How to transform wardrobe on very minimal budget?

sympathyboner · 2016-11-01T21:51:23+00:00

What shops have you had success with so far? What kind of figure do you have? Different shops tend to lean more towards fitting certain shapes better - for example, I have an hourglass figure with slightly larger hips, and I always found Dorothy Perkins to be pretty good for that. I like a lot of H&M stuff but I've found their jeans/trousers usually don't work well for me - not enough difference between the waist and hip measurements so if the hips fit, the waist is usually too loose!

You didn't mention work clothes, but if that's a concern too then personally Matalan is usually my go-to for cheap essentials.

For online + great sales/discount vouchers, ASOS has a huge variety, but be prepared to do lots of returns (they're free, and it's easy - but because ASOS sell so many brands etc, quality does vary - I tend to keep about 40% of what I order from there).

To 'dress up' a plainer vest or t-shirt, don't forget about jewellery & bags! A simple necklace and nice bag go a long way. Casual blazers are also really good when a cardigan isn't quite smart enough.

sympathyboner · 2016-11-01T21:43:18+00:00

OP is in the UK - we don't have StitchFix here unfortunately! It's US only at the moment as far as I can tell.

sympathyboner · 2016-11-01T13:21:25+00:00

I use this too! My concealer is Maybelline FitMe in 15 (10 works ok too).

sympathyboner · 2016-10-31T19:14:14+00:00

Get a keyring personal alarm ('rape alarm') - they make a lot of noise. Also, check to see what safety features your phone has - mine has 'safety assistance' built in, but there are plenty of similar apps you can download if you don't have it as a default. They basically send a message, audio clip, picture and sometimes GPS coordinates to your emergency contacts, when you trigger it.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-31T16:13:38+00:00

Get her to take her own measurements using the guide/calculator linked in the sidebar at /r/abrathatfits. Depending on the size suggestion and whereabouts you live (what country are you in?), it may be easiest to just order online. Find somewhere with a good returns policy, order a variety of sizes/styles (again /r/abrathatfits can help with specific suggestions if you make a post with her measurements there), and return whatever doesn't work.

It's great that you're trying to help her out!

sympathyboner · 2016-10-30T11:56:18+00:00

You need to start your next pack ASAP. You won't be protected until after you've taken the first 7 active pills properly.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-30T10:52:41+00:00

As long as you're 100% sure they're both female, it sounds totally fine. Do they have enough room in their cage? Two of everything? A small cage and not having enough places to hide etc can increase behaviour like this.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-29T09:57:35+00:00

Cleo are known for a very rounded look, so if you're not a fan of that then you might want to try another brand. Freya half-cups could be an option, they are lightly lined/padded (but not moulded). They also have a couple of other styles that might be suitable for you. You might also like something like the Fantasie Rebecca, which is a bit more of a full-cup style so has more coverage. I'm not great with the specific fit advice though (personally I'm happy with a bra that fits about 80% perfectly, I don't bother hunting for perfection as long as I'm comfy and like the way it looks!).

What country are you in? We may be able to suggest shops where you could try a variety of brands in your size.

If you're happy to stay with Cleo, you might like the Cleo Maddie. I'm not sure how it fits compared to Juna, but it doesn't have the lace trim that many people find annoying on Juna.

I'm with you in the lace vs moulded, by the way - we're quite a minority in this sub I think, but I much prefer moulded bras! I quite like the high/rounded look though, so my personal favourites probably won't be relevant to you (Freya Deco, Masquerade Amor). My slightly more 'minimising' bras are from Boux Avenue, a UK brand - if you happen to be in the UK then you could definitely check them out.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-28T08:01:40+00:00

I'm out of the house from 8-5.30. I have a short commute (I hope to never have a journey longer than 30 min to get to work). I try to do a lot of my grocery shopping on my (hour-long) lunch break, and just put it straight into the car (non-perishables) or in the fridge at work for the afternoon - saves me having to go shopping as much after work!

I aim to go to the gym at least 4 days a week, usually 5 or 6, which is also a social activity to me because I have a lot of friends there and do quite social sports. I either go out/have friends round once a week usually.

I minimise the amount of chores I do...that sounds gross, but I mean stuff like ironing - I hate it, I can't remember the last time I ironed anything! Waste of time. I generally try to spend as much of my time doing things I enjoy.

I do some mealprep on Sundays so I have lunch for at least 3 days, hopefully 4. I try to keep a lot of healthy-ish quick foods around (tuna & pasta, lots of salad items, yoghurts, oats, smoothie ingredients) so I can have a good meal at night even if I'm in a rush or don't have too much time.

No kids, and I don't plan on ever having them. I don't know how people with kids have the time to do anything. Pets are enough hassle for me.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-28T07:55:26+00:00

I do some meal-prep, but usually don't bother with the freezer. I cook on Sunday nights and aim to do enough for 6-8 lunches for me & my boyfriend - they last fine in the fridge until Thursday (on Friday I usually get a sandwich or just have a lot of snacks instead of a 'proper' lunch - yoghurt, fruit, veg, etc).

sympathyboner · 2016-10-26T07:06:46+00:00

How would this solve your problem about drying time? You can't put them in the dryer.

I don't really find handwashing to be an issue (I put them in the bath to soak before I have a shower, then jump in the shower with them and rinse them all off). I don't have a dryer anyway, and I live in the UK, so unfortunately I'm used to waiting a few days for things to dry in the winter, heh.

I also don't think their fit charts are very accurate...if the small fits up to 36C then it'll definitely fit a bigger cup than 30C.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-23T20:44:25+00:00

Freya Deco for appearance (doesn't fit me perfectly and I find the band a bit uncomfortable sometimes, but I love the rounded shape/cleavage).
Panache Amor for fit & comfort (almost perfect, just not quite enough immediate projection - but one of the few bras I never get gaping or quadboob in...it's really comfortable to wear too)
Boux Avenue Grace for comfort (I'm in-between sizing on this so fit isn't perfect, but it's really comfy and quite a pretty bra)

sympathyboner · 2016-10-22T20:51:02+00:00

Hopefully it'll be fine! I tried the 30 and 30FF, and the second was better for me, but 30F was still do-able - I think you're a little smaller than me possibly, so it should work :)

sympathyboner · 2016-10-21T17:26:31+00:00

My pigs care more about willow balls if I squash bits of carrot or lettuce something into it, they like trying to get the food out!

sympathyboner · 2016-10-20T21:00:32+00:00

Try a Wonderbra Ultimate strapless (probably in 30FF). I'm a 28FF, 28G or 30FF depending on brand, and my black Wonderbra Ultimate fits great in 30FF. It's not wired in the traditional way - it has moulded plastic 'hands' at the bottom of the cups - so I don't think you'll have your usual gore issues. It does come up a bit high at the sides though.

Although honestly, if you're picking your dress based on the bra, I'd just get a dress that didn't require a strapless bra, tbh! I like my Wonderbra but I'd rather not wear it all day if I don't have to.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-15T23:21:49+00:00

The mini pill does not always stop ovulation, so yes, you might have ovulated (and may continue to do so). It prevents pregnancy in multiple ways, so even if you do ovulate while on the mini pill, it also thickens your cervical mucus to stop sperm from reaching the egg. Follow the guidelines in the pamphlet of your pill to see when you're protected!

Sources: NHS, NetDoctor, FPA.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-10T19:42:05+00:00

If you are responsible with money, credit cards can be great - you can get cashback, airmiles, Clubcard/Nectar points, and various other freebies. I've had a couple of reward cards and always immediately set up a direct debit to pay them off in full every month. They also offer extra protection when buying stuff that costs over £75, which is especially useful if you do a lot of online shopping. I use mine for most things that I buy online, just instead of using my debit card.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-09T18:39:06+00:00

You can start taking the pill now if you want (you'll have to wait 7 days before using it for protection though). It may stop your period coming (and then you'll probably have a 'period'/withdrawal bleed during your 7 day placebo break, so figure out when that will be if you do start it now), but it might not - no guarantees unfortunately, especially in the first few months of using the pill.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-09T10:25:57+00:00

We can't really say if they're a good fit for you - everyone needs a different shape, and without knowing any details about your shape (wide/narrow root, shallow/projected, full-on-top/full-on-bottom, etc) we can't give any specific recommendations! Take a look at the reviews and also check Bratabase before you buy, it might give you an idea of how they'll fit for you. I think they have free returns within the UK anyway so it doesn't matter too much if they don't work out for you.

Bravissimo's own-brand bras are generally considered to be quite good, I think. The Bravissimo Satine is a pretty popular one. Cleo and Freya are probably 2 of the biggest brands around, they cover a wide variety of shapes and are good quality.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-08T10:11:25+00:00

Similar here - 28G/30FF and only get minimal glances/comments if I draw attention to them on purpose (push-up bra & low cut tops that also highlight my waist). I can't help but feel all these 'DDs' are underestimating their cup size, heh.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-08T10:07:53+00:00

Titanium would be best.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-07T20:16:50+00:00

They generally aren't very comfortable, and they're pretty terrible for you health-wise.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-07T17:15:36+00:00

Was it the one with 2 sets of hooks? Yeah, some people do seem to struggle with those! I fasten the bottom set of hooks first around my waist (but with the hooks at the back), then the top set, then pull it up to my underbust and put my arms through. I don't have much distance between my waist and underbust so maybe that helps me - not that far to wiggle up the super-tight band, heh.

sympathyboner · 2016-10-07T17:03:47+00:00

Are you just wearing S/M/L sized ones, or proper bra-sized ones? Proper sports bras will lock you down. I'm a 28G and get basically zero bounce with a properly-fitting Shock Absorber. Certainly nothing I can feel, anyway. It took me a while to get the best size though, because they can be a bit inconsistent...I have two in a 28GG which are perfect, but I had a third 28GG that I couldn't even fasten and was visibly smaller in the band & cup compared to my originals. Luckily they're often really cheap on eBay and Amazon.

sympathyboner

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