Buying clothes is a full time job!!

[August 0]

August: I think I'm going to be in your predicament and I'm pretty sure it's going to be sooner rather than later. Work clothes are business casual (emphasis on the casual at my level), so I won't be buying suits, so that'll save me some $$.

HOWEVER, my current wardrobe ranges in size from 22 to 16 with tops in the range of 2X to XL. I was just banded 8/24 and I'm down to 224 which is really at the low end of where I've been weight-wise for the last several years. So, my size 18s are starting to get loose already. That means I don't have much of a cushion in my current wardrobe. I foresee many lunch hours at Ross and Marshall's for me, too.

I love to shop and I always have, so this will not be any hardship except in the financial department! I love your idea of buying inexpensive clothes that you really like in several smaller sizes. How smart!!

Anyhow, let us know how things go on ebay or Craigslist! :thumbup:

I had a handful of clothes from lower weights and mistake purchases that I was able to fit into but for the most part I've had to purchase all new. Ross, Marhall's, and TJMaxx, are perfect for business casual wear on the cheap, especially if you can find something on the clearance rack. If there is a Syms near you they are great for less casual clothes, although they do have casual clothing. Their clearance rack has some amazing deals.

You're a little bit smaller size than I am so you should find great deals. Try looking on the clearance racks now for heavier winter items that are too tight for you now by at least one size. There are still clothes leftover from last winter on the clearance racks that are deeply discounted. You should be fitting in them fine by the time the weather is cold enough to wear them.

I'll keep everyone posted in my EBay/Craigslist adventures. I think I'll try EBay first simply because the face to face transactions on Craigslist make me nervous. I have been putting my too large clothes that are saleable into boxes by size. I'll probably sell the lower priced items in lots by size and the nicer stuff as individual pieces.

PS I love shopping too! Having so much more selection now that I'm a smaller size has been a blast, but of course hard on my wallet. It has been so long since I've concentrated on myself. I feel guilty sometimes, but my husband is happy to seem me doing things for me. It doesn't hurt that I grab a shirt or pair of pants for him when I'm out shopping so he has nice new clothes too. :thumbup:

[JennBand08 0]

Oh I never thought of Craigslist for clothing. I hate the work involved with ebay, the photos and waiting for the auction to end and shipping it.. I'm such a procrastinator with that stuff. I have alot of stuff I've just given away to get it out of my house, but I have some nice dressy outfits from Cold Water Creek/Dress Barn that I would love to get a little $$ for if I could. 18 Petites, and petites were always so hard to find in plus size. . It would certainly help with the expense of buying new clothes. Which I have done my share of.. realizing I buy things because I LIKE them now and not simply because they fit was such a pivotal moment for me. I luvvvvv my lapband!! :blushing:

[August 0]

Oh I never thought of Craigslist for clothing. I hate the work involved with ebay, the photos and waiting for the auction to end and shipping it.. I'm such a procrastinator with that stuff. I have alot of stuff I've just given away to get it out of my house, but I have some nice dressy outfits from Cold Water Creek/Dress Barn that I would love to get a little $$ for if I could. 18 Petites, and petites were always so hard to find in plus size. . It would certainly help with the expense of buying new clothes. Which I have done my share of.. realizing I buy things because I LIKE them now and not simply because they fit was such a pivotal moment for me. I luvvvvv my lapband!!

Congratulations on your weightloss! :blushing:

I am just realizing that I have a choice now. It's wonderful to be able to wear the clothes I like. It also doesn't hurt that I feel so much better and am able to wear clothes and shoes that would have killed me at higher weights.

[shangefan 193]

Any guys on here dealing with suit issues? I've dropped four suit sizes in the past few months and, while it is wonderful, I am struggling to work out this clothing issue. The business where I bought them offers free lifetime alterations (the suits are expensive), but I just picked up several and while they technically fit, they just don't look good. Mostly, the shoulder area is simply too broad and makes me look much larger than I am. How are you dealing with this issue?

[August 0]

Any guys on here dealing with suit issues? I've dropped four suit sizes in the past few months and, while it is wonderful, I am struggling to work out this clothing issue. The business where I bought them offers free lifetime alterations (the suits are expensive), but I just picked up several and while they technically fit, they just don't look good. Mostly, the shoulder area is simply too broad and makes me look much larger than I am. How are you dealing with this issue?

Congratulations on your success! There are worse problems to have. :laugh:

It sounds like it's time to consider new suits. My husband told me that Syms, Men's Warehouse, and K&G are good places to get decent suits cheap, and all do alterations on site. They will charge for the alterations though, and of course will charge again for subsequent alterations. You should include the price of 2-3 alterations into the total price before deciding if buying at a discount store would be cheaper than the store where you usually buy.

Could you stand wearing a suit that is a tiny bit tight? If so you'd get more wear out of a suit. Not so much that you look foolish, but just enough that only you'd know.

[shangefan 193]

These are great suggestions. I'll check out these stores. I think you are right: it is time for new suits. I'm not going to buy very expensive ones because I know I won't be able to wear them very long.

[jollygreen1955 0]

I was lucky..I work from home for my husband so I can get away with less. Wish I had a real job and find it impossible to find anything. I filled out an application to work at Avenue just to get a large wardrobe but they do not pay...still never called :wink:

As for going into my profession they do not want to hire because it is a problem with my husbands business (he is a CPA) and we have conflicts.. the people who I interview with tell me I will steal their accounts). Did work for someone locally, lasted one day ,,,he freaked out when I quitely found serious errors in his work :eek: ..and i was quiet about it... he accused me of calling my husband because he could NOT believe anyone would have found those errors :w00t:(

Gotta, get back on track.... I give my clothes to Goodwill but honestly enjoy posting on Freecycle (a yahoo group) and the girls are thrilled to get the clothes.

A friend of mine suggested Walmart ONLINE and I got great tops... I paid around five dollars apiece and it were ..Just my Size... for 12 dollars shipping charges I received a nice amount of clothes.

Ask your surgeon or secretary if they can give your number to a woman who has been banded and ask her if you can have her clothes. No joke...I left a bag in my car.. after the monthly group asked one of the girls descritely to wait for me at her car and just handed her a bag she was grateful :frown:

We should have a page where we could send or trade our clothes with others :w00t:

[crzytchr 3]

We should have a page where we could send or trade our clothes with others :wink:

There is a clothing exchange group. It is one of the social groups that were created.

[jollygreen1955 0]

There is a clothing exchange group. It is one of the social groups that were created.

Thanks

Next bagful..i will send out

Laura

:tongue2::thumbup::wub::thumbup::eek::thumbup::sad::thumbup::sad::thumbup::thumbup:

[NCLisa 0]

Try some of the online shops like Woman Within. Things can be pretty cheap when on sale & with the coupon codes. I just buy 2 pair of black slacks, and 5 tops, and rotate them until they are too big. I've bought the next size down. I have to look decent for my job to, but at the rate I'm losing weight, they'll have to get over me wearing black slacks every day for awhile.

[RUKidding 0]

Lisa, I'm doing the same thing. 2 pairs of black pants and 5/6 shirts that go with black. I'm new in my office and they probably think this is all I ever wear, wouldn't they be surprised to learn until my surgery in June I didn't even own anything black. :blushing: