My family have just come back from a short holiday in Devon. I first went to Devon in 1946 with Don on a Youth Hostelling holiday. WE walked from hostel to hostel round the Devon coast and on to Dartmoor.This photo of me was at Hallsands near Start Point where I think much of the village has been destroyed by coastal erosion.
I am wearing apair of men's corduroy trousers, borrowed ! This was not unusual. We became accustomed to such stratagems during the war when clothes and fabric were rationed. One had so many coupons to last the year. They were never quite enough to keep one decently clad so we were reduced to a number of subterfuges. The first was to borrow. My white wedding dress in 1942 was lent to me by my friend Kitty's colleague. My first long evening dress was a beautiful blue bridesmaid's dress borrowed from a friend. We were exhorted by the Government to "Make Do and Mend" A very serviceable overcoat could be made out of a blanket and curtains made a very pretty summer dress. The back and tail of a worn out shirt would be made into an apron. If you could get hold of some white silk parachute material you would be set up in undies for life.
I was the envy of the office when a soldier friend sent me two pairs of silk stockings from Italy. Grandfathers became expert "snobs" an old name for a shoe repairer.
Clothes rationing started in 1941 and ended about 1950. When I married in 1947 I was only allowed to buy 3 sheets ! Clothes and furniture were made to strict utility standards - no frills. We survived.
When I got married, I could only afford one set of sheets, too, but it was just circumstance. I'm always amazed at how people got by on rations and wish more people now would make do with less.
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