2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

CAFCGirl

a 3 coupon spend as 'all other garments' with a new vest top.

I've been struggling to find a white one with wide straps second hand, as I plan on adding an already printed and ready to go t-shirt transfer to it. Now just to wait for it to arrive (online order)...

thriftwizard

Well - 10 coupons spent on 2 pairs of sandals; my "old" ones, whilst comfy to wear, had stretched so much they were becoming a trip hazard! So I've invested in a pair for walking and a slightly more glamorous pair for more formal wear. More coupons will be spent tomorrow or next Monday; two new bras and a swimsuit required, as the old ones are falling apart now. I suppose I've had the swimsuit for about 10 years and it does get plenty of use, but mostly in the sea rather than chlorinated pools. 

Off for a bit of a catch-up...

PollyWollyDoodle

Well coming out of lockdown I decided my wardrobe needed a bit of refreshing, and in the last couple of months I have bought three skirts, a pair of linen trousers, a linen jacket and a stripy Breton top. However sticking to my plan to buy no new stuff, they all came from eBay or charity shops, so have cost me next to nothing and better still NO coupons!  

I have bought one new item, a black jacket for work; I couldn’t find anything suitable second-hand and I need to look very smart, so 11 coupons. That brings my total this year to 36 coupons but I began with a whopping 29.5 coupons saved, so I still have plenty. 

I am really enjoying the challenge of finding new-to-me clothes in this way. I badly need some new jeans, but they will need trying on and some of the charity shops aren’t allowing this yet. My current three pairs have been worn pretty much constantly through the last 18 months, and all have snags and pulls on the right leg. For some reason the cats always choose that leg to ‘make biscuits’ on and not the left leg!  

joedenise

@PollyWollyDoodle I've found that all the charity shops I've been in allow you take clothes back for a refund if they don't fit once you've tried them on at home so it's always worth asking if you find some jeans you think will fit.

Baileys_Babe

joedenise said:

@PollyWollyDoodle I've found that all the charity shops I've been in allow you take clothes back for a refund if they don't fit once you've tried them on at home so it's always worth asking if you find some jeans you think will fit.

The same round this way, I fact most of them have mentioned holding on to the receipt in case anything needs retuning.

I returned 2 items last week as they didn't fit my eldest, without any problems.

PipneyJane

Good shopping Ladies.   @CAFCGirl I can’t wait to see what you do with that vest-top.

@Laura_Elsewhere - I had 6 weeks last winter where, if I felt cold, all I had to do was wait 5 minutes and another hot flush would come along and warm me up. I had hundreds, during that time and only a handful since. All I can say is that they were different to just overheating.  My wrists got hot and tingly.

- Pip

CAFCGirl

More coupons spent! oh heavens!

2 bras, 2 bralettes with 2 pairs of matching undies, so I think 6 for the bras and 4 for the undies, 10 in total. That feels like a jump in my signature 

I then also have 4 pairs of trouser, 4 tops and a pair of trainers on the way but they are second hand (thankfully!)

thriftwizard

Right-oh, 2 bras & 1 swimsuit ordered; 6 coupons for the bras, but how many for the swimsuit? It seems I last bought one back in 2010; have to say that that's lasted pretty well! But most of my swimming is in salt water, not chlorinated.

I mooched round the local charity shops with DD1 this week, after my usual trip to the recycling warehouse. Somehow I've replaced nearly all of my (outdated & very boring) wardrobe for the grand sum of £32.50 and no coupons! That's bought me a decent dress, a long sparkly cotton skirt, two pairs of jeans (M&S & Laura Ashley) two tops, a cardi that matches one of them (though I'll wear them separately as they're patterned) and a fabulous vintage M&S cotton/silk jumper - that was the 50p, from the recycling warehouse. So my tatty old jeans will be cut off now for allotment/beach shorts & I can chuck a couple of exceptionally boring skirts out that I was keeping just because I didn't have any others in the right sort of colour. Don't know why, because I never wore them - but I might have needed them!

I can only think that lots of people are still nervous of coming out, or buying things that aren't brand new, because I never usually strike lucky in charity shops like that. Anyway, I now have enough clothes to be going on with... I do need some more knickers, but - hey, I can make them!

Laura_Elsewhere

@thriftwizard, right - next time My Intended and I are down to see his mother who lives in your neck of he woods, I shall try to arrange time to meet up and go sea-swimming wth you. I adore it but M.I. doesn't so I haven't swum in so long that I no longer have a swimsuit (t-shirt and knickers will have to do!)... please take me swimming  

skogar

A coupon spend here - a new pair of cycling shorts. I will mark it down as 3 pairs though as I got one pair to try and they seem fine so I will go wild and order another 2 pairs now. I had a pair that I bought some months before lock down that I had bought to try and went I tried to get another but almost all cycling gear was sold out so it was a bit difficult and there was nowhere really to go and try some on. I will now be well equipped. So that will be 15 coupons spent.