Is pathetic! Geez... it's so mismatched, and I tend to wear the same thing over and over.
I still have "skinny" clothes that I wore before the birth of my daughter (turned 2 on Tuesday) that I think I'm going to get back into. Then I have the "in between" clothes, that I can't fit into either, but that are bigger than the skinny clothes. And now the "large" (OK - XL) clothes that I can wear now, but don't WANT to wear. Elastic waistbands, unflattering t-shirts, big sweatshirts...
I go into stores, and think I'm going to buy clothes that actually fit me. Honest I do. But I can't find anything that looks good to me, or ON me, so I leave disgusted. With myself, mostly.
Then I hit thrift stores. Thinking, "OK, I can get lots of clothes that fit me NOW, and they won't cost much, so I can get rid of them when I lose the weight. " Unfortunately, none of the thrift stores will allow fitting rooms anymore, so I'm buying things that look to me like they'll fit, and then I get home and I'm TOO BIG! AARGH!! Or the sizes are so different, sometimes the 14's fit, and sometimes the 16's are too small!
I've come to realize, there is no such thing as a "dressy" t-shirt, and I need to find some happy medium (I wish in size!) to wear out to dinner, or someplace other than home.
Am I crazy for having all these different sizes of clothing around? Will my skinny clothes even be in style when I can (hopefully) wear them again?
Just having a "closet" moment...thanks for letting me vent...
I pretty well only keep clothes that fit, or that are too big ('cause they don't fit any more, but I may need them for some specific purpose - for instance keeping a formal around because I can make it "work" too big if necessary). I think though that it's not unusual to have a wide variety of sizes, and "size numbers" around.
Every couple months I clean out the closet - again - and try to make a list of what I "need" and then start shopping the sales at department stores. I generally buy nothing that isn't at least 75% off - so I manage to keep my wardrobe fresh, and inexpensive.
I say if you haven't worn it in over a year get it out of the closet- I recently donated a ton of clothes, big, small, and so on. I have a FEW things I'm holding on to, but for the most part all my clothes fit me
I too am struggling with this issue. I am feeling really good about releasing 30 lbs since Nov 08. I was only able to wear about 4-5 pairs of pants in my wardrobe at that time. I'm now wearing pants that I wore 10 years ago with the exception of some that I can shrink in the dryer often. But these older pants are the dreaded tapered (no pleats though) pants!
Tops are another issue altogether as I am well endowed (D/DD) and have not lost one ounce up top. I am the same cup size I was in high school.
I've decided that I will not buy any new pants or capris until April 1. I do desperately need black dress slacks that I will buy then. But I only have 2-3 pairs of capris that currently fit, which is what I wear exclusively to work in the summer.
I do agree about the sizing. It drives me nuts! Most of my pants that no longer fit are newer 16 & 18s. But the older pants are 16s too, with the exception of a couple of 14s. I truly have no idea what size I am! I look at size charts and think I know. But when I try things on in the dressing room there seems to be no coorelation between the size charts and the size of the garment.
I think I had your closet. I'm working at trying to update.
Think about your shape and google it with the word fashion. I'm an hourglass with slightly topheavy. Other choices are apple and pear shapes. Anyway it should give you some advise as to cuts that will work best for your body shape.When you go to the store try to find those styles and see if you can tell they do look better on you. You might be suprised, I know I was. Pay attention to pin stripes because they thin you and also wear hems fall, they can make a world of difference. Also you might try some solid colors. I find those stay in style longer. Nice tailored shirts, a nicely cut pair of slacks, some nice more dressy shoes, and then maybe some accessories to dreess things up or down. Go to name brand stores, such as the gap, old navy, dress barn and try on clothes there, make note of sizes that fit and then hit second hand stores, looking for those specific brands.
Outlet malls are awesome as well and many things are just dirt cheap.
I'm hoping by the time I get to my goal weight my shoes and accessories will be in place and I will be better at choosing styles for my body shape.
I know that I feel better when I have even just a few things that fit well, rather than a bunch of stuff that I don't like, doesn't fit, etc. So even though I really only have 3 pair of work pants that fit (all black!), that's better than having a bunch of ill-fitting stuff I hate.
I hope the clothes you are saving are still in style when you've lost the weight. "Losermom's" comments about the dreaded tapered pants reminds me of a story. I had saved a pair of jeans and was using them as my "goal pants". I kept trying them on, until one magical morning they finally fit! But alas, the legs were tightly tapered and the waist was a true high-waist, coming up WAY past my belly button. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! They finally fit, but they were unwearable! (I took them to work and put them on to show a friend, and we laughed UNTIL we cried! LOL)
My wardrobe is hideous. Since I work for a veterinarian, my wardrobe consists of jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts. Easy, I know. But boring. I own one super dressy dress, from my sons wedding, one pair of dress slacks, one summer dress and one pair of good jeans.
I couldn't dress up for an event if I wanted to.
I'm going to Lincoln in a few weeks with my son to a coaching clinic, and got to thinking about what I was going to take. I'll be gone 3 days. One pair of jeans isn't going to get it.
I have to go shopping. But I can't even do that until next week. It's that money thing.
ok this is what a shopping geek I am- I googled shopping in Anchorage (not sure if that is close to where you are) and didn't find any of my "standard" stores for wardrobe staples.
Do you have Ann Taylor, The Loft (by Ann Taylor), Bananna Republic or JCrew? I didn't see any of them listed in the malls I found online- only the Gap. Anyway if you do have any of these stores they are great for basics- dark jeans, dress pants, stylish tops, etc. and they always have good clearances. Sounds like you are a 14? They all come in 14 and JCrew & Ann Taylor have 16's online/ in catalog.
Things you'll need to jumpstart your new look:
1) dark jeans in a flattering fit (try lots on)
2) black dress pants (qaulity fabric & cut is everything- BR is my fave for this)
3) skirt (knee legnth works for everyone & so does A line)
4) V-neck tee (Ann Taylor has great ones!) in a couple of basic colors
5) jacket (depending on your job/lifestyle could be casual or a dressy suit style jacket)
6) cardigan sweater
7) bright scarves, cheap jewelry to brighten up your basic look
If you keep to a color scheme then everything will mix & match then just update with bright accessories (found cheap at juniors stores).
Good luck and if you can't find what you need there hop on a Sun Country flight and come visit the Mall of America in MN
I was just at the mall in Anchorage last week, I've got a (dread) FORMAL black tie event to attend this Friday. I spent a miserable day in Nordstroms dressing room, with the ever helpful albeit annoying sales gal shoving flowers and frillies and colors at me, and none of them fit or looked good. Now, I'm sure they were fine, but in MY mind, I looked like some huge linebacker trying to squeeze into a scoop neck, off the shoulder tidbit, and it was painful. Beautiful outfits, BIG FAT me...it didn't go well.
BUT, it certainly reaffirmed my diet!! Sheesh...taking a good hard look at myself, in the dressing room mirrors, in my undies, was startling. It's still winter here, and so I can cover up in layers, and fool myself. But stripped down, in full light, in three way mirrors, WOW. ICK. OMG... I may just try on clothes at Nordy's once a week, to get the shock value of the mirrors in there!
So, I found a midnight blue, tank style formal with a sheer overlay in matching midnight blue, that will work. I hated paying that much money for a dress that I hopefully won't ever be able to wear again, but what do you do? Does 3fatchicks have a dress swap/clothes thread where we can all just swap clothes when they don't fit?
The main malls in Anchorage have Old Navy, Gap, Penney's, Nordstroms, I've seen the Banana Republic but never gone in. And then all the teenage stores - American Eagle, etc, that my daughter shops in, but I've never seen anything bigger than a size 10 in there. Granted, I've never looked either...I just feel like the hovering mom making sure my daughter isn't wearing anything too revealing/short/tight.
I gain weight all over, and with having a toddler, I have big "beefy" arms. So my weight is spread out all over, not located in one area. Plus I've had 5 kids. I'm 5'9", with a really short body and really long legs, which doesn't make things any easier.
But, this week, I'm going to go through my clothes, and start purging. I don't need ugly thing in my wardrobe that make me feel ugly. They are going. Anything outdated will GO. (have the teenage daughter to help with those decisions) Not being able to find anything in this huge pile of clothes does not help my self esteem at all, nor does finding that none of them fit. I'm tired of stretchy pants (seen Nacho Libre - do NOT want to look like Jack Black!)
Isn't it funny, the image I have of myself and the image I see in the mirror are two different things... I caught a glimpse of myself in the window of a grocery store the other day. Granted, I had just dropped one child off at soccer practice, and was going to grab a few groceries before picking up another child from ballet, but image I saw in the window...that's not who I want to be. Everything needs to reflect my self image.
So, my first mini-goal
At 20 pounds down, getting a new haircut and highlights!
My wardrobe
