Tell me the story of your most precious piece of clothing

[JesusIsComingLookBusy]

I was thinking today about the very special connection we have with certain items of clothing - do women have this more than men? Then spent a happy 10 minutes day-dreaming about clothes I have loved and the adventures I had in them - namely a blue velvet coat that I've worn to many a lovely wedding. A pair of leather trousers I used to wear new-romantic style with a billowing mans shirt tied at the waist, and a pair of leopard print lk Bennett heels I used to party hard in. Please tell me about the most wonderful clothing your ever owned and the adventures you have / had whilst wearing it.

[RickOShay]

I used to have a slim black embroidered pencil skirt from Kookai, which I wore with a black slightly gathered top. I felt so good in this outfit, I had a lot of wild nights out. Now my wardrobe is more practical rather than indulgent, and I don't feel the love the way I used to. Maybe I should be a bit more extravagant.

[SophieJenkins]

Oh! yes.

I seem to have one thing at a time that I can't live without, rather like a series of best friends iyswim.

When I was a teenager (about 17+) it was a black, thick cotton Laura Ashley skirt which was long, and gathered, and full, with a proper waistband, which was passed on to me by my sister.

I lived in it - the woman on the cover of Surfer Rosa wore one like it. It made me feel like me. It eventually literally fell to pieces, was faded, torn, etc. I even wore it behind the bar when I worked in a pub over Christmas so it smelled of beer and cigarettes and got soaked

Poor skirt. I'd be more respectful now.

Then I had a silk, fitted dress that had been my Grandmother's - 1940s - again it fell apart, it was like a dark greeny and yellowy fine check, with slim half sleeves with a little frill at the cuff, and a v neck front and back, and very tailored with a sort of handkerchiefy panelled skirt part. It did up with hooks and eyes.

I wore it to pieces, together with charity shop cardigans with holes in and attempts at dark eye make up.

Another was a plain cotton shirt from an Indian shop which was just lovely.

My most recent is I suppose a slim fitting dark moss green wool coat from Toast which had dodgy silvery lining that tore to bits, but I still wear it despite having bought a replica in the archive sale.

Don't know why I loved these things so much. Most of the time I find dressing hard work! Often I wear the same stuff for a few days or weeks as I'm not great at decisions.

[squizita]

I have a 70s faux fur coat I bought for £5 in a Norwich retro shop. She's been to ALL THE PARTIES. including my wedding.

...Last year I took her back to visit the now rather naice vintage shop. Then of course we went to the pub, for old time's sake.

[ememem84]

I have a turquoise dress with purple and pink flamingos printed on it. It was my mums when she was younger (in the 70's). It was a maxi dress but it was too short for me so she helped me turn it into a shorter shirt dress.

I love it because she loved wearing it.

[JesusIsComingLookBusy]

SophieJenkins - I think I had the same Laura Ashley skirt but in jade green. Love reading all your wonderful memories!

[OhHolyFuck]

Not fashionable by any means but a massive old tweety pie nightgown that I wore when both my children were born

[SunshineAndShadows]

I had a leather jacket that my dad spent a weeks wages on in the 70s. Loved it. It was in storage in my parents garage whilst I was travelling and I came home to find that they'd thrown it away cos the cat had peed on it. Gutted does not describe it. I cried.

[Enormouse]

Mine are my floral print doc martens.
I bought them a few years ago. Every time it was time to buy shoes I was taken to shellys by my very cool much older sister and she would buy me DMs. I always wanted the pretty floral print ones and Dsis said 'next time mouse' or 'when your feet stop growing' and I ended up with the practical black ones. I coveted them for years. And finally a few years ago I found an end of season pair at DV8 at sale price and bought them at last.

I feel happy every time I wear them and think of how much I wanted them whilst growing up.