I’ve had to replace most of my wardrobe every 2-3 months since banding. I’ve gone from a size 30 to a size 20-22 in 9 months. I work in an office where people are expected to be well dressed so wearing sloppy clothes 2 sizes too big is not an option. I could barely afford to dress nicely before my surgery, when all I had to buy was filler each season to spruce up my existing wardrobe. Now I have to start from scratch every couple of months. The problem is that I can’t afford to buy a new wardrobe that often. Even my shoes from last year are too wide now because my fat feet stretched them out.

When I shop I try on clothes to fit the size I am now . If I like them and they are a good deal, I put the correct size back and buy the item in the next size down. If it’s an especially good deal on a seasonless item, like slacks or jeans, I will buy several of them in every smaller size that is available. I have 3 pairs of awesome brown slacks from Target that I found on clearance for $6. The largest pair has already retired to the box for Goodwill. I was so happy that I found the pants in smaller sizes because sometimes I lament the loss of clothes I really like. I have to remember to try on the smaller items every couple of weeks because I almost missed my chance with a few things that were a little loose by the time I pulled them out of the closet to wear. I also have to try to gauge what size I’ll be when the next season rolls around. Lately I’ve found awesome prices on fall/winter leftovers from last year. They are practically free. I hope the pretty wool suits I found for $20 each last weekend will fit right when the cool weather rolls around.

Buying so many clothes on a limited budget is hard work! I spend a lot of lunch hours running out to browse the clearance racks at Marshall’s or Ross. I spend my evenings browsing EBay listings. Weekends are spent picking through the deeply reduced clearance racks at the stores I know to have good markdowns. At least I have more options now that I’m a smaller size.

I'm definitely not complaining. I'm thrilled to have lost so much weight, but it’s really been hard work keeping myself in clothes that fit without going broke. I guess I needed some kind of hobby now that I don’t fill my time with eating! :scared2:

How is everybody else keeping up with their new clothing size? What are your best bargain hunting tips?

Edited August 8, 200917 yr by August

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:

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.

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?

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.

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.

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:

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.

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:

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.

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: