[SingDanceRunLife]

My weight is finally stable and I've leaned out (not really lost weight, but lost fat and gained muscle)...and more than half of what I own is extremely unflattering on me now because it was already larger than what many people would wear so I could hide my body which means now it basically looks like bag-lady clothing that's just too big and hangs in weird ways. It's weird, but now I actually feel better in more form fitting clothing than the super loose, flowy stuff -- probably because in that, I look like a walking box.

The problem is, I'm poor and can't really go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, and I don't really know how to take what I have and make it work.

Any suggestions?

[buttrfli42481]

Can you maybe go to the thrift stores and find something there? Or look on the clearance racks at the stores. I've found a bunch of cute stuff in both places.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Buy some belts that you can cinch around your waist?

Bring your old clothes to a consignment shop and buy new-to-you ones while you're there?

[SingDanceRunLife]

Thanks guys!

I've been wanting to go to the Salvation Army, but I've had no way of getting there. Maybe I can get my dad to take me since he's in town. I went to a second hand shop the other day and got a bit of store credit and 2 shirts (and 3 onesies for my friend that's having a baby in October since I couldn't get anything for myself with the $3 that was leftover after getting my stuff).

I have a number of belts too, but things look pretty ridiculous with them -- basically like there's a ton of excess material that I'm trying to do something with. Not to mention, half of the ones I have are rather big anyway.

[sunsetsunrise]

hi and congrats !!! I shop at Goodwill industries. I have gotten some beautiful things there. I know people who have lots of money who shop there. They have much more variety than a regular store would. Do you have one of them near you?

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by sunsetsunrise

hi and congrats !!! I shop at Goodwill industries. I have gotten some beautiful things there. I know people who have lots of money who shop there. They have much more variety than a regular store would. Do you have one of them near you?

Nope. I've only ever heard of Goodwill, never actually seen one.

[spondiferous]

Thrift stores are definitely the best ideas. I don't know if you guys have Value Village there but you can get anything - boots, shoes, jackets, pants, shirts, dresses, whatever - and all for super low prices. You could get an entirely new wardrobe for anywhere between 30-50 bucks if you wanted to. Here in Canada they're a chain and they have them everywhere. They're like thrift superstores and sell all kinds of housewares and furniture as well, and are notorious for being a Halloween costume epicentre.

[H3rmit]

How many sizes have you lost? I find I had to take in a bunch of shirts and pants in a simple way, but if you go down more than one size there is too much fancy work required to make it work. I second the thrift store and big congrats to you. The nice thing is when you're smaller, there's so much more available at the thrift store that will fit you, for just a buck or two literally.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I've lost 2 bra cup sizes (along with a band size) and about 2 sizes in bottoms as well. Most of my dresses are larges which are now ridiculous on me when I really should have a small. I don't really own jeans anyway (literally own 2 pairs, and that's after buying a pair last week), most of my shirts are the button-down blouses that are longer in the back than the front -- I don't own any regular t-shirts but ones I got for free from my college, and I only wear that type of t-shirt to bed, never in public (I've always been like that). At least half of what I own I can't wear to my new job anyway because it's fairly nice stuff, and I'm going to be working with toddlers. I guess I'll try Salvation Army because it's probably the cheapest place in town. The second hand shop is fairly pricey actually (both shirts I got the other day were like $7, and the cheapest I've ever seen there is $3-4 which is super rare, but that's because they mainly take higher end brands).

[Yoda]

There is a store near me that has a seamstress who primarily fits clothes that you buy at that store but she would also fit some other clothing for a reasonable fee. It probably wouldn't be feasible to have your whole wardrobe refitted but if you have some favorite items that you would like to keep you might try this.

Don't forget tailors and alteration shops.

They can do wonders!

[SingDanceRunLife]

I can't wear at least half of what I own to my new job, so it's probably more economical to just buy new stuff because if I don't now, it will be ruined and I'll never be able to wear it again. Working with mainly 2 and 3 year olds, I don't want to be wearing sheer chiffon blouses and satin dresses...

[Grey Matter]

Maybe look into opening an Etsy up! You can sell your clothes there and get money to get new clothes. Keep in mind you'd have to pay for the shipping boxes (you can even used the bubble wrap envelopes which are way cheaper which is what I've done) but people love buying clothes off of that website because of paypal, etc.

Thrift shops have helped me a lot. All my clothes have been hanging off of me. And for my birthday I got $50 from family members and got better fitting (though still baggy. Not comfortable with my body yet) clothes that will last me through the fall + winter.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I would've never thought of Etsy! Thanks for the suggestion!

[Grey Matter]

Not a problem! Ebay is good too, but Etsy is much easier to sell on as the demographic is younger college going 20 somethings. I hope it works out if you open a shop up!