“My Clothes Don't Fit, but I Dread Shopping.”

Q: My body shape has changed, and some of my favorite clothes don't fit anymore. I am hoping they'll fit again one day and don't want to invest in new clothes in a different size, but I don't have much to wear for now. What should I do?

I want to start by addressing the piece of you that's hoping your clothes will fit again one day. I certainly can't know all the factors at play here, but I want you to know that it is normal for bodies, especially women's bodies, to change over time. They're built to shift.

Our bodies change when we go through puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and many other stages of life depending on our lifestyle, our stress levels, and our access to resources. We've been sold the idea that bodies shouldn't change so that we'll spend time and money trying to keep our bodies small. The lifestyle changes needed to achieve weight loss may require intense amounts of energy, effort, and/or money, so be sure to consider whether you are willing to make trade-offs with other areas of your life.

Second, if your clothes don't currently fit, your only real option is adding some clothes that do. It's either that or wear clothes that are too small, and there's no worse feeling than wearing too-tight clothing. It's not only physically uncomfortable; wearing ill-fitting clothing sends your brain negative feelings about your body all day long.

There are many natural phases of life when we temporarily need clothes in a different size. If that's the case, remember that you don't need much – after all, most of us only wear about 20% of what's in our closet anyway. Prioritize the basics and wear them constantly until you're in a more stable phase.

Also, consider purchasing clothes that will fit your body through a range of sizes. I'm so thankful we live in an age when elastic waists are acceptable! Flowy tops and dresses, and garments with stretch will all move with your body as it changes. There are even a few brands making one pair of jeans that fit a range of sizes.

Letting go of your favorite clothing items is hard, even sad. You may need to grieve. However, note what you love about those garments and look for new things that tap into the same fashion notes and joyful emotions.