Holy Wardrobe, Batman!

So I mentioned I had a huge shopping spree today? After pulling everything out of bags, trying it all on again and then pairing the new pieces with the other new things I've bought for fall I only want to take back two pair of pants. WAAAAAA!!!! One thing I can't figure out, how come I can find a whole bunch of clothes that I like, look good, fit good and are affordable (ok, I'm a Wal-mart girl...I admit it!) but they don't look like outfits I see in magazines? These are the same types of pieces but I am too fashion-stunted to know how to put things together. Why don't they make a fashion primer for not-old but not-young REAL women who don't strut around in 4" heels? (I also bought the September 'Glamour' to see if I could learn a thing or two, uh NO!) It is nice to have my 19-yr. old daughter help me with approval/disapproval of outfits but I can't help but worry that she may be helping me to dress rather ridiculously for someone my age sometimes. I don't want to look like someone's mom who is trying to copy the teenagers. Does that make any sense? I think it was easier being fat. I wore clean t-shirts and blue jeans. I never changed purses except from winter to summer and the only time I dressed up was for funerals or weddings (rare). For church I'd get by with one pair of black docker-type pants and a nice shirt. Life was a lot simpler. Molly...Shopping/Clothes Acquisition Committee Member/Fashion Moron

Oh Molly, I just love you.. you already know that though! *hugs* Let me see if my shopping experience helps you at all.. I mimic you in many ways... My experiences so far: 1) I still don't want to spend money on clothes, b/c I never did before.. but in a weird way I want to but would feel to guilty. 2) I look at fashion and think yeah, cute on the hanger, cute on someone else but NOT me! 3) Different patters/colors cannot possibly look together and then I see it on someone or in a magazine and I think "how did they pull that off?" - I hear ya Molly! 4) I worry that I am dressing too young also.. how do I look fashionable yet not too old or too young? What is hip? 5) biggest lesson learned : just try it on, it won't kill you. I bought 3 size large JUNIORS tops the other day and some mediums in misses.. i love them all, never thought I would till I tried them on. Hang in there Molly I hope it gets easier.. I too was a jeans/tshirt/sweatshirt person and 2 purses, one for each season.. it was easier but now we need to have some flare and it does take some work to get it.. but worth it! Hugs!

Oh Melissa, you are so sweet! I love you too and really appreciate that you can get how weird this all is for me. Lucky for you that you ARE still young and so cute and just getting cuter all the time. I've gotten over the guilt of spending money on clothes by passing them along to other wls buddies in our local support group and family members. DH has been great about letting me buy clothes because he knows that for so many years I was too ashamed of myself to buy more than the bare minimum for a wardrobe. However, if he saw today's totals he might not quite feel that way.... LOL! Molly gotta go to bed!

Molly I buy Glamour....In Style.....Vogue.....etc etc and i still cannot figure it out! I usually grab a girlfriend who i think is "fashion forward" and make her go with........I still tend towards clothes that are too big or clothes made for Larger girls.......i think it was easier being fat cuz i knew where to shop.......and what looked good on a fat girl... I watch "what not to wear" and although these things look good on the show i would never think to put such things together--plus although i spend a lot on clothes i dont have the resources to spend $160 on one skirt...... you are not alone sista....

Is it just me or do the outfits they put together in those magazines look like a bag lady getting ready for a trip or what? I know all of us are tending to have lower temperatures than most regular ladies but even for me that looks like too many layers! Maybe the designers make those outfits for those supermodels who have -0% bodyfat and use questionable substances. Good tip on "what not to wear", I haven'****ched it in a long time. Will have to find out when the new episodes air! Molly

Maybe we can all dominate each other on what not to wear and we can ALL go to NY together with our $5000 giftcards and have some one tell us what we need to do. I actually went to the outlet mall today and bought 3 new bras and 9 pair of undies since I am STILL WEARING THE SAME ONES I WORE 100 pds ago. My underwear are sticking out of my pants...I am sure I am breaking some rule on that one And no one ever told me we are to change purses more then twice a year..lol Diana

Diana, Yeah, I think that underwear thing was a good thing to fix. Don't you just love looking at the smaller ones you just bought? It just cracks me up to see the size difference. And purses. Wow, I remember being a thin young hottie for all of 6 years of my life and having a huge purse collection. Each purse coordinated with an outfit and I can see that it is a genetic thing because my 19-yr. old daughter is the same way. (I actually did buy ANOTHER purse yesterday, too! hahaha) Your idea for us all to go on What not to wear is EXCELLENT! I don't think they've ever done a wls makeover show before, have they? For 5k they can make fun of me all they want!!! Molly

I don't know.. I might just Judo Chop that snotty woman on What Not to Wear.

Ladies...This is such a Hoot! What are the chances that we were programmed as (past) obese Stepford wives? Ditto for all of the clothing mishaps and mix-ups. I have been wearing skorts from Kohl's this season...love them. I refuse to wear the typical large neck scoop that has been a 3X+ staple in most large women's wardrobes. How big do the designers think are heads are that so many tops have this shape? I am going with V-necks and camisoles! Happy Hunting (Shopping)! Ro