I have sized out of my original pants and shirt sizes and I only have a handful of clothing in the next size down and almost nothing that I could wear to work.

I have been continuing to wear my old shirts (size 3x, 4x, 28) but they're super baggy and look ridiculous now. Eventually I will have to stop WFH and go back to work, but I don't want to spend a fortune on the next size down clothing. I know someone mentioned thrift stores to me, but I don't believe I'm going to find a ton of pants and shirts that I'd want to wear in the size 24-26, pants or 2x shirts. I'm not quite at a 24 since the 26s are fitting well for now and at 5lbs/10 days I'm not going to drop clothing sizes particularly quickly. Lane Bryant and Catherines are so expensive that I hesitate to spend anything.

Just wondering what other people are doing or have done for clothes.

I bought everything except for swimsuits and underwear at thrift stores - many of them do have larger sizes!

First of all, a belt will be your best friend for a while. You can skip sizes in pants by wearing using a belt for pants that are too big.

Also, shop sales and shop ahead. I normally try to avoid buying aspirational clothing in hopes that I'll fit into it someday, because that's just a recipe for wasting money on clothes that I'll never wear, but with WLS, it's a pretty good bet that you'll be wearing smaller sizes in the near future. I bought some clothes in Black Friday sales that were too small at the time but fit me now.

Take my advice with a grain of salt because I've never been known for being fashionable or well-dressed, but you can always get some cheap clothing at Walmart or Target during your rapid weight loss phase when you don't want to spend much on clothing that will only fit for a few weeks. You can wear a nicer cardigan (which doesn't need to be perfectly fitted) over a cheap blouse.

And finally, you will probably have to accept not having clothes that fit for a while. The good news is that people are going to notice your weight loss a lot more than they notice your clothing, and everyone will be telling you how amazing you look even if your clothes look a little ridiculous.

Check consignment stores too in addition to thrift shops. We actually have a couple in Seattle that only sell plus sizes.

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

i was lucky and had some clothes from when i lost about 70lbs a year before surgery.. but for the "inbetween" times when i just need something that fits, i go to walmart. i found a nice pair of jeans for $5 there. and i agree w/the belt sentiment.. but i know they can be uncomfortable, so anything with drawstrings help too.

goodwill is also a good place to try your luck. or even tjmaxx bc they can have some good sales.

I bought a few new pairs of pants and tops every other size I dropped. I bought inexpensive stuff and have given it all away as I size out of it. I personally have a strong aversion to thrift stores/used clothing, but if you don’t, that is a great option. I have purchased some better quality clothes since I reached goal, so I am trying to maintain now.

I hope you find an option that works for you!

I'm not a seamstress by any means, but I can sew a straight seam. So I just kept taking in the back seam (just stitched, not like a real seamstress would do). I did that until the back pockets touched - then I went to Goodwill!

You can also try cheap clothing stores like Ross, Bells Outlet, and DDs Discount!

I have been selling my old wardrobe on poshmark and using my proceeds to buy new stuff on there. There’s a lot of great stuff. Shipping can be brutal but if you find someone selling a lot of clothes you like you can bundle and just pay one shipping fee for multiple items.

That being said, have I bought too many clothes in this size when I am still 55 lbs to goal? Yes indeed. I kind of went a bit crazy when I hit straight sizes and got to shop at the stores I’ve always admired but could never fit into. I’m consoling myself with the thought that I can just sell them when I size out again. But I work in an office, and I can’t wear size 26 pants when I’m actually a size 16 now. No belt in the world is going to make that fly.

Marketplace on Facebook. I found someone giving away a bagful of clothes in the size I was looking for. I was pretty lucky.

Jeggings from Walmart are tha best!!!! They can hold weight fluctuations nicely. I keep using cute tunic shirts or something like that with them, since those a more forgiving.

Try Poshmark... they gave great deals

I have the same problem. Waiting to get my second COVID shot so I can feel comfortable while out at the thrift stores. I have shopped the thrift stores in the past and I have found that they do have a lot of extended sizes because people are always quick to get rid of their “fat clothes” and slower to get rid of their favorite “skinny clothes.” I plan to enlist my aunt and do a couple day long shopping spree searching for the next few sizes. I figure it’s payback from when I helped her shopping when she started new professional job and needed suits and dresses. ?

I went to resale shops and bought stuff. Donated all my big clothes.

I stopped wearing pants and just wear dresses and tights. I find them great for weight fluctuations.