2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

itsthelittlethings

In other news, I have two days off to go and see mother at the coast. It’s never enough.

Mrs Miller pulled me aside and told me that some lads might be joining soon. They are injured and back from the front. I think she was dropping a big hint so I rang my pal who works at the labour exchange and they said they have just the thing for me. I telephoned and the owner’s son rang me right back yesterday. On a Saturday! I said I couldn’t speak too long as I was on my landlady’s line so I’m going in during the week to look round. It’s light industry but in the offices. I don’t like it where I am as it’s too noisy. Please don’t repeat as that obviously gives you some idea of what we do. I’m in two minds as I have a pension where I am. Lads might be fun too but obviously us girls will have last dibs on the rota. The commute is much better for the other job too. Mother will be furious if I leave as she is desperate for me to have a steady job. I shan’t tell her till it’s all sorted.

itsthelittlethings

Also my friend’s brother (the one with the nerves) told me there will be a cinema showing of Casablanca in June. He seemed a bit upset when I said I might get a ticket. I have no idea why. I do so love the cinema.

PipneyJane

itsthelittlethings said:

A big success. I got a free handmedown pair of trousers which are amazing quality. 0 coupons.

Counted my coupons and I have 36 left.

I heard an article on the wireless (Instagram) about a dyer who is dying wool the colour of tube lines (did the tube run during the Second World War? Could they dye modern colours?). It will be available in March. I think I’ll get some. It’s sock wool.

Yes, and yes.  The Tube ran throughout the War.  There were a couple of disasters - the bomb that hit Bank for example - but they operated continually.  In addition, they provided deep shelter to thousands of Londoners throughout the bombings (at first, unwillingly; but later stations were adapted).  There's still a shelter at Clapham South, if you fancy seeing what it was like.

Most modern dyes were developed in the 19th century.  Good luck with your purchase.

- Pip

SpikyHedgehog

itsthelittlethings said:

Also my friend’s brother (the one with the nerves) told me there will be a cinema showing of Casablanca in June. He seemed a bit upset when I said I might get a ticket. I have no idea why. I do so love the cinema.

Maybe he was hinting that he'd like to take you? 

My friend and her husband went to the cinema after church yesterday.  They'd promised her niece a treat if she worked hard in school last week and was a good girl. 

Nelliegrace

We wrapped up warmly and went to the local little theatre on Friday to see an amateur production of Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense. ( I heard that PG Wodehouse has been interned in France.) The play was very good, Bertie Wooster told and acted his story to the audience and Jeeves and the butler played all of the other characters and moved the furniture to make different scenes. We had a good laugh.

The mug of hot tea was welcome during the interval, everyone is doing their bit to save on fuel for heating. Another sign of the times, undecorated white mugs, of different shapes as available, instead of cups and saucers. There were thin wooden strips instead of spoons to stir the tiny drop of milk. None of us take sugar now. 

We have a film at the local Memorial Hall tomorrow afternoon, much easier than going out on a January night when you cannot see the bomb craters in the roads. We take our own mugs for the tea during the intermission.

The local library had a copy of Yours Cheerfully by A J Pearce, writing about how Women’s Magazines are being asked to encourage women to take up War Work. She describes the difficult situation when a husband in the forces is “missing,” the woman is no longer classed as a wife, so loses the payments for herself and the children, and any money he was sending her, but neither is she a widow, entitled to any pension, yet she cannot apply for any other benefit. The woman needs to earn, but the factories had not adapted hours to suit married women, the men they are to replace had never needed to shop, run a house and look after the family, and deal with sickness. It is an interesting topic. I have been reading some of the debates on British Servicemen’s pay and provision for families in Hansard.


Imperial War Museum
Image: IWM (Art.IWM PST 3645)

PollyWollyDoodle

Wow this thread is moving fast, I can’t keep up!  

I’ve got bad memories of ‘body’ tops from the 1980s @PipneyJane (I have a disproportionately long torso and high waist and they were usually uncomfortably short!) but I can vouch for M&S thermals. I bought some last year for a holiday in Norway, and I’ve been wearing them non-stop ever since. Really lightweight and cosy, and perfect for when I’m volunteering at a drafty and mostly unheated stately home.  

Gem-gem

I have read this...Yours Cheerfully by A J Pearce and the prequel - Dear Mrs Bird. Both were superb. I can see that there are now two more in the series. 😀

CapricornLass

A lot of the shop-keepers found the ration system quite stressful.  One of my mother's memories was of her aunt, who ran a small shop, in tears because she couldn't get the coupon totals to balance.

CapricornLass

Bodies - hmm.  I'm another with a long back, and the things never fitted properly  you felt as if it was cutting you in half.  Most uncomfortable.  I had other friends who loved them though.

Update on the leggings front - OH bought a pair for me.  Just waiting for them to be delivered. TBH, I had forgotten about the special coupons!

florianatwobob

The A J Pearce books are fabulous. I’m waiting to find the last two in the CS. 

On the ‘body’ conversation can I add the surprise of a popper unpopping itself and ‘pinging your particulars’ unexpectedly.