How do you change your wardrobe so often and not spend a fortune?

[mphsmommy 0]

Dh made a comment about buying me new clothes over and over again (in a happy joking way) once I start loosing weight. For now we have it covered since I have gained 50lbs in the past year and a half, I have clothes that are too small for me now still in my closet. Once all those are too small, how can I buy new clothes, but not go crazy since I'll hopefully loose more weight. Does that make any sense?

When I lost weight before, shopping for new clothes was fun and became my new reward for loosing.

[MissMom24 2]

I am a thrift store junkie!! I know that these are interim clothes and once I hit goal, then I will splurge and buy new clothes. I have got everything I need (minus undies) at the thrift store. Try a consignment store too!

Good luck!!!

[thunderstorm816 0]

Well I have received alot of hand me downs from other friends who are also losing weight. I have a fellow bander who gave me all her scrubs that she shrunk out of (lol) so I dont have to buy all new scrubs. Also u can get alot of nice clothes at Goodwill or the second hand stores. There is no need to buy brand new clothes when u are changing sizes so quickly. U can splurge and buy urself a nice outfit at a special goal. But I wouldnt spend alot money on every size u end up getting to.

[thatDEgirl 1]

Check with your surgery center as well. Mine has a WLS closet that you can bring in old too big clothes and get smaller clothes. Too bad for me that they are over an hour away.

[jjsmiles 3]

Hand me downs, thrift stores, consignment, wal mart, end of season sales.

I have gone through my wardrobe 4 times now :tt1:. I didn't have any "smaller clothes" to rely on, but I had a girlfriend who lost lots of weight and passed down about 5 sizes of pants, which was great!!!

Shopping has become a mini obsession now - but only for stuff on a really good sale. I do find it a reward (and very motivating) to put on clothes that fit and make me look and feel good. Last week I went to a mall and tried on clothes in "regular" stores for the first time in my adult life. I had a terrific time, didn't buy anthing - before I hated shopping :tt1: I also find it very amusing and motivating to go to a thrift shop and leave with a complete outfit (top and bottom) that cost $12 or less.

Seriously, I think it is really important to make sure that you have at least one or two things in your closet at any given time that actually fit you. It does wonders for your self esteem and others will notice your losses. I know it all costs money, but I think you will find it worthwhile not to look like a bag lady all the time :tt1:

[Sue Magoo 71]

Hi:

I do the thrift shop thing too. I get a big kick out of it. I hardly ever spend more than $3.00 for an item. I go to the same one every week and go through the racks carefully. I've been going there since I was in 22's, so I've always been able to buy ahead when I saw something I liked alot. Now I'm proud to say that I am down to buying only two sizes - 14's and 12's. I'm currently wearing 14's, but I have a goal of 12, and a trunk full of clothes for when I get there.

Good luck, and don't worry about thrift shop clothes. Just wash them and they're fine. You'll save alot of money buying the clothes send hand, and believe me that nobody will know unless you tell them.

I've been donating back the clothes that I outgrow. Good for charity and the environment!

Take care.

Sue

[Ann D 0]

Good thing I wear a uniform 90% of the time and my job pays for them, I have been through 2 sets now. I wait until I am swimming in them and then show up at our uniform place. That way there are no questions when I ask for smaller uniforms.

As for regular cloths, Walmart is my best friend as is clearence sales at all the various stores and on-line stores.

I'm only buying what I absolutely need, a pair of pants here and a shirt there. I am going on vacation to Cancun soon, I am going to have to break down and buy a few more things.

I am going to send my big clothes to my sister. The ones I don't send to here will go to Places for People, a community resource for the mentally ill. They help find people with disabilities jobs and give them one new suit for their interview. I have a ton of suits that no longer fit.

[KikiVal315 4]

i go to Walmart, ross, tj max, or sometimes old navy when they have good sales.

[Melody2006 1]

I plan to do what everyone else above said. But one more thing if you have a TJ Maxx in your area, or a Marshalls, or a Tuesday Morning (all these stores are owned by the same company) lots of times you can get named brand stuff there for super low prices. Just a few more places to look that no one else mentioned.

[Ann D 0]

I also like Kohls

[chocolate_snaps 3]

I live at Old Navy and Target. Only the sale racks though. I dont pay full price for anything, ever.

[Ann D 0]

I would tell anyone eventhe non-bargin shoppers, to only shop when things are on sale. I worked in retail for about 3 years and the mark up in all stores was anywhere from 50-100%.

In security we would cut the price in half and that is what the max cost was for the item for the store, it was usually much lowerthe half.

So always look for 50% off or more before you shop if you are looking for a bargin.

[BansterNYC 0]

I buy jeans, black pants, black wrap dress, black skirt at each size I go down. I then make other pieces work with those.

Old Navy and H&M are great. Plus, their clothes are not good quality. They never last more than a few months anyway even if you remained the same size.

[Brandy~ 2]

I just plan on doing invenotry in my closet and making a posting with sizes for other lapbanders that want them when I grow out of them.

[libra 13]

The Old Navy clearance rack is great. You can get shirts for $2.00, skirts and dresses for $10. For some reason though, I can never fit into Old Navy jeans though. (too tight in the tush and too loose in the waist) I get my jeans at Target or a local flea market. There's a woman there who sells designer jeans (calvin klein, ralph lauren, etc) for $10 a pair, and they fit well too!