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.

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For the *Girls*

I was actually able to get it on and zip it up!  Holy crap!  A 10!!  I could even sit down in it without busting a seam.  I always have an image of that horrible scene from Made of Honor (scene is found at 9:25) in the back of my head.  Of course it wasn’t quite as loose as I’d have liked it to have been, but it wasn’t indecent or anything and didn’t look half-bad.

I’m trying to save money, so I didn’t buy it, but just trying it on was worth it.  I think I glowed for several hours afterwards!

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NSV

White/black suit:

Red suit (my absolute favorite):

Old shirt, new skirt:

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Current Pics

I know, I know, appearances shouldn’t matter.  But unfortunately we all live in a world based on appearances.  Which, to a certain extent, I understand, because when you first meet someone that really is all that you have to go on to make an opinion.  And you know, the human race is all about judgment.

I’ve really noticed lately how my mood/attitude can change based on what I’m wearing, and I find it really interesting.

I can put my clothes into categories:

• When I was at my highest weight, I had clothes that (somewhat) fit.  That’s it.  It rarely was a factor of buying and wearing clothes that I loved.  Hopefully my friends didn’t think that I actually loved some of the hideous things I used to wear.  Occasionally, I would find something that both fit and that I did like/love, but it was rare.  If I tried it on, it mostly fit, didn’t show every roll, and was a reasonable price, then I would get it.  Really, that was all the choice that I had. 
• I still have clothes now that I only kind of like.  They’re all right.  They’re ones that I mostly got for the previous reasons – still stuck in that same mindset, I guess.  Some days I feel good in them; some days I don’t.
• Lately, a new category has opened up.  Clothes that I simply adore.

I’ve mentioned recently about how much I enjoy clothes shopping now (for the most part).  Last week, I wrote about my shopping expedition.  I went to several stores, but the two places where I bought things were the Burlington Coat Factory (great deals!) and JC Penney.  I did, honestly, begin to feel like a little kid in a toy store, rushing from rack to rack.  There were so many possibilities!  And, for the first time in my life, I wasn’t confined to one tiny little area.  The clothes just seemed to go on and on, as far as the eye could see.

Unfortunately, I still can’t wear everything I see.  Due to my extra skin issues, I have to be really careful about the things I can wear.  It’s really frustrating when you try things on, and there are certain things I know not to even pick up.  You might try on a shirt, ever hopeful, and while it fits perfectly through the chest/middle, your arms look hideous.  Welcome to my world.  You’d think I’d be used to it by now.  When I weighed a lot more, I would actually have to buy shirts several sizes too big to fit my arms.  Luckily, the more I lose, the less that is a problem.  I’ve actually been able to buy shirts that are pretty close to the size I should be wearing.  But while I still have some shopping struggles, the possibilities that have opened up are astonishing.

And so, I’ve instated a new rule of my own.  No more buying a clothing garment unless I’m in love with it.  This has been my policy for quite a while now, and I’ve stuck to it fairly well.  It’s also cut down on the money I’d spend on wasted clothes.  I would buy something, feeling merely okay about it, wear it once, and then decide I look terrible in it.  And onto a hanger it would go, never to be seen from again.

Last week, I bought three new suits for work.  I’ve only worn two so far, but I’ve gotten compliments on both.  I’m hoping they weren’t just being nice, but these people don’t compliment me on everything I wear, so I’m going to assume they were sincere.  To bring this all back around to the point of why I’m writing this, these new suits make me feel amazing.  Regardless of how others might see me, I feel like I look good.  And isn’t that really all that matters?  When I wear these, I feel my self-confidence soar like I’m on top of the world.  I must be odd, because I’m one of those rare people that actually likes to get dressed up.  Of course, I’m glad that my work is mostly business casual and that I don’t have to every day, but it’s fun sometimes.

So, my advice for the day:  If you don’t have an outfit that you feel stunning in, an outfit that makes you feel invincible, then go out and buy one!  I guarantee that it will do wonders for you.

PS - if I can find someone to take pics this weekend, I’ll post pictures of the new suits.

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The Power of Clothing

My boss’s comment was something along the lines of “look how cute you are!”  And then she proceeded to ask me where my job interview was.  We all laughed and she said that if I’m leaving I have to take her with me.  I reassured her that I’m here for the long-haul.

It did make me feel good, though, because I had been a bit unsure of the outfit in general.

And thanks to everyone who sent me such kind and sweet comments about my posts yesterday!  You all are the best!

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Score!

I ended up going to K-Mart tonight (yes, this girl has no problem with shopping cheap), and yes, I splurged.  Now, granted, I did need new clothes, so I don’t feel too bad.  I’m just going to play like Scarlett O’Hara and worry about it tomorrow.

However, I did hit the store on the right sale day!  I got three new pairs of pants and two more shirts for less than $100 (which included about $10 of other essentials and a pair of shoes (the most expensive item on my receipt) to go with one of the pairs of pants).  Not too shabby.  Now I have plenty of clothes to last me for a while.  No more clothes shopping unless absolutely necessary.

The thing I found most surprising is that I had much better luck shopping at K-Mart and actually liked their clothes better than the ones I found at Wal-Mart.

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More Clothes Shopping

I posted a while back about being afraid to try on clothes in the “regular” size department.  I’ve been shopping in the plus sizes since, well, elementary school, I think.  So I think it’s a bit understandable.  But yesterday, I said what the hell.

It was only a suit-type jacket and I almost didn’t try it on, because I didn’t feel like going to a dressing room.  I was shopping with my mom, and suggested trying it on right there out in the open.  I looked at her like she was nuts.  People would laugh at me!  “Look at that silly girl trying on clothes that are obviously entirely too small for her!  She must be hallucinating!”

But, I really wanted to know.  So, I looked around and put on one of the jackets in the largest regular size I could find, as fast as I could, still thinking that some employee was going to come running.  ”No, wait, you’ll rip it!”  No one did, of course.  And……

IT FIT!  However…

I thought it fit nicely through the sleeves, back, and waist, but it seemed to bunch a bit on the front of my shoulders.

My mom’s reply – try the next size down.  I looked at her and laughed.  Yeah right.  But I did…sure that I wouldn’t even be able to get it up over my huge arms.  And……

IT FIT!!!!! As I said earlier…..oh my God.  It fit so much better than the larger size!  I was stunned.  And this was the point at which I almost started crying.

It was a suit jacket, so it was a bit more structured and not anything clingy, so it looked decent.  But the fact is that not only did I fit into a regular size piece of clothing, but I didn’t need the largest size!

Words can’t express how happy I am at this moment in time.

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A Regular Size!!!!

I currently have two pairs of identical pants.  The only difference between them is that they are one size apart.  Yesterday, the larger size fit better.  Today, the smaller size fits better.  What gives?  I did weigh myself yesterday (yeah, I peeked) and I was up two pounds over what I am today.  Can two pounds (of what was probably water retention) really make that big of a difference?  I don’t get it.

I guess this is one of the fun new things I have to look forward to?

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Fat Days?