Cruise the thrift stores for a temporary wardware. You might be surprise as what you can find there. It's a great way to acquire a temporary wardrobe. And while you are there you can donate the clothes that you no longer will have a use for.

I agree with Michael. And this is one type of shopping where it's worth driving to a large metropolitan area. Check hospital auxilary shops and similar thrift stores that are sponsored, their prices are usually much lower since they don't *have* to make a profit to pay the rent or salaries. For best quality, find thrift and second-time-around stores located in or very near the wealthier neighborhoods.

Buy just barely enough to see you through the next few months ~~ which is a lot less than most people think! Coats and dresses are often superb buys at the thrift store; just look over each item carefully for stains. Separates will give you more of a feeling of variety; label each piece alphabetically and then wear blouse A with slacks A, then slacks B, etc. (A+A, A+B, A+C; B+A, B+B, B+C; C+A, C+B, C+C) Adding 2 complementary jackets will greatly increase the number of combinations.

If you wear a common shoe size, remember that it's okay to buy used shoes. Use Lysol disinfectant spray on the interior. Check shoe repair shops for pairs that weren't picked up ~~ they are often sold for the cost of the repair. If you aren't comfortable with re-use, go on-line and buy one pair for dress and one pair for casual. Depending on your job's dress requirement, you may be okay with 2 pairs of casual; wear on alternate days. Cheap shoes are perfectly okay as long as you are careful to get those made with arch supports and the fit is good. I buy brand-names on-line and save at least 50% more than local big shoe stores.

Pants can be remodeled if you are patient, but it's actually easier to adapt a simple pattern and use the material that way. (Medium skill required.) Remove the waistband, open the side seams, and lay the pattern over the material, positioning so as to minimize sewing requirements. That is, the pattern's center seam mark sits on the sewn seam [or center of pants front/back] and you use the cutting line to cut the fabric, left side and then flip pattern to right side. This will shorten the waist and adapt the crotch to the smaller size -- but be aware that the method does not work with all patterns or on all pants. IMO, it's easier to find good slacks in a thrift shop!

Amen, amen. Thrift or consignment shops are wonderful for finding an instant, decent wardrobe to tide you over. No, they aren't full of outdated fashions. They're home to the fashionistas who want/need to change their wardrobe often, and it's a lot easier to just donate what they don't want.

When I first moved to this area, I needed an instant wardrobe, because I went from being a student (jeans, jeans, and more jeans) to an office where they weren't allowed or appropriate. I also didn't have gobs of money to play with. I fixed that quickly at the consignment shop. Coats are an especial bargain.

What it does, buying clothes when you are in that in-between stage, like you are, is to build your self-esteem and be a reward for your efforts. You also wont' feel badly at all for disposing of them a few months down the line when you hit your goal. I am a fairly adept seamstress, but probably couldn't buy the material to make clothing as cheaply as I could buy clothes in a thrift store. And, it's ecologically kind.

I used to go to England twice a year to visit my DD and SIL, and would always have scads of stuff I wanted to cart back, so would carry practically empty suitcases over, borrow hiking boots from my daughter, but hit the charity shops for sweaters and trousers to wear there, and donate them back when I left, freeing up the suitcases for my goodies. LOLOL.

I dress myself a lot with garments from our local consignment shop, but my wardrobe is primarily pants and shirts, it is likely harder for someone working in an office environment, but then you have more places and choices where you are.
Sure saves a lot of money.

Thanks yall. Good thoughts. Lilo, being able to take already paid for clothes out of storage is going to save a lot of money. (((big smiles))) I can't wait!

I admit it, I didn't think of thrift/consignment. Duh! I haven't been seeing simple answers lately since I am a little bogged down. After next Wednesday night I'll be better. Big research projects due tonight and next Wednesday and two finals next week. All done for the semster in seven more days. Whew. Now if I could just get the walls finished in the two closets and the carpet in the master closet/back part of the master bedroom, I'd consider us near the bottom on the remodeling mountain. Maybe I can slow down and see simple answers then. I hope. Shoot, I was sitting my living room all crunched up for a year now and it just hit me, move something out. Duh! So I moved out one side table and rearranged it. LF can't stop raving about how roomy it feels. Simplest answer first seems to be escaping me right now.

We have the Goodwill Stores in my area, here in NC, and I could not live without them for like-new clothes with good labels [means good quality] as my size changes. I checked your page, but you dont say what state you are in, or city or area, but it would be worthwhile to add to your member page, in order to add to your regional resources. You would generate a lot more local replies if you would update your page to say location. Often, we overlook what is in our own backyards. I think you've got something to work with now here.

I'm going to be in the same boat soon, Robin. I've lost a full size down recently and I still have some clothes smaller to tide me down through the next ten pounds or so and then I'll be hitting the thrift stores too - that was good advice.
I have about another thirty pounds to go. Slowly, slowly is winning the race this time, coupled with walking and walking and walking some more...up hill and down dale, come rain or shine :)

Congratulations, Robin.

Congrats to you Sheila! Sounds good. I was just eating too much. One place we could always make peace and have fun was going out to eat, so we did. And I think I also ate to medicate. But neither of those happen any more.

Quirkpod, I'm not too worried about local replies. If anyone knows me, GP does. And they know I live in Nashville. :) Yes, we have three Super Goodwills in my area. I just hadn't thought of it. Too backed up in thoughts.......

Robin:

Don't limit yourself to Goodwill. When my life fell apart and I found myself in a new city with two suitcases, no job, no car, no money and no place to live and had to put together a professional wardrobe quickly (I was moving from Phoenix to Minneapolis and winter was coming), I found a Junior League resale store and was able to completely rebuild my wardrobe for under $200 over the course of a month.

It seemed as if the Junior Leaguers wore something twice and donated it (and it was usually nice stuff to begin with) while the Goodwill, Salvation Army and "Savers" stores were full of more well-worn and stained stuff. I didn't have too much luck in consignment stores as the clothes were nice, but the prices seemed high.

I don't have any of these clothes anymore as there's no way I could get into a size 8 without a crowbar, some helpers and a good amount of petroleum jelly, but I do still have a pair of shoes that I bought used twelve years ago and still wear frequently. I think of them as sort of a secret trophy to my resilience in hard times. No doubt you'll be collecting your fair share of resilience trophies soon (if you haven't already)!

Once again, I have to recommend FreeCycle. My list always has people giving away bags of shoes and clothes.