Raise your hand if you’ve ever cried in a fitting room, whether from excitement or exasperation. Who among us hasn’t? Shopping can inspire some pretty wild emotions on a normal Tuesday, but when your weight has recently changed—in either direction—those feelings hit so much harder.
Jessica Yu, PhD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in weight management, has seen hundreds of patients navigate major physical changes, particularly as GLP-1 medications have become more common. She says losing weight is “a big change,” one that can bring up complicated and unexpected feelings—a mix of excitement and waiting for the other shoe to drop.
These emotions are often tied directly to clothing. Yu says many people are surprised by the disconnect between how they expected to look and feel after losing weight and how they actually do. “And it’s not always such a rosy picture,” she adds.
Babs (a pseudonym), a 32-year-old creative director from Brooklyn, had to rebuild her wardrobe from scratch after undergoing a breast reduction and losing 60 pounds while taking a GLP-1. “Shopping is emotional when your body has changed, and mine went through a lot,” she says. “There have been moments of frustration, but also of pride and gratitude for what my body has carried me through.”
Whether you’ve reached a new equilibrium or your body is in flux, restarting your entire closet—which you’ve probably been curating for years—is a daunting task. Here’s how to approach it with curiosity and self-respect, according to the experts.
First Thing’s First: Can I Afford This?
The cost of a complete wardrobe overhaul can be a lot. But there are plenty of low-lift alternatives that can help you get through this transitional period without going broke.
Rent, don’t buy.
New York City-based fashion stylist Audree Kate López recommends using clothing rental services—like Rent the Runway, Nuuly, or Pickle—that have membership structures for borrowing pieces for a set time; some have the option to buy. This can be a cost-effective way to wear pieces you love while giving your size time to stabilize.
Host a clothing swap.
Trading clothes with friends or family is a free and fun way to refresh your closet. Decide ahead of time how the swap will work. You might ask each guest to bring a limited number of items and either trade piece-for-piece or use a simple points system. And don’t forget to make a donation plan for anything left over.
Buy secondhand.
Babs turned to online resellers when it came time to replace her clothes. “I bought most of my wardrobe secondhand online,” she says. “My body was still changing, so I didn’t want to invest too much into pieces that might not work or that I might not feel comfortable in.”
Don’t clear out your closet just yet.
Clothes that don’t fit today may fit again down the road. Yu says it’s totally normal to regain some weight if you stop taking GLP-1s. “If [you’re] losing weight and need to invest in some new pieces, go ahead and do it,” she says. “Just keep in the back of your mind that it’s a journey. There may be fluctuations.”
If closet space is no issue, storing your old clothes can save you from having to invest in a third new wardrobe if your weight changes again. López knows this firsthand. In 2023, she gained 40 pounds due to medication side effects, then lost some of it after taking a GLP-1. “When I gained weight, I went up about four sizes, so I was buying a lot of new clothing,” she says. “I still had a lot of my pre-weight-gain clothing, so once I started losing weight, I was able to fit into those again.”
Dress For the Body You Have, Not the Future
“This is one of the hardest concepts to grapple with,” López says. “It’s easy for me to tell my clients, ‘Clothing should fit you, not the other way around.’ But I understand how hard it is when your pants say a different size than you want.” If your goal is to look slimmer (which isn’t the case for everyone), buying clothes that fit your current shape will make you look thinner than those that are too tight.
The same idea applies to your favorite pieces that no longer fit. Instead of parting with them, invest in a tailor. “People ask why celebrities look so good on the red carpet or why the clothing fits models in photoshoots perfectly—it’s all tailoring,” López says. “When your clothes fit your body properly, the outfit looks great.”
If going to a seamstress feels like a big ask, you can buy a microstitch gun online for under $20 and take things in at home for free. “I have a black skirt that I love, and when I lost weight, instead of buying a new one, I wore a belt and added some stitches on the side to fit me,” López says. “I did gain some weight back after, so I’m happy I could remove that stitch to allow for the five to 10-pound difference.”
Gen-Z’s baggy pants obsession has normalized other DIY tailoring methods, like safety pins or ribbons through the belt loops, but you can also buy waist-tightening pins for a more polished look.
The Power of the Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe—a small collection of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched—doesn’t have to be boring. “While my body was changing, basics played a vital role in my closet,” López says. “I love prints, bold color, and maximalist accessories, but the foundation of my wardrobe, or a clothing rack for a celebrity client, are basics.”
She recommends starting with a few basic tops like a white tee, black tank, and a button-up, and a couple of key bottoms, like jeans or trousers and a midi skirt. From there, you can rely on pieces that aren’t size-dependent like jewelry, scarves, and shoes to elevate your new staples. “During my weight gain and weight loss, I focused on this formula,” López says. “I had a few key outfits that fit me, and I accessorized to make them feel fresh.”
Choose Pieces That Move With You
Whether you’re shopping new or secondhand, there are certain fabrics and design details that are particularly useful for changing bodies. “Focus on drawstrings, stretchy fabrics, and knits,” López says. “Avoid super restrictive fabrics or silhouettes that don’t move with your body.”
Meanwhile, Babs says natural fabrics have been her saving grace. “I tend to buy a lot of 100% cotton,” she adds. “It’s better for your body, and I find there’s a little more wiggle room.” Pieces with built-in flexibility, like wrap dresses and tops with adjustable straps, are also great investments.
How to Make Shopping Less Emotional
Picking out new clothes during your GLP-1 journey can bring old insecurities back to the surface. Here are a few ways to relieve the stress:
Take sizes with a grain of salt.
There are no laws governing clothing labels, so the number on the tag doesn’t always reflect an actual measurement. It all depends on the brand, and it’s worth trying multiple sizes to figure out what fits best. “Sizes are not universal,” López says. “Every store, brand, and garment fits differently.”
Take your time.
“I ended up replacing most of my wardrobe,” Babs says. “I did it little by little, piece by piece. It was too overwhelming to think about shopping in person, so I ended up doing a lot of online shopping and returns.” Trying on at home also gives you the space to process your feelings and take breaks if you need them. “Give yourself time,” López says. “If you feel rushed, it’s going to increase your anxiety and you might impulse shop.”
Wear What Feels Right.
Babs says her love for larger silhouettes helped her let go of negative size associations. “I generally like my clothes to fit slightly oversized,” she says, which allowed her to keep some of her older pieces while leaving wiggle room for future fluctuations. “Sometimes I’ll just buy a few sizes and see what I feel most comfortable in—not necessarily the ‘better’ fit.”
Embrace the Journey
“People have all sorts of emotions and experiences when it comes to dressing,” Yu says. “Some people are really excited to buy new outfits. Other people experience a sense of identity loss, even if they’re excited to lose weight.”
Babs experienced something similar while rebuilding her wardrobe, despite feeling more confident at her new size. “It’s an extremely sensitive and overwhelming process,” she says.
There’s no “right” way to feel—or dress—while your body is changing. The key is to give yourself permission to experiment and let your wardrobe evolve alongside you.
Kelsey (she/her) is a freelance digital fashion editor and writer with a knack for turning top-performing content into top-selling content. She has extensive experience in editorial and e-commerce strategy, having worked in both divisions during her years at Seventeen and Bustle. With more than a decade of experience in digital media, she also offers creative and social media consulting, as well as copywriting services. She enjoys cheeseburgers, traveling, and vintage hauls. Follow her on Instagram at @klstieg.