Old clothes

[Cpt. Ahab 5]

This question is for guys. What do you do with your old, now too big, clothes? I have at least 4-5 really nice suits that are waaay too big now for me. I tried to take them to the tailor, but they would have to rip the whole thing apart including shoulders and vents and that costs as much as a brand new suit.

Are there consignment clothes for men? Would men actually buy used clothing? Guys don't usually borrow each other stuff and aren't really into wearing used - at least not my friends - so is my only option Goodwill?

That's been the costliest part of the surgery so far. I'm still losing pound/week so I don't want to spend money on new clothes because I know they're just interim. When I reach my goal, then I'll splurge on some killer bespoke suits and new jeans, but right now it's all temporary. I know - good problem to have for a change

Ahab.

[Rachel412 116]

You should call around to your local consignment stores. there ARE some who take mens' clothes, but plus sized mens' clothes might be a harder fit. Have you considered eBay?

ETA: as far as men wearing used stuff... my husband sure does. New suits are EXPENSIVE so we comb the racks at Goodwill every once in a while.

[B-52 7,113]

I feel your pain. I filled about 4 large leaf bags of summer clothes since last may.

This weekend I started checking my long sleeve shirts and all of them look like I'm wearing tents!

Filled 2 bags today. Went online and ordered 5 new shirts.

I have 3 nice sports coats that went also. I have to get rid of my suits but I am finding it hard to toss them.

As far as pants,I have been going through them on a regular basis. Started with a 46"waist, with the elastic waistbands. I have been steadily dropping, and am now at a 36" non-elastic!

Men's warehouse and Jos. A Bank are always advertising 2 for 1 sales, but I'm hesitant since I have only 20 lbs to my goal weight.

Jeans......I can walk in any store and buy normal sizes again!

[Cpt. Ahab 5]

I feel your pain. I filled about 4 large leaf bags of summer clothes since last may.

This weekend I started checking my long sleeve shirts and all of them look like I'm wearing tents!

Filled 2 bags today. Went online and ordered 5 new shirts.

I have 3 nice sports coats that went also. I have to get rid of my suits but I am finding it hard to toss them.

As far as pants,I have been going through them on a regular basis. Started with a 46"waist, with the elastic waistbands. I have been steadily dropping, and am now at a 36" non-elastic!

Men's warehouse and Jos. A Bank are always advertising 2 for 1 sales, but I'm hesitant since I have only 20 lbs to my goal weight.

Jeans......I can walk in any store and buy normal sizes again!

That is killer progress!! Wow! Congrats and keep it up. Yeah - 20 lbs that's an additional size - but I know it's hard to wait. I'm a professional so I have to dress up. Went to a tailor to re-cut my favorite suit and blazer - $320. Ouch, right! But the price we pay for living fat lives in our past.

I called consignment stores - no luck. I think I have an idea though - there are clothes drives sponsored by Mens' Wearhouse that donate suits to unemployed, homeless, for interview purposes. Seems like a worthy cause. What job seeker couldn't use a Calvin Klein, DKNY and Boss suits, right?

[Rachel412 116]

Absolutely! I think that's a wonderful idea.

(also... it's a write-off so that's a bonus!)

[Dave_NW 92]

I've replaced my entire closet about four times since starting this last December. I decided early on that my new life was too important to continue to wear clothes that didn't fit right.

As things began to get to be too large, I set them aside. When there was enough to fill a trash bag or two or three, I took them to Goodwill, or to a homeless shelter in my town, and even to a coworker whose father and brothers are big guys. Donating them made me feel good, because all my stuff was in great shape and had a lot of life left in them. I told the coworker to do what she wanted with whatever her family couldn't use, including putting them in her next garage sale. She was delighted, because guys used clothes at garage sales tend to be stained or ripped or worn out. She was happy to get nice stuff from me.

Then I bought new stuff on sale in various places, most often JC Penney (their online site has the best selection and some killer sales.) When THOSE clothes got to be too big, I started over, and did the same thing, donating what I didn't need anymore. I've gone from 3XL and 4XL shirts down to size Large, and my 44-46 waist pants are down to a 34 inch waist.

To justify the cost of buying more clothes, I started figuring out how much money I WASN'T spending on food. Groceries, restaurants, junk food and Snacks, soda, beer - the repetitive costs of that much food was enormous. After banding, my food expenses are SO much lower, I have a lot more disposable income. I figure I can spend that money on new clothes. They make me feel right, I look great in them, and it helps me adjust to my new life. Now that my weight loss has slowed way down, I'm not needing to shop like I was. So it's all tapered off, and I had a great journey along the way.

And as for those jeans you're waiting to buy? Walmart has great jeans that wear well and cost less than $10 a pair. Check them out.

Dave