I need fashion help if anyone wants to a project

[karmasabiotch]

I lost about 170lbs in the past 13 months.  If you ever venture to ML you know my story.

I have always been heavy and at one point topped the scale at over 300lbs and I'm 4'11.  I weigh less now than I did in middle school and I'm considered an old (47).

I have no idea how to dress for this body since I have always had to buy whatever I could find that fit me.  Now, I can buy things at regular stores which is fun but overwhelming and money is a factor especially since I have zero clothes that I can get away with wearing at this point.  I also am a bit challenged because I have large breasts and after a botched tummy tuck about 5-6 years ago the upper part of my stomach sticks out much more than the bottom part of my stomach and I have a ton of loose hanging skin on my thighs that I have to deal with when trying to find clothes.

So, how do I start?  I don't know where to shop that's affordable, I don't know how to put outfits together, and I struggle with buying anything other than black because that's pretty much what I have bought for the past few decades.  I want to add color, look stylish but feel comfortable, and I should stop wearing my deceased husbands shirts and jacket because they fit me better.  All his shirts are also sports related so not the best look when I should be dressed as a professional.

Any suggestions?  Websites? Magazines? Advice?  I'm open to anything and everything you're willing to share. 

I have checked out thrift stores but can't seem to find anything that isn't made for either 70 year olds or size 6.  I seem to be about a size 12 due to my bust size but a 10 would probably fit me better.  I've been buying large or medium sized stretch pants and shirts. 

I also have a closet full of 30/32 clothes and 5x's that I should donate but despite desperately wanting to keep losing weight, I'm scared I will gain it all back.  I do exercise now, and make healthy food choices.  Do I hang onto them just in case or purge because I should feel confident I will never be that size again?

Also, what's the difference between tights, leggings, stretch pants, and work out pants which look like they could fit into all of these categories?

[salsaverde]

someone else posted this link, but I think it has great ideas (for us olds): outfitposts.com/

[magdala]

Congratulations on the weight loss. I hope you are feeling great!

We need more information about you. What kind of profession are you in? A lawyer has a different wardrobe needs than a teacher who has a different wardrobe from a computer programmer.

What is your natural coloring? Your natural coloring will help identify which colors look good on you.

Black is a great neutral for most people. I live in black suits and black pants. I am an accountant with dark hair, dark eyes and pale skin.

Curvy woman generally look good in high v necklines. A high v highlights the curve without being va-va-va-voom.
An empire waist floats away from the stomach and can mask the stomach pouch
Boot cut jeans and pants can elongate the legs and provide extra room in the thigh area.
You will have to try on everything. With online ordering, that can be done in the comfort of your own home.
4'11 is generally petite. Petite sizes are cut for 5'3" and shorter. These tend to be narrower as well. You may need a petite-woman's size. This is a petite length but a fuller body. There are not enough brands offering petite-woman's sizes.

It is probably best to get the oversized clothes out of your regular closet to give you room to move forward. If you are not ready to purge, that is okay too. You have been making big changes.

A capsule wardrobe might work for you. This link describes how to begin one. theblissfulmind.com/2015/03/23/creating-a-capsule-wardrobe/

Also, what's the difference between tights, leggings, stretch pants, and work out pants which look like they could fit into all of these categories? Tights are not designed as outerwear but provide coverage under dresses or skirts. Leggings are skintight fabric coverings that serve as pants for very thin and/or very young women (not me). Stretch pants are less fitted than leggings but not by much. Work out pants can be anything.

I hope some of this helps!

[mrsukyankee]

I would also consider finding a good tailor. Buy things to fit certain parts of your body (boobs) and then have them tailored to fit the rest. I do that a lot with ebay clothing - get the size to fit my bum and then have it tailored to fit everywhere else.

[frannyr]

Weight Watchers says you should purge your bigger clothes. That way you don't have them to go back to. I like that notion. It discourages you from gaining back. I tend to fluctuate sizes but once I hit a certain size I lose weight because I refuse to wear bigger clothes.

I am your age and size. If I were you I'd start at a store like the Loft and mix and match pieces. To me the Loft is an easy place to shop because it's not overwhelming with choices and there's a nice combination of casual and work clothes (if you need them) and very basic pieces (shirts, sweaters, jeans, pants, skirts, etc.) The styles are not too old or young either and the have petites.

[laterz]

I've had success with New York & Company's dress pants - it's not the highest quality, but not the worst either, and their prices are pretty reasonable. I wash them inside out in the delicate cycle and hang dry - and they've held up pretty well for their price point. Halogen brand at Nordstroms also has more "classic" pieces - sweater sets, etc - and if you watch, you can usually get them on sale.

Do you have good bras? A good bra can make such a difference in how a shirt fits or looks. I've also invested in spanx because i have jiggly parts, and I feel better having them "smooth me out". LOL. I think there are alternative brands of Spanx at different price points. Spanx do sometimes go on sale during Nordstrom's bi-annual sales.

My weight has fluctuated over the years, and I've found that putting clothes that don't fit into a storage bin gives me comfort that I have options if my weight goes up or down; i just have to remind myself to periodically purge it just because the clothing styles are outdated. I don't think theres a right answer on that.

I agree that finding a tailor is also really beneficial - the husband that owns the nearby dry cleaner shop is a tailor and small adjustments in key pieces make a big difference also. I recently needed to buy a suit for interviewing, and found a really good classic at Macy's (at a good price) - but had to buy a larger jacket size, as my arms are very long - and it was much less stressful knowing i could just take it in for tailoring rather than having to look for a different suit that fit off the rack (while I was under time pressure).

Scarves also make a simple outfit look polished - without a lot of cost. Nordstrom Rack is good for that.

Good luck!

[Saint Monica]

karmasabiotch, you look much younger. (I know that's not helpful). But you are purrdy!

[jena]

I would take the clothes that are one size too big and store those in bins. Everything larger I would donate.

There's nothing wrong with living in black pants, especially at work, lots of women of all sizes do that. I like dress pants from Macy's. The Style &co brand is usually a good value and they are machine washable.

[gennyu]

Nov 2, 2016 11:20:36 GMT -5 karmasabiotch said:

I lost about 170lbs in the past 13 months.  If you ever venture to ML you know my story.

I have always been heavy and at one point topped the scale at over 300lbs and I'm 4'11.  I weigh less now than I did in middle school and I'm considered an old (47).

I have no idea how to dress for this body since I have always had to buy whatever I could find that fit me.  Now, I can buy things at regular stores which is fun but overwhelming and money is a factor especially since I have zero clothes that I can get away with wearing at this point.  I also am a bit challenged because I have large breasts and after a botched tummy tuck about 5-6 years ago the upper part of my stomach sticks out much more than the bottom part of my stomach and I have a ton of loose hanging skin on my thighs that I have to deal with when trying to find clothes.

So, how do I start?  I don't know where to shop that's affordable, I don't know how to put outfits together, and I struggle with buying anything other than black because that's pretty much what I have bought for the past few decades.  I want to add color, look stylish but feel comfortable, and I should stop wearing my deceased husbands shirts and jacket because they fit me better.  All his shirts are also sports related so not the best look when I should be dressed as a professional.

Any suggestions?  Websites? Magazines? Advice?  I'm open to anything and everything you're willing to share. 

I have checked out thrift stores but can't seem to find anything that isn't made for either 70 year olds or size 6.  I seem to be about a size 12 due to my bust size but a 10 would probably fit me better.  I've been buying large or medium sized stretch pants and shirts. 

I also have a closet full of 30/32 clothes and 5x's that I should donate but despite desperately wanting to keep losing weight, I'm scared I will gain it all back.  I do exercise now, and make healthy food choices.  Do I hang onto them just in case or purge because I should feel confident I will never be that size again?

Also, what's the difference between tights, leggings, stretch pants, and work out pants which look like they could fit into all of these categories?

I thought of your post when I stumbled across this on Pinterest:
www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=188240282