptation.