Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

Contessa

Looking through my "summer wardrobe" today I came across a linen trouser suit. It's a few years old but never been worn, still has tags on. I've lost a little weight since buying it and it now fits well.

I'd like to wear it but wonder if it's now too old fashioned as it has very wide legs?

I'd be grateful if those of you who know about these things could advise me.

Susan1962

Contessa wrote: »

Looking through my "summer wardrobe" today I came across a linen trouser suit. It's a few years old but never been worn, still has tags on. I've lost a little weight since buying it and it now fits well.

I'd like to wear it but wonder if it's now too old fashioned as it has very wide legs?

I'd be grateful if those of you who know about these things could advise me.

If you're not sure about the wide legs you could always take it to be altered? It's usually fairly cheap and it would also make it look as if it's made to measure - very posh!

lessonlearned

Contessa wrote: »

Looking through my "summer wardrobe" today I came across a linen trouser suit. It's a few years old but never been worn, still has tags on. I've lost a little weight since buying it and it now fits well.

I'd like to wear it but wonder if it's now too old fashioned as it has very wide legs?

I'd be grateful if those of you who know about these things could advise me.

Wide leg trousers are actually very "on trend".

If you like then and they suit your shape then why not.

Well done on the weight loss and great that you have discovered a "new" outfit in your wardrobe.

chanie

Aaahhh, kondo-ing.

I don't have the book, but I did puck up the general principals from the kondo thread. I actually 'get' the idea of thanking the possessions you get rid of. Whilst I haven't done it, when I've been in town and raiding the poundshop, I start thinking about whether I'll end up 'thanking'(ie using) the item, the resource that gone into creating the item and whether it will end up in landfill.

I kondo-ed Mr chanie's t-shirts, although I think my efforts were wasted on him. The only thing I disagree with kondo on, is storage, as I genuinely think I don't have enough and I'm not using the storage I have properly. I recently recycled a storage basket and I use it for all of the toiletries we were given at Christmas. Instead of them being all over the house, they are in the basket and I use them up before buying more, so it technically more storage, but it's well used.

DD265

maman wrote: »

Just over two weeks to my holiday and we've bought proper wheelie cabin bags for the first time. They'll be useful for mini-breaks but we're experimenting with just one hold bag between us this time too. So I need to start thinking about minimal packing. It's the books that are a problem but I've still to fancy a kindle or similar. Still an old fashioned gal.;)

I have the same dilemma books vs Kindle and hand luggage vs suitcase. The books and suitcase have won though - me being me I wanted the £170 kindle, and don't have a rucksack any more (although I could steal it back from Dad, I used it all the way through university so surely it must be mine :rotfl: ) but with the amount of money we've spent on stuff for the flat, didn't really want to fork out for holiday stuff too.

lessonlearned wrote: »

Something changed today.......a milestone was passed.

I was cooking dinner, I put some music on and before I knew it I found that I was dancing........

It's been a long time since I danced........

Loving the summery outfits.

I'm so pleased for you LL

I had my manicure, pedicure and spray tan yesterday. I dyed my hair in the bath on Thursday night, but there's no mirror in the bathroom (why on earth I don't know, planning to put one up today) so I couldn't tint my eyelashes/brows as didn't want to risk getting dye on cream carpets running to the nearest mirror.

I will need to epilate my legs and pluck my eyebrows (and wash the spray tan guide off) but after that I should be all set. I am conveniently ignoring the fact that I need to pack.

liltdiddylilt

LL that is an amazing amount of money. I still have so much to sell but I am terrible at doing so. Must try harder as £600 is what I *need* to make for my new phone. It will stop me feeling terrible about spending so much of my savings on it!

chanie I've tonnes of storage solutions, and definitely not enough storage. I really need a chest of drawers, but I am always disappointed with them so have resisted until I find some that spark joy! I love my storage, but then I have a tiny cramped flat and even if I kondoed everything there would still be a need for storage!!

Hope you're OK all. I've booked a haircut for Tuesday afternoon. So today I am washing my hair, doing an apple cider vinegar rinse and then giving it a coat of coconut oil - will let it rest and then see if it needs anything else, so that it is in best condition before the chop and even better afterwards. Not had it cut in months due to a serious scalp issue that has now almost cleared so feel braver about going.

Have a lovely Sunday all. I've a poorly toddler asleep in bed and so am stuck, unable to do anything that might wake her. Like.. moving xx

Rummer

I have booked a holiday :j:j:j It will be my first sunshine holiday in decades and I need to get myself in shape and looking fabulous. Thankfully it is next summer so I have a year to get there

lessonlearned

Just back from having another go at sorting out my parents cottage. When you see what's in the cupboards mums dementia becomes glaringly obvious, there were cupboards and drawers full of cleaning materials and toiletries. Honestly I don't think I will have to buy anything for about 2 years.

Poor old sausage she just kept buying and buying stuff. Ive had to throw a stack of out of date food out and dispose of old medicines.

Liltsiddylit - you would be amazed at how quickly your savings can grow when you put you mind to it. If you sign up to the make £10 a day thread (it's on the debt board) you will find lots of helpful ideas. I usually comit to £5 per day but you can go as low as you like. The folk over there are really helpful and supportive and you will get loads of ideas on how to sell stuff and make a bit extra. I reckon you could make that target of £600 with relative ease. It took me around 5 months, just saving my pennies and a bit of half hearted ebaying.

If I had been more committed and done some car boots etc I could have probably doubled that amount but Ive been rather lazy and have just given car loads away to the charity shops.

Seriously as you go round your house and start discarding you would be staggered at how much you can raise.

. My OH and I used to do CarBoot sales regularly when the boys were small and we were skint. It was huge fun and We would make around £70 to £8o. I used to put it all on one side and that was our holiday money and family days out. Our Mad money. I'm firmly of the opinion everyone needs a bit of mad money that they can blow without feeling guilty....:D

Just before I downsized I cleaned out our loft. It took a few months but I made £1100. Apart from a couple of items most of it was a load old tat, it was the sheer volume that made the money.

Rummer - great news about the holiday.

Well I'm shattered tonight so it's feet up and veg out.

maman

Good that you're tackling the cottage bit by bit LL, rather like your famous elephant!!

Rummer wrote: »

I have booked a holiday :j:j:j It will be my first sunshine holiday in decades and I need to get myself in shape and looking fabulous. Thankfully it is next summer so I have a year to get there

I think you should take much the same 'elephant' approach over the year rummer. Obviously you have a weightloss goal for every week but it helps to focus on the next half stone or a dress size or an event or an outfit you want to get into. I think you could link it to being mse too. Try to keep clothes spending to an absolute minimum until you get to be the size you want. Do a meal plan which not only saves waste (shocking stories in the news lately about food waste:eek:) but also try not to buy snacks.


Being nosey,:o I have to ask where you're going on your holiday?


Another one of us off for a hairdo lilt. Well done on working on the condition. That's why I bought the intensive conditioner last week. Now my hairdresser's cut off dry ends I'm going to keep it conditioned especially with lots of swimming and sun in a couple of weeks.


My hair still looks good from Friday. If I had more money than sense (like Waity Katy, footballers' wives and that ilk) I'd have my own personal hairdresser. Wouldn't it be great to have someone blow dry your hair every morning? Then there'd be my masseur and beautician and......:rotfl:


When you think about it, we're doing really well to look fab considering it's mostly DIY for us when all the 'role models' have massive help. :T to us!!


Thanks for the tips on Kondo. I'm not sure how I'll get on with the emotional side but the tidying up certainly appeals. I can't see why you wouldn't want storage. I think what matters is that the things you're storing are things you need and want.


I bought a chest of drawers on ebay. I have an old, very traditional house so looked out for one in solid oak and gifted the pine one to DD1;).


I'm sticking with the books too, at least for this year DD. I'm glad we've bought the wheelie hand luggage as it's better for my back than a holdall but for a longish holiday it's as well as a suitcase not instead of.


Bright and sunny here today but not over warm. Hope everyone's been enjoying the weekend.

liltdiddylilt

LL - my nanny collects cheese and joints of meat. An expensive habit, considering that she is vegan.

I think I must try this halfhearted bay of E. I just find it so time consuming especially posting odd shaped things!!

Today I got my legs out in a denim skirt and felt... OK! This is a marked improvement from so disgusted with myself that I immediately change. I even went to the park and into town in them. Am about to head out and walk off some energy now that the little un is securely in bed & I have someone here to mind the house! xx