2023 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

diminua

Another 7.5 coupons down - a bra and three pairs of knickers. Two are a good colour match for the bra though (do other people still do this?), and the bra is a kind of crop top affair, so I can wear it as a second top under a thinnish blouse, and not worry about it showing. 

I also got my jeans - second-hand so no coupons, so am feeling pretty happy about that. 

That means I have 18.5 coupons left. That's will allow me one pair of boots for 5 coupons, and hopefully one duffle coat for 11 coupons (over 28 inches in length but age 13). That's not an urgent need, so if the kids' ones are too skinny I will wait until January and get an adult's one from next years coupons.

flamingo747

Diminua,  I try to only buy black for this reason!

Cherryfudge

Recent discussion here on the quality of underwear got me wondering where to find genuinely well made *ahem* nether garments, especially as I expect to be buying fairly cheaply in the next day or so to avoid having to keep hoping the evening’s washing has dried by morning!

I’ve just opened an email from C0mmunity Cl0thing promoting exactly what I had in mind, which I’ll be bearing in mind when I’m doing some planned buying, though I’d quite like to try making my own.

flamingo747

I have friends who swear by Molke, but my budget is definitely more a-sda

CapricornLass

HI, everyone, hope you are all well.  I've been absent for a while due to hush-hush war work...

I have a spend to declare - 5 coupons on a jumper. 

Sympathise with the undies problem.  They are definitely not made like they used to be.  I picked up some Sloggis last year at one of the factory mill outlets while away up north and they do seem to be well made and fit me well, but they were more expensive than the knickers I normally buy. 

Cherryfudge

I am a pair of ankle socks and three pairs of knickers the richer, and thus, I think, 7 coupons poorer. I'm happy to say the long-sleeved chambray top, white tee shirt and grey wrap (emergency buys) are doing sterling service. I'm not sure I'm going to wear the light blue emergency buy tee shirt so I might end up donating it back, I really have more than I have space for.

I don't have my ration book with me so I will have to do a totalling-up when I get home, but it's looking a bit lean. I didn't even buy socks for stocking fillers this year!

I do remember I had a few coupons left from last year but I never finished totalling that lot up so I don't know how many and I must have spent them first so there may just be breathing space. I have a feeling the previous year's coupons had to be spent by a certain time, didn't they? But I won't claim them unless I can organise myself to an honest accounting.

PollyWollyDoodle

Laura, those links to the photos were very interesting.  It must be difficult for you dealing with so much stuff, I remember your distress at finding the things you'd left stored at your parents' house had become damaged.  I agree Marie Kondo isn't much help in the circumstances you describe.  

I'm by no means a minimalist, and I'm not naturally tidy, but I did the Marie Kondo thing about five years ago and I can honestly say it was life changing. I can't recall most of the stuff that I got rid of, but the more you do it the easier it gets, and I find these days I am constantly reviewing clothes and other things thinking 'do I really need this'?   I don't have children so it'll be my nieces who have to clear everything. One of them does a great eye-roll, and i can picture her face and some of the comments she'd make - I find that spurs me on to declutter! 

I am going to have to spend some coupons soon on new bras, I am too embarrassed to admit how long it is since I bought some.  And I don't want to become a coupon hoarder, I think I have taken this on board a little bit too whole-heartedly!

I was going to buy some new pyjamas, but in true MSE/1940s style I got a £2 duvet cover from a charity shop and made myself a pair, which I'm feeling rather chuffed with.  Flushed with success, I bought another duvet (£2.50 this time) and managed to get a dressing gown out of one side and another pair of pyjama trousers out of the other.  I've been wanting a lightweight robe to take away with me.  I will just wear old t-shirts with the new trousers, I don't like buttoned tops anyway.  It seems I've rediscovered my sewing enthusiasm, so I may be looking out for more duvet covers.   

flamingo747

I'm impressed by your making skills Polly! I have my eye on some very expensive PJs, but at nearly £40 I can't justify them. I prefer to wear the PJs I was born in most of the year, so the expensive ones would only get spoiled by the dog sitting on me in the sofa in the evenings. Maybe if I win the lottery one day!

I rotated out the clothes for the season change, and have started trying to wear the A/W items that I look at each year and wonder if I want to keep. I always think that by the time the weather changes back I'll have lost a significant amount of weight and none of it will fit anyway. It's not happened yet, but S/S '24 might be my season, right?

Cherryfudge

@PollyWollyDoodle, I'm very impressed. I had planned to make PJ trousers this year to get myself sewing, but having to buy emergency ones after forgetting my luggage, that's on hold.

We got home abut tea time and there was my suitcase with an undoubted look of 'Oh there you are! Can we go now' all over it. I don't think it understands and I'm going to have a job explaining that that's it till spring.

I confess to yet another couple of off-rations spends today. I went to one of the local charity shops where we were staying and happened on a sleeveless black top from Monsoon, which is the sort of thing I take on non-UK holidays as it's so versatile. I also indulged in a pink lace jumper with a nice optional ruching at the front.

Now I need to pack all the summer tops and trousers away and pretend they don't exist for six months... I will count it as loft insulation.

Gem-gem

CapricornLass said:

HI, everyone, hope you are all well.  I've been absent for a while due to hush-hush war work...

I have a spend to declare - 5 coupons on a jumper. 

Sympathise with the undies problem.  They are definitely not made like they used to be.  I picked up some Sloggis last year at one of the factory mill outlets while away up north and they do seem to be well made and fit me well, but they were more expensive than the knickers I normally buy. 

I buy Sloggi$ and I find them very comfortable. Day to day I wear black. I also have a several white pairs for occasional use, when I wear white linen trousers.