Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

greenbee

Be ruthless LL

I've just had a major wardrobe blitz - I'm getting rid of everything that doesn't fit or flatter or make me feel good. So the charity shop (whenever I can get there to drop stuff off) will be doing well.

It does mean I've had to do some spending (particularly for work clothes), but I've been very lucky in that a friend I saw last weekend has lost a lot of weight too, and passed on a number of things. She also took me shopping and was very strict with me.

I don't have much left on my list - a pair of shoes (nude 4" heels for work - I do a lot of public speaking and I need the height to help with posture on stage), a top (turquoise, so I can make use at work of the shoes I got for a wedding a few years ago) and some shorts that are fit for activities other than gardening...

I now need to keep up the diet and exercise to ensure I remain fitting into the new clothes, but a combination of jet lag and a cold are conspiring against me. I really don't feel like running when I'm bunged up, with a sore throat, tickly cough and am coughing up green slime. Although I suspect it might make me feel better!

DD265

Hi all

Just wanted to pop in and say we've moved!

It took some doing but we're in and settled. Still some odd bits of unpacking to do and at the minute we have one small mirror in the on suite so my fabbing has had to go on hold, but we'll sort that soon enough. OH has suggested I get a dresser, so I will have to take him up on that before he changes his mind :rotfl:

Susan1962

Hauled down the summer clothes from the attic and rather than putting it all straight into the laundry basket as usual, I culled about a third of it - straight to the donation bags. What's left I'll go through again as I put it away to make sure it works together. Thank goodness for Holiday Mondays - I'd never have had the energy otherwise!

lessonlearned

Good morning all

I know it's stupid O'clock butI can't sleep. Just having a cup of tea and will go back to bed in a minute.

Didn't start the wardrobe blitz yesterday, had a nice long lazy lunch with my sis and BIL, much laughter and chat. Just what the doctor ordered.

Came across a great quote yesterday so thought I'd share it with you.

"You can't start a new life with old clothes". Love it and how true......

Yesterday I wore a new top. My sister commented that I had lost weight. I haven't.

When I got home I got to thinking about why my sister was so convinced that I had lost weight.

So I did the mirror,test........;)

I think It was a combination of The top which I was wearing which was quite well cut and slim fitting but I also think it was what was underneath. I was wearing a good bra and a close fitting cotton camisole type vest top thingy. It wasn't shapewear as such but the cotton fabric was quite stretchy and close fitting, this meant that the top glided over the camisole and hung nicely without clinging to any lumps and bumps. It really did make me look much trimmer.

I contrasted how I looked and felt with what I wore the day before when I wore a loose fitting smock type top. When I wore that top I hated what I saw in the mirror - I looked and felt like a baby elephant.

It got me thinking about my clothes, what styles flatter me the most, which items make me feel good, which ones make me look slimmer, which make me look fatter.

Same with trousers and shoes.

Yesterday I wore boot cut jeans and my legs looked longer. The day before I wore straight cut trousers. My legs looked shorter and somehow dumpy.

I thought about the shoes. Yesterday although my shoes would be classed as flats they did in fact have my a slightly built up heel, the day before I wore shoes that were really flat. They made me feel really squat and dumpy and that I didn't walk right, I felt that I was waddling like a duck rather than striding out.

It all sounds so obvious when I stop to think about it and see it all written down but it just goes to,show how easy it is to make the wrong choices sometimes and how just a few tweaks can make such a difference in how we look and feel.

I'm going to throw out anything that makes me feel fat and frumpy and keep only the items that make me feel good.

And from now on, I'm going to do the mirror test a lot more often........:rotfl:

chanie

Lessons I love that saying you found 'you can't start a new life with old clothes'.

I totally agree that outfits can make a big difference. There are loads of websites which help you pick the best types of outfits, based upon your body shape. It really does help to know what suits you and stops you even trying on things that won't suit you, so I'd definitely recommend having a search.

maman

'Morning all.:)


I'm 100% behind the wardrobe clear outs but I'm not sure I could be quite so drastic. I think you said ALL your winter clothes were going LL.:eek:


Fortunately, since my weight has stabilised and I'm happy with it almost all my clothes fit so none being thrown out for that reason. So that leaves me tatty, tired and bored. That's the clothes not me!!:rotfl:


That's a good tip susan about making sure things go together. I've got a top which I really like but it's an odd sort of khaki and green stripe. I'm never sure what to wear it with but reluctant to part with it.


I know what you mean about things being flattering LL. I know my posture is always so much better in heels and it gives me a confidence boost.


The last few weeks I've gone back into long sleeved tops as really not warm enough for short sleeves. Current favourites are two stripey navy and white tops (French Breton type) but they're smart and figure hugging rather than the fisherman's smock sort. With jeans and maybe a cardi and/or scarf I'm pleased with the look. It's a gesture to summer but keeping warm.

Ellsbel

Hi all, mind if I creep out of lurkdom for a bit?
I've nothing interesting to contribute - other than that I'm wearing make up and perfume!:D - but just wanted to say hello.
I've just been catching up on posts and I think you're all inspirational:)
ll and maman I was really interested to read your chat about courses and such; it's a huge regret of mine that I never went to uni, and I can't justify the cost of an OU degree now that I've turned 50 *gulp!* and it's probably too late for it to get me anywhere!
Anyway, have a good day all - I'm off out for some errands now, and then just pottering.

Susan1962

Finally bought a new pair of glasses which look nice. I don't wear them often (normally contacts) but have been having problems with dry eyes so am having to wear them now as soon as I get home. The old pair were serviceable but nothing else. Found a pair of Lipsy frames at the Barras (Glasgow's rogues' market!) - actually genuine - and had new lenses fitted. And I love them!
PS - the old pair were very moneysaving as I bought them 16 years ago and they were still in good enough condition to donate!! LOL

Ellsbel

Morning:)
I'm a bit late getting started today - still sitting with a coffee and enjoying the quiet.
Will shower and dress in a bit, walk dog, maybe take youngest teen into town to buy him some holiday bits, if he can drag himself out of bed!, then a bit of house fabbing!
If there's time later, I might spend an hour in the garden if it's still sunny, with a book (it's called "Reinventing your life" - so there'll be a new me when I've finished it )
Speaking of sitting in the sun, I tend to use very high factor sunscreen - even in my facial moisturiser - so I might treat myself to a self tanning lotion if we do go into town, as I'm looking a bit pale and washed out! Any recommendations ladies?
Have a good day everyone

lessonlearned

Good morning.

Yes I'm having a leisurely start to the day today too. It's nice to just sit quietly with the house to yourself so you can sip a cup of coffee and collect your thoughts before the day begins.

I had a lovely long sleep and although i feel a bit stiff this morning the rest has done me good. I shall have a nice soak in the bath in a bit, some stretching exercises and then a walk at some point.

Still not started on the wardrobe yet. Yesterday instead of tackling my bedroom I took ds2 out for lunch for his birthday. We went out for a drive in the country, drooling at dream houses. He has the week off now and although he wants to do some house stuff, he has been so tired I thought a day off would do us both good.

It's been a tough time for my boys and I but we are finally getting to,a good place again. I still need to pace myself though.

Sunny at the moment but quite cool so not sure what the day will bring.

Have a great day.