Frugal Slow January

[FrugalFashionista]

Happy New Year everyone!

As promised, here is a space for anyone who wants to take things more slowly in January. If you like minimalism or want to simplify your life in some way, please do join us! You might, for example, consider decluttering, Project 333 or a shopping-free period. Or you may be focusing on change in one or more areas in your life. Or you might just generally wish to take things more slowly and mindfully. Here is a space where you can share your thoughts and goals with other people.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions? What will be important for you this month?

Hi frugal - thanks for info . I don't think you are starting a shopping frenzy . I'm trying to buy wisely so thinking of colours and planning is a big help rather than be taken by a sudden whim! I buy by touch too when can its instinctive isnt it.-but with teens I rarely get to a big city so I can't see things randomly so I need to plan from web sites were possible . I just love to talk about textiles and fabric -I think they are an art form just as much as paintings for eg. I also spend hours looking at Scandinavian type prints. Have started to dress make . It's so hard as I'm v impatient person and my frocks are a little uneven but it's really to wear the fabric that appeals to me. Thanks for inspiration re eyes . My Brora investment was a teal which brings out my mid blue / grey eyeballs!

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes.Mimi Holliday bras have arrived and they are really divine.Which is a good thing,because in the box there was a sticker attached to the returns label specifying no returns or exchanges in the sale.Silk knickers I ordered from Marks also go with the bras luckily.I've been having a lovely time trying the Fragonard miniatures.Fragonard smells like one of DD's teachers she says(Anais anais and Fidji).Ile d' Amour smells like dd''s favourite perfume - Issey Miyaki.

My tablet wouldn't allow me to post any more on the previous message rather bewilderingly.I'm another one really into fabrics.I love silks and cashmere and always try to buy natural fabrics.One exception is wool viscose which I love the feel of and modal(from Me and Em).Merino and Wool makes me itchy but baby Alpaca is tolerable.I also really love comfort ( my school uniform in the summer were Crimplene dresses that I had to have lined in cotton)
The second blue you posted Frugal looks like a Sky Blue.Its a colour I always wear in the Summer.Also really love Slate Blue but do find it difficult to find in the shops.Wrap do beautiful colours but I've been extremely disappointed in the quality.Several tops I've bought have been consigned to the bin after one wash.

I'd love to be able to do dressmaking. I am an awkward shape and height and rarely find clothes off the peg that fit me well as I am too small for standard clothes but not small enough for the petite ranges. I have wondered if I would be best to have a few dresses tailor made in classic styles, even although it would be expensive.

Clout . If you chose a simple shift dress pattern , then the dressmaker wd use less time and wd be able to charge less? Also if you have lined dressess it's quick ish as basically you cut out two dressess and put together rather than doing the diddly bits round arm and neck of a sleeveless dress. I am a hopeless sewer but do it for free at a local school and I need help every week. It takes four nights of three hours to make a simple dress for me but am told an experienced person it wd take an afternoon only to run up.

Ps could someone please advise re titles of previous thread like this one last year ? I've noticed reference to it and would like to peek.

The original Frugal thread here!

A lovely sunny spring morning here. We've had our share of storms and flooding too this winter so about to go out for the day but will be back later to catch up!

Sorry not been contributing much to this thread but I have been following it Love it!

Well, my 'only buying things I really love' is going well in one sense but the trouble is I've found lots of things I really love since I posted - I wish I could go back pre-internet and I would just stay away from shops! I find it so hard to stay off my favourite sites and then I can't resist what is see especially when I'm surfing, glass of wine in hand

Hey ho, I'll try to be better from now on.. Any tips???? It's starting to make me feel uneasy, the fact I always need to be acquiring 'things'... . I want so may big things in life (to start own business, make a success of it, buy bigger house here and a place somewhere in the sun to enjoy too.. I suppose all that's at odds with this thread though?

Still planning away for new business, realistically that won't happen for another year and I need all deb cleared before I leave my job so I need to stop spending on clothes I don't need.

I'm learning Italian for my upcoming trip to Florence/Lake Garda.. I'm practising my guitar... I'm preparing for the MENSA test I'm sitting in April.. I just want to do so much and it's hard for me not to have goals I'm working towards - need to keep my mind occupied and focused..

Frugal I love to hear about your life in Italy - I've only been a few times but I love it, you're very lucky

Sorry meant to say that my frittering away of money on clothes and smaller things is stopping me achieving my bigger goals.. But just can't seem to stop. It's like I need instant gratification and lose sight of the bigger picture..

Afternoon all! Belated birthday greetings to teta and Frugal!

Thank you QofW, Frugal and Mother for your responses to my question about style days. I've decided to go for it although I'm mindful that it's hopefully going to be 'guidance' as opposed to 'rules' about what I can and can't wear! The HoC consultant that I saw about my colours was great and not at all pushy. I'd been a bit concerned beforehand about the whole 'thou shalt wear lipstick, (or else)' and she wasn't like that at all, so I'd feel comfortable with her discussing shapes, styles etc.

Its typical that now I don't have much disposable income I could really do with revamping my entire wardrobe! But I'm really thinking carefully about everything I buy now and that can only be a good thing.

Bonsoir I hope you have had a relaxing weekend - you writing about Wes Anderson made me smile. My eldest DC (who is 5) has loved the Fantastic Mr Fox film for a couple of years now. To start off with I was a bit because it's quite dark in places but of course most of that is going over their head (I hope!)

Fantastic Mr Fox came out when DD was 5 and she saw it at the cinema and begged me for the DVD. It's very good film! She has watched it many times!