I have usually hated clothes shopping, especially when I was overweight. What fit wasn't attractive, it was a horror to find anything that fit, and getting anything that had to fit multiple points on my body? Almost impossible.
Nowadays, I find shopping for clothes much more fun, but I still have difficulty figuring out what size I am. I can wear anything from a six in some things to a ten in others, with eight being my average, and have found that some attractive clothing is too big on me! How do you beat the clothes shopping blues while losing weight? Let's leap the orange vapor and hear about what I do.
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First of all, you may not need new clothes, depending on how much weight you're going to lose. If you are going for 10-20 pounds, just invest in a good smaller belt, or a customizable belt, and tighten it as needed. Also, baggy works for some things. No, really. I still have some attractive "huge size" clothes that, with a belt and the right accessories, look great on the new smaller Allergywoman.
If you do, however, keep in mind that mass-produced clothing designers are actually situated on Mars. They design clothing that must be mostly intended for aliens. Your mission, going into the stores, especially shopping for pants (and bras), is to find the few pieces of clothing they slipped up on and designed that will actually fit humans.(1) They are out there. They will slip up. And if you're kind of curvy like I still am after my weight loss, the Amanda line of jeans from Gloria Vanderbilt is a good bet to try.(2)
It isn't illegal to go into stores and try things on to figure out what size you are, either. Well, unless you do it in the middle of the aisles where everyone can see you. Nor is it illegal to measure yourself, then go into stores that have Halloween costumes and see, by measurements, what you could spook the kids with this year if you wanted to (and lost all sense of taste).
Also, remember that your self-worth isn't defined by what weight you are, or by whether you can fit into a pair of jeans designed to fit anorexic models. It's defined by the goodness you are in the world, and I have no doubt you are worthy. You're here, after all.
Hope everyone's having a fantastic day. I weighed in at 140 today, unexpectedly, so all good on my end. :) In the picture below, I'm wearing a shirt I wore before my weight loss. See? Sometimes it still works out fine.
Rachel at Lawrence Park by Windthin on deviantART
(1) No, this isn't CT. It's a new way of thinking about clothes shopping that can ward off the depressing thought, "I lost weight and I still can't find anything to wear?!"
(2) Not a paid endorsement. I fit well into their stuff.