The childhood "clothes deprivation" is interesting to me. Not too long ago my sister and I shared with eachother that whenever we purchase new clothing for ourselves we get a little nervous and feel a little anxiety over it, even though we both work hard and don't do it very often. We wondered if it had to do with never once seeing our mother purchase clothes for herself. It also got us to talking about what we hope our "fashion legacy" will be for each of our sons.

I grew up behind the Iron Curtain, so even when you had the money (and we didn't), stores offered very little choice (if it weren't so maddening it would be hysterically funny).

A lot of people got around this problem by having things tailor made (and I still remember those shops), but I was considered too young for such an investment. So I wore a lot of hand me downs from other families (several people who worked overseas), some home made summer dresses, some dowdy locally made basics. I had almost zero choice in what I wore outside of school uniforms and I was grateful for anything that looked new and cute and not made in the USSR. (I wonder if some of my decision making issues don't come from this ) I also learned to be extremely careful with clothes. Actually this latter part is crazy-making and irrational because I have to constantly force myself to wear my 'good' clothes.

I remember the year I got a fake animal print winter coat and tall boots - it was such a huge deal, and it turned out very timely because we had a super cold winter that year. And when I was 11 I hit the jackpot with several second-hand skirt outfits from Turkey.

To this day my Mom likes to buy clothes for me (and often skews much younger). I think she still yearns to dress her little girl

In spite of all this, my goal is a small but efficient closet. I will make exceptions for stocking up on multiple colorful tees for lounge wear and exercise.

Oooh this is a fun thread. My Mum made heaps of our clothes when we were young, including out of old curtains as I mentioned on another thread. Her favourite thing was to dress me and my brothers in matching home-made shorts or tracksuits - ugh!!!

I don't have many pics of these scanned in, but here's a professional family photo we got done once. Literally the only piece of clothing here she did not make was my youngest brother's tracksuit. She even made that red shirt my dad is wearing underneath his tracksuit!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/y.....193779637/

p.s. I used to LLLOOOOOOOVVVE the appliqued thinggies on the front of that tracksuit top I am wearing!!!

Tam, what a wonderful photo that is! You look like your mum, but I see some of your dad in your face as well.

What is the maternal obsession with matching? I'm sure we'll never figure it out...

awww Tam that is such a cute shot!! And you know, we must be similar in age, because one of the things Mum used to make ALL the time for us were those tracksuits with cute little applique's on them - our mum's probably had the same books because I'm sure I had a similar applique on one of my tracksuits LOL

This is a fascinating thread and many of your experiences resonated with me. My childhood interaction with fashion/ clothing was characterised by

1) My being interested in clothes, particulary "old fashioned clothes". It sparked off my interest in history, which I ended up majoring in.

2) Mum made almost all my dresses until I was about 11. We were often given pieces of fabric as presents for birthdays etc ( I think my Mum still has some of them!)

3) My parents were fairly frugal. It is hard to discern as a kid, but looking back, I think the early 80's were a bit tough financially for them.(we shopped mostly from op shops for a few years) However they were also committed to a non consumeristic outlook so they certainly wouldn't have just gone shopping purely for fun, even where they became more prosperous.

4) Dad quite liked shopping and often brought home clothing gifts for mum after work trips (she often didn't like them! He was keen on buying khaki for her, and she hate that next to her olive skin). As teenagers he took us shopping.

5) Mum doesn't enjoy shopping and she has passed this on to me.

6)While remember only a few handmedowns for me personally as I was the oldest I think my sister got my old stuff at least some of the time. They never handed down shoes though and I too remember getting clarks. When I was 10 we moved to the country for a couple of years and I remember that suddenly my brown leather laceups would not do for school when everyone wore sneakers or elastic sided boots (I got my use out of the leather ones by wearing them on the weekends, even bush walking) Instead I insisted on sneakers for school, and wore out many pairs.

In some ways I raise my own children similarly in that I am fairly thifty, hardly ever buy them clothes myself and they are far from being the most coordinated or fashionable kids around.
I don't sew, as it is no longer such a cheap option (one grandma makes them the odd pair of PJs or overalls). My kids do hand down their shoes if they last the distance.

The main difference between my kids clothing and my own growing up is that they have so many of them. Between gifts and heaps of handmedowns (from others as well as within the family) they have so much clothing I often feel swamped by it, even though it isnt' all fashionable or unstained. I have just been transferring DD4
s clothing from a big chest of drawers to a set I or my sister used as a child and I can't fit in all in and am leaving all the non seasonal stuff in another room.

Heh April I think I do look like my Mum in this pic. I also think I am very similar to my Dad's sister.....scary!!

Theresa you are probably 100% right about our Mums using the same patterns. I am the oldest child (and granddaughter on one side), and had 2 brothers, so I never got handmedowns. The amount of pink clothes I had could fill a truck though. You know I have zero memories of ever going shopping for clothes until I was about 13 , so I am guessing my Mum must have made pretty much all of them??? Strange to think!!

My mom made most of my clothing when I was young. Once my parents divorced, money was even tighter and my dad would take us shopping for school clothes once a year. They used to argue over it so it became a source of guilt.

My mom is still as frugal as ever and even though she could afford more, she still shops primarily at thrift stores or on rock bottom clearance. She'll sometimes make do with clothing that's outdated or doesn't fit well. She's admitted some of her (frequently worn) clothing is more than 20 years old! She doesn't treat herself and insists on cutting her own hair.

It's taken a long time to realize that basic clothing is a necessity not a luxury. It was only when I found YLF that I allowed myself any kind of regular budget for clothing. I've come a long way and can now shop relatively guilt free. It's still in my nature to look for sales and good deals at thrift stores, but I don't feel shame in paying full price for the right item either.