Today's Fashions !

I went to the mall with my daughter yesterday (age 25). She tells me with my new figure I should be dressing younger. So I went into Express and tried on some black pants. They had a wide waist band with two buttons, but the zipper was only about an inch long. They sat on my hips, and if I was to sit down, my butt would have been peeking out the back. I was so tickled because they were size 8 and a little loose up top, but then I noticed they cost $58.50! There's no way I'd spend that much on a pair of pants. She said "but they're so cool." We went to another store and it was the same thing, only a little cheaper, but the same short little zipper. There's a young girl here where I work, and I looked at her zipper today, and it's the same way. She said "that's why you have to wear a long shirt under your shirt." WTH? And most of the tops (and dresses) look like maternity clothes. A lot of the clothes look like what I wore in the 70's, and frankly, that stuff didn't need to come back. I'm not ready to look matronly, but I just can't picture myself in those clothes. And what has happened to my boobs in the last couple of weeks? They shrunk up like raisins, just all of a sudden! I went from 38" to 35" across the top since the last time I measured.

The fashions today, especially those in at the mall, are very youth oriented.  I, personally, like a more structured garment than the baby dolls and sheer items they are showing now.  But like you I'm not ready to be dressed like I'm 70.  You might want to check out the looks at places like J. Jill, Talbots, Chicos, etc. to get an idea of a look you like and then try to find less expensive versions at cheaper stores.   But remember if you are now at your goal, you should start thinking about buying some better pieces since you can now plan to wear them several years.  A good pair of black pants that fit right and aren't "trendy" are worth much more than $58.  But ones that are too low are not.   I like to go to stores, try on a lot of different cuts and brands, take notes, and then look for sales online!   Enjoy discovering your new fashion self, Sally

I definitely dress younger now than I did at 328lbs, but within reason b/c I'm almost 40 My friend and I were just talking the other day about the fact that we HATE the new shirts coming out that look  like maternity tops!!! They are terrible!!! When you look at the JCPenney's add and the size 0 model doesn't look good in it then why/how would I look good in it, LOL!!!!!

I have had a hard time finding clothes that are age appropriate. I'm 52 & I like some of the styles now but I don't want to wear teeny bopper clothes.but I don't want to look frumpy either.  I have noticed the zippers too. Whats up w/ that? lol. For the 1st time in my life I also have to wear a padded bra. that just makes me laugh . who woulda thunk it? Brenda

I agree, Tracy!  Now, where were those materinity looking tops before I had surgery?!!! 

Ain't it the truth! I never found anything I liked when I was plus size, and now it seems like they've got the prettiest things hanging there. Not that I'd want to gain to fit into them, but I swear, they were never there when I needed them!

LOL, I hear ya!

I totally understand. I have two employees who are 21 and they help keep me age appropriate. LOL I can tell by their look if I've done it wrong. I shop mostly Old Navy. And I'm, well, old. Be 58 in a minutre or three. But Old Nvy size 4 pants ALWAYS fit, sometimes 2's, but I'm thinking they're mismarked. The tops? Something between XS and XL will usualy do it.

OK, knowing that, I shop the thrift stores. I don't do the "1 inch zipper" (there is a web site of that name), since my nearly 58 y/o butt crack surely cannot be of great interest, except as a topic of conversation, most likely NOT good.

But at Old Navy, I can buy "just below the waist", which means it doesn't cut off my breath in front and sticks to my waist in back! I can clone it in thrift stores, for $1, too.

I've found that if I take my time to try things on, I can usually find THAT fit in almost everything. Some tricks to note: if it has a lot of spandex and fits perfectly in the store? It'll slide down your hips after 30 minutes. I can put some darts in the waist or just skip it.

As for tops, my top isn't going to fit most teen stuff, even tho at 5'1", 110, my body looks like it should. So, I shop with the basic template in mind, but MY body dynamics. It's taken years to get a handle on this. I'm learning to layer and I watch my 2 employees' faces to know if I got it right or wrong. It is supposed to look effortless. Yeah, right. Maybe if you're 20!

So, now you find the "so cool" pants at your local Salvation Army or Goodwill, know you're probably helping a good cause, and try out YOUR new look, but 3-4 outfits for a total of $10.

My fave is to find Old Navy stuff, new, with tags for under $2. Pants. Most tops I can forget.

Most of the stuff I got back when I originally lost my weight was washed to death. I'd never done that before. I'd always stretched things out or changed sizes. Having things washed so many times that the color faded wasn't even something I knew could happen. This year I finaly phased out some of those 1996 classics (and they were thrift store ten!) and shopped for newer used stuff. I shopped the usual charity stores, as well as smaller ones for animal or women's causes and felt really good about paying $1 for Old Navy shorts, knowing that the 5 prs I bought would neuter a cat.

I've also found cool European stuff and stuff that was still on the racks at the mall. Some ppl do not "return" or "unshop" stuff they don't like when they get it home. THey just toss in a bag and drop off to chairty. I'Ve found some GREAT buys this way.

All of the jeans I've had for years are at the waist and once you've had the "just below the waist" with a TEENY bit of spandex, you never got back to those jeans that cut you in half when you sit. Or maybe it's just my low waisted self that finds these so much comfier than the standard waist.

Michelle, thanks for the thrift store tip! I've never gone in before b/c I had no idea what I would find, but we have serveral right near me so I'm going to give them a try! I also agree that the just below the waist pants are sooooooo comfy! I can never go back to the at the waist pants~they just feel and look weird on me!

I'm gradually parting with all "at the waist", all of my "no spandex at all" or "way too much spandex" stuff and ending up with just the "just below the waist" with a teeny bit of spandex OR putting a coupla darts in the "too much spandex but too cute to toss".

Also, do you guys know about www.freecycle.org ? Find the one for your area. Things are free, it's national, purpose is to keep things out of the landfill. I've given away boxes and boxes of past mistakes or mind changes, and every now and then will score a box of fun to go thru, keep 2 shirts, and freecycle the rest back out.

Altho we're talking clothes here, I've also found homes for 2 washers, 2 dryers, 2 frig, hide-a-bed, water bed, hot tub (all working) and picked up a frig for someone (after I FC mine out), gotten a gas grill and a dryer for my employees, gotten some kinda spendy in cartridges and so on. I also got a monitor that didn't work that I had to pay to get rid of. BUT the one inject cartridge paid for it many times over. LOL

It's really helpful if you know a few brands/sizes that are pretty much a sure thing. Like I can be pretty sure about the ones I mentioned, but I still try on to be sure no one has altered it. And I try new looks for $3 that I would not be brave enough to try at store prices. If it doesn't work, I can donate to charity or freecycle locally. And $3 was a cheap afternoon of fun, not to mention supporting good causes that you might find locally, like the Humane society or Salvation Army.