Your In-Between Wardrobe
By Lisa Milbrand | 5/31/2006




Your hard work has paid off — you're halfway to your goal weight, and even your formerly snuggest jeans swim on you. Though you're looking great underneath your clothes, the droopy blouses and baggy pants aren't showing off your sleek new self. There are ways to look stylish as you slim down without spending a fortune on a new wardrobe. Here's how:


Investigate your closet. You may find some "skinny clothes" hidden in the back that can be the basis of your in-between wardrobe. If not, take a second look at your current-size clothes. "Start looking at clothes in a different way," suggests fashion expert Sharon Haver. "A baggy blazer, shirt or shirt-dress can be worn as an open coat over a slimmer silhouette." Too-large dress shirts can be cinched with a belt to accentuate your figure.

Beg and borrow clothes. Your friends may have the pieces you need (and vice versa), so arrange for a clothes swap to get your hands on them. Invite everyone over with her castoffs. Guests grab their favorite pieces. Odds are, you'll find a few perfect pieces to tide you over — and you can get rid of the too-big pieces you just can't wear anymore.

Buy a few key pieces. "Look for things that fit close to your body, rather than baggy clothes," Haver recommends. "They won't look ridiculously oversized later on as you lose more weight." Simple, straight-leg black pants with a little bit of stretch can be the center of your wardrobe. They're easily dressed up or down for casual or work events. If you dress up, try an A-line stretch skirt. Cargo pants can get you through several size shifts. Buy them a little snug now, and wear them until they're baggy. A few basic t-shirts or knit tops will show off your svelte frame and allow you to wear some of the baggier bottoms in your closet. "If you're wearing baggy bottoms, you need to wear something slim on the top to balance it out," Haver says.

Splurge on great accessories. A wide slide-ring belt can cinch baggy clothes and you won't have to worry about running out of belt holes. And of course, you could always use great shoes. "Nothing looks better than a really good, sexy pair of high heels," Haver says. "They make you look slimmer and taller, and they make droopy clothes look better."

Pamper yourself. Get a haircut or new color that shows off your features, or even simply get your eyebrows shaped. Says Haver, "Don't ignore the little things. They can make you look great."