2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

thriftwizard

Laura, that jacket is stunning now!Seriously impressed - and inspired.

I'm going to have to take stock of my entire wardrobe once things have settled down after my final op. - now scheduled for 23rd April, though it can be cancelled at short notice. People keep telling me how much weight I've lost, though it's really only a couple of kilos. When I had my hip op. nearly 10 years ago, I lost a stone very fast. On recovery, I promptly put a stone & a half back on, and it never shifted no matter what I did. I'm rather keen for that not to happen again! I doubt I've changed size much overall but my waist has almost vanished due to lack of appropriate exercise; never did find anyone who could advise me whether I was safe to bellydance again with a temporary stoma and a hernia! Never mind bodging up a suitable costume... back into galabeyas and body-stockings, I think, once repaired. Luckily I have several of both, plus access to plenty of second-hand costumes.

I have too many clothes that I only wear rarely, though I do have cause to dress up for certain "vintage" events. But IIRC I have a floaty late-70s Jaeger silk dress, an M&S 80s warm winter tartan dress, a German cotton shirtwaister for summer events too muddy for the Jaeger, & a heavily-beaded & full-skirted 40s-50s black evening dress hauled out of a skip, as well as my usual "uniform" of Japanese silk haori jacket with whatever (trousers, skirt, polo neck, t-shirt) works best according to weather & venue - that's way too many items for occasional dressing-up, and I nearly always end up wearing the haori jacket etc. as it's by far the most practical!

And my everyday wardrobe needs some heavy editing, but probably not much replacing, and TBH none of it needs to be new, though some underwear may need replacing before the end of the year. I still have a full compliment of coupons, but DD1 has caught the ASOS habit and is happily going through the entire household's allowance...

PollyWollyDoodle

I am so amazed and intrigued by the very different styles we all have, your clothes sound very glamorous, thriftwizard, although I realise some of them are 'dressing up' rather than everyday. Good luck with the op, hope it goes ahead on schedule.



I still don't think I have a very definite style. The sort of look I like (elegant, classic) is usually being worn by someone who is a bit less curvaceous than I am, despite losing weight I am still a bit of an hourglass. When I am people-watching, I am usually making up their lifestory in my head rather than thinking about their clothes! I may need to start a Pinterest board for clothing styles.

PipneyJane

Laura - That jacket is stunning! You have a great eye for matching fabrics together.

Thriftwizard - I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you for your operation. Once you have healed up, there should be no issue with bellydancing. In fact, it's probably the best exercise you can do for your abdominal muscles. Do discuss it with your surgeon first, though.

My yarn arrived on Saturday. I don't regret buying it - it is in colours that suit me and that I will use (worst case scenario: it'll become 18 pairs of socks). However, I went through the stash on Friday, looking for a half ball of something and...Shuzbutt! I have a lot of yarn.

Hmmmm.......

- Pip (Naturally, I didn't find that half ball.*)




PS: For anyone interested in knitting vintage patterns in something akin to their original 3-ply, Regia 4-Faedig Uni would be perfect. Visually, it seems thinner than their patterned 4-Faedig (4-ply).



* I found it today, at lunchtime. I should say "them" because it was the remains of two 50g balls, which had been used for socks. I now have 2 pairs of socks queued up to knit, when the current handbag knitting - always socks - is finished.

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

Well done on the jacket Laura - that's an excellent result and looks amazing. Well done.

vintagegal

The jacket is amazing Laura_Elsewhere, you should be very proud of yourself!

PipneyJane

If you see a middle-aged woman in a high-vis parka while out-and-about tonight in Weston-Super-Mere, that’ll be me. I’m staying in Weston for work and completely forgot to bring a coat with with me, so I’ll be wearing the high-vis parka I have stashed in the car. It’s warm and the wind is cold. Unlike the fleece I wore to work, it isn’t labelled with a company name.

- Pip (yes, I work for engineers)

Laura_Elsewhere

Well, if ever you're in Shropshire for work, let me know!

CapricornLass

Well - I've succumbed! A denim jacket from M&S at the weekend - think Wrangler/Levi style. It should last me for years as its such a classic. So another 11 coupons, and 21 coupons spent to date.

Thriftwizard, I'm another bellydancer, just taken it up again after a four year break. In the past I have danced with people who had colostomy bags, so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to dance with your stoma. Obviously, let things heal, and then go back. Listen to your body, and remember the old adage - if it hurts, stop! If you are comfortable with telling the teacher/class, then I would, as you will get a lot of support, and also they will automatically make allowances for you if there are moves that you are unable to do - maybe even change their choreographies to allow you to do the things you can do. Good luck with the op.

CapricornLass

Laura - you've made such a wonderful job of that jacker - dead envious! I could never have done that in a million years - sewing just isn't my forte.

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

Well, if ever you're in Shropshire for work, let me know!

I will, I promise. It’s unlikely with this company, but you never know. (The division I’m currently in doesn’t extend that far north.)

Reading the runes, I’m going to be down in the south-west for at least 2 days a week for the next 3 months, so it’s capsule wardrobe time. We’re in a depot, which means skirts and heels aren’t adviseable, so I think I’ll stick to wearing one trouser suit for the two days, ringing a change by wearing a good cardigan on the second day. (Oddly I didn’t feel overdressed, yesterday, wearing my suit jacket; unlike the last depot, the offices n this one feel like a real office space.)

As mentioned in an earlier post, I was saving cash and coupons to purchase another crew-necked, cashmere cardigan, this time in navy blue. In 2017, I purchased a black one and a grey one from John Lewis, both of which I’ve been wearing fairly constantly to work in the old depot. Today, I ordered a navy one from John Lewis, so 5 more coupons spent by yours truly, leaving me with 11 for the rest of the year.

CapricornLass wrote: »

Well - I've succumbed! A denim jacket from M&S at the weekend - think Wrangler/Levi style. It should last me for years as its such a classic. So another 11 coupons, and 21 coupons spent to date.

Sounds like a good purchase, a classic that will be worn for years to come.

- Pip