2023 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

Thanks @Laura_Elsewhere - I can see it again.

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Oh! Thankyou, @Liverpool_Anne and @PipneyJane - I haven't done anything but the photo has vanished for me too! I shall try popping it in here... 

Does this work?

Yes, it does.  No idea why it vanished.  They must have done something over the weekend to the forum.  (Things always go wrong when they do system maintenance.)

- Pip

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, beautiful Laura

DrCarrie

Hi all, I think I am 12/66 coupons I bought a dress and a pair of boots. My dad bought me a dress too, for my birthday. 

Fizz2015

Morning All,
Delurking to declare a spend after 3 months of buying no clothes, shoes or accessories. 
I treated myself to a new polka swimsuit for holiday. How many points is that - 5??
Fizz x

PollyWollyDoodle

Nope, it's 3 coupons @Fizz2015 - they're regarded as the same as corsets!

Can I say thank you to @retiredinfrance for recommending a couple of books, some weeks ago.  "The Way We Lived Then" by Norman Longmate is about the Home Front - the war from the perspective of those living in Britain during those years and it is all based on personal diaries and memories as well as official publications.  It's absolutely fascinating.  I grew up with stories about wartime from my mum, who was a young woman of 23 when it began, but I have learned a lot from this.

I'm still reading it, it's quite dense, but definitely worth looking out for. 

Fizz2015

@PollyWollyDoodle thankyou 🙂. It is a bit like a corset as holds my tummy in! Not that there is anywhere for it to hide in a swimsuit. 

Laura_Elsewhere

Fizz2015 said:

 It is a bit like a corset as holds my tummy in! Not that there is anywhere for it to hide in a swimsuit. 

Whereas I have a long-standing problem finding a plain, simple swimsuit in my large size that *doesn't* have control panels! Also, that doesn't have fancy X-back, racer-back, padded cups, underwiring (!), plunge neckline, etc... and of course school-supoplies swimsuits, which are just what I want, only go up to a size 16 or so, and I've a few stone to swim away yet before I fit those!  
I've managed to get three now, all requiring some alteration and adjustment (mostly removing cup-padding, and shortening shoulder-straps to reduce plunging neckline, etc. - what you could call de-sexying!).

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,
@Laura_Elsewhere I'm not sure where you have tried for school uniform swimwear but I know at least one school uniform supplier who sells swim wear up to at least size 20 so it might be worth checking a few others. 
Take care everyone

PollyWollyDoodle

When I swam regularly (sadly fallen out of the habit) I too struggled to find suitable swimwear. It all seems to be designed to be seen in, rather than to swim.in.

I find classic Speedo swimsuits are best, a cross-over back means there's no danger of anything escaping and there's no 'shaping', support, moulded cups or anything like that, although they are still cut higher in the leg than I would like. However like you I struggled to find a larger size. @Liverpool_Anne makes a good suggestion about school suppliers. 

There's clearly a gap in the market here, we don't all want floral ones with skirts and 'tummy control'! For non-serious swimming, e.g. spa days or a pool on holiday I have a two piece tankini. Top from Lands End and bottoms from Thunderpants although it seems their UK shop doesn't do swimwear, you'd have to order from NZ.