For the *Girls*

Okay….if you’re a man, look away! Quick!

This post is going to be all girly, so you may just want to stop reading now.  I mean, I’m going to delve into the world of shopping and *unmentionables*

Still here?  Okay, don’t say you weren’t warned!

As my weight starts drifting down the scale again, I think one of the best perks is that my clothing options are opening up again.  Any woman (or man for that matter) who has struggled with their weight knows what a terrifying struggle it can be sometimes in finding clothes that fit and that don’t look like a muumuu or animal-printed potato sack.

In fact, that was the best part of being at my lowest weight.  Being able to shop in “regular” sized clothing departments.  Unfortunately, the weight loss itself brought some issues with it, as well, (i.e., loose skin) that I also talked about often.  A lot of the clothes that I thought were cute even at those “regular” sizes just wouldn’t work with the body that I have.  It’s something that, lacking the funds for full-body plastic surgery, I’m slowing starting to just deal with and accept.  It’s part of who I am.  Yes, that was a huge-ass sigh that you just heard coming from me.  Still just trying to think of it all as “battle scars.”

I’m slowing starting to allow myself to shop for clothes again and am trying hard to live by the rule I started when I got towards the lower end of the scale:  don’t buy it unless I absolutely love it.  I remember back in July that I bought a pair of jeans in a smaller size and was so excited that they fit.  Two weeks ago, I realized they were getting baggy.  I went back to the same store and found a pair in the next smallest size down and they fit!  Hopefully I will be out of them soon, too.

I don’t normally do this, but they had a pair of pants that I loved that were on clearance for $10.  Unfortunately, they were in a size that was way too small.  I tried them on, and was just barely able to squeeze my ass into them, but you know what?  I bought them anyway.  It is my mission to get into them.  Expect to see that post one day (hopefully sooner rather than later).

This past weekend, when we went to see “Charlie St. Cloud,” we made a quick stop at Avenue since it was nearby.  Of all of the times I’ve been in there, I think I’ve found something that looks halfway decent on me maybe a handful of times.  I did find a shirt that I liked (though now that I have it home, I’m not sure how well I like it), but I made one purchase that I’m still freaking excited about.

Okay, shield your eyes, guys.

Women, is there any better feeling than finding a bra that actually fits?  That actually keeps the *girls* where they’re supposed to be?!  Seriously, when I tried this thing on, there was a collective “hallelujah” chorus going on around me.  My only complaint is that it isn’t available in any other colors, because if I could, I would buy 7 of these to wear every day of the week.

And unfortunately, it doesn’t look on me as it does on our paper-thin model above, but damn. I think I’m in love. It’s amazing the difference a good-fitting bra can have on how you feel about yourself.  And this one?  Equals feeling sexy as hell.

Anyway, are there any brands/styles that you swear by?  Where are your favorite places to clothes shop in general?

PS:  You can click on the image above to see the Avenue page with more details.