Reduce clothing size, but increase income.
As weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy take hold in the United States and help achieve dramatic weight loss, retailers are reporting a shocking replication of the trend that consumers now need smaller clothes.
“Before, I felt insecure about my body,” Maggie Rezek told Wall Street Journal. “Now I feel like the clothes fit me better. That gives me the confidence to dress up and have more style.”
The Indianapolis native is one of many who are helped by weight-loss medications. The 32-year-old lost 60 pounds and is now splurging on a new wardrobe that includes crop tops and denim shirts.
According to the Journal, about 15.5 million Americans (about 6 percent of the entire population) have tried a weight-loss drug. Many of those people now need new clothes after losing dozens of pounds.
Sales of the top three women's button-down shirts fell 10.9 percent in early 2024 compared to 2022, according to Impact Analytics, which helps brands with inventory management. Meanwhile, sales of smaller T-shirts grew 12.1 percent in the same period.
At Lafayette 148's, customers are looking for new clothes due to weight loss, CEO Deirdre Quinn told the WSJ. Many customers who were size 12 are now size 6 or 8.
This has led to increased sales and reduced costs because the company is spending less on materials for the smaller sizes.
Rent the Runways has also seen customers change sizes at the highest rate in 15 years, co-founder and CEO Jennifer Hyman told the outlet.
Users are also experimenting more with styles they might have avoided when they were heavier, such as designs that show off masks or features.
“When you feel more comfortable in your skin, you're more willing to try bolder looks,” Hyman said.
The trend is also reversing the post-pandemic search for larger sizes that many wanted when they left the house for the first time in months. At Allstar Logo, demand for larger sizes has dropped by half over the past year, sales director Edmon Moss told the outlet.
“We used to sell a lot of wool jackets in plus, extra-large sizes,” Moss said. “Now everything has gone down at least one size.”
