2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

thriftwizard said:

The bag's arrived and it's absolutely excellent! Lovely soft leather, but sturdy, stylish, secure & spot on colour-wise. I can slip my big camera into it with scarcely a bulge showing, plus all the everyday necessities needed at a wedding when you're mother of the bridegroom, best man, usher & two of the bridesmaids. Well worth the 5 coupons.

A 1940s sewing machine, catherinekate? A positive latecomer... I'm sticking to my 1909 treadle! I do have a very whizzy big computerised machine with hordes of stitches & alphabets upstairs (acquired secondhand; a huge bargain, but a bit fussy) but if it's a straight-stitch job, you'll find me on my much-loved treadle. Quilts, bags, curtains, dressmaking - it never skips a stitch.

Still need to sort out a new "posh" bra. I know I have plenty of coupons left, but that's not currently the case with actual money; I need to get the bodywork on my van sorted out, which will cost the best part of £1K, so I'm selling everything that isn't nailed down in an attempt not to use "family" funds, since my earning opportunities have been decimated this year. Hence I shan't be heading up to Rigby & Peller, just our local department store.

Excellent news about the bag @thriftwizard .  Pity about the van - is it rust or did you have a small collision?   Good luck with the bra-buying; just make sure you get properly fitted.  (The first time I was properly fitted, I was amazed to discover that I wasn't a 36D.  I was a 32F.  Yes, you read that right.  Four whole inches smaller.)

I've just waved DH off and done the dance of the "swapping of car spots" (to ensure we've got custody of the spot in front of the house).  He's gone into the office for the second time in five months and the house seems terribly quiet without him.

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

I’m another one who assumed having big boobs meant a large chest size - was amazed at my first trip to Bravissimo to find I was a 36, not a 40. I’m not admitting to the cup size ... 

PipneyJane

PollyWollyDoodle said:

I’m another one who assumed having big boobs meant a large chest size - was amazed at my first trip to Bravissimo to find I was a 36, not a 40. I’m not admitting to the cup size ... 

Ditto.  Although I am not desperate for new underwear, I am contemplating a visit to the nearest Bravissimo shop, during the downtime at the end of my contract.  (Even if I'm lucky enough to get a new job, my contract finishes on a Wednesday, so I'll have 2 days off plus a weekend.)   I want to give them some financial support and a new bra or two would be useful.

- Pip (It's important to me to support good businesses)

catherinekate

I went from a 36 to a 30 on my first Bravissiomo trip and yes, up a good few cup sizes too. C to G, if I remember correctly! I find their bras last very well even through ill treatment (I'm a washing machine girl).

I will look up the group that Cherryfudge suggests, thank you. I'm generally pretty careful about social media, if I don't actually like someone, I don't add them as a friend, and I don't like show-offs, so I usually find my Facebook feed to be a nice place to be.

I was given a lot of patterns yesterday, and measured myself to see what size I am. Size 8 in many shops tend to be a bit loose on me which is a source of frustration (I'm 5ft7 and not underweight). I knew vaguely about "vanity sizing" but I was a little surprised to find that in "true" sizing I'm a 12 on top and 14 below. Think I will start with a bag or a cushion cover or similar though before actually venturing into clothing!

PipneyJane

catherinekate said:

I went from a 36 to a 30 on my first Bravissiomo trip and yes, up a good few cup sizes too. C to G, if I remember correctly! I find their bras last very well even through ill treatment (I'm a washing machine girl).

I will look up the group that Cherryfudge suggests, thank you. I'm generally pretty careful about social media, if I don't actually like someone, I don't add them as a friend, and I don't like show-offs, so I usually find my Facebook feed to be a nice place to be.

I was given a lot of patterns yesterday, and measured myself to see what size I am. Size 8 in many shops tend to be a bit loose on me which is a source of frustration (I'm 5ft7 and not underweight). I knew vaguely about "vanity sizing" but I was a little surprised to find that in "true" sizing I'm a 12 on top and 14 below. Think I will start with a bag or a cushion cover or similar though before actually venturing into clothing!

Sewing patterns are about the only place where there hasn't been sizing creep.  (I could be wrong, of course.)  Accurate measurements are a god-send.  Trust them and not the "size" quoted.  At least with sewing patterns you can tailor them to fit, so  if you have a larger waist then you just cut the waist area on the pattern to the pattern lines that match that measurement. 

Don't do what I did with the one-and-only pair of trousers I have ever made.  I insisted that, since I wore a size 12, I'd cut out and sew a size 12.  Naturally, they were far too small and I didn't have enough material to make another pair.  (I think I was 22 at the time.  I didn't swatch my knitting back then, either.)

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

I spent most of my life being flat-chested (AA or A) with a huge broad back, so anything that was wide enough to allow arm movement had acres of spare fabric at the front where my assumedly-enormous bust wasn't, and anything that fitted my front pinioned my arms uselessly. 
Like having Jennifer Saunders' front pegged to Dawn French's back... 
Then my (exceedingly estranged) sister died, I had a year of therapy and my bust went up to a C, sometimes D cup - apparently a Recognised Thing in people who grow up in situations of extreme fear... I still haven't got the hang of my bust being noticeable! But luckily for me, having almost never worn a bra, I don't actually need to. I have some but they are decorative rather than anything essential. I did start experimenting with sewing my own and must get back to that...

PipneyJane

@Laura_Elsewhere, big hugs to you. I am sorry that your sister terrorised you when you were children.  I cannot imagine what you went through.

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

Well, the first 45 years may have been 'interesting' but the second 45 years are being pretty darn marvellous, for the most part!  

It'll all even out by the time I get to a hundred  

I'm using Gran's knitting pattern to knit the second of Dad's ankle-warmers, to send them as soon as they are finished (no point leaving the Aged Ps with cold legs until Dec 25th, afetr all!). Basically, the pattern she used to knit his school socks and Grandaddy's knee-high stockings, but I'm leaving off the turnover top and the foot, so Dad can have warm ankles and shins without having to wash them every wear. He has great slippers, sheepskin "baffies", so has warm feet - it's just that draughty ankle-gap...! 

Dad's are in a yarn named 'he Road to Socialism' which shoudl make him smile, and Mum's are dark Schiaparelli-pink cashmere/silk ribbing with stripes of Zauberball purl that sort of bulge out to give a corrugated 'caterpillar' effect which should keep her cheerful as well as warm-ankled  

And although I'll send these ASAP, I hope to knit them some arm-warmers with the leftovers for a second autumnal surprise parcel!  

No coupons as I cleverly manipulated each parent into giving their coupons, each for the other's present with no idea the other was giving them theirs  

Dad's: 


Mum's: 

Cherryfudge

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Then my (exceedingly estranged) sister died, I had a year of therapy and my bust went up to a C, sometimes D cup - apparently a Recognised Thing in people who grow up in situations of extreme fear... I still haven't got the hang of my bust being noticeable! But luckily for me, having almost never worn a bra, I don't actually need to. I have some but they are decorative rather than anything essential. I did start experimenting with sewing my own and must get back to that...

@Laura_Elsewhere , I never cease to wonder at the patterns the human body creates in response to stress. I'd be really interested to read more if you can point me in the right direction, but how horrible for you at the time. I'm so glad your next 45 years are sunnier. And hopefully the 45 after these, too...
@PipneyJane, those are wonderful. Your Mum's look particularly snug, but who could resist a yarn called 'The Road to Socialism'?!

PollyWollyDoodle

I had never heard of the thing about body shape changing after something like that, really interesting. I’m glad to hear you’re in better times. Those ankle warmers are gorgeous!