2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Briefly popped outside, and wore my old Clark’s leather ankle boots, bought in 1991, re-soled by me a few years ago, have materials to re-heel later this autumn, but the reinforcing tape along the top edge of the leather was plastic-textile so it just shredded, leaving the edges unreinforced and vulnerable to tearing when pulling boots on…

Luckily, my 123-year-old Singer is quite  happy to stitch boot-leather  

@Laura_Elsewhere I am in awe!

- Pip

diminua

Jeans gifted me by my Dad - about two years old I think - M&S undies and a strap top so old and faded I don't remember where I got it. I've just put a black zip up cardi on as well (Uniqlo, from February this year I think). I've been WFH all day and it's been reasonably warm in the flat - I get all the sun going, great in winter, a bit stifling in mid summer - but now it's going down the temperature is steadily dropping. 

MrsCD

Today I wore...my blue 'camouflage' pattern t-shirt, Craghoppers trousers, Capricorn mohair trainer socks, and underwear from M&S, all except the socks are at least 4 years old. 
We had an overnight/ 2 day break in Edinburgh on Monday/ Tuesday. Had to scrape frost off daughter's car at 7am on Monday, then the temperature rose during the day in Edinburgh, so we were sweltering! We had a lovely time. 
Laura, you are amazing! 
Pip, I can't wait to see your beret! 😊

Nelliegrace

Today we are going to have lunch cooked and served by students at the local college. 
I shall be wearing old but still good M&S undies.
Supermarket long sleeved cotton T-shirt and thin cotton jumper, both several years old.
A vintage Welsh Tapestry waistcoat bought on eB.
I  have chosen a 1950s striped cotton handkerchief to match.
Corduroy trousers which fit again after 10+ years in the wardrobe. 
An English leather belt from the market.
Thick wool rich socks from TKM.
Lace up leather shoes from the sale at Hotter about 6 years ago, nicely polished. (I remembered to wear a pvc coated, cotton apron, one I made about 35 years ago from a remnant from the Laura Ashley shop. I used to buy remnants to make DD’s dresses.)

maryb

This thread is reminding me of a passage in Nella Last's diary where her neighbour remarks on how springlike her outfit is and she goes through what she was wearing.  All of it a few years old but she remarks she's light on her clothes

thriftwizard

Today I'm wearing an ancient M&S bra, ditto a navy vest top, HM knicks, a 3/4 sleeve boat-neck green/navy striped top I've had since the dawn of time, a vintage long navy cotton cardigan with embroidered flowers, found at the recycling warehouse (couldn't bear to sell it on!) & Next baggy linen trews, from the same source, at 50p per garment. The footwear varies according to the task but is either sheepskin slippers or "barefoot" boots, both bought within my coupons over the last year or two.

I took DD1 back to her new abode in Devon yesterday & we found a couple of excellent local charity shops plus a big "recycling" shop within yards of their front door. I just bought a big handmade quilt for £4, an old tablecloth for £1.50 which is going into the "wedding made by hand" box and a length of unused vintage fabric. That'll be used to make new curtains for her old bedroom. It's unused but certainly not new, so I don't think I need to hand over any coupons for that?

moginstein

Hello all, I was just passing by the village hall, and have popped in to ask some advice, sorry for the interruption. I've got some bath sheets that have been languishing in a drawer (don't like using them as they are a pain to wash and dry as they are so big) and I am intending chopping them down to make 4 hand towels per bath sheet. They are white cotton, with a narrow navy blue stripe, so I think they'll look nice in the kitchen or bathroom.
Anyway, the towels are cotton, and I'm going to hem them on my sewing machine. I was thinking I should use cotton thread, matching the fabric to thread, but when I went to my well stocked local "Boyes Store", they didn't have any white cotton thread (?!). I've got a birthday coming up, so can wait and venture to Hobbycraft with my £5 voucher, but from online it doesn't look like they have a lot of cotton thread either.
So, if you were hemming cotton towels, what thread would you use? Polyester or cotton, or does it not really matter? (I'm not intending dying them, just for info)

moginstein

thriftwizard said:

Today I'm wearing an ancient M&S bra, ditto a navy vest top, HM knicks, a 3/4 sleeve boat-neck green/navy striped top I've had since the dawn of time, a vintage long navy cotton cardigan with embroidered flowers, found at the recycling warehouse (couldn't bear to sell it on!) & Next baggy linen trews, from the same source, at 50p per garment. The footwear varies according to the task but is either sheepskin slippers or "barefoot" boots, both bought within my coupons over the last year or two.

I took DD1 back to her new abode in Devon yesterday & we found a couple of excellent local charity shops plus a big "recycling" shop within yards of their front door. I just bought a big handmade quilt for £4, an old tablecloth for £1.50 which is going into the "wedding made by hand" box and a length of unused vintage fabric. That'll be used to make new curtains for her old bedroom. It's unused but certainly not new, so I don't think I need to hand over any coupons for that?

I'd say no coupons, as recycling shop feels like it should be same cost as second hand, as it is just new to you. Well done on your finds!

thriftwizard

moginstein said:

Hello all, I was just passing by the village hall, and have popped in to ask some advice, sorry for the interruption. I've got some bath sheets that have been languishing in a drawer (don't like using them as they are a pain to wash and dry as they are so big) and I am intending chopping them down to make 4 hand towels per bath sheet. They are white cotton, with a narrow navy blue stripe, so I think they'll look nice in the kitchen or bathroom.
Anyway, the towels are cotton, and I'm going to hem them on my sewing machine. I was thinking I should use cotton thread, matching the fabric to thread, but when I went to my well stocked local "Boyes Store", they didn't have any white cotton thread (?!). I've got a birthday coming up, so can wait and venture to Hobbycraft with my £5 voucher, but from online it doesn't look like they have a lot of cotton thread either.
So, if you were hemming cotton towels, what thread would you use? Polyester or cotton, or does it not really matter? (I'm not intending dying them, just for info)

I think I'd use polycotton without a second thought, @moginstein; there's s slight risk that new cotton thread would shrink, whilst the towels, not so new, have already done their shrinking.

dND

@Laura_Elsewhere I am in awe!!! Dxx