March 2024 to Today
Losing 40 pounds changed my body. I didn’t expect it to change my relationship with getting dressed.
“I think you’re a good candidate for GLP-1 medication”.
When my doctor said that to me, the first thing that came to my mind was “I am officially fat”. I wasn’t prepared for how much those words would hurt.
It’s one thing to think that you’re “a few pounds overweight”, but to hear your doctor tell you that, it’s a whole other thing. To be fair, his assessment that I needed to lose weight wasn’t just cosmetic. There were some health concerns that losing weight would help address, which was the main reason for going on the medication. But it still stung. I cried all the way home.
This was March 2024, when GLP-1 medications were still relatively new. I didn’t know anyone else who was taking them, and there wasn’t as much information available as there is today. Whether you’re taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, Mounjaro, or another GLP-1 medication, your wardrobe needs will likely change long before you reach your goal weight. One thing hasn’t changed: how do you get past the emotional side of GLP-1 weight loss and how the heck do you get dressed while you’re going through it?
For a long time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share this part of my story. But if you’ve found yourself standing in front of your closet wondering what to wear while your body changes, I hope what I learned will help make your journey a little easier.
What surprised me most wasn’t losing 40 pounds. It was opening my closet every morning. As a stylist, I assumed getting dressed would become easier as I lost weight. Instead, for a while, it became harder.
Clothes that once fit perfectly suddenly felt off.
Pieces I loved didn’t hang the same way.
And every week, it seemed like something else no longer made sense.
I remember the first time I could fit my entire fist inside the waistband of my jeans. It was exciting…until I realized I couldn’t leave the house without a belt!
That’s when I realized I couldn’t keep pretending I didn’t need new clothes.
As a stylist, I thought this part would be easy for me.
But it wasn’t.
Because when your body is changing quickly, getting dressed becomes less about style and more about navigating constant transition. If you’re in that in-between stage right now, or even if you’ve reached your goal and still feel unsure, this post is for you.
What to Wear During GLP-1 Weight Loss
If you’re reading this while your favorite jeans are sliding down your hips, let me reassure you, you don’t need an entirely new wardrobe tomorrow. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes I see women make is shopping for the body they think they’ll have next month instead of the body they have today.
I remember that feeling. Every few weeks something fit differently, and I kept asking myself, “Should I buy something now, or wait another month?”
I get it. You’re starting to get excited, your clothes are becoming too loose, and you want to buy new things, which you should. But what should you buy at this stage?
Buy What You Need, Not What You Want
I recommend you focus on the things you “need” versus the things you “want”. during your GLP-1 weight loss. For example, you will probably need a pair of jeans. I suggest buying one pair during this time frame. The time of year will affect this as well. For me, starting my journey in March, the majority of my weight loss was during the summer, so I was able to get through that time period with less expensive pieces, like shorts and tank tops. Especially since I work from home, this worked well for me.
I found that I could get by more easily with my tops. I didn’t need to buy things as soon as I needed to buy bottoms. Tops that I used to wear out could now be tucked in. So think more about re-styling them in the interim than buying new things.
For the office: If you’re still going into an office, focus on pieces that give you flexibility without sacrificing polish. Wrap dresses, tailored elastic-waist trousers, and knit blazers can often work through several sizes while still looking professional.
For special events: If you have a wedding, work presentation, or another important event, don’t feel guilty about buying (or renting) something that fits your body today. Looking polished and feeling confident for an important occasion is worth the investment, even if that investment is temporary.
What I wouldn’t do: Don’t invest in pieces you know will be too large in a few weeks and that cost a lot. You will be excited to know that a style you’ve always loved will now look good on you. Unless you’re committed to having the piece altered, I would just resist the temptation.
Here’s also what I discovered personally: When I got to my goal weight, I didn’t really want any of the pieces that I had purchased along the way – I wanted to start new. Looking back, I think I wasn’t just ready for new clothes, I was ready to see myself differently.
My Shopping Strategy During GLP-1 Weight Loss
If I could go back and do it again, here’s what I’d prioritize.
Buy First
✔ One pair of jeans that fits well today
✔ One pair of everyday pants
✔ A few updated basics if your tops are becoming oversized
✔ A well-fitting bra (don’t underestimate how much this changes your clothes)
✔ One outfit for work or special occasions if you need it
Wait to Buy
✗ An entirely new wardrobe
✗ Investment pieces you’ll likely outgrow in a few weeks
✗ Trendy items you’re buying simply because you’re excited
✗ Expensive coats or jackets (unless absolutely necessary)
✗ Multiple pairs of jeans in different washes
Shop Your Closet First
Before you buy anything new, see what works differently now.
- Try tucking in tops you’ve always worn untucked
- Try belts you stopped wearing
- Try layering pieces that felt too fitted before
- Revisit dresses that may fit differently now
If you have a favorite blazer, dress, or pair of trousers that you absolutely love, don’t overlook tailoring. A simple alteration may help you wear that piece for several more months and can be far less expensive than replacing it.
**This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend products and services I genuinely believe can help during this stage of your journey. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Build a Small “Working Wardrobe”
During this stage, my goal wasn’t to build my dream wardrobe. It was to build a wardrobe that worked while my body was changing.
Here are some of my stylist recommended pieces during GLP-1 weight loss.
Jeans:
Good American
These jeans are an absolute lifesaver because they are engineered to flawlessly stretch and snap back across four full sizes. They will hug your changing curves beautifully without bagging out at the knees, making them the ultimate investment piece as your body transforms.
Spanx
If you want the structured look of real designer denim but crave the comfort of a legging, this line gives you the best of both worlds. They feature a real zipper fly and pockets, but utilize a hidden internal waistband that molds perfectly to a shrinking midsection through multiple size drops.
Wit and Wisdom “Ab Solution”
This brand is your secret weapon for preventing that annoying back-gapping because it has a brilliant, plush elastic band hidden right inside the waist. They have so much premium, fluid stretch that we will actually size you down one full number and let the contour panels smooth your silhouette as you drop sizes.
Levi’s Cinch Waist Jeans
Love classic relaxed denim but dread the waist gap? Look no further than our Cinch Wide-Leg jeans. Cut with a flattering high rise and an easy, wide leg that has the perfect drape, we made these jeans with TENCEL™ Lyocell, a soft fiber sourced from wood. They also feature adjusters on the back for a tailored-to-you fit that celebrates every curve.
A few jeans recommendations:
Pants:
Here are some pants options. The ponte stretch pants from Quince are a great affordable option. I love ponte fabric as it holds it shape well while providing stretch. Both the Quince pants are under $50. I also am sharing some elastic waist pants for adjustable comfortable. Again, I have a pair of Quince pants, but I am also including the “viral” Aritzia Lodge pant in the Crepette. The Aritizia pants are a little more expensive but they are fabulous – I have two pairs. You may want to consider them for a special event.
My Favorite Tops During GLP-1 Weight Loss
I found that tops generally lasted much longer than bottoms, so I didn’t replace them as quickly. Instead, I looked for styles that could adapt as my body changed.
My favorites included:
• Wrap and surplice tops that adjust as you lose weight
• Soft knit dolman sleeve tops that drape beautifully without requiring a perfect fit
• Elevated knit tees that can be tucked or worn untucked
• Knit shells that layer easily under jackets and cardigans
A few top recommendations:
Dresses:
Dresses are probably the most difficult since they are “one-piece”. You might not be losing weight equally throughout your body, but that’s why I like to recommend wrap and A-line styles. Both styles give you waist definition and can be very “forgiving” during the weight loss process.
A few dress recommendations:
Why You’ll See So Many Quince Recommendations
You may notice that many of the pieces I’m recommending in this article are from Quince. That’s intentional because they offer such great pieces – but know that I do not have a partnership with them. I am only recommending their pieces because I think you will love them.
During this stage of weight loss, I believe it’s smart to invest in well-made basics rather than expensive statement pieces. Your body is changing, so your wardrobe doesn’t need to be perfect—it needs to be practical, polished, and adaptable.
Quince offers exactly that. Their knit dresses, elevated basics, and classic wardrobe staples are thoughtfully designed, good quality, and reasonably priced. They make it easier to build a small “working wardrobe” that looks put together without spending a fortune on pieces you may only wear for a season.
Once you reach your goal weight, you can decide where you want to make your long-term investment pieces. Until then, my advice is simple: buy thoughtfully, not expensively.
Consider Renting for Special Occasions
This is one piece of advice I never imagined giving my clients a few years ago.
If you’re in the middle of your GLP-1 journey and have a wedding, gala, cruise, or other special event coming up, consider renting instead of buying.
Spending several hundred dollars on a dress that may only fit for a few weeks rarely makes financial sense. Renting allows you to wear something beautiful, enjoy the occasion, and return it without wondering if you’ll ever wear it again.
For polished special-occasion dresses, I would start with Rent the Runway. They offer everything from wedding guest dresses to cocktail attire and even designer accessories, with one-time rentals available if you don’t want a subscription.
If your needs are more casual—perhaps you’re traveling or simply want a refreshed everyday wardrobe while your size is changing, Nuuly is another option worth exploring, with a large selection of contemporary brands and a flexible monthly subscription.
Stylist’s Tip: If you know you’ll eventually build a wardrobe at your goal weight, renting can help bridge the gap without filling your closet with pieces that no longer fit a few months later.
This is the first article in a series about dressing through the GLP-1 journey. From losing the first few pounds to rebuilding a wardrobe that reflects the woman you are today. Because while losing weight changed my size, it didn’t instantly change how I saw myself. And that’s exactly what we’ll talk about next. Because while losing weight changed my body, it didn’t instantly change the way I saw myself. And that turned out to be an entirely different journey.
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