The biggest problem with losing weight is that I need to buy a whole new work wardrobe, or, I will need to buy a whole new work wardrobe once I reach my goal weight. But in between now and then, I have clothes that don’t really fit me anymore and I’m trying to look professional in them. It is just as hard to look professional in clothes that are too bag as it is clothes that are too small.

I’m wearing a belt on my pants and tucking in tops I used to leave loose, but I am constantly being tempted by the thought of buying myself just one or two items that fit. The problem is, women’s clothes are expensive. And all suits are expensive. That pretty much means that any suits (or even separates) that I am looking at are $50+/piece, and that’s at sale prices. And I know I still have 25lbs to lose (50lbs down, 25lbs to go), so I can be pretty certain that what fits now won’t fit in 6 months.

I am attempting to solve my need for clothes that fit and my desire to be frugal through two steps. First, I am coming up with a budget (and saving money toward it) for how much I will allow myself to spend when I do go buy a whole new wardrobe.

I’ve written before about the 6 piece clothing diet, and I’m still trying to stay in that mind frame (though I’ll be closer to 12 pieces). I’ll want 2-3 pairs of slacks and 1-2 skirts. Add 4 blazers/jackets/cardigan type pieces, and that leaves me with room for 3 tops that will most likely be short sleeved sweaters. Camisoles don’t count toward the limit, so I’ll be able to have an array of those to wear under the blazers/jackets/cardigans.

Second, I am going to allow myself to spend a little bit of money now. I want to hit the local Goodwill and Value Village stores and see if they have anything professional that will bit me. That is a bit of a longshot for professional attire, but it never hurts to look. In addition, I need to search and find some local consignment shops and see if I can get some clothes there for less than new retail.

I don’t need to be in the latest fashion, and in fact, my taste tends to run toward more classic pieces that don’t necessarily date themselves (or me).

For non-work clothes- I was able to buy a new pair of jeans at CostCo this last weekend! I can finally buy myself $16 jeans. I am very happy about that. CostCo does carry some more professional looking clothes, and I will keep an eye out there, but it’s not consistent enough to be part of my plan for a new work wardrobe.