When do I get to buy new clothes?

So with my surgery fast approaching my wife brought up a good question. When do I go out and buy new clothes? My thoughts are buying clothes from good will or salvation army untill my weight is off and then go buy new clothes after that.

WHEN to buy clothes depends on how you carry your weight and how much you lose. I would stick to cheap clothing for the first 6 months at least, if not longer. Places like Walmart and Thrift stores would be a good idea. I also recommend buying some belts if you don't already own any. Lol

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!

Given my starting weight, I didn't really need start buying clothes until I was at least 50 pounds down, and even then, most things were replaced closer to 100lbs. After that, it came fast and furious.

I try to only shop as needed, and try to stick to basics, that I can mix and match. Office wear is mostly black. I avoid buying a top that would only work with a specific pair of pants or skirt.

I bought clothes as snug as I could get away with, and in styles I felt would work as they got looser, to buy a little more time.

I started at a high weight, and at least in my city, most charity or consignment shops didn't carry sizes that fit. Most only went up to XL. I do have great luck with department store clearance sections.

Last year I bought a winter coat with a drawstring type waist, and that was perfect. It got me through the whole winter.

I managed to find a sale at the local thrift store - most of the pants were $2-3. I stocked up on pants in four sizes below my current size. I've lost 52 lb, and have only just gotten into a smaller size. My pants were very baggy in the legs for a while, but the waists still fit. I don't plan on buying any full priced clothes until I hit my goal weight.

During the weight loss period for the most part most of us buy only what we need, only when we need it, preferably used if possible. Sizes change so quickly that sometimes you'll only be in a size for a very short period of time. Once at goal, it makes sense to buy a full wardrobe again. I found such great secondhand clothing resources while losing weight that a lot of my current at goal clothing was also purchased that way.

This was me. It took a while before I finally got down a size (and then a bit longer to get out of the smaller clothes I had saved), but once it started, I was the Goodwill queen...

Oh wait...

I'm still the Goodwill Queen!

I'm at goal, but I still shop A LOT at the thrift stores/ consignment shops around town. Then I buy special things at little boutiques with more original things... I really don't do the 'big box' stores (Macy's Kohls Etc) since I can usually find those clothes at the thrift places.

Really good quality clothes- app 2-3 years after WLS. When your body stabilize and you dealt with fat redistribution.

Some of us lose too much initially- app 1-1.5 years post op. Depends on how much we need to lose. Then year 2-3 "fat moves around". My body shape changed as time progressed. Fitting clothes that were perfect 2 years post op- did not fit right after year 3. But normal things like jackets and loser clothed were fine a year out and now - over 9 years out.

Also - do you plan plastics? Skin removal? If you even consider that, you don't want to invest a lot of money into expensive clothes.

First post op I started buying stuff in thrift stores or better quality items in consignment stores. Spending little bit more for better quality items - but not too much. But something I needed for occasion (party, outing, etc).

There are a lot of places to buy used clothes these days- even FB or Craigslist, estate sales, etc. Even eBay. I bought good quality leather jackets for my BF. He is not going to wear that often and we did not to spend 100-300 on a jacket. But 20-40- why not? Right?

Even now - I seldom buy stuff for me in "normal" malls. Maybe some shirts and trousers.

I got so used to spending just a fraction of $$ on more expensive items. There are a lot of rich women that buy a nice dress, wear 1-2 times, (or buy one size too small) then put that after a year or 2 in a consignment store. That is another bonus for staying slim after WLS. Smaller sizes are easier to find.

I also shop in Ross, TJ Maxx, and Kohl's. Some of clothes there don't really last - but they are cheap so that is ok.

I always bough new - good fitting underwear. A few pairs every time my size changed.

I've done a combination of everything. For special occasions, I'll buy something nice even though I know I might only get to wear it once. For exercise clothing, I invest in good quality things because compression is important for my comfort and health. Bras? I'd rather buy 2 great bras than have poor fitting foundation garments. For other stuff, I've found options that "shrink" with me or cheap options that I don't feel bad about donating after a few months of wear.

I've also kept a minimal closet during this period. It makes more sense to me to buy a few things and wash them often - if that causes them to fall apart more quickly, no big deal since I'll need a different size by then anyway.

I am a Goodwill addict. Our local Goodwill is a very big store and every Wednesday they get donations from a larger city a few hours away. I have found the most amazing clothes and have never paid more than $5 for each item. I do buy good quality underwear and bras, but am still developing my wardrobe from Goodwill:-)

Sounds like a good plan going to thrift shops. I got caught up in my weight loss and ended up buying too much and ended up giving it away.