Clothes That Help You Lose Weight

1

Does Weight Loss Clothing Really Work?

what to wear to lose weight
Dougal Waters / Getty Images

You probably think that the best place to burn fat and calories is at the gym. But that's not really true. There are clothes that help you lose weight all day long — no matter where you are or what you're doing. 

Some weight-loss clothing uses heat or cold to help boost your metabolism. Some products use compression technology. And then some clothing brands simply make the movement more comfortable so that you are inspired to burn more calories with physical activity.

Unfortunately, not all of the fat-burning clothes will produce noticeable results.

So before you run to the mall or shop online, use this guide to find out which clothes help you burn more fat and which garments just help you burn through cash.

2

What to Wear to Lose Weight

lucy indiGO
lucy indiGO

If you're trying to lose weight and struggling to stay motivated, then it's time to update your closet. Why? Because you're not likely to stay committed to the hard work of weight loss if you feel bad about your body. So why not invest in a few pieces that make your body and soul feel fabulous?

Wearing the right clothes can also help boost your motivation, your self-confidence, and your weight loss potential at the same time.

3

Get Confident and Burn Calories on the Job

what to wear to lose weight
Chico's Zenergy

The clothes you wear at work can also have a big impact on the number of calories you burn each day. In fact, one of the best ways to lose weight at work is to wear sporty, lux styles that inspire you to get out of your cubicle and move more often.

Of course, you can't wear your gym clothes to the office. But thanks to brands like Chico's, you don't have to. Their Zenergy line is designed to help women of all sizes feel confident and sexy. The comfy styles are made from performance-inspired fabrics so taking the stairs to your next meeting or going for a walk during lunch is easy to do. Tops and bottoms come in sizes from XS to XXL. 

4

Clothes That Boost Metabolism

prAna althleisure to burn more calories
prAna

Your casual daywear can also help boost metabolism by offering a design comfortable enough to support more daily movement. This extra movement is called non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) and it can add up to hundreds of calories each day.

So which brands can help you boost your metabolism? You'll find many athleisure styles at stores like Crane & LionLolë, and Lululemon. But I'm a big fan of the styles at prAna. This company makes eco-friendly, organic apparel (pictured) that looks great but also moves well so that you feel comfortable going the extra mile.

5

Shoes to Increase Your Step Count

shoes to improve step count

ShoeDazzle / Bearpaw

If you're really serious about burning more fat and calories all day, you'll wear supportive shoes that help you to increase your daily step count. Good shoes can even help you to improve your posture to make weight loss easier. But don't worry, that doesn't mean that you have to wear your grandmother's orthopedic shoes. 

Brands like Vionic, Bearpaw, and Ryka make comfortable casual shoes for women. If you're a runner, check out recovery shoes by OOFOS to pamper your feet and keep them healthy. But you should also be mindful of the shoes you wear at the office and out on the town. ShoeDazzle is a great site that sells a wide variety of affordable styles with lower heels to help boost your step count.

6

Workout Clothes to Keep You Inspired

workout wear that make you look slim
FABB Activewear

Do you care about how you dress at the gym? You should. Flattering workout apparel is the cornerstone of a fat-burning wardrobe. Why? Because if you feel better about your body at the gym, you're likely to go more often, stay there longer, and work as hard as you need to when you're there. A great workout wardrobe can boost your confidence and keep you motivated. 

But finding workout clothes that help you feel good about your body can be hard when you're not at your optimal weight. To find clothes that fit well, look for workout clothes for women who aren't super skinny. Brands like FABB Activewear (pictured) are designed by women and include slimming styles that that help you feel great when you're in front of the mirror at the health club.

7

Compression Gear to Burn More Fat

2xu gear for effective workouts
2XU

Compression gear may help you burn more fat when you exercise. This high tech apparel supports your body both during and after your workout to minimize muscle damage. If your muscles feel better, you may be able to work out longer and exercise more often to burn more fat and calories.

So what does compression gear look like? You've probably seen it on pro athletes and serious workout junkies at the gym. It's the workout gear that makes your body look sleek and tight. But you don't have to be a pro to wear the supportive socks, leggings or tops. In fact, overweight exercisers enjoy special benefits when they wear compression gear.

Compression gear itself doesn't cause weight loss. This gear simply helps you to feel better as you stick to your exercise plan. 

8

Corsets for Weight Loss

waist trainers for fat loss corset

Tony Hutchings / Photographer's Choice / Getty Images

Corsets and waist trainers are incredibly popular. According to magazine reports, celebs like Jessica Alba, Kim Kardashian, and Khloe Kardashian use them to slim down. The corset diet plans that they promote in the tabloids have become a favorite for many celebrity weight loss aficionados.

But just wearing a corset won't cause you to lose weight. And there are some ways in which it may actually work against weight loss. So use a diet plan that is based on scientific methods to get results that you can actually see on your body.

9

Hot Pants for Weight Loss

Some dieters use hot pants to burn fat and calories. Brands like Zaggora HotPants advertise that wearing their garment during exercise can help you boost your metabolism. Their theory is that the pants help to increase your body temperature to make weight loss more efficient. In short, the pants make you sweat to lose weight. 

While boosting your body heat may burn more calories, you're not likely to see a noticeable difference in your weight loss results when you wear hot pants.

10

Cool Sculpt Contouring Shorts

Cool Shapes Contouring Shorts
Cool Shapes Contouring Shorts

While some dieters increase their body temperature to burn fat, others try to freeze away fat with products like Cool Sculpt Contouring Shorts. Makers of this popular slimming system say that fat can be removed from your body if you ice it on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, however, I tried the Cool Shapes slimming system and didn't get a positive result. I didn't use the product as long as recommended, but I found some scientific evidence that made me think that the discomfort of freezing my fat wasn't worth it. There are proven methods to freeze away fat, but I didn't feel that Cool Shapes was one of them. 

11

Cold Vests for Weight Loss

cold shoulder weight loss vest
Cold Shoulder Weight Loss Vest

Some dieters are using a cold vest for weight loss. There are several on the market including the Cold Shoulder Weight Loss Vest (pictured above) and the Cool Fat Burner. The theory behind these fat-loss garments is that the cold temperature helps to activate brown fat to boost your metabolism.

The problem, however, is that the actual science behind brown fat activation is still in its early stages.

Experts who are studying brown fat don't even believe that brown fat activation will necessarily help people to lose weight in a typical real-world setting.

12

Accessories That Help You Burn Fat

how to use activity monitor
Westend61/ Westend61/ Getty Images

Of course, no fat-burning wardrobe is complete without accessories. So what's the best accessory to help you burn more calories? You can track your weight loss progress more effectively if you wear an activity monitor

There are some monitors that are better for weight loss, but the best model for you is the one that you'll use. So before you buy, make sure you check your smartphone compatibility and ease of use.

But remember, just buying the monitor won't cause you to lose weight. Many buyers spend a lot of money on the device and then use it incorrectly. Make sure you use your monitor the right way to get the best weight loss benefits.

9 Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  2. American Council on Exercise. 6 things to know about non-exercise activity thermogenesis.

  3. Hauff C. Dress to impress or dress to sweat? Examining the perceptions of exercise apparel through the eyes of the active women. Women in Sport and Phys Act J. 2015;24(2):99-109. doi:10.1123/wspaj.2015-0015

  4. Engel FA, Holmberg HC, Sperlich B. Is there evidence that runners can benefit from wearing compression clothing?. Sports Med. 2016;46(12):1939-1952. doi:10.1007/s40279-016-0546-5

  5. Ungerman A. 8 celebrities who waist train. ET.

  6. Van de Velde S, St. Pierre I, Byrd B, Fargo J, Loring L, Dalleck L. Effects of exercise training with a sauna suit on cardiovascular health: a proof-of-concept study. Intl J Res Ex Phys. 2015;11(1):1-10.

  7. Derrick CD, Shridharani SM, Broyles JM. The safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis: A systematic review of available literatureAesthet Surg J. 2015;35(7):830-6. doi:10.1093/asj/sjv039

  8. Townsend K, Tseng YH. Brown adipose tissue: Recent insights into development, metabolic function and therapeutic potential. Adipocyte. 2012;1(1):13-24. doi:10.4161/adip.18951

  9. The Conversation. Can 'brown fat' really help with weight loss?

By Malia Frey, M.A., ACE-CHC, CPT
 Malia Frey is a weight loss expert, certified health coach, weight management specialist, personal trainer​, and fitness nutrition specialist.