2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

@PipneyJane welcome home! My friend gave me this fruitcake- do help yourself :)

and thankyou for the tip about Ch5's Wartime Xmas- I like dear old James Bolam's voice so will enjoy it!

My lifelong-nurse aunt always said if she could make one change to the NHS, she'd bring back the Ward Sister as a powerful staff-member based longterm in one ward. She felt that a big cause of problems was not having someone in charge who kept on being on that ward, day after day, week after week. Matrons are all well and good, but she reckoned that you need a Ward Sister who regards it as "her" ward. (Obviously if you get a bad one then you have problems- but she reckoned almost all her Ward Sisters had been excellent).

Nelliegrace

I couldn’t resist putting a bid on this vintage waistcoat and skirt tailored by Eclipse. It is made from Welsh tapestry, “wheel and rose” design by Trefriw Woollen Mill. I like the good matching of the design. The mini skirt might fit my great niece, or it could make a cushion. I bid £20 and won it for £12.21. I have several similar ones, it might go to my sister in Scotland, they are really warm and comfortable.

The suit arrived this morning. It is perfect and fits as if it was tailored just for me. I am tall, yet the skirt is exactly my preferred length, not a mini skirt.

I bought 2 packs of 5 pairs of M&S cotton pants at £8 to store away. A rare find as most have synthetic fabric now. Doubtless I have exceeded the coupons.

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82028388#Comment_82028388

Thanks @Laura_Elsewhere. It’s lovely fruitcake. It’s good to be home AND to have such good friends.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82029968#Comment_82029968

@Nelliegrace What a lovely find and such a good price!

Also, you haven’t spent all your coupons. I make that 10 coupons for the 10 pairs of M&S briefs. Unless something is missing from your signature, that brings your total spend to 49 coupons, leaving you with 17 for the rest of the year.

Anyone up for a round of Today, I will mostly be wearing? Today, I will mostly be wearing a 22+year old pair of Levi 501’s (purchased in a charity shop in Leatherhead, when I was working there 22 years ago), a t-shirt of the same vintage, and my post-graduate university fleece (I graduated in 2003).

• Pip

Cherryfudge

I love those Welsh weaves, @Nelliegrace . I've probably mentioned before that they bring back childhood memories of lovely holidays!

Today, I will mostly be wearing jeans bought in a charity shop (Melborne?) a few years ago, an M&S jumper bought in a charity shop on the Wirral about two years ago and a long-sleeved tee which I think was a car boot sale find.

MrsCD

Pleased you're back home @PipneyJane

Today I'm wearing my trusty Craghoppers trousers, about 4 years old, and a new M&S t shirt.

Laura_Elsewhere

today I have been wearing dark blue men's moleskin trousers (M&S, eBay 2nd hand 3-4 years ago); socks I knitted 7-8 years ago; Clark's walking shoes (eBay 2nd hand, some years ago); cotton vest-top from Primark (new, 8-10 years ago); green cotton short-sleeved shirt (eBay 2nd hand 6-7 years ago); light grey hoodie (Sainsbury's men's dept, new, this year, must update sig.file!).

Have been planting out additional tomato plants, so am now going to be wearing a bath-full of hot water for a while!!! :)

Then leggings (eBay 2nd hand, c2021), cosy socks (knitted this year from DK bought pre-pandemic)and a big t-shirt (OMD gig, Royal Albert Hall, 2003 iirc).

Nelliegrace

Today I will be wearing comfortable, old undies, navy blue jog pants, thick socks, fleece-lined, soft plastic clogs, a long sleeved T-shirt, and a very old, red and navy blue striped, cotton rugby shirt, (30+ years at least.)

I added a warm cotton sweatshirt in the evening. It doesn’t feel like summer.

I bought 3 long sleeved, cotton T-shirts in the men’s department at Primark. I like the extra length and they are so useful.

PollyWollyDoodle

Today I will mostly be wearing M&S jeans (from a charity shop), an M&S t-shirt with 3/4 length sleeves (also CS) and a hoodie which is branded with the logo of an event in 2010. I have appliquéd some flowers over the logo, and wear it frequently, very happy to be wearing a 16-year old sweatshirt but don’t want to advertise the organisation.

Wraithlady

Today I have been wearing:

Raspberry t-shirt (acquired from step-mum), comfy velvet trousers (from my mum's wardrobe after she died) - both of unknown age but the trousers are definitely over 9 years old.

Also wearing a fake-silk Chinese-style blouse/jacket - bought from a charity shop as a student, so over 30 years old - and socks (no idea, but not new). The newest things are my slippers, bought only 2 years ago to replace a pair which died

PipneyJane

Cup of tea? I’ve just made a fresh pot.

I have a spend to declare. I received a £10-off voucher from Bravissimo, which was expiring at the end of the month, so I’ve bought a bra. Just another iteration of a style I already own, so I know it’ll fit well and be comfortable. £32 and one coupon spent.

• Pip