2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

daisy_1571 · 20 February at 12:12PM

In my neck of the woods I think they'd be referred to as a housecoat

Dxx

diminua · 20 February at 1:35PM

One white and blue striped nightdress bought. I don't really need it but it is v nice. Another six coupons gone.

maryb · 20 February at 2:27PM

I remember them called a Pinny

PipneyJane · 20 February at 4:47PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892351#Comment_81892351

Housecoat! That was the label I was trying to remember.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892591#Comment_81892591

PInny also works. I must admit, there are times when I wish I had one now! I don’t think I’ve ever seen them for sale.

Pip

thriftmonster · 20 February at 9:19PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892091#Comment_81892091

Thank you so much @PipneyJane . I sort of thought that but wasn't sure. It must have caused confusion amongst a lot of people.

Have just finished reading Hidden Lives. So interesting so thanks to the recommendations here. I had all the Nella Last books plus a few other ones on Kindle but this was fascinating

itsthelittlethings · 20 February at 9:31PM

I got another pair of boots via work (no coupons). I’m doing rather well at not buying any clothes this year. Even when I went to the nearly new store in London (they do ask for coupons there as it’s a charitable project) I didn’t buy anything. I tried a few things on but they didn’t make me feel “yes you look stunning” or have anything that I really loved about them when I looked in the mirror so I didn’t buy them. It’s a big change for me. I have about 25 coupons left. I will probably want to buy some new shoes for walking in the fields (gym) before the end of the year and I will need some new pants and socks before the end of the year. I hope everyone is well and loved ones are safe. Will this war never end!

Laura_Elsewhere · 20 February at 9:43PM

@PipneyJane - I think they were most-widely called an overall (as in Mrs Overall of Acorn Antiques!). I have seen 'pinny' used for various different types of apron (short for pinafore, which was originally an apron with a bib covering the chest which was pinned onto the clothing, so you put it on and then you'd pin it afore, you'd pin it in front… ) and 'housecoat' in Britain typically meant a sleeved wrap-around with a flared skirt, like a dressing-gown- oodles of 1930s-1950s patterns show that for a housecoat (it wasn't worn as an apron; it was an informal comfortable warm garment to wear around the house while you did your clean housework, correspondence, telephoning, etc., all those before-lunch tasks for mid-century middle-class housewives; then you would go upstairs and do your hair and make-up, and put on jewellery and heeled shoes and your dress, so you were respectable for going out after lunch to the shops, or for receiving callers).

So I would definitely say it was a woman's overall, a la Mrs Overall!