2023 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

I like that very much, @Laura_Elsewhere. Definitely keeps up morale!

CapricornLass

I like that.  I like the textured material and its a decent length too.  Is it the same colour, or do you have it in another colourway?

Laura_Elsewhere

CapricornLass said:

I like that.  I like the textured material and its a decent length too.  Is it the same colour, or do you have it in another colourway?

I bought mine in blue as that was what JL had just a single one of in my size (24)! But the White Stuff website has it in a pretty soft green, although their reduction from 75 is only to 60 (and only available in size 22), whereas the JL one was 33 quid...! 
I like the green but I don't like it 27-quids'-worth....  

https://www.whitestuff.com/p/1875/celeste-midi-dress/DUS_GREEN

PipneyJane

Lovely dress @Laura_Elsewhere and an excellent bargain.  Also, sorry to hear about MrE's lymphoedema but I'm glad it responds to massage.  He may want to try wearing compression hose when he's out and about - some people find that helpful.

Thanks everyone for your support.  I will tell the story of the rest of my holiday, I promise, but it'll probably be Sunday before I write it up.

In the meantime, I've made one frugal discovery:  socks knitted with afterthought heels use considerably less yarn than heel-flap socks; in my case 48g instead of 63g, for the same length leg and foot.   (42g for the main colour, 6g for the toes and heels knitted in a contrast.)  To get it to fit my foot, I had to knit an extra 6 rounds on the foot before commencing the toe. I'll post some photos later.

This means I can use up the remains of some pretty, self-patterning sock yarns from the days when I only bought 1x100g ball and gave the socks as a present.  It will mean a shorter leg though, since I usually have 37g or 38g left. (I am currently experimenting with 38g of leftover yarn. I did the maths and worked out that the leg can only be 55 rounds long, instead of my usual 68 rounds.)

- Pip

Cherryfudge

Five coupons spent in the form of five pairs of socks. Not an absolute need but my pretty socks seem to be wearing out and being cheerful is important.

Forty seven and a half coupons spent out of sixty.

PipneyJane

Cherryfudge said:

Five coupons spent in the form of five pairs of socks. Not an absolute need but my pretty socks seem to be wearing out and being cheerful is important.

Forty seven and a half coupons spent out of sixty.

66 coupons, @Cherryfudge, not 60.  Don't cheat yourself.

- Pip

Cherryfudge

PipneyJane said:

66 coupons, @Cherryfudge, not 60.  Don't cheat yourself.

- Pip

Phew. Thanks  

thriftwizard

So relieved to hear your results, @PipneyJane but hugs to you and to all suffering from gastritis - no fun at all. My friend over-the-road is also suffering and it does limit her so. And good to hear about massage helping Mr E's leg @Laura_Elsewhere; encouraging to hear of something helpful that didn't involve yet more chemicals. Lovely dress, BTW!

Struggling to know how many coupons I need to cough up for a pair of posh flip-flops; several years ago I picked up a pair of Vionic Lucias in a charity shop & they were amazingly comfy, a little bit glam & lasted really well. But they finally reached the end of the line this summer when the soles came unglued again. The exact same model was in their sale, so I ordered another pair. Do they count as shoes/boots at 7 coupons, or galoshes/slippers at 4? Otherwise - no new spends to report! 

diminua

@thriftwizard - I think 4 coupons for your glam flip flops. They sound more slipperish than galoshy. 

I have used about 5 myself on a black tshirt as both my black and grey ones conked this year. Properly conked, not just faded a bit. 

With 26 coupons left I'm making plans about what to spend on. Firstly - a new pair of black boots for work, but ones that will last me a few years. I've been pretty impressed with the green suede woodman's boots I bought December before last (I've barely taken them off unless it's just too hot to wear them, and they only want heeling now) so something from the same company seems indicated.

I'm also giving serious thought to getting a child's gloverall (age 13 or so) for a winter coat - not cheap but much, much cheaper than the adults' ones as well as a) fewer coupons, b) will not need the sleeves rolling up c) should last a while. On the other hand I live in London where a jumper and my rainjacket is normally more than enough to see me from home to tram and tram to tube. Still pondering.

Buying some dark brown leather dye for my fading red Clarks (kids again) sandals seems a no brainer. That should see me another year, possibly two. 

And my jeans are so, so done, but that will be next year's coupons. 

Cherryfudge

@diminua, you are doing well for remaining coupons. I was just thinking it's been quiet on here, possibly because we're all trying to make supplies eke out!

Good idea to dye the shoes: I've been keeping a black leather bag going for many years with occasional dying, it's too good a match for my needs to move on from it.

Would you consider second hand jeans? You wouldn't get quite as long a life out of them but they are a lot cheaper and reduce the carbon footprint of the item as well as freeing your coupons for something else.