sizing and fit and bad habits - how do you shop?

looking at the clothing guidelines....

picking out stuff to buy...
i always seem to like to wear 1 size up from what actually fits my measurements.

bad habit?
yeh...makes me look bigger and sloppy.

i gotta break that habit.

and i always buy something thats a size smaller if its on sale. i figure i will eventually fit into it.lol

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how do you shop?

I recently came to the point where I understood that buying clothes that don't fit perfectly is not a good idea. It sounds obvious, but you know sometimes you can't accept the size you are supposed to wearand want to go smaller. It conteracts whatever positive effect I expect from retail therapy :-) Instead of making me feel good, it makes me feel fat. When I buy what fits me well, without caring whether it's a 10 or a 12 or whatever, I feel prettier.

You could check out the BBC website and their "what not to wear" program. I found they give pretty good advice on howw to chose your clothes, style-wise. As for the size, you could ask a sales person to help you. I know it's not always fun to ask this kind of thing to a stranger, but... Or go with a friend who knows how to dresss :-)

antoinette-lebrun, I just looked at your profile - - way to go!!! You've lost 80 pounds, that is fabulous. That probably explains why you have dressed the way you did (or do?)  I've lost 30 pounds and, yes, I do dress differently now.  It was really, really, really hard!  It was hard to just pick out clothes from the rack to even try on because I would think they they would never fit or they wouldn't look right, etc.   

I suggest that you just buy maybe one or two things first, just to get started.  You may want to go with a friend for support.  Me, I went alone because I was embarassed.  I just had to trust.  I picked up a pair of pants and tried them on.  They were too big!  I couldn't believe it.  I went and go the same pants in the next smaller size, and same thing!  What was I thinking about my size!  Finally, I got a pair of pants that fit.  I was so giddy. 

When I wore my new pants, everyone asked if I had lost weight.  Of course I had been loosing for a while, but who could tell in the clothes I was wearing!  All of a sudden, I looked like I had lost weight. 

Good luck with your shopping.  Just like you made up your mind to change your eating habits, you can change your shopping habits!

I take the size i think i am, the one below and the one above into the changing room and see what fits best :) I don't really go off sizes so much because they vary from cut to cut of clothes. I generally shop alone, but my hubby has said he will come with me if i ask - which i've decided he will be when i'm down to the weight i want, so he can help me choose what looks good. Right now i just go for basics - jeans, tee and a zip up sweater.