Wardrobe vs Weightloss

[LordBest]

I have a problem, of sorts. I am losing weight. This is good, I know. But it plays havoc with ones wardrobe. The lovely linen suit I bought a couple of months ago is already far too large for me (in a month or so the jacket will be so baggy a good tailor might be able to convert it to double breasted), and some new traditional cut trousers which were tight two weeks ago are now amazingly baggy. Not complaining, nor boasting, but how can I maintain a decent vintage (or atleast vintage-esque) wardrobe while I wait for my weight to stabilise at the desired level? As it is I am stuck wearing baggy modern drawstring khaki trousers (the only kind I can get which are even vaguely traditional), shirts and modern jumpers/sweaters etc. They do not exactly match my hats. On a cold day I can improve things by wearing a nice overcoat, but days cold enough already seem to be behind us.

Sorry if this seems like a daft question, but I'm genuinely stumped.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Good luck with it, LB. A good tailor should work well. Tailoring in at the bum will make the pants look more baggy which is a great look. I personally wouldn't make the coat DB, but rather get the tailor to take in the extra "s at the side seams. Good for a 40s look.

Also, loosing the beard was a smart move.

 

[KittyT]

I've recently been having the same issue. Although the weight loss wasn't drastic, it was still enough to make my clothes sag and fit improperly. Find a good tailor! That's the only suggestion I can make. Having them altered is still cheaper than buying new clothes. Maybe only have a few of your favorites altered and then wait until your weight stabilizes, sell off some of the old and replace with some new.

Congratulations on your weight loss, btw.

 

[Feraud]

If there is a chance you might gain the weight back I suggest you keep the larger stuff and purchase additional, smaller outfits.

Many people yo-yo up and down in their weight. It is not uncommon to keep a couple of sizes' worth of outfits in a closet.

 

[scotrace]

One thing I learned though. You can only "take in" so much. Maybe a size or two, maximum. I had two pairs of Bill's Khakis taken in from 38 - 36 and it ruined them. They could be let out again for someone of that size easily. But there were no takers in Classifieds!!

 

[LordBest]

Thanks for the replies. One of the worries I have is that if I take the clothes I have in to the tailors now, in a month they will not fit me, and if I have them taken in further in the future they may not survive the process. I have already gone down from a 44 waist to a 42 and just today I have been able to fit into some 40 waisted trousers I bought five years ago (I admit it was a tad tight). Wearing fine vintage clothes is one of the incentives in losing weight for me, and it is a powerful one, but I would like to look decent in the meantime and that is becoming difficult.

 

[Miss 1929]

Save the best ones in the largest sizes and sell them, it is always hard to find large vintage!
I envy you.

 

[Wil Tam]

How are you doing it?

I have a problem, of sorts. I am losing weight. This is good, I know. But it plays havoc with ones wardrobe. The lovely linen suit I bought a couple of months ago is already far too large for me (in a month or so the jacket will be so baggy a good tailor might be able to convert it to double breasted), and some new traditional cut trousers which were tight two weeks ago are now amazingly baggy. Not complaining, nor boasting, but how can I maintain a decent vintage (or atleast vintage-esque) wardrobe while I wait for my weight to stabilise at the desired level? As it is I am stuck wearing baggy modern drawstring khaki trousers (the only kind I can get which are even vaguely traditional), shirts and modern jumpers/sweaters etc. They do not exactly match my hats. On a cold day I can improve things by wearing a nice overcoat, but days cold enough already seem to be behind us.

Sorry if this seems like a daft question, but I'm genuinely stumped.

fftopic:

I'm looking to lose a couple of inches so that I can fit into a couple of suits I picked up a few years ago that I tried on the other day ... so if you don't mine me asking, what diet and exercise program are you on?

 

[LordBest]

Upper body exercises, tricep, bicep, pectorals etc. Anaerobic exercises, lots and lots of repetitions with relatively lighter weights (3-4kgs). A few sit ups and squats thrown in, and regular walking. Also I just bit the bullet (as it were) and started eating less, though that may not be of much use to everyone. I was also told to avoid wheat and dairy as much as possible, as my blood type apparently has more difficulty with it and tends to just plop it in the blubber basket.
Also have the odd meal replacement protein shake recommended by my doctor, some of these can be a bit shady so I would recommend asking a medical practitioner for advice on which one to take. The shakes have certainly given the weightloss a boost in the last couple of weeks that I have been taking them, but I put most of the credit at exercises' door.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Well, I've been loosing weight my self. I used to weigh around 225 and I was unhappy... I'm now around 210 and most of my collection is fitting me!

Now, I've been eating lighter meals, and smaller portions and mostly drinking water... on weekends I'll treat myself to a cane sugar Orange Crush from Mexico... I keep it simple (corn syrup is of the devil!) I am now fitting into my favorite clothes again! I'm so happy!

A silver lining in your case sir, the more you lose, the more original 30s-40s originals you'll find in your size! I know it's hard not to fit into things you used to fit into but, think of the possibilities! You'll find a few good pieces I'm sure and you'll be feelin' like a million!

Keep it up!

 

[pigeon toe]

Congrats on losing weight! My ex is going through the same thing right now! He went from 300lbs to about 220 at his lowest. Right now he's maybe around 240. Luckily, he didn't wear vintage suits (only Pendeltons, he did the greaser look), when he was at his biggest.

Because his weight keeps fluctuating, he only has 2 suits. He doesn't have a ton of money to toss around anyway, and not many occasions to wear suits daily, so 2 is fine for now. He still keeps his look vintage by wearing flannels, western shirts and classic brands like Penguin and Ben Sherman. He also rocks a really nice pompadour. People always recognize him as being rockabilly or into vintage in his daily casual outfits, probably more so than when he wears a suit!

One of his outfits that incorporates a fedora is a pair of slim fitting brown pants, dress shirt, and a v-neck long sleeved argyle sweater. It's certainly more casual than a suit, but it's another idea!

 

[LordBest]

The fact that I (hopefully) will be able to fit into more original stuff is a big incentive to lose weight. Nothing helps you stick to the straight and narrow more than looking at all those splendid suits which would fit you, but or the 36 waist. Or even 32 waist, but I think my frame is too big to ever get to that.
I have one decent suit which will do me for a while, now that I know I can pull off a 30s-40s look, it is the every day look which I am having trouble with.
Ms Pigeon toe, best of luck to your ex. I am not sure I could pull off the greaser look, jeans are too tight, I am still quite rotund and I am only 5'6 so I think I would look rather absurd, but then I am only familiar with the greaser stereotype (ala Mutt).
Here is a picture of what I wear day to day:

Sorry about the lighting. Everything is modern apart from the shoes and hat. The trousers are rubbish, made locally but still rubbish. The top is decent but not exactly vintage.

 

[Wil Tam]

**

Thanks LB ... you look great! It's been difficult for me to exercise since my job keeps me in front of a monitor most of the day... I just have to get up an hour early each morning for calisthenics & stay off the starches & fatty foods ... kinda hard during the holidays...

----------------
Now playing: Duke Ellington - Creole Rhapsody, Part 2 - Take 2
via FoxyTunes

 

[LordBest]

Thanks Wil Tam. The advantage of protein shakes at this time of year is that if you know you are going to end up overeating you can compensate by replacing breakfast and/or lunch with a shake. Also helpful if a well meaning but misguided family member brings hope an enormous plate of diabolically delicious desserts from an end of year party.

 

[Dewhurst]

As someone who is in your "boat" I understand what you are talking about. I have lost alot of weight so far, and it has come off quick.

I also tried to come up with something, but finally just resolved myself to wear my clothes until they are ridiculous, and then to replace them on an as-needed basis with relatively inexpensive clothing such as slacks and shirts.

Works alright so far. Also, use braces/suspenders, you can make a pair of slacks last much longer than you could using a belt.

 

[MrHughes]

Hello! As you can tell I'm new here... I just saw this thread and I thought I'd throw in my two cents. I have lost 65 pounds - I used Weight Watchers and it's the first successful tool I have used in my 'battle of the bulge'. I'm 55 and carrying the extra weight for so long really caught up with me and it became imperative that I lose the baggage. I understand the loss of favorite clothes as I went from a 42 waist to a 34. scotrace is right - you can squeeze about two sizes out in alterations and they don't always look right afterward. Looking thinner has really sparked a new desire in me to dress better (that's why I'm here). One big advantage is you'll look better in your new classics. Believe me, health-wise it's worth it. BTW, I'm not a big exercise person - I did it mainly through diet.

I guess my sermon is over...

 

[JimInSoCalif]

Congratulations to all who have lost weight - not an easy thing to do, but the reward is very nice.

Weight Watchers plus some excercise, even if it is just walking, makes sense to me and I have seen it work. All of those fad diets do not make sense to me. If they worked for the long run there would not be so many of them.

Anyway, when I was changing weight, I often wore a cardigan, shirt, and tie. Not as nice as a suit, but still better dressed than most folks and the cardigan is a lot more forgiving than a sport coat with respect to fit.

 

[Vintage Betty]

Most women keep at least a couple sizes up and below their current weight in their wardrobe due to fluxuating weight at different times of the month or year. I personally have vintage ranging in size from Size 2 to 10 in my closet, because as most vintage collector's know, size means nothing, only measurements are important. [huh]

Congratulations on your weight loss! I've just lost 2.5 dress sizes so far, by joining Tae Kwon Do recently. I'm quite happy, and hope to fit back into most of my vintage wardrobe in the next few months.

 

[Warden]

Strangely I have the problem the other way round.

I find the darkness in the wardrobe makes my clothes shrink. They never seem to fit when I get them out and try them on.

Harry