This might be the wrong time of year to be thinking about this ... seeing as how we're all spending money on other people (excuse number one)

My husband and I went shopping yesterday. Lots of time spent in the car. We had an interesting conversation about why I have nothing to wear.

"You don't like to spend money."
"Stingy, you mean?"
"Not stingy ... you just don't like to spend money on yourself."
"I have no qualms about feeding myself. If I want something I go get it."
"Food is different. You'll need to eat today and you'll need to eat tomorrow. But you can keep yourself covered without buying something new."

My friends can haul out something they've had for years. I can't. It was too big and it's gone.

I wear uniforms to work and sweats at home and jeans and a fleece jacket out. I need to dress for church but I just don't think about it all week and then get bummed on Sunday mornings. I had a minor panic getting dressed for a dinner on Tuesday.

I'm pretty sure I'm not going to get much smaller, so sizing should be safe. (excuse number two ... what size????)

I can try things on (some darned nearly perfect) all day long and come home with nothing.

I know all about a few good pieces ... which come complete with a few good price tags (excuse number three because we are not nearly as strapped for cash as we used to be)

What would you do? What have you done? A whole new wardrobe? Bits and pieces? What pieces? New? Used? Colour?

I have the opposite problem, Susan - I shop and buy too much!

I got rid of all my clothes as soon as they got too big (except for one T-shirt and pair of pants), so had to replace everything except socks. Buying a whole new wardrobe was the best reward ever for losing the weight! My big shopping mistakes were 1. not being discriminating enough and overbuying (because everything looks cute instead of nothing looking cute) and 2. buying the same styles I wore when I was heavy - 'camoflauge clothes' in smaller sizes. It took me a little time to realize that I had to figure out a whole new personal style.

Clothes are one of my main motivations for keeping the weight off and I have a hard time being moderate - quite the opposite of your problem!

My sister is like you ... she has a model's figure and plenty of money, yet will spend the day shopping and come home with nothing. Or else she'll buy something and end up returning it. Her wardrobe is in tatters, but she can't bring herself to get anything new. I don't know if it's a quest for perfection or what?

Maybe you could tell yourself that you're going to buy a dress for church this week no matter what? The stores are crammed with nice things for the holidays and this is a great time to shop with all the sales and coupons. C'mon and give it a try ... maybe you'll get hooked too!

Meg, I'll just imagine you following me around stores

When you say you wear a size 4 is that Talbots or Ann Taylor or ???? any one maker?

Actually I have clothes in my closet ranging from petite XS up to a L, which goes to show how sizes are. I generally wear a 4 in pants, mostly Jones NewYork, Liz, Ralph Lauren or Talbots (I know they all run big ). I don't shop much at Ann Taylor. Which are your favorites?

Goodwill? I'm finally dressed this morning. Goodwill shirt (black)and kids size 14 black dress pants.

I dunno! I guess I'll have to do some research

Please feel free to elaborate on what you've got and what you like.

Susan,

I just wanted to chime in and say GO FOR IT! Start with a goal of one new outfit. You'll feel so good in it you'll want to do it again! I, personally, am a huge fan of Ann Taylor... pretty, classic pieces that look current and age-appropriate. I think I'm a little younger and taller than you, and I go more for Banana Republic than Talbots. The pants at BR tend to fit me really well. Either of those stores have lots of well-made, simple, classic styles that will last.

I'm excited for you. I'm like Meg... the clothes ARE the motivation. When I lost weight to around my goal size I pitched almost all my big stuff and bought lots of fun stuff in size 2 and 4. Now my closet is filled with beautiful, barely-worn clothes and I have to wear the same size 8 and 10 pants every day *sob*. But I'll get back there!!

PLEASE take photos and share when you get your new duds. I will live vicariously for now!!

Lindy

Susan, I also have the opposite problem. I used to not think anything of spending lots of money on clothes for my kids. I never would buy myself anything new. Now, I have bought myself quite a lot of clothes. Being able to shop in the "regular" stores has been an eye opener for me. I do wear casual clothes a lot, but have bought several nice dresses and skirts and blouses. I actually have a nice wardrobe for the first time in my life. With everything fitting, it makes a big difference. I also got rid of all my old clothes except for one pair of size 20 jeans. A couple of my old 2X tee shirts are now night shirts. Being able to wear all my new clothes is great incentive to keep the weight off. Any time I had lost weight before, I held on to the bigger clothes. This time I gave them away and sold them in a yard sale. I bought just a few things at a time while I was losing weight. Now that I'm at maintenance, I feel more comfortable buying things and knowing that I'll be able to wear them for a long time. I used to always wear dark colored clothes and I have bought lighter colors now. I have bought more form-fitting clothes now. I even had to buy several new pairs of shoes. My feet have shrunk. The one thing I haven't bought is a single pair of sweatpants. I use my old baggy ones to walk on the treadmill at home with the waist rolled down. LOL

Go ahead and treat yourself to new clothes, You deserve it.

I have to say I have had a blast buying new clothes. I only buy a few at a time. Things I have to have for work and maybe one pair of jeans. A lot of things I can use for going off or whatever. I still have times when there is nothing that I can wear. Drives me crazy. But now even clothes that I bought in October are literally falling off. I am going to see about having the skirts taken in some. Hubby is encouraging me to take part of my Christmas bonus go shopping and just give everything else away. Right now I still have a bunch of my heavy everyday stuff but most everything else has been tossed. It feels so good to be doing that.

Susan, I'm like you with the exception that I have NO money for clothes. I work in yoga pants and an underarmour t-shirt. I change into non-glamourous workout clothes to do my own workout, then put on jeans and an old sweater from my daughter's cast-offs to go home. Every once in a while I have to have something nice to wear and it seems absurd to spend a lot of money on a once-only dress. For a while I was buying clothes and returning them just for the fun of it, but it got annoying. Sometimes now (like last night) when I don't have anything else to do, feel lean and need and mental pick-me-up, I just go try on dresses. Found a gorgeous black halter dress...but I'd look pretty silly at work trying to do lunges in it!

We have an upscale consignment shop near here and I may go looking in there. The Goodwill near where I used to work mostly had larger sizes and not very nice stuff.

Last summer when I was buying some clothes, my favorites were Banana Republic and Ann Taylor. The sizes were wacky- somewhere in June they resized and I went from a 4 to a 2 in pants with NO CHANGE in ME. If anything, I gained a few pounds

Mel

My husband was reading over my shoulder Mel. He said "Is she good lookin'. Maybe the halter and lunges wouldn't be so bad."
I said that yes indeed she's good lookin' and he waggled his eyebrows!

My feet shrank too! Lily. Length and width. Odd.

We're going south again in January. I think a nice pair of jeans is in order. A blazer? A dress? Maybe I should gather up the nieces who helped me buy my mother-of-the bride dress.

I'll keep you posted.

It wouldn't hurt if folks who buy nice new slim clothes posted pic's, eh?

Like Meg, I also have the opposite problem - I buy too much! Susan, I would recommend buying classic pieces such as a really nice pair of black trousers that fit you well and make you feel good. Also, a classic black pencil skirt to wear with heels or boots. A couple of cashmere turtlenecks to layer, maybe a nice shawl and a killer pair of jeans. I also find that no matter what, I can never have enough fitted jackets or crisp button down shirts. Just some ideas. ...and how do I post photos? I'd love to share a few!

I don't know much about photos and computers but I can get a picture into photobucket.com and then cut and paste the link. Can you do that?
I'll try to help you if I'm here.
Suzanne (original 3FC) helped me make my own picture into an avatar.

I think I'm a kindred soul. I hate to shop and mostly wear belted up jeans and a fleece top at home. I just can't get excited about spending money on clothes. I, like you, do really need to get something to wear to church. My one acceptable outfit is getting worn. If I could somehow send out a personal shopper to bring me home incredibly cheap things that I don't have to try on it'd be heaven.

I think I've just spent about 2 hours surfing Ebay. Ooooo there are such lovely things!

I still hate clothes shopping. Maybe the bug will hit at some point, and I do have a couple pieces of clothing I really like, but I just can't think of anything less fun. I also don't wear make-up or do a lot with my hair, and I like it that way. Just not into the girlie-girl stuff. I used to think it was because I was fat, but I guess that is just my personality.

Fortunately, I just ungrew into my old wardrobe. I think I need a belt and maybe some new underwear, but mostly I'm covered.

Now I just bought a new mountain bike and I never would have bought that when I was fat. It fits beautifully and is a magnificent shade of green. That was fun shopping! Doesn't fit in my closet, but plenty of room in the garage.

Anne