2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Rah

PipneyJane said:

Rah said:

One question, I note that a yard of woollen fabric is 3 coupons. Am I reading it correctly that a yard (or metre) of cotton or other lightweight fabric is 1 coupon? Thanks 

That’s a really good question about fabric and I’ll amend the first post to encompass it.  If you read the fine pint of the announcement, non-woollen fabric is 2 coupons per metre.
- Pip

Thanks, I see that now on the original ration image, not sure how I didn't spot it before! 🙂

Rah

Just noticed, leggings are listed on the men's side at 3 coupons. Assuming women's leggings which presumably didn't exist in 1942 would be similar, although I note from previous discussions that this group is counting them the same as tights or stockings (2 coupons). Just shows how fashion changes. Also trousers are not listed on the women's clothing! And men's slippers are 4 coupons, boots or shoes are 7. But women's slippers shoes or boots are all 5! And men's socks are 3 coupons but women's socks only 1! A lot of inconsistencies here! Think it may take some interpretation in the interests of equality! 😊

PipneyJane

Rah said:

Just noticed, leggings are listed on the men's side at 3 coupons. Assuming women's leggings which presumably didn't exist in 1942 would be similar, although I note from previous discussions that this group is counting them the same as tights or stockings (2 coupons). Just shows how fashion changes. Also trousers are not listed on the women's clothing! And men's slippers are 4 coupons, boots or shoes are 7. But women's slippers shoes or boots are all 5! And men's socks are 3 coupons but women's socks only 1! A lot of inconsistencies here! Think it may take some interpretation in the interests of equality! 😊

@Rah, have you read the section in the first post “Assumptions for the Challenge”?  The coupon cost for women’s trousers and leggings are listed there, as are handbags.

The difference between men’s clothing coupon cost and women’s in the original ration was based on the assumption that men are larger, so required more fabric/leather to clothe.

- Pip

thriftwizard

Also, I think, that mostly men did the tougher & dirtier jobs; I remember Mum talking about her Gran digging the potato patch in Grandad's overalls & boots, stuffed with straw, whilst he did 20 hour days down at the paper mill (he was chief engineer) as paper was needed so badly.

PollyWollyDoodle

I think ‘leggings’ on the men’s list, linked as it is with gaiters and spats (!) means the sort of protective things countrymen and farmers might wear to protect their trousers from mud. 

Laura_Elsewhere

PollyWollyDoodle said:

I think ‘leggings’ on the men’s list, linked as it is with gaiters and spats (!) means the sort of protective things countrymen and farmers might wear to protect their trousers from mud. 

Yes, I agree with this. Finding our way round the changes in terminology has been an interesting challenge, hasn't it?  

keepcalmandcraft

I'd love to join again this year as it is such a supporting group.  I have 65 coupons left from 2020 ( I challenged myself not to buy anything new except shoes and underwear and I managed it!) so have 131 for 2021.

PipneyJane

thriftwizard said:

Also, I think, that mostly men did the tougher & dirtier jobs; I remember Mum talking about her Gran digging the potato patch in Grandad's overalls & boots, stuffed with straw, whilst he did 20 hour days down at the paper mill (he was chief engineer) as paper was needed so badly.

Don’t forget, too, that overalls and dungarees were coupon free, so many men would save their coupons for their off-duty clothes, which would only be worn for a couple of hours a week..

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

PipneyJane said:

Don’t forget, too, that overalls and dungarees were coupon free, so many men would save their coupons for their off-duty clothes, which would only be worn for a couple of hours a week..

- Pip

I'm confused - in the Opening Post, you say dungarees and overalls are 6 coupons a set... or do you mean like boilersuits, work-clothes only worn whilst at the factory or in the locomotive cab, and never worn outside work? Whereas the ones for women might be worn at home for eg digging the garden...? 

nannygladys

Please may I join in? I haven't really bought much this year, but during lockdown turned a couple of old 'too big' dresses into skirts as I didn't have any, and it got me thinking. I don't have loads of clothes but I don't need them really. Im retired so only work in the home (and down the allotment) and over the last couple of years have become more aware of the waste I make in my life, so I have been cutting down quite a bit on everything but after making the skirts I was thinking I could perhaps have a go at altering CS clothes for me - when they are open and reducing my clothes waste, so this challenge should keep me on track and hopefully ideas, help and advice given when I get stuck!!! By the way Ive always wanted to live in a friendly village!
Nannyg