2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

maryb

I buy M&S multi packs 3 for £8 but they have less cotton in and more elastane than the old ones.  And they are thinner.  I bought a lot of smalls (hah!)  about 8 years ago as we were going on a long holiday and moving around a lot so it was uncertain when I would be able to get laundry done.  Buying so many and rotating them has made them last all that time so I think it has worked out better than just buying 'enough' and replacing more often.  But that's why it's such a big hit to my coupons

Liverpool_Anne

I have bought the black trousers and 2 t shirts. I haven't tried the t shirts on yet but they are 100% cotton so I am hopeful they will be ok and last. I will declare the trousers now but not the t shirts so 68.5 - 6 = 62.5
On the subject of knickers I have been working on wearing some out by rotating through about 20 pairs, I have absolutely loads, some still in unopened multi packs. In the last 3 years I have worn out about 5 pairs that were all M+S. The ones that seem to be lasting are from Mr A, cotton with just elastic in the waist and leg bought in multi packs. They are now at least 10 years old and do show some signs of wear in that the colour is starting to fade but otherwise they are fine whereas the M+S wore very thin until you could see through the fabric then wore into holes. I haven't had knickers from anywhere else so I can't compare them. Also as they were bought so long ago I have no idea if the quality is still the same.
On the subject of why women's undies are so inferior when compared with men's I think it is exactly the same as most women's clothes, because they can and because we let them. My ex would have complained loudly if one of his work shirts had lasted less than 10 years with regular wear and washing but I think I would be gobsmacked if I had a blouse that lasted half as long being worn less regularly. I think the main issue is fashion, the colours and styles of women's clothes changes every year so we don't keep clothes as long as men so they don't have to last as long. I am, of course, talking about the average woman, not us here who seem to be able to buy things that last and expect them to last. 
@Laura_Elsewhere, yes £5 does seem a lot for a pair of knicks but if they will last 10 years then that is a bargain
Take care everyone

PipneyJane

I agree with @Liverpool_Anne. Women’s clothes are badly made because the manufacturers know that they will buy more and more often.  A lot of it is down to fashion and beauty magazines making the non-fashionable feel inferior. Anyone remember the Savage Garden song Affirmation?  “I believe that beauty magazines promote low self-esteem…”.

@maryb said:

 It would have been 12 coupons!!!  That would leave me with minus 9 coupons and none for the rest of the year.  It's not a hardship at the moment because everything in the shops this summer is frilly and floaty (dull and dreepy?) and would look ridiculous on a grey haired woman of 68 whose middle age has - spread a little!

OK, so your new nickers fell off the back of a lorry and were presented to you by our local Spiv, Flash Harry.

Agreed, re this summer’s fashions.  You need to be tall, thin and willowy for them to look any good because most are just not designed for women with busts, so will not hang properly on the busty.  You also need to be able to wear puffed sleeves.  

I enjoyed people watching yesterday at Ascot.  Many beautifully dressed women, but few wore the height of fashion.  Most were in clothes that they could wear elsewhere.  This is my outfit:



- Pip

Liverpool_Anne

@PipneyJane, lovely picture, I hope you had a good time .
Just looking at the people in the background of the picture and as usual all the men are in suits which will last years and nobody questions it if it is worn for multiple occasions whereas women feel obliged to buy new for each occasion.
Take care everyone

dreamyd

PipneyJane said:

I agree with @Liverpool_Anne. Women’s clothes are badly made because the manufacturers know that they will buy more and more often.  A lot of it is down to fashion and beauty magazines making the non-fashionable feel inferior. Anyone remember the Savage Garden song Affirmation?  “I believe that beauty magazines promote low self-esteem…”.

@maryb said:

 It would have been 12 coupons!!!  That would leave me with minus 9 coupons and none for the rest of the year.  It's not a hardship at the moment because everything in the shops this summer is frilly and floaty (dull and dreepy?) and would look ridiculous on a grey haired woman of 68 whose middle age has - spread a little!

OK, so your new nickers fell off the back of a lorry and were presented to you by our local Spiv, Flash Harry.

Agreed, re this summer’s fashions.  You need to be tall, thin and willowy for them to look any good because most are just not designed for women with busts, so will not hang properly on the busty.  You also need to be able to wear puffed sleeves.  

I enjoyed people watching yesterday at Ascot.  Many beautifully dressed women, but few wore the height of fashion.  Most were in clothes that they could wear elsewhere.  This is my outfit:



- Pip

Gorgeous frock!  And an excellent hat also

QueenJess

I was thinking about flimsy clothes and I was wondering whether there could be any change in that whilst inflation is high. During the war people would want things to last due to rationing. 

Maybe it’s too hopeful to expect a change, but I have my fingers crossed…

MrsCD

Well, due to my almost total lack of smell, I only noticed there was something wrong when I saw smoke coming from where the cable plugs into the machine! I'm very bad at keeping things serviced that I only use occasionally,  so I'm putting it down to that. I haven't tried switching it on again yet...not sure if I should.

PipneyJane

Thanks @dreamyd.  I wasn't looking for a hat for myself, when I spotted it in a charity shop and thought "that would go perfectly with my dress" and it does!  

MrsCD said:

Well, due to my almost total lack of smell, I only noticed there was something wrong when I saw smoke coming from where the cable plugs into the machine! I'm very bad at keeping things serviced that I only use occasionally,  so I'm putting it down to that. I haven't tried switching it on again yet...not sure if I should.

Do NOT plug it in.  It needs to be serviced by professionals.

I don't know where you are in the country @MrsCD, but if you're within a reasonable distance of west London, I can recommend the people who service my machine who are in Southall.  They do a lot of industrial sewing machine servicing, as well as domestic machines, and have a retail outlet in Hounslow.

- Pip

maryb

Pip that outfit looks great.  Floaty done just right unlike most of this season's dresses

I hope Flash Harry doesn't get ideas.  We are in 1942 you know and the rule is a lady should never let a gentleman give her anything he didn't have the right to take off her!!  Honestly those Yanks at the airbase with their nylons!

I don't think Flash Harry would chance much with me so I think I'm quite safe!!.  Now those lacy little numbers for that little madam down the road.... no better than she should be, that one!

PipneyJane

maryb said:

Pip that outfit looks great.  Floaty done just right unlike most of this season's dresses

I hope Flash Harry doesn't get ideas.  We are in 1942 you know and the rule is a lady should never let a gentleman give her anything he didn't have the right to take off her!!  Honestly those Yanks at the airbase with their nylons!

I don't think Flash Harry would chance much with me so I think I'm quite safe!!.  Now those lacy little numbers for that little madam down the road.... no better than she should be, that one!

Thank you.  Every time I look at the photo, all I'm conscious of is that the dress desperately needs an iron.  I'd swear that most of the creases I can see weren't there when I put it on yesterday morning.  (There were a couple along the hem.)

Also @maryb, thank you for making me laugh, re the little madam down the road.  I think I met her sister in the queue for the Ladies yesterday.  A right piece of work she was...

- Pip