Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

teedy23

humptydumptybits wrote: »

maman I won't be wearing a hat, I think my hatred of hats goes back to wear them at school. My DD is happy with that, she said it wouldn't be her mum in a hat.


My outfit is navy, coral and white. I'm thinking of getting a coral bag and navy shoes. Not sure if I can match the coral so might have to rethink it. I think navy shoes and bag might be a bit dark so I'm hoping I can crack the coral bag.


I like the look of skechers but haven't actually tried them yet.

I love my sketchers, so comfortable but I long for heels again !

humptydumptybits

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I've long held to the "cost per wear" theory. It makes a lot of sense to me.

I recently bought a few cheapie (ie £5 a go or thereabouts) teeshirts at cheap shops - just to do me until I'm back to correct weight. I'm certainly not going to spend much on "temporary" clothing. I've only worn one of those teeshirts 3 or 4 times and it's just gone in the wash - and it already looks a bit "bobbly" and like it needs replacing.:eek:

Yep...those calf boots and the handbag were both not far short of £200 - but I reckon I'll get a lot of wear from them.

I was sitting people-watching a couple of times recently and analysing to see what "lessons to learn" or "things to copy" from them. Then it struck me why a couple of people have commented to me over the years about A.N. Other we both know that "Their clothes aren't cheap...." and I thought "How can you tell?". Sitting there people-watching and daylight began to dawn at the visible difference in quality I could see on different people.

Bring back the days when Marks & Spencers sold reasonable quality clothes:(. I remember when I bought a basic navy blazer type jacket from them MANY years ago and I think it can't have been that far short of £100. Go in there these days and I spotted ones in similar style - and I wouldn't even look at them personally - as I could see from feet away why they are now only about £30 from there. You could tell a mile off that they were very cheap fabric/cheaply cut/etc these days:(. Not quite sure how much inflation would have added to the cost in the time since - but I would have thought an equivalent quality one would now cost between £200-£300?? and personally I'd rather pay that and it would be in their former better quality.

M&S still do brilliant clothes for men. We went in recently and got some lovely casual stuff for DH. When my son started his first management job I suggested he look in M&S for suits. He was a bit dismissive but then told me his friend's father, an executive with megabucks, told him he bought all his business suits there so son went and had a look and loved them. They also do longer sleeves in many of the shirts, I mean you can buy the standard ones or extra long, and as son is well over 6ft he loves these. Don't know why they can't do the same for women.


I know my DIL always buys school trousers for the GSs from M&S as she says they wear far better than any other make. Not sure about girls clothes but does seem a male female split.

humptydumptybits

teedy23 wrote: »

I agree with most of what you say about quality, buying out of season is my favourite thing. The problem is some shops are selling high cost, low quality garments now. A hundred years ago a young lady I worked with (she was quite posh, and in a higher position) who always dressed really well, gave me cause to rethink things. I was on a very strict budget at the time and shopped regularly in, if anyone still remembers, What Every Woman Wants. I happened upon this young lady shopping there ! I am not ashamed to say I stalked her through the store for a while paying attention to what she was buying lol. In the coming weeks I saw her wearing some of the garments to work, I had to look hard as they didnt look quite the same but much better, thanks to the way she wore them and with what accessories she added. I wish I had her vision as I am rubbish at it lol.

I do agree, while looking around for the wedding outfit I've been shocked at the quality of some of the more expensive things I've looked at. Flowery patterns seem popular at the moment and the way they aren't matched up at seams looks really tatty to me. Dressmaking lessons at school when I was 11 always emphasised matching up patterns. I know it can be wasteful with material but if I am paying £250 for a dress I think it is reasonable to expect it.

moneyistooshorttomention

teedy23 wrote: »

I agree with most of what you say about quality, buying out of season is my favourite thing. The problem is some shops are selling high cost, low quality garments now. A hundred years ago a young lady I worked with (she was quite posh, and in a higher position) who always dressed really well, gave me cause to rethink things. I was on a very strict budget at the time and shopped regularly in, if anyone still remembers, What Every Woman Wants. I happened upon this young lady shopping there ! I am not ashamed to say I stalked her through the store for a while paying attention to what she was buying lol. In the coming weeks I saw her wearing some of the garments to work, I had to look hard as they didnt look quite the same but much better, thanks to the way she wore them and with what accessories she added. I wish I had her vision as I am rubbish at it lol.

Probably tailoring at a guess - ie she'd had garments altered to fit her better.

I've come round recently to thinking that I'll have to be prepared to "tailor" some clothes - rather than expecting to instantly wear them.

A large part of that is for two 21st century reasons (ie nothing to do with me:cool::mad:). One being, I gather, that the female height in Britain has gone up from 5'4" (my height - before I shrank a bit) to 5'6" and I can see that might mean having to have clothes taken up that should be the right length for me to start with + maybe a bit extra to allow for the personal factor of me shrinking.

The other one being that my hips and bust are the same size:D - which is exactly how I like them to be/happy with that per se. But - a lot of British women are pear-shaped and clothes measurements have been altered as well to allow for bigger bottom halves than we have (over and above the "pear shape" of many of us). Checking out measurements of "real sizes" (ie 1970s ones) and current "2010's vanity sizes" and the hip measurement has gone up proportionately more than the bust and waist measurements.

Arm lengths - I know that's down to me and not other peoples measurements changing and/or societal changes = I think my arms are probably short by normal standards anyway.

I watched the latest video on YouTube this morning by Audrey Coyne (the "one most likely" as clothes role model as far as I'm concerned) and she makes some good points re tailoring. The main one of note being to test a potential tailor by taking them a pair of jeans to take up and see whether their response to "I'm going to keep them looking the same at the bottom - ie jeans stitching as per now" is:

1. Can't be done
OR
2. Admitting it can be done and saying "Not a problem - I'll do so of course".

I did see something somewhere (probably YouTube again) explaining exactly how to take up jeans properly (ie so they looked identical still at the bottom) - so I do know it is possible (even if I personally couldnt do it).

*******

On another tack - still getting myself sorted with hair styling things. Sent off for a new hairdryer - a mid-price range Braun one. The one I have now is a cheapie travel hairdryer and it doesnt have the "range" (ie enough different temperature settings/a cold air blast button/etc). Paddle brush and styling comb going to be bought (trans. = ordered) from my local Boots and I reckon I'll have everything I need for my hair. That being - I've recently already bought 2 large circular type hairbrushes and some velcro rollers.

I've got a suitable spray container coming through to use for home-made hairspray too (having found a couple of recipes for it).

EDIT; How can you tell I've made a policy decision I'm just not prepared to economise any longer at my age (60;s) LOL - particularly with my house already being a huge enforced economy.

Toni'sfriend

Hi Toni'sfriend, can you not put something in your pockets that smells of your fave scent ? then you can smell nice without the agro of itchy skin.

That is such a good idea. I tried spraying it on my neck but it is making my skin rough and a little itchy there. I think I must have an allergy to something in it.

My packing for our holiday is all done. A bit different from the usual. It's a very relaxing holiday in a rural/seaside area but it does have nice pubs and restaurants. Normally I wouldn't take anything that remotely resembles "dressing up" but I've worked it all out. Pretty tops, smart trousers as well as jeans and a pair of actual shoes in addition to the shoes that are practical for walking in. Everything matches in black and various shades of pink with a hint of grey to go with the smart jacket I'm travelling in and using for going out (light waterproof jacket in case of rain). I haven't seen my friend for four months. I hope she notices the difference.

The weight loss isn't going so well but that's entirely my own fault. I'm hoping that a lot of walking and eating fish will help.

We're out tomorrow for lunch. Really looking forward to that to get me in the holiday mood.

humptydumptybits

I sympathise with the perfume issue. My husband is allergic to perfume so I can't wear it, have to use unscented toiletries. I don't think about it much but every now and then I think it would be nice.

silvasava

Humpty - SO agree with you on pattern matching! I'm a lover of striped tops and if the pattern doesn't match it goes back on the rail! It doesn't seem to matter how expensive the item is either. I recently bought a black, grey and white striped top with small silver zips for decoration near the neck - not only did the stripes match on the body, when the top was on the stripes on the sleeves matched across too - for the princely sum of £8 in the clothing dept of our local Poundland!!! Yet I've seen expensive items with mismatched stripes or pattern placement. The there thing that bugs me is a nice design on the front and a plain back - why??? People can see the back as well as the front but I suppose it's cheaper to make that way.

humptydumptybits

Not just me then, I do wonder if I am being fussy sometimes but it does make it look cheap. I do love a mooch round Poundland, you can find some amazing bargains.

lessonlearned

Still here. Still no broadband. Lol. Reading along.

lessonlearned

Trying to post on my phone so forgive typos etc

Humpty. Well done Finding a nice wedding outfit. Not easy. For formal wear I tend to go for what I call Jackie O style. A simple sheath dress and coat or jacket. Tailored clothes suit me best. Frills and flounces and anything fussy just look silly. I don’t even do patterns. Just block colour.