2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

QueenJess

Hiya everyone. I shouldn’t read the news first thing in the morning as I stay irritated all day 😂.  Anyway, with reports of fast fashion again (although no one seems to do anything about it), I was wondering about the 4 new items a year thing I shared a while ago for the environment. As you had 66 coupons for a year, presumably you could buy more than 4 new items a year with that? But then I guess more material cost more and so would use more coupons so maybe that would work out since 4 items is very simplistic (4 winter coats versus 4 pairs of shorts is widely different).

Sorry - a bit stream of consciousness there!

MrsCD

Your menagerie is amazing  @Gem-gem
You are a quick learner! They are really well made and I am in awe of your abilities. I haven't tried very many animals as I lose concentration and forget where I am on the pattern. 
I have granny squares on the go as a handbag emergency crochet project to use up the bitty balls of yarn in my stash. 
Well done 

MrsCD

Just bought a pack of 4 pairs of Sloggi knickers. Should I count more than 2 coupons each as they are more Bridget Jones than thongs!!!

Laura_Elsewhere

MrsCD said:

Just bought a pack of 4 pairs of Sloggi knickers. Should I count more than 2 coupons each as they are more Bridget Jones than thongs!!!

 

Ah, but they'll last years and years so if anything should be on half-points!! Balance it out and put them in as standard... 

I'm almost fine again now, just very easily tired... Mr E is still testing negative although has a little dry cough that I'm looking at with deep suspicion... it's simply not possible for one of us to self-isolate in this tiny flat, so we've simply had the windows wide open, front and back, since my positive test, and try to spend some hours each day at weekend in different rooms, and of course the weekdays he's at his desk, currently around ten degrees so he's bundled up in layers topped off with woolly hat right next to the open window... we're wearing our masks all the time we're near each other, including overnight, and I've done a "covid-wash" each day of the masks (bar two we keep to wear) in bio detergent with laundry disinfectant and then tumble-drying them til they are bone-dry before hanging them in the window to air. 
Thank heavens I had made quite a few extra ones, thinking I'd need them for commuting by train to the evening classes that were cancelled (and thank heavens they were or I probably would have come down with symptoms whilst away and been stuck there, argh!). 

Laura_Elsewhere

QueenJess said:

Hiya everyone. I shouldn’t read the news first thing in the morning as I stay irritated all day 😂.  Anyway, with reports of fast fashion again (although no one seems to do anything about it), I was wondering about the 4 new items a year thing I shared a while ago for the environment. As you had 66 coupons for a year, presumably you could buy more than 4 new items a year with that? But then I guess more material cost more and so would use more coupons so maybe that would work out since 4 items is very simplistic (4 winter coats versus 4 pairs of shorts is widely different).

Sorry - a bit stream of consciousness there!

I found a thing recently (do I remember where? Don't be silly...) saying that the 66 coupons was decided upon because the committee felt it represented a complete outfit for one adult (made up in various ways, ie one coat, one dress, one cardigan, bra, stockings, shoes, etc.; or one man's suit, one shirt, one tie, one pair of shoes, socks, undies, etc.) - so someone somewhere in 1941 was thinking that an adult with a functioning wardrobe already only needed to buy the equivalent of one new outfit a year in replacement things... if you exclude undies it does pretty well come down to four - dress, cardi, coat, shoes/ suit, shirt, tie, shoes - which probably goes to show how much people used to wear the same kinds of clothes all the time, so if you invest this year in a new suit then it's your Sunday best, and your old Sunday best becomes your best everyday suit and your old everyday suit becomes your old suit, and your old old suit becomes the trousers you wear for creosoting the deckchairs... and not far off for women's skirt and jacket or dress... 

Whereas for us, if we buy new work clothes, we probably aren't going to move the previous work clothes into what we wear at weekends, and I can't see anyone wearing their old work-clothes for gardening and DIY outfits   Well, except a mortuary technician I knew who reckoned scrubs were THE best things for wearing whilst painting her ceiling   

I reckon a big part of why we all have so many more clothes is that we no longer have clothes we wear in multiple different circumstances depending on the age and worn-ness... maybe we should? Maybe work clothes should be made of quality materials that can easily be re-made to function equally well as casual clothes after a few years of smart work-wear, and then eventually as work-clothes at the other end of the scale for gardening, etc.? 

For my fiftieth birthday I was given a pair of handmade shoes, made for each of my feet individually, which I absolutely love - conker-brown leather lace-up brogues with a comfortable round toe, and medium heels that I can walk a good 2-3 miles in, over unmade footpaths... they look incredibly smart and could be worn with a chic trouser-suit for an office meeting very easily, or with a smart skirt-suit for lecturing, etc. But I can also see how as they age they could gradually be demoted from smart office wear to everyday popping along to the shops, and even eventually to gardening, going foraging for fruit, etc. They clearly will last 20-30 years, quite seriously (bearing in mind I have footwear I still wear from the 1980s, which was exceptionally well-made even for then, so I know properly-made leather shoes and boots can be worn for decades). 
And if I imagine I still had formal office and lecturing work, I can imagine a pair of tailored wide-leg trousers in a good light wool twill which could follow a similar path, maybe with a jacket or perhaps with a little fitted jumper over blouses, again, gradually working their way through my wardrobe until they go for rags, or are donated to someone else, or cut up to make other things... 

But thinking back to what people actually *wore* inc me, when I was in an office, I can imagine some of those outfits lasting well as office wear but I can't see much of it going on to a new life in other contexts. 

Nonnadiluca

Very interesting Laura, I remember that's exactly what my parents did.
 I have an ever increasing pile of "dog walking clothes", the trouble is that we walk the dogs in the morning and I rarely bother to change! It doesn't seem worth it for pottering around the house?/garden/allotment. I keep resolving to wear my nicer clothes as, in principle, I don't think things should be kept for best, but that all that usually involves is putting on a less disreputable pair of jeans to go to the shops or library! 
Pleased to hear you're feeling a bit better.

QueenJess

Ooh very interesting.  I generally put rubbish clothes for lounging round the house and then for gardening, but there's only so much of that you need.  Now when I buy I try to get things that work in multiple circumstances.  So I was looking for a skirt that would work for work, going out or even casual depending on what I put with it.  Doesn't always work, but means my clothes work a bit harder for me.  I hate having a bit of my wardrobe only for one scenario (e.g. work etc); seems such a waste!

florianatwobob

@Laura_Elsewhere I remember reading about the 66 coupons representing a whole adult outfit in the Fashion on the Ration book that was published alongside the exhibition. 

Whilst I don’t use clothes in the same way as my parents I do try to get my clothes to multi-task so some of my casual stuff can also be work when I venture into the office with a smart pair of trousers. 

MrsCD

A good many years ago I read of someone who said they didn't feel they could go to church because they didn't have 'Sunday best' clothes! I decided there and then that nobody would say that because of me, so now my Sunday clothes will quite likely be what I would wear during the week in the house or maybe to go to the hospital or shopping. I have older clothes that I wear for gardening and a set of paint encrusted joggers and t shirt for decorating. 

dreamyd

Hi Everyone - it feels like it's been a while.

I was in Primarni on Saturday, hunting for  trainers for Himself, who is somewhat allergic to shopping. I know it's not the most ecological sources of clothing but they are one of the few places where he actually likes the shoes . 

I was in luck - found two pairs of sneaker -style trainers for him (Flat sole, dark colours, low-rise) and three for me (low-rise lilac PU and monochrome respectively) plus some half price grey trainers and six pairs of period knickers.

I'm hoping that these will be my last coupon spends for quite some time - it was quite a shock to tot up 27 coupons for that lot. I sis redeem myself later in BHF, buying a Cath Kidston polka dot handbag for £6 and six tops from the £1 bargain rail for work.  The handbag needs a stitch and glue repair, but nothing I can't do.