Extreme make-do-and-mend

I’ve been wondering if you can take the philosophy of make-do-and-mend too far in peacetime. I relish that way of thinking, but am concerned about turning into a parody of myself. Although I suspect this happens to everyone by the time they reach 50 anyway. People just seem to become more and more of what they are. Entrenched is the word you might use. I was quite different when I was in my twenties and enjoyed a few years of wonderful extravagance. I was so relieved to finally be earning some money and not existing in one pair of (increasingly dirty) jeans that I went a bit overboard in the clothes-buying department. Quite overboard. Reader, I loved it.

A few years later a mortgage and two children forced me to rein in my spending on clothes, or clothes for myself at least. The children, however, needed an endless supply and when I realised how much their shoes cost I was sorry that we’d ever taught them to walk. It wasn’t just the money, I no longer had the sort of life that required heaps of lovely clothes – and I’m not sure that I ever really did. So, thrift moved in and extravagance packed its overflowing bags and left.

The upside of a make-do-and-mend approach is that it’s guilt-free, saves money and is quite satisfying, although it certainly can’t compete with the thrill of a new outfit. The downside is that it’s fairly dull and in danger of tipping over into miserliness. Ultimately, though, I think it’s a lot more creative than just throwing money at a problem. Trying to work with what you have rather than just buying something new is a challenge and no doubt good exercise for my stagnant brain.

For example, I am sitting here wearing reading glasses attached to a chain that I made from things I found around the house. I know what you’re thinking: the only thing worse than wearing your glasses on a necklace is to cobble one together from random bits and bobs. I am, however, at the unenviable age where I can’t read ANYTHING without glasses, but also at the enviable age when I don’t much care what people think. I happen to like librarian chic.

It all began when I was at the Royal Academy Art Gallery last week admiring very stylish plastic-link chains to hold your glasses, and I was of two minds. One: I’d like to buy something to support the gallery; two: plastic? Not so good. Environmental guilt won out, but when I got home I happened to see a metal chain lying about and immediately thought it would make a stylish necklace for my glasses. How do you attach your glasses to a chain? With two of the elastic bands you have kept in an old biscuit tin in case they come in handy. And they did.

Really, it could have been worse. I could have strung some old paper clips together instead. Although, looking at my impressive paperclip collection, I think those coloured ones would make a really attractive chain. Parody of myself or creative genius? It could go either way.