Thursday, June 9, 2011

Hung Up On Sizes

I shall concede that it is exciting when you get into a lower size.  I will be giddy at my first size 8's...if and when that day ever comes.  However, when you are shopping for clothes...you have to keep an open mind.

Let me give you the back story.  My niece, a recent college graduate from Kansas University, and a future songwriter in Nashville (she is moving there at the end of this summer), it battling the weight loss monster.  She is working out and eating right.  And one of the many rewards of weight loss is new clothes.  However, my sister said that she is stuck in not wanting to buy a "bigger size" even if it fits.  We have all been there.  It made me realize though, that somewhere along this journey I have stopped caring about the number when I am shopping.  Here is a great example.

The slacks I am wearing today are from Kohls.  They are a size 10 and fit fabulous.  However, my other pair of black slacks are a size 12 and also fit smashingly.  I ALSO have a Calvin Klein pair of jeans that Heather loves and are actually a smidge big but fit just out of the dryer...and they are a size 14.  Sizing is crazy folks. 

You have to dress for your body. 

One of my biggest tips I can give when you are shopping is to give yourself time to try on all different cuts and sizes.  JCPenney's for example has slacks that look the same on the hanger, but some are 'modern cut', 'curvy cut', 'straight cut'.  Take them all in and see what works for your body.

Another thing I decided early on when shopping while losing weight was: I only bought it if it fit THEN.  I didnt buy something that was too tight and then have it set in my closet for months.  Mainly that is because I don't have money to spend on clothes and then not wear the clothes. 

But buy for the size you are now.

Try on clothes.  Lot's of them.

Don't be afraid of showing off your curves.

Try something different.  Maybe just one piece that is out of your comfort zone (um...this doesn't mean wear hot shorts and a tube top to church).

If you go to some stores where the sales peeps are on top of it, make them work for you.  Like the first time I went for jeans at the Buckle.  I told the precious little girl that I wanted jeans that "were midrise, dark wash, smaller in the waist, bigger in the thighs."  She brought me all different kinds. 

OOH, and find yourself a tailor if needed.  Sometimes I wonder about just how tall the "average" model is.  She must be 5'10" and thus most average pants only work on my 5'4" frame if I am wearing really high heels.  So sometimes I take my slacks to a tailor.  They only charge $7 to hem the pants.  Totally worth it. 

And really...here is the clincher.  We all know that once you fit into a size....like if you have one pair of size 8's that fit, but all your other clothes are still size tens...

well that size 8 totally trumps the size 10's and you can officially claim to be the smaller size.

That's the rule of weight loss.

Duh.

19 comments:

  1. Yes, the size game is always a fun one. At Kohls, I'm usually a 4 or 6 and then at BCBG I can be 8-10. Go figure. I am claiming 6 as my size...perhaps an average? LOL

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  2. Oh holy sizing shitballs! You are exactly on top of it girl. I can wear anything from a size 8 to a size 12. I only wear one brand of jeans because they are the only ones that fit my disproportionate ass to waist ratio. And even in that one brand I have 3...count them !3! different sizes. Size on the pants does NOT matter. But if it does matter to you, get a measure tape out and use that number to obsess about.

    I am convinced that the people that make the patterns for pants are freaky crack whores with beer goggles for eyeglasses.

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  3. So true....I have slacks and jeans ranging from size 7 to size 14. I, unfortunately still semi-care about the number but I've gotten to the point that as long as I look good in whatever I am wearing I get over it.

    Good post!

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  4. Great advice! This is something that my wonderful mom instilled in me early. So at my biggest, I was buying 24Ws with no issue, because THAT is what looked good. And it made me look SMALLER than if I was stuffing myself in 22Ws. Now, it is just more fun as they go down, but I totally agree with the philosophy!

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  5. So true, so true... you are such a wise-woman! :-)

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  6. You are SO right. Can I just tell you that 20 pounds ago (heavier) I was a size 14 in most pants and jeans and I'm STILL a size 14 most of the time? It is infuriating! TWENTY POUNDS. But its because I carry all my weight in my waist. My legs are probably a size 8/10 so I get things tailored. Love the summer though b/c I can wear shorts and skirts and things look great without any tailoring needed!

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  7. This is so very true. I have never been hung up on sizing as I have always been smaller up top and larger on the bottom. Sexy does not have a dress size. It just is.

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  8. I love when you get all Oprah on us... Is that a adjective? It should be. XOXO *M*

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  9. Love this post, and yes I agree with all of it! :)

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  11. Sage advice....I definitely care about the size only because I so desperately want to wear size 12 or maybe a 10 someday?? I am so proud to be in 14's right now.
    Target also now carries 4 different fits in their pants/capris. I was shocked and didn't realize it at first and tried on different ones and couldn't believe the 'fit' differences. I couldn't ever really wear pants from Target b/c they never fit me quite right - but now I can!

    PS, my goal reward is to go to Buckle and buy a GREAT pair of jeans when I'm down a size 12 - and I know they're going to be expensive, but I don't care! :) I'm hoping that will be in about 10-15 more lbs!

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  12. Shopping is exhausting when you have to try on so much. I wish the designers were just a little more standard. But I agree with the "buy the size that fits" notion. I'm still at the stage where I'm just thrilled that I don't have to be in the fat lady section anymore.

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  13. I am being banded June 30 and spent most of the day (effing off at work) reading your blog. Thank you so much for being so candid. I have just started a blog in hopes that it will help with the process.

    http://tdfatball.blogspot.com/

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  14. Umm, do you think you could get a tape recording of all your Amy-isms (wisdoms) and I could play them in my head according to the situation at hand. I could have used you in the dressing room with me last week. Uh!

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  15. Love the size rule at the end! LOL!

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  16. Ha! I LOVE your trumping size fact! I'm claiming that size 16 for now, then :)

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  17. The size rule totally rules. You are right! So from now on, I am a size 10!

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  18. Spot on with this post!! you can drive yourself crazy with the sliding scale.. but it is all about how the clothes fit and look.. If I tend to need a larger size so I look decent so bit it.. it beats the other sizes (22) that I wore before.. great post! hugs

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  19. This is my first time ever commenting on a blog and I've read every one of your posts. When I grow up I wanna be just like Amy :) Haha. But seriously, you are so very inspiring and I believe it is because of you that I decided to go to a seminar and it was the best decision I ever made. I am only three months into my 6 month diet as needed by my insurance company but I've already began struggling which is why I decided to take the leap and try out this blogging thing. Thank you so much Amy for sharing your journey with us!!

    Sonnie

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