Frump to Fab 2024

Wednesday2000

helensbiggestfan said:

I've picked up some lovely things from a less than salubrious neighbourhood a couple of miles away.  (I'm being polite in my description of the area.😂). Let's just say I wouldn't visit alone after dark.......There are about 4 charity shops there and I've been astounded at some of the things I've found.  A lot of the stuff is rubbish but i have been lucky to find some really high quality vintage items from there. There seems to be two distinct demographics there  There are older people who have lived there decades, since when the area was not quite so run down and who obviously bought really good quality clothes. Then there are the younger set who tend to favour cheap fast fashion and fake designer labels so their donations tend to be much lower quality. 

That is exactly what I have found since moving to Leigh-on-sea! It seems like there are a lot of retired older people here and I have found some absolute bargains. I found a casserole dish that I know my Grandmother had as I recognised the fruit design. I have found a lovely vintage teapot and a Royal Doulton dining set here.

I do buy the "fast fashion" stuff from charity shops just for walking my dog, errands etc... usually from the £1 rail if I'm lucky.🤩

FreetodoasIlike

I must confess that I don’t visit charity shops - maybe I should?  I’ve been told by a few friends, who do frequent them, that the shops in my area aren’t that great.  It’s just something I’ve never done - don’t know why. I think it may be because most are in the town centre and I never go there now. I could have found a hidden gem, like you @Wednesday2000!! I did, however, bid on a lovely dress on the Bay of E. and was successful. I knew it would fit and be right for me, as I had a similar one in a different colour. It came from a London based British ❣️ Foundation and was absolutely gorgeous, so I know a lot of charities shop online. My large(ish) TKMax is good (and rubbish at the same time), the smaller one in a retail park nearby, not so much. I got to know when their delivery days were and have found some gems there over 20 years or so. Not so much as clothes, bags and scarfs (which I did buy regularly) but I’ve had some really nice household stuff as well. I guess you just need to hunt for the gems and you’ll love it when you see it.

@helensbiggestfan Well done on your jacket. I got a lovely Boden navy velvet jacket from the Bay and it even had the paper tissue around the buttons, so it had never been worn. Yes, I had to pay to get the sleeves shortened, but as my Scottish mum would say, “it will see me oot”. I’m not particularly short - 5’ 4” (so not tall either, just average) but I’ve had to have every single jacket in my adult lifetime altered, as the sleeves were always too long and it was worth it getting them altered to fit right. I sold/gave away a few when I retired, but the ones I still have are the classics (old!) that never seem to go out of fashion. Not that I follow fashion in the slightest, I think that as we age, we know what suits us and what doesn’t.

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning My Lovelies.  

Yes, you've got to love the £1 rail.  😂.

 I don't know if it's still there (must check) but we had a Cancer Research Clearance Outlet in our city, where everything, including coats, was £1.  I have had some real bargains from there.  And, as you say, even if you only wear them for dog walking, house cleaning or gardening then it saves wrecking your better clothes.  

Locally, in the less salubrious area i mentioned yesterday, we have Air Ambulance and Cancer Research shops where most items are £3.  The Air Ambulance shop has a managers special rail for more expensive items, usually nice coats or evening dresses.  

Had my hair cut this morning.  I had tried to grow it but it really didn't suit me so it's now a shortish cut (think Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada). 

I think you're right Free. I think we do eventually find our own style, the colours that suit us, the kind of fabrics we prefer.  And i do believe that classic styles and good tailoring never really go out of style. A classic well cut jacket or coat in a good quality wool can last decades and still look relevant and up to date. 

  In the early 70s I treated myself to a cream velvet trench coat from C&A.  At the time I thought it was a frivolous, extravagant and wildly impractical thing to buy but as soon as I saw it I fell in love with it.  I wore it to death for around 15 years until it eventually fell apart.  It washed beautifully and it always drew so many compliments. I certainly got my moneys worth out if it.  It took me years to find a replacement that I liked as much.  I now have a faux suede tan one. Again it garners so many compliments. I don't know if it will last as long but it's one of my favourites.  

I've always loved clothes and was a bit of fashionista in my youth. I fancied myself as a budding Mary Quant, designing and making most of my own clothes.  I first discovered charity shops when I was 15.  My first purchase was a real fur coat. I paid £12 for it, a small fortune then.  My parents hated it, they couldn't understand why I would buy second hand clothing.  To them it seemed rather shameful.  I think they were embarrassed by some of my fashion choices and I am happy to admit there were some downright disasters  along the way. 

This one might make you laugh........

One night I got all dolled up, pink halter neck mini dress that I had made myself, pink patent t-bar shoes, pink plastic dangling earrings, all topped off with said Oxfam fur coat.  My parents were horrified. I didn't  understand why I just thought they were being old fashioned.  Yes you have guessed it.  I was only 15 but I looked like a Lady Of the Night. 😱😂 I soon realised I had made a terrible faux pas. I was scared to death and scuttled back home within an hour.

  I never made that mistake again.!!!   

Makingabobor2

Used to love C&A. Remember my mum taking us there twice a year, once for a new winter coat and once for a "Best" summer dress. These days its all padded coats, leggings and jeans for kids. Although I must admit to being a leggings person when I'm in the house, just wouldn't go out in them unless covered by a long tunic or coat....lol   Think I might spend the afternoon browsing the big Bay of E. I am desperate for some new clothes, but would much rather buy 2nd hand if I can. Although I do need to get  a pair of smart shoes and some new jeans, which will have to be new, as I never have any luck with them  2nd hand. I am just such an awkward size for jeans, they all seem either too tight, or too baggy. 

FreetodoasIlike

Oh yes, C&A - it was one of my go to shops when I was in my late teens/early twenties. We also had some lovey small boutiques in the northern town where I live, but alas they are all gone now. I remember I saved like mad to buy a cream silk neck tie bow blouse from one of them. Gosh, how I loved it and wore it to death. It wasn’t really “in fashion” but I loved it. I also had a “fun” fur coat and wore that all the time. I know you can’t wear ‘real’ fur now - and nor would we want to - but it was all the rage then. I think mine was rabbit (shudder to think about it now!). I remember my mum in the early 50s had a pony fur coat - again horror upon horror, but she always looked very glamorous. Everyone in the old films wore fur coats - mink if you were loaded and a film star.

@helensbiggestfan Loved your story about your pink mini dress and fur coat. I bet you thought you looked fab! I had a green leather mini skirt and matching waistcoat, which I wore with a turtle neck jumper. I thought I was the bees knees. Come to think of it, I must have looked ridiculous and a tad frumpy, as I didn’t really have the shape for it. My best buy ever (which I still have) is probably over 40 years old. It’s a cream leather trench coat. It was in the sale (although still pricey) in a high end department store in Manchester. It has since been taken over by a larger well known chain, but the name then was the same as the Lake District town where they make mint cake. It was a famous store at the time in Manchester, and a good place to “people” spot.  My mum once saw the lady who played Hilda Ogden in Corrie there, who in real life, was very glamorous (in a fur coat, no less!) and nothing like the character she played. Anyway, there was only the one coat, and to my horror, another person was trying it on. She put it down to seek out her friend’s opinion, and I grabbed it when her back was turned. Terrible of me, I know, but I had had my eye on it for weeks, and when it went in the sale I knew I just had to have it! I spent all my wages and some savings on it and my mum was horrified. It was a long length coat, but over the years I had it professionally shortened and professionally cleaned. It cost me a fortune (money I didn’t have to burn really) but I still wear it to this day. Not often, as it would be expensive to have it cleaned, but I can’t bear to part with it. It will fit better when I lose this stone and a half that I put on!

@Makingabobor2 Good luck on your search for new clothes - particularly the jeans. I like to buy second hand too, but I really don’t need (or want) new clothes. I just need to fit into the ones I already have. I think if you find the perfect jeans/trousers, then buy a few pairs, as they will last, and be sure to fit. I find Vinted is good, if you know what you’re after, and what will suit. However, with jeans, it’s like finding the perfect partner - you have to kiss a few frogs, before you find your prince. Good luck with your search.

applepad

Can I join please?

Definitely need to unfrump, I’m nearly 53 years young, have several health problems and have spent most of my life putting myself last.

Im grey and plan and staying that way, although I have booked myself in for a ‘decent’ haircut next week. I’m post Menopause and have recently started on HRT, but I need to sort my skin out, never been one for skincare, used to be blessed with looking younger than I was but no more. I have large pores and dark/sun spots. Can someone please suggest a simple and cheap skincare routine, no idea where to start and no one to ask.

Thank you

chanie

just caught up on the thread.

im loving all of the stories about clothes and fashion.  @FreetodoasIlike well done for grabbing the coat, i would have done the same.

@applepad.  i’d recommend The Ordinary for skincare.  it’s relatively cheap (although prices have increased in recent years).  Go onto the Deciem chat room and use the Regimen Builder, which will recommend a routine, based on your skin needs. Whatever you use, i’d suggest starting with a basic routine of cleanse and moisturise and gradually build in 1 product at a time to see how your skin gets on with each product.  The Ordinary has lots of scientific names and you can’t use certain products at the same time, but once you’ve read up on it, it’s quite straight forward.  i use the products and found that daily use was drying out my skin, so i’ve experimented using certain products a couple of times a week instead of daily.

one product i’ve recently discovered is Bobbi Brown Face Base, which is a primer, but can be used by itself without make up.  even without make up, it makes my skin look better.

ive decided to set myself up a little vanity area in a corner of the bedroom. i’m going to sort it out over the weekend and will try and post a picture.

Watty1

Just catching up with the chat.    I do remember C&A - my mum wouldn't let us shop there. I've no idea why!  My first real job was a Saturday job in Van Allan a clothing store.  I got to buy the clothes at a massive discount if I bought the colours the staff had to wear which was fun.  Then later at University I was much more flamboyant in my choices, a fake fur, a second hand real fur an fab coloured Afgan coat (until someone binned it for smelling too much LOL) a flat cap, flowing skirts and boots that were fur lined and had belonged to a grandmother who had passed and had beautiful shoes in my size and lots of pairs of glamourous leather gloves. I still have the last pair.  

Those were the days.  Today my rural life sees me in muck boots jeans, thermal polo necks and fleeces all of the time.  Last night was book club and I made a real effort, showering, pulling on a grey jumper, tweed mini skirt and grey tights. It felt so good to get out of the jeans.  

I'm on bid to save money this year so clothes buying fits the 'fashion on the ration' thread.  Big fan of charity shops but you do have to go in A LOT in order to find something wonderful.  

I'm still struggling a bit but as long as my clothes are clean, I've showered I'm doing ok.    I've made a plan that next month I will splash out on a hair cut and also a trip to London to see the private menopause doctor I've found.  I've still symptoms and the last private clinic was so helpful but I'm running out of the prescription and the GP says only part of what I use can be prescribed by her.   The private clinic was however really functional and I don't like that they are online only, getting blood tests was really difficult (3 different trips to places) and so I've been recommended someone and I'm going to make an appointment.  My goal was to save as much as I can this year and only spend on my health, my mental health and the property and animals as needed.

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies.  

It's a wet one and will probably rain all day.  Oh well.  Will need to do some food shopping today. 

Hello applepad.   Welcome to the thread. Always good to "see" another friend join us.   i second the recommendation to try the Ordinary.  You can buy small starter sizes/travel sizes to begin with.  If you do the questionnaire they can then recommend which products should suit you.  Like Chanie says it's a bit trial and error but it's easy enough and cheap enough to experiment.  

As this is a money saving website - a little tip.  If I find that a cream really doesn't suit my face I use it up on my elbows and knees which are prone to dryness and being itchy.  Although usually I find plain old vaseline is best for knees, elbows and feet.  

Watty.  Your flamboyant student attire sounds fun.  And it you can't experiment when you're young when can you.  That's the beauty of charity shop shopping. Because I am not  spending all that much i can afford to try new looks, styles and colours.  If it doesn't work then I have not lost much and I either redonate or repurpose the fabric.  I have a friend who sometimes buys clothes from charity shops to deliberately repurpose the fabric, making things like cushion covers, table runners and napkins.  It can be cheaper than buying new fabric.  

Good luck with your menopause clinic.  Is it the Louise Newton one,  I recently saw a private gynaecologist.  She was nice but I felt because her speciality is gynaecology and obstetrics she was a bit out of her depth with menopause matters.  My nearest Louise Newson clinic is in Birmingham,  I intend to visit soon. I had a brief chat on the phone and I think they are more suited to my needs.  

I think you are very wise to invest in your health if your GP says the NHS can't help, I am not going to get political, there's no point railing against the way things are.  I have accepted there are some things that the NHS cannot or will not  cover so if I want the treatments or medications then I will pay for them even  if it means making sacrifices and saving up in order to afford them. I just count my blessings and am grateful I am in a position to do so.  

My BIL is currently in hospital. It was an emergency admission. He was able to bypass A&E and get onto an assessment ward relatively easy but it was very chaotic,  The poor registrar was half dead on her feet and a couple of mistakes were made.   Luckily my sister is watching over him like mother hen and making sure nothing everything is ok, but still,  a worrying time.  My sister says it sometimes feels like being in a hospital in a war zone.  Luckily for him his GP got him in quickly, if he had had to go through A&E he might not have made it.  

Worrying times for the NHS and I'm afraid I cant see much improvement for the foreseeable future. 😟

All the more reason for us to look after our health and well being.

thepurplepixie

FreetodoasIlike said:

Hi @thepurplepixie My OH’s grandson turned 18 last week and hopefully will go to Uni in September. I only have a very small air fryer, but when he visited just before his birthday, he loved it. Your racks sound SO interesting. Would they be suitable for a small air fryer? May I ask, where did you get them from?

I got them from Amazon.  If I can find a link I will post it for you.  GS loves it.