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i’m larger, but my wardrobe is not…what to do?

Posted on 09. Mar, 2009 by racine in fashion bailout

Ok ladies, I know many of us have faced this problem at one time or another. You’ve gained a little weight, but unfortunately, your wardrobe has not altered itself to account for “the extra.”  You may have found yourself in this situation after having a child, after the holiday season or even after getting married and enjoying the “comforts” of your matrimony. 

So the question is, how do I make my current wardrobe work even after gaining weight.  To be honest with you, this may be difficult to do  depending on what pieces you already have in your closet as well as how much you have gained in proportion to the size of clothing in your wardrobe.  However, some of the guidelines I give may work. 

First, it is important to note that you must love your body the way that it is right now and dress it accordingly. Dress Your Best,  by Stacy London and Clinton Kelly of TLCs What not to Wear recommend that you “dress your body the way that it is now.”  No need to wait until you “drop a few pounds” to shop,  look and feel great. 

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s focus on what to do if you have gained that weight, but hope to work with the clothing you already have.

1. Do wear/invest in A-line skirts, dresses or wrap dresses.  These types of skirts and dresses flatter any figure and serve as timeless, classic pieces. A wrap dress in a jersey material provides a little give and stretch to accommodate the extra weight. I have also found that when I fluctuate a little in size, my A-lines always seem to fit me perfectly.
2. Do invest in a quatlity control top garment such as a Spanx.  Yes, you all know I am an advocate of the control top garments.  If you have picked up a few pounds, a quality control top garment can pull you in, smooth you out and give the appearance of being smaller than you really are.  Invest!
3. Do Accessorize the clothes that you are able to get in to.  If your wardrobe is limited to only a few well fitting pieces, make sure to use accessories to give them a different look every time you wear them.  Scarves, belts, shoes, bags and jewelry can work wonders.  They make people think your wardrobe is a lot larger than it may actually be.

Have any of you out there ever had this problem? Leave a comment and let me know what you recommend. Thanks friends!

Tags: how to dress after gaining weight, styling tips for larger women, weight gain