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It’s common for the number on the scale to go up and down over the years (or months), especially if you’re a stress eater (or stress non-eater) — or maybe you’re purposely losing weight. Today we’re talking about what to wear to work when your clothing size changes, primarily sharing reader advice. (They’ve shared great tips on past posts!) These strategies can also help handle your changing body size during pregnancy, if you’re not eager to buy a bunch of maternity clothes.
What do you think are the best things to wear to work when you go up or down in sizes? What have you found to not be not so versatile?
(Note: If weight loss / weight gain is triggering to you, it might be best for you to skip this post.)
What to Wear to Work While Losing Weight
Choose Versatile Clothes That Can Adjust to Your Body
Readers recommended the following:
1. Wrap dresses: Simply tie the self-belt as tightly or as loosely as you need. A-line and fit-and-flare dresses can also be a good bet. In general, dresses and skirts will be more forgiving to your changing body than pants. (See our favorites below!)
2. Jersey dresses: The stretchy fabric can adjust a bit to your body, and one reader specifically mentioned prints.
3. Flowy tops: If you feel the upper half of your outfit looks shapeless or frumpy with blouses like this, try tucking them in.
4. Skirts: As you change sizes, one skirt will be able to fit for a while; it will just either sit higher or lower on your waist.
5. Wide belt: Use it to cinch dresses as needed, and — if your goal is to lose weight — to boost motivation as your waist gets smaller and you can use the buckle in the next hole.
6. Multiples of the same item in different colors: If you don’t have much time for shopping and you find a particular piece that can adjust well to weight changes, snag it in a few colors or prints.
7. Lightweight sweaters: One reader recommended wearing a cami or shapewear underneath them, and once you go down in size, layer with a button-front blouse.
8. Black pants, black skirt, jardigan: If you keep one of each in your current size on hand, they’ll make a good foundation for multiple outfits (and make you feel good to wear something that fits you well.)
9. Well-fitting bras: Here’s one place to spend some money, if you can. When your bra fits as it’s supposed to, your current clothes will look better, and you’ll feel more comfortable and confident. (We always recommend r/ABraThatFits subreddit for sizing help — and check out our recently updated post rounding up all the reader-favorite bras — this is their longtime favorite!)
{related: where to recycle, donate, and sell your work clothes}
Know Which Retailers Have Generous Return Policies
While you don’t want to buy and return a million things, it is helpful to know which retailers have generous return policies in case you haven’t had a chance to wear your clothes before the next size strikes. We’ve talked a lot about Nordstrom’s generally generous return policy for new clothes with tags. This is also an excellent time to mention Universal Standard’s “Fit Liberty” program: if your size changes within one year, you can swap the clothing for a new size for free. The Fit Liberty Collection covers sizes 00-40, and includes blazers, pants, blouses and more great basics..
How to Save Money When Your Clothing Size Changes
Buying a whole new wardrobe as you move through clothing sizes is out of reach for most people, so here are some more affordable places to find workwear when you need new sizes:
Consignment shops (also consign your own ill-fitting clothes, if you like!)
Thrift stores
Garage sales
Community clothing swaps — or organize one with friends!
Resale sites, e.g,. Poshmark (see our recent post!)
Buy Nothing groups (do an “ISO” post, which means “in search of”)
Clothing rental services
Buy Fewer New Clothes by Getting Your Current Pieces Tailored
Tailoring can be pricey, depending on which shop you choose and where you live. You can look at this issue in one of two ways: (1) tailor your pricier clothing, because the alterations will be proportionally less expensive, or (2) get your cheaper clothes (sale or otherwise) tailored, because you’ve already saved money on the item itself. Something to ponder.
{related: the pros and cons of thrifting for workwear}
A few notes about tailoring:
1. Jackets are more expensive to alter than pants and skirts, and skirts are simpler to tailor than pants, though YMMV.
2. Ask your tailor if an item they take in can be taken in again, or easily let out if needed.
3. All tailors are not created equal. Ask in local Facebook groups or check out Yelp, in addition to asking around.
4. If you’ve been meaning to learn to sew, well, here’s the perfect opportunity. (We’ve even rounded up the best sewing patterns for work clothes!)
The Eternal Question of What to Do When Your Clothing Size CHanges
You have two basic choices when you’re heading downward (or upward) in sizes: ditch your former clothes, or keep them “just in case.”
There’s no wrong answer here, and readers have shared opposite opinions. One advised to hold on to your bigger sizes for a few years, or when they go out of style, while others view the better strategy as ditching the clothing that’s now too big, partly as motivation to maintain your current weight.
{related: how to sell workwear online}
Readers, please share your advice on what to wear when your clothing size changes. If you’re intentionally losing weight or have reached your goal weight, how long do you keep larger sizes for?
Image via Deposit Photos / serezniy.
