Question:
Does anyone else feel like a fish out of water when they go clothes shopping?
I was in JcPenney this weekend and I was kind of looking around. Now that I have lost 93 lbs (down to 173)I don't even know where to start. I am used to Catherine's or Lane Bryant. I thought to myself if I was really looking for an outfit I would be in trouble. — Kim N. (posted on August 7, 2003)
August 7, 2003
LOL, YES! I was in JC Penneys last night and didn't even know where the non
woman-sized items and wandered all around the store looking for what I
wanted! I used to HATE clothes shopping, but last night was fun! I was able
to pick from several items that fit well AND looked good! Down from a size
22 to a 12/14 :)
— Barbara C.
August 7, 2003
I've lost 155 the past 16 months and have gone from a size 4X to a 10
petite. I still sometimes start to head for the plus sized section when I
go into a store. You do eventually get better with it though, and it is
wonderful to start getting into regular sizes (and a lot cheaper!) I went
into somewhere like Ann Taylor the other day and caught my reflection in a
full length mirror and didn't realize it was me right away. I had to stand
there and look and realize people probably weren't really thinking
"what is that fat lady doing in here?" like I always fear they
are whenever I go into a store that doesn't carry plus sizes.
— Melissa F.
August 7, 2003
I never did like shopping for clothes! I did like looking through the Lane
Bryant catalogues when they came, and would order simple, shapeless
clothes. I got one the other day and realized I can't wear anything in
there any more! I have had a good time finding inexpensive stuff at Walmart
for work. (Our office is freezing, (and it's not just me!) so knit pants,
tee shirts and a sweater work well, and aren't too hot when you go from the
office to the outside.) My feet still want to take me to the Plus-size
clothes, and I have to try on stuff I know will fit just to prove to myself
it is not too small.
— koogy
August 7, 2003
Kim, if you are still on the downward weight loss journey, may I suggest
you try consignment stores/good thrift stores initially? You change sizes
so rapidly that its not worth spending good $ to buy new when you hardly
even get a chance to wear it before you outgrow it. I discovered
consignment while on the downward journey and never left it. I LOVE
getting designer/brand name good quality clothes at a fraction of what it
would cost new. Eventually, you will get used to not having to shop at
Lane Bryant or Catherines..now if I could just get them to STOP sending me
those catalogs!
— Cindy R.
August 7, 2003
The first time I went clothes shopping I definately felt like a fish out of
water. Or at least like a new transplant from the planet Venus. I had no
clue what size I was. I wore my plus sizes until they literally fell off
of me. I do shop at Goodwill and sometimes Wal-Mart. I have bought jeans
only to wear them once before getting too baggy. TJMaxx and some of those
stores are great too. Bill Blass jeans for $12.99. And they fit sooo
good.
— Charlene W.
August 7, 2003
An answer to what to do with those catalogs!!
1. Give them to your childrens classrooms...they are great for many
things.
2. Use them to line your birdcage.
3. Give them to your local Hospital to put in their waiting areas. Our
hospital is a small hospital and everyone helps support it.
4. I let my kids look through them and they usually tear them up (2 small
kids). Good Luck
— Carol S.
August 7, 2003
I was eased into the shopping thing. LC, my sister who is a year post op,
gave me a big garbage bag of pants, from size 24 to 16. I used them first,
and when I put on a size in jeans, headed for that size in the stores. I
was afraid of being diappointed, or just not believing that I could fit in
regular sizes. I now hit the clearance racks at Macy's and anything under
$20 is fair game. My name is AG and I am a shopaholic!!!!!!
— Fixnmyself
August 7, 2003
It is hard at first and then WOW WEE WOW does it good. It is so fun.
Panties and stuff like that clothes that fit Oh yeah baby it is a blast. I
have gone down 10 sizes in 10 1/2 months so I go thrifting a whole lot and
I can get so much stuff for like $30 I mean 4 shirts and 3 pairs of pants.
I just bought a Caren Little suit about a $300 suit at the Goodwill for
$6.99 Oh yeah it gets way better.
Have fun Peggy open rny 9/20/02 -144lbs
— Peggy A.
August 8, 2003
oh yah... *grin* while this is a good consequence of weight loss.. it
really is baffling for me sometimes.. so many choices... its so hard for me
to actually think carefully about what I might want or need... this summer
I had black capri pants on my brain.. I bought so many pairs.. I don't need
anymore for years. Good luck.. its fun, but it sure is confusing
sometimes!
— Lisa C.
August 8, 2003
heya..ya got lots of answers..but i thought id add a bit..lol.. im still a
bit nervous whenever i go into a new store.. i feel like an imposter
alot..and like people are lookin at me..lol.. silly i know.. but i have
taken to either having my hubby ask what sizes the store caries..or biting
the bullet and askin myself..just so i dont get disappointed.. like when i
went to buy a bathing suit.. i asked the lady if she carried my sizes..she
just smiled and helped me pick something tht even looked cute..lol.. im
sure we will all get the hang of it eventually..huggles n bb..
— johanna F.
August 8, 2003
Before I gained weight I was a clothes horse. Lots and lots of clothes.
When I had surgery I couldn't WAIT to be out of the Women's department and
buy clothes that didn't have an X next to the size.
I went clothes shopping last weekend and you know what I bought? Nothing.
I wandered around the regular sizes and everything looked too small even
though it's not (I'm a 12 petite right now). I wandered back into the
Women's department and actually started to pick out some clothes and
thought this is silly, they are way too big.
I am in the netherlands of fashion. What a weird place.
— susanje
August 9, 2003
I just had this experience--went shopping at Lane Bryant last week, and
found I'm now down in their 14/16s. My mother, with whom I was shopping,
suggested we walk down the plaza to Kohls, and she steered me in the
regular section. I was half-expecting people to point at me and say
"Fatty! What are YOU doing in this section?!" but it turned out
that I fit into L and XL shirts, and regular 18 pants there. I couldn't
believe the amount of selection in the regular sizes! It was
mind-boggling--I'm used to having only 3 stores to choose my clothes from,
and now I've got options in every store. I have no idea how I'm going to
decide where to shop, and when to draw the line with how much I'm going to
buy. There are worse problems. :)
— Judy M.
August 9, 2003
I used to only be able to shop in those 2 stores only. Now I can shop
almost anywhere (I'm in 16/18s now down from 28). When I first started
shopping in department stores, I found it very overwhelming and stressful.
No one I spoke to about this understood and they would mock me. There were
so many things to choose from and the sections are so much bigger. I got
completely lost in JCPenney's once! I didn't even know I was supposed to
look in the "Misses" section - I thought that was for teens! I am
now starting to relax and enjoy shopping a little more. I too frequent
thrift shops to help not spend so much money while losing.
— Yolanda J.
August 9, 2003
I was SO uncomfortable in the regular ladies section when I first tried to
go shopping. I was convinced that everyone was staring at me and thinking
"Why in the hell is that fat woman looking at these clothes!" I
finally dealt with it by just looking to buy one or two things when I went
shopping. That way I could try on just a few things, and that kept my
anxiety manageable. Today, I'm okay shopping for longer periods of time
and I don't get nervous. My advice, go slow!
— Kathy J.
August 9, 2003
OMG, AG, I wish we were friends!!!!
— SweetDragonfly
August 10, 2003
Wouldn't it be nice if we could afford to go shopping and have a woman be
able to tell our size just by looking at us and knowing exactly what will
look nice on us....just like in Pretty Woman!
— Sarahlicious
August 11, 2003
Oh my goodness, I can relate to this question so much! I have never, ever
had a problem finding clothes that fit me and suit my style. When I was
thin, I was a shopaholic and when I gained weight, I wasn't but still knew
what styles looked good on me and what brands I could wear. I'm 3 months
out and down 50 lbs. I've been out shopping 3 times and have gone home
with nothing except shoes! I "think" I'm still a 14W but haven't
tried anything on and when I look at the plus size clothes they look so
dowdy and matronly. But when I go to the regular size clothes, they look
so tiny. I know I should just try some on but I don't know if my ego is
ready for that yet. I'm taking it slow. I know that eventually I'll be
forced to make a decision and get into that fitting room! Good luck to you
all. Thanks for your help.
— [Deactivated Member]
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