Clothes Shopping During Eating Disorder Recovery

Eight thoughtful tips for a formidable task during your recovery journey

When you are in eating disorder recovery, nothing may feel more daunting than clothes shopping. Even if your body has not been changing, the experience of looking through the racks of clothes, getting upset by size tags, navigating the dressing room, and talking with salespersons can be trigger central! 

Most salespersons are not educated about eating disorders and size inclusivity and may focus on helping people find items that make you look “thinner and slimmer.” Additionally, they may try to upsell more expensive merchandise. Persons with eating disorders often have a fear of using resources on themselves, so the idea of spending money on oneself may also lead to a resistance factor to buying new clothes. When this necessary task looms on the horizon for you or your loved one, the pull of avoidance can be strong. Some may even reconsider important plans in order to circumvent the enormous chore of trying on clothes.

Why Clothes Matters

Feeling comfortable and relaxed in clothing is crucial when you struggle with body dissatisfaction.  Clothes that don’t fit right draw attention to the body and can ramp up discomfort and anxiety, leading to eating disorder behaviors in an effort to assuage those unwanted feelings. Some persons also like to “hide” in larger clothing as a solution to not feeling like they can “look good” in anything.  In addition, persons with eating disorders may hoard “sick clothes” in their closets in an attempt to hang on to the false hope that dieting, disordered eating behaviors, or thin-focused thinking gave them. 

So how can you make clothes shopping a more comfortable, enjoyable experience? Here are eight tips to consider for your next outing:

1. Focus on the fitting rooms.
If possible, choose a department store with fitting rooms that have soft lighting (instead of glaring fluorescents), a three-way mirror, and a large enough changing space for you to easily move around.

2. Bring a supportive family member or friend with you. 
Instead of using the salesperson for help with finding garments, bring a person who you trust to help you navigate the experience. Additionally, there may be a few professional shoppers here and there who have experience with eating disorders. If you can find one, interview them before you go shopping and assess your comfort level with this person’s knowledge about eating disorder recovery.

3. Let your shopping buddy focus on sizes.
Show them the garments you like and ask them to sift through the racks for the correct sizes. They should grab two or three different sizes of the same garment for you to try on to ensure that you find one that works. Remember that sizes are not standard and often depend on the brand or country of manufacture. 

4. Ask your family member or friend to come into the dressing room with you.
When you are in the stall, turn your back to the stall mirror and resist looking into that mirror.  Mirrors in the stalls are often lower-end and not flattering. They can be warped or poorly lit. Have your supportive other give you one item at a time to try on. Resist looking at the size tag.

While trying on the garment, if it feels like it doesn’t fit, stop right there and give the garment back to your supportive other. Send them to find a different size if needed. If the garment fits and you think you may like it, walk out of the stall to view it in the three-way mirror. Those mirrors are often higher quality and have better lighting. Plus, if you feel confident enough to leave the stall to view it, it is a good sign that you may have found something you like!

More Tips For Clothes Shopping

5. Have your supportive other cut the size tag off your garments immediately after purchase.  
Bring some scissors with you! You can also bring a waterproof black marker to cross out the size if you want to save the tag for washing instructions.

6. Look for clothes with stretch.
Because your body will adjust to regular nutrition during your recovery journey, please don’t expect clothes to fit the same as they did before. If you are in the process of interrupting eating disorder behaviors and adjusting to a regular meal plan, it is best to find clothing with stretch to give your body room to flow in and out of the adjustments it needs to make.

Opt for loose fitting or stretchy pants rather than snug denim or tight waist bands. If appropriate, consider getting fitted for a new bra or focus on undergarments that have stretch. Nothing is more uncomfortable than ill-fitting underwear! Items that allow room in the midsection are preferred too. Tunics, button-down shirts, linen tops, flared shirts, and blouses may be good options to try over fitted tees and sweaters. Don’t forget comfortable shoes too. Tight shoes, boots, or heels with no give for the feet are not worth the agony!

7. Focus on staple items that can be mixed and matched in neutral colors. 
If you want to add some flair, you can accessorize.

8. Get rid of “sick clothes” and other items in your closet that remind you of eating disorder days.
I strongly recommend that you enlist your supportive other to help you clean out your closet. Box up the sick clothes and anything else that you haven’t worn in the last year. Consider donating them to a local shelter or charity. Please do not give these clothes to family members or friends. It can be too triggering to see them on others!

A note for supportive others: You should include the recovering person in the discussion of this process. Unless directed by your recovering person or their treatment team, do not secretly go into the room and rid them of their sick clothes. This task is an important opportunity for therapeutic healing during eating disorder recovery.

Shopping on a Budget

Before I close, I want to share a few additional tips focused on shopping on a budget. These thoughts are shared with gratitude from a discussion in The Eating Disorder Foundation’s 50+ Virtual Support Group.
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• Buy the bulk of your clothes from lower-cost stores, outlets, or sales racks and save your money for one or two higher-priced or special occasion items.
• Thrift stores are great places to grab a variety of clothing to experiment with and will save you tons of money. 
• Because the cost is low, you can opt to skip the dressing room and try on your new items at home with your supportive other.
• It will also help alleviate the fears of using financial resources on clothes. You can return or donate the items you don’t like.

Now that you’ve got some guardrails in place, it’s time to pick a store, find your supportive other, and set a date to shop! Know that it will be hard. It may bring up unwanted thoughts and emotions. But remember: You are incredibly resilient. Lean into finding clothing that is comfortable and expresses your unique style and creativity to bring you forward in your new recovery identity. You can do this!

Check out my website or reach out to me via my contact page. I offer free, 30-minute consultations to new clients.