2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

Looks lovely, @Laura_Elsewhere.  And you're wearing the green silk jumper you knitted in the autumn!

- Pip

dolly84

Laura - the skirt looks fabulous, I love a full walking style skirt.

My tweed coat arrived yesterday and it is gorgeous, it is a wool blend, fully lined, mid calf length with a back split and 3 buttons to fasten, I can see why it was sold BNWT as with layers underneath it would be tight if you were actually the same dress size as the coat, I always size up at least one size in most coats for this reason so it fits me beautifully.  I believe it was 14 coupons for this - ouch.  If anyone wants me I will be in the corner eating cake and thinking about what I have done.

PipneyJane

dolly84 said:

Laura - the skirt looks fabulous, I love a full walking style skirt.

My tweed coat arrived yesterday and it is gorgeous, it is a wool blend, fully lined, mid calf length with a back split and 3 buttons to fasten, I can see why it was sold BNWT as with layers underneath it would be tight if you were actually the same dress size as the coat, I always size up at least one size in most coats for this reason so it fits me beautifully.  I believe it was 14 coupons for this - ouch.  If anyone wants me I will be in the corner eating cake and thinking about what I have done.

You aren't the only one, @dolly84.  I can never understand why coats aren't sized with greater ease to compensate for extra layers, so that people can buy the same size as their dress size but knowing that it will fit layers underneath.  My rule of thumb for both coats and dressing gowns is buy at least one size larger, if not two.

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

PipneyJane said:

Looks lovely, @Laura_Elsewhere.  And you're wearing the green silk jumper you knitted in the autumn!

- Pip

thanks - and yes, that's the Tiki Jumper, alternating rounds of aran-weight raw silk with the wool I bought in 1987 in New Zealand! 

Laura_Elsewhere

PipneyJane said:

You aren't the only one, @dolly84.  I can never understand why coats aren't sized with greater ease to compensate for extra layers, so that people can buy the same size as their dress size but knowing that it will fit layers underneath.  My rule of thumb for both coats and dressing gowns is buy at least one size larger, if not two.

- Pip

Well, for the simple reason that some people wear coats over light layers - if your home or office are very over-heated (as so many homes and especially workplaces are) then you may only be wearing a blouse or top all day (and skirt or trousers, obv!), and only add the coat over it for the journey to and from. 

Either you'd have to have categories of coat-sizes, to make it clear whether the coat is sized for wearing over thin layers, or medium layers, or thick layers, or you size the coat for the person and not how many jumpers they are adding! 

In any case, clothes-sizing is so bonkers that I never ever ever assume an item will fit unless I have bought the same item in the same style in the same season from the same maker... I have a long history of clothes which are too tight or too loose or fit really badly, hence why I'm so pleased to be making my trousseau - clothes that FIT ME!  

thriftwizard

Skogar, that's amazing - thank you for that, I have a number of old machines that take those needles & can now be put back to use again!

Laura, I love that skirt... elegant, warm, practical... all the things that are missing in the skimpy things the High St. shops keep trying to sell us!

Nonnadiluca

Laura, your skirt is lovely, as always I am in awe of your skills!

PollyWollyDoodle

Love the skirt Laura, you have a very distinctive style and it looks really practical as well. My sewing mojo has ground to a halt along with my enthusiasm to do most other things, but I am going to get back into it.  

Cherryfudge

That skirt is Just Right @Laura_Elsewhere. I expect a number of us have pocket envy now, but I am also admiring your beautifully even hem (okay so I can't see the back but all of it that I can see ).

In those times of my life that I haven't had the money to buy 'extras', I've done some mental designing and 'worn' those outfits - no matter if the rest of the world sees the same old stuff, I can see myself wearing my dress! - now I have an idea for a tiered skirt in grey cord with 70s-style petticoat in red showing beneath it... looks superb with boots. I just wish I had the skills to make it... though I might just manage something along those lines one day, when I have cleared the dining table of all my current projects... so not this year.  

I have a few coupons to declare: two pairs of hiking socks, a sports bra and three pairs of knickers. I reckon that as 6.5 coupons. Last year I had 39.5 left over ( ) ) so I now have 99. I have also been given a rather gorgeous scarf but 'given' means no coupons.

skogar

Lovely skirt Laura. Beautiful and practical.