The FastDay Forum

[Tracieknits]

So I have just gone through my wardrobe and plucked out the last of the 22's, 20's and 18s (except for the smallest two pairs of cute 18 jeans).

For years, I have had loads of jeans/trousers (or PANTS in American English) in a wide variety of sizes from 16 to 22. I am used to opening the door and looking at over two dozen choices to make. Now, I have three pairs of yoga pants (what do you Brits call them?) that fit and three pairs of jeans, as well as two pairs of small size 18s that are wearable, but a tiny bit big.

So what exactly does one need in an intermediate wardrobe? Obviously, I just don't want to spend very much on a size I don't want to stay at. I would love to cruise down through 16, 14 and 12, and in my dreams I would love to land at size 10 and stay there.

So I'm thinking I need to start really watching clearance racks and scoop up some good bargains in classic items in sizes I may realistically need in the next year. For example, I love plain, soft, colored jersey t-shirts, so at Target's last clearance sale, I bought 8 long sleeved ones in a smaller size for $6 each. That's basically my shirt wardrobe now.

How much do you think is enough for an intermediate wardrobe? How many sizes in advance do you buy? Or do you only buy what fits when it actually fits? Thanks!

I try and buy cheap as I can. I bought some jeans in a sale and just bought a couple of supermarket t-shirts. It's difficult isn't it.

[Tracieknits]

If it's not on sale, I don't buy it! LOL I'm so cheap. I look at nearly every purchase I make in terms of "how badly do I want/need this, or can it go in the travel fund?" I don't think I've ever paid more than $25 for a pair of jeans in my life.

I'd say you buy as little as possible! However I do think you need to know what you would wear if you were invited out somewhere nice at short notice. I might be inclined to get a top I really liked and just wear it to death. By the time you are sick of it, it won't fit any more!
I hadn't bought clothes for a while before starting 5:2, so I slimmed back down into my old stuff while I was losing, and now I don't think I'm going to get much slimmer, and my old stuff is just a bit too big. Not enough to not wear it, just enough to be a little baggy. So I'm going for natural replacement as it wears out... I would actually prefer the dump-the-lot-and-start-again option, but that's not going to happen!
I didn't buy clothes in advance, mainly because buying a Christmas dress was my target, but also because sometimes I really like clothes at the start of the season, but by the time I see them in the sale, they don't look quite so exciting. However buying classics in the sale in a smaller size sounds like a good idea.
What a lovely problem for us to have!

I'm with Annurca, right down to the slimming into old stuff that's now a bit too big. I definitely agree about having a smart outfit on hand as all times to avert panic, but it needn't be expensive. Failing that, find a friend with a suitable sized wardrobe that you can raid at short notice My friend and I used to regularly swap funeral and interview suits depending on our size, back in the day.

Buy two of what you need in the sales....two trousers/jeans/skirts. Jumpers last a bit longer because you can pretend they are oversized ones! Wear with a belt etc......or shrink them! Wear them to death as @Annurca said.
Move the buttons on a much loved coat as far over as they will go without looking silly...or make it into double breasted if you can. (I did that with hubby's coat, just bought a set of 6 buttons). And as @Winsome said you can maybe borrow. I bought a dress to spur me on before Christmas a smaller size and regret I didn't wear it much when it actually fitted. Now it's too big.
If you can sew maybe take things in yourself?

My approach has been to only buy 2nd hand, charity and nearly new. And throw out clothes as soon as they are even a bit too big, to force me to wear the smaller stuff, so I get plenty of wear out of it, before it becomes too big, and has to go.

Rather like the fruit bowl - you have some fresh fruit, and some past its best so eat the slightly manky stuff, before it goes too bad, so when you get to the fresh stuff, it has started to turn, so you never get to eat really fresh fruit.....you get my drift

At my midway point I got away with skirts and dresses because they can be looser. But when it got cooler, I needed new trousers. Luckily the jeans I got at that point still fit ok. I hate wasting money.

I'm dreading the cull I need to do of tops, skirts, and dresses. And the replacements...

[Tracieknits]

You know, I never think of skirts and dresses -- mostly because I was uncomfortable in them. But I wore a miniskirt that was just a wee bit too big along with some tights last week in Europe's heatwave and it was nice! I do think skirts may be more forgiving and possibly easier to alter as well.

Auriga - that's a great idea on the coat. I have a gorgeous winter coat that my son actually insisted I get a few years ago. Maybe I can take it to a tailor to make it double-breasted.

Thank you all for your great ideas and input! I actually did just buy a dress because my husband's sister is getting married in about a month. So I have a fancy outfit in my current size already. It's very flowy with some knit and some chiffon, so I'm hoping it will be wearable for a while

@Tracieknits Since replacing all my clothing back end of last summer i now only ever buy in the sales or on marked down items but especially charity shops for now and although I've stated I've enough for now I came away from donating some good with 2 more tops 1@£2-50 & 1@£1 well I couldn't resist both M&S so my answer is very little layout until my goal weight coz absolutely everything has now been replaced and I'm now wearing my
"interim" clothing. Sue

I finally caved and had to buy quite a few clothes. Had given away all my larger items to a co worker who is having success on 5:2 as well but is behind me. I had hoped to lose about 10 more pounds to reach maintenance.

Funny thing, I'm at my original goal...that I really thought was unachievable, so then lowered my final goal. A little greedy I guess, and honestly I should be content with sizes 8 and 10. The 50% waist ratio is still alluding me. I've been up and down with the same few pounds since the holidays so guessing my body is liking it here. Still doing the 5:2 which tells me I'm overeating on weekends, but it really is nice to have that freedom.

One thought on buying clothes. I love a sale just as much as anyone. But have you ever noticed how we are hesitant to spend $20 on something we could wear once a week for years, but don't think twice on dropping $20 for one meal that will be gone tomorrow? So, I suggest the money you save on food on fast days, you spend on something else, and maybe some of that is clothes.

Congrats on your new size Tracie...now go feed your fitbit and get to the next size down.

[Tracieknits]

That's a good point on eating out. We don't do it much, but we do do it!

I find Old Navy to be good for me, whether it be buying bigger or smaller sizes! I only have a few things right now that really fit. But, I have a lot of smaller stuff to move into as I lose weight. I have 2 pairs of jeans that fit comfortable and about 3 pairs of pants that I rotate for work. I also love to wear long skirts and with an elastic waist they can fit me for a few sizes!

I'm at an awkward stage right now. My 16s are a little bit big, but the 14s aren't cutting it yet! Hopefully 5 more lbs. or so!

I mostly buy second had, from charity shops. I also give all my clothes to charity as soon as they are too big. I'm in a massive declutter stage right now, so my wardrobe is shrinking. (Helps that I hate shopping, and rarely go to shops.)

I have found a smaller wardrobe is so much easier when I'm happier with my body. Instead of trying on lots of things and getting sad about how I look, before settling on something, I'm generally happy with how I look with anything. (I'm still 5kg off my target, so sure this will be even better when I get there!)