Make do and mend was one of the slogans of wartime England since clothing and fabric was rationed for the war effort. It seems these times, of a kind, are back again in that we are fighting an economic war of sorts. We have redundancies, people worried if they are going to lose their job [...]
There are two times in the year when life gets a bit more challenging for the frugal woman; when the fashion circus comes to town. It is difficult to avoid fashion when the shows are covered in all the papers. Everyday more beautiful things to look at, it is a kind of torture for women that [...]
I must admit I am having a bit of an identity crisis. I used to work as a stylist, so I used to live fashion then I got tired of the constant need for the new and the very large strain on my finances. This was about three years ago then I started The Lean [...]
Yes we have all bought things that don’t really suit us. After a bit of spring cleaning of my closet, I noticed a few items way in the back, that have never actually been on my back or my feet for that matter. Keeping my fashion errors just makes me angry at myself for spending [...]
Do you remember when no one wanted to sit next to you at lunch because your Mom made you a stinky egg salad sandwich? So what did you do a the clever age of 10? You chucked it out of course, because you didn’t want to be the kid with the stinky sandwich. Well I [...]
What is wrong with a little cheap and cheerful clothing? Every girl would like to get a new dress for Saturday night, right? Wrong! Don’t we ever get tired of consuming? I know of people, no it is not only women, that have so much stuff that they could not list a quarter of it. [...]
I love my Birkenstock sandals, they are comfortable yet a bit stylishly acceptable because they are black patent but alas it is now October so I must relegate them to the cupboard and start planning my autumn/winter wardrobe. The place I go shopping, before I even step out the door, is in my own closet. [...]
It is getting chilly here in old London town so it is time to take out the heavier clothes, tights, socks and sweaters. What is the easiest way to get in a bad mood first thing in the morning? No, it is not being out of milk but not being able to find a pair [...]
Here comes another frugal confession, I miss the finances of the past. This past weekend, I lost a very good friend in an accident, when something like this happens of course, you are flooded with memories. I have fond reminiscences of spending Saturday afternoons browsing the shops and when you wanted to buy something that [...]
I know so many women with bulging closets and still nothing to wear. We have all heard of the 20/80 rule; where you wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. I think, we ladies are too spoilt for choice, with all the inexpensive high street retailers around and we are getting into debt because of [...]
Spring is in the air and the daffodils are popping up. This is the time of year I prefer to make my resolutions instead of in gloomy January. I am starting to feel revitalized with all the new growth around me so what better time to make a few resolutions? A few of my spring [...]
I have found so many of my fashion mistakes are made by buying an item in the wrong colour, better to say a colour that does not suit me. There are a few colour rules – 1. Figure out if you are a warm toned or a cold toned person. This is as easy to [...]