Like previously discussed in my very first post as a fashion
blogger, ‘BAGGED A BARGAIN?’, we all love a good price cut. Myself included! I
constantly think of ways to recycle old outfits and turn them into new,
up-to-date, fashionable looks. Shopping can be expensive (especially for the
fashion obsessed), but fashion doesn’t necessarily have to be that way! We all
know what it’s like when you go shopping, you can’t just go out and buy one
item. Oh no. The high street shops are designed to enchant and have you craving
for more. (A bit like chocolate cake really.) For starters, their window
displays, who can honestly say that they’ve never entered a shop because the
beautiful mannequin in the shop window has captured their attention? This is
only the start of the danger, once your in- you’re in. There is literally no escape route. (Trust me, I’ve tried.)
Even if your intention was to buy a pair of socks, I guarantee you’ll leave
with more! Sometimes forgetting about your target of ‘sock buying’ and getting
distracted by all the other wonders of the shop!
And so, it is high
time that us ‘fashionistas’ realized that we could be saving the notes. Multiple
high street stores weren’t always around. Especially in the olden days –
clothes were strictly recycled or homemade. And so, I went traditional. Last
winter I was in dire need of a cosy knit jumper, but I resisted the temptation
to visit my local town. Instead, I was determined to cut the costs and on a
visit to my Grandma’s house I managed to fulfil this task! My Grandma (or Nana
as I call her) likes to do a spot of knitting in her free time. (Along with a
vast array of other tasks – she’s a very busy lady!). And so, I leapt at the chance! Not being a
top notch knitter myself I knew that my jumper was never going to look
acceptable if I had produced it. So Nana came to the rescue!
After searching
through a select few of wools in the local wool shop, I handpicked the perfect
one. The texture couldn’t be itchy (I’m fussy) and the colour had to be
versatile. It doesn’t stop there – the
luxury of having your jumper hand knitted is that you get to choose your own
design. This was more fun than I had ever envisaged! I got to choose the
perfect length, neckline, sleeve length, whether my jumper was going to be
tight fitted or loosely falling – and after all the possible options had been
confirmed, my jumper was ready to be knitted! After a few short weeks my jumper
was complete and last winter was it’s birth! And the best part? I cut the costs
and got to design my perfect jumper! And now I want to share it with you! 'Starring the knitted jumper!'
Since the Winter of 2011 a lot has changed, but one thing
that hasn’t is my knitted, cream jumper. I love it. And for 2 years it has been
keeping my warm and cosy! Along the way I’ve had people asking –‘Love the
jumper! Where’s it from?’ and ‘Where can I get one?’ . Well, sorry, my jumper’s
a one of a kind but why not try a friend or a family relative who has the
skills to knit? Or, alternatively, if you have the patience – teach yourself!
Fashion doesn’t have to have a label on it and it certainly doesn’t have to
come at a high price!
