The Pajama Game

I have recently lost 120 lbs………..a monumental accomplishment by any standards, and one that calls for CLOTHES SHOPPING!!!!! Having spent the better part of my life labeled “obese”, and in most recent years,  “morbidly” obese, only living thin during my college and early marriage years, I was ecstatic at the thought of an apparel shopping spree in the “normal” size department of an actual brick and mortar store. Throw out those “PLUS SIZE” catalogs; delete those bookmarked online “ WOMAN SIZE” sites; donate those Size 4X blouses. It was the month of March…..spring clothes shopping time that called for getting into the car and zooming (Pre-pandemic dictionary definition in early March, “Zoom” still meant “to move quickly”, not yet “video conference with friends”)  to the recently opened Chico’s in my neighborhood.

I had one foot out the door, eagerly anticipating returning to that same Chico’s, where the saleswoman on my last trip in December, scrutinized my new body adorned in a size 3 ( Chico’s has notoriously weird sizing) tunic length sweater, scrunched up her face, and said, “That looks terrible. It’s much too big. Let me get you a smaller size.” I wasn’t dreaming. She had actually suggested a smaller size to ME. So here I am, excitement building, ready to grab every size 2 blouse (maybe even size 1) in Chicos, when I instead, found myself forced back into the house due to a GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

Living as an obese woman for all but 12 years of my life, unable to fit into airline seats, squeeze through spaces between restaurant tables, fit into restaurant booths, and I reach my goal of losing the equivalent of whole person in weight…… during a worldwide medical emergency lockdown. No clothes shopping sprees in stores and no blatantly parading around to show off the new me to friends and strangers.

I have always been clothes crazed.  I love to mix and match outfits; to choose jewelry that goes with a particular clothing color scheme. Shoes, handbags, clothes, jewelry……….I could spend hours choosing just the right pieces that go together. Even at my heaviest, my sister, who somehow was the recipient of all of the “skinny genes” in the family, and has worked for a weight loss company for 25 years,  admitted that I always looked fashionable in my clothes. Fat, but fashionable.

So what is a newly “less fat” ( not yet “thin”), clothing obsessed woman supposed to do when she cannot shop for clothes,  and is not allowed to go anywhere to wear them, even she could buy them? She buys Pajama Outfits online, of course. I present to you my runway choices for Quarantine Wear.

For a casual day of lounging, tv viewing, or reading, I have a royal blue capri set. Notice the bright, summer colored ice cream treats embellishing the entire set. No outfit is complete without a pair of shoes to complement it. Who needs shoes in the house? Instead, I have a soft, terrycloth pair of slippers in a light blue with contrasting royal blue piping to match the royal blue of the pajamas.

If the humidity is low, and the sun is shining,  I will often lounge on my patio, reading or listening to music.  This Bermuda short length raspberry color pajama set is perfect for such activities. The V neck and short sleeves keep me cool and comfortable. The black stenciled butterflies add an additional fun element to the outfit. My feet are always cold, regardless of the temperature, so I have paired this outfit with black furry slippers to match the black of the butterflies.

And finally, to end the day, is a long sleeve, trouser length, bright purple pajama set. This outfit is WAY too big for my new smaller figure, but I like total comfort as I am winding down from such a busy Quarantine Day. Notice the beautifully matched purple slippers. I also sleep in this set, which is another reason for its larger size. Who can be comfortable sleeping in tight pajamas? Certainly not me.

So there you have it, my friends. My solution to a weight-loss clothing spree during a global pandemic home lockdown.

As I write this at the beginning of July, my State is loosening restrictions on retail establishments. I am not sure, however, if I want to try on clothes that an indeterminate number of other women have tried on in this new germ-phobic era. Maybe I will stick with online shopping and forego the joy of real-time retail therapy for a bit longer.
Stay tuned for more Lifestyle Blogging by Joan.

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