SOS with post-op clothes!!

[BayouTiger 62]

Hey y’all! Hope everyone had a nice Easter! I didn’t want to limit this to just Ladies in the title because I figured maybe if people just shared what they did, it could be a thread to help both guys and gals struggling with post op wardrobe issues!!

So, today I sent 4 bags of clothes to the St Vincent de Paul shelter. Which was literally all of my clothes minus my “after” picture clothes I’m saving for reference. I’ve gone from a 24-14/16 since New Years so my old clothes are worthless. I’m worried about what to wear when I go out and about that’s not stretchy yoga pants and an oversized tee. If I’m losing a size or several inches every few weeks like has been happening I just don’t know what to do for ball games, drs visits, seeing humans IRL because anything semi-nice or structured that I buy, is gonna be pointless in a month! I didn’t think about it AT ALL until I realized, for Easter, I had to wear some workout leggings and a baseball tee because I have no real clothes! And even some shorts I bought less than 4 weeks ago don’t stay on my hips anymore. So I need clothes but don’t want to spend a million dollars on clothes that I’m gonna donate in a few months or less!

Just wondering if y’all have any good ideas! I also don’t want to look like a slouch, but I don’t want to buy an entire new wardrobe til I’m way closer to goal than just 2 months out of sx.

thank y’all!

[catwoman7 11,214]

I bought everything except for swimsuits and underwear at thrift stores the whole time i was losing weight for that exact reason

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

Haven't had surgery yet but how about those sites that send you clothes? Not sure if they are worth it, or if it works like I'm thinking but, maybe that would be a good way to try new clothes as you lose?

Here is a site that has some tips:

https://www.bariatricbody.co/post/12-step-guide-for-shopping-buying-and-making-your-clothing-wardrobe-work-after-bariatric-surgery

[mae7365 372]

I was dropping a size a week the first 6 months after my sleeve surgery. I shopped Goodwill until I stabilized at 9 months out. My bypass surgery has been less challenging - I'm retired and tend to live in yoga pants and athletic tops. But I finally went through my closet when I hit my goal weight and got rid of just about everything that wasn't stretchy athletic clothes. I took a leap of faith that I'm going to maintain this weight loss, went to a local Outlet mall and bought a couple pair of jean and dress slacks along with smaller tops and sweater. I'm still not willing to buy any really expensive clothes at this point. I feel like I'm still in the "honeymoon" stage.

[Tim C 336]

6 hours ago, BayouTiger said:

Hey y’all! Hope everyone had a nice Easter! I didn’t want to limit this to just Ladies in the title because I figured maybe if people just shared what they did, it could be a thread to help both guys and gals struggling with post op wardrobe issues!!

So, today I sent 4 bags of clothes to the St Vincent de Paul shelter. Which was literally all of my clothes minus my “after” picture clothes I’m saving for reference. I’ve gone from a 24-14/16 since New Years so my old clothes are worthless. I’m worried about what to wear when I go out and about that’s not stretchy yoga pants and an oversized tee. If I’m losing a size or several inches every few weeks like has been happening I just don’t know what to do for ball games, drs visits, seeing humans IRL because anything semi-nice or structured that I buy, is gonna be pointless in a month! I didn’t think about it AT ALL until I realized, for Easter, I had to wear some workout leggings and a baseball tee because I have no real clothes! And even some shorts I bought less than 4 weeks ago don’t stay on my hips anymore. So I need clothes but don’t want to spend a million dollars on clothes that I’m gonna donate in a few months or less!

Just wondering if y’all have any good ideas! I also don’t want to look like a slouch, but I don’t want to buy an entire new wardrobe til I’m way closer to goal than just 2 months out of sx.

thank y’all!

Ebay is a great place to get clothes especially if you know brand and such. If you have a fav item then you can get the same thing in a smaller size at a value. ROLL TIDE

Edited April 6, 2021 by Tim C

[Arabesque 7,313]

Losing weight is a pretty expensive process. Constantly having to update your clothes & underwear. It’s something you don’t really think about until it’s happening. Bras were the worst. I had back pain every time they got too big. In a year I went from a 18E to 12G to 1OF to 10E. Oh, & then there was the day I had to keep hitching up my knickers because they were practically falling off. 😆 Yes, St Vincent’s did very well from donations from my wardrobe. They’d get multiple bags every month.

I was pretty fortunate as I had kept a lot of my smaller sized clothes. I would excitedly look forward to being able to wear a particular outfit but I was losing so quickly or the season would change & I’d miss my window to be able to wear it. Sigh!

Stretchy pants can get old quickly when you’re wearing them everyday & if they’re shiny Lycra ones they can look too casual. I found a cotton & Lycra pair which looked a bit dressier with the right top or jacket. I also bought a couple of tube skirts (easy to take in too) & tunic style tops that would work with a belt as I’d drop a size. Same with a couple of dresses. I had a couple of events to go to while I was losing & was able to get away with one dress for three of the events with three size drops - God bless that belt ... though I had to buy a new one for the third wearing. Lol!

[lizonaplane 1,613]

It might not work for you much longer, since the smallest size was 12, but gwinniebee.com has monthly rentals, like the old netflix, for clothes. You check out a few items then send them back when you want new things. There may be something like this for smaller sizes too.

It's good quality stuff. I did it the last time I was losing weight and I enjoyed it. They provide the shippers and they wash the clothes.

[thefinalgirl1971 26]

Thredup!

Sent from my SM-G970U using BariatricPal mobile app

[STLoser 1,099]

By the time all is said and done, I will have gone through a TON of sizes. My highest was a 30/32.. I am currently in a 20 and still losing weight and hope to end up in a 14 or less. I mostly shop at thrift stores and Walmart since their clothes are cheap, and I try to buy forgiving styles like leggings and knit tops so they aren't as noticeable when I drop a size.. It's harder with bras.. I've gone from a 48K to a 42K. I just bought a new bra. I can't buy multiples because I wear a large cup size and they're so expensive at my size. I'll wait until I get to goal for that. Underwear I buy one size smaller than my current size and they are snug at first but then they fit longer and I don't mind them snug.
Since I was so big to begin with it isn't quite as noticeable when I drop sizes as someone who is smaller, so that helps I think.

Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

[njlimmer 343]

Maybe you can find some true outlet stores. I've got a Dillard's clearance store near me that I used for some work clothes. SUPER cheap but really good quality - like 14.99 for something that would have been $72 regularly.

[Starwarsandcupcakes 2,060]

I bought sari wrap skirts from Darn Good Yarn. They come in multiple sizings and are easily traded on their Facebook group. My old xl/plus wrap around me twice now (my highest size was a 24/26 and they fit). My current is the regular as I’m verging on a size 10 and they’re perfect for wearing as dresses and shirts, too (depending on if you get a mini or ankle). Plus, they’re 2 sided so you can wear one side one day and the other the next! These are 3 from my recent purchase.