What's the oldest thing in your wardrobe?

[MrsMarigold]

Not vintage just something you've had for years.
I have a jumper I had at school and it still has a name tape sewn - it's 23 years old and worn regularly. It's a plain red hand knitted cotton jumper.
I also have two navy blue t-shirts that I've had for at least 25 years - I wore one the first time I kissed a boy - they are just thick cotton but amazing quality and have a very flattering sleeve length and hold their shape. I wore one yesterday. No idea what brand they were.

I also chucked some socks two years ago that my mother and I had both worn regularly - I nicked them off her - she bought them in Argentina in 1978.

I have some karate trousers - from the days when I literally used to kick ass - which I still wear every summer. They'll be over 30 years old.

My doc martins are about 25 years old although the soles have pretty much gone, sadly.

I have a fleece jumper I bought from Dorothy Perkins back in about 1996. I'm always cold and it regularly gets thrown on over the top of my regular clothes when I'm at home. (I never leave the house in it though!).

I have a top I made when I was 18 - I'm 48 so 30 years old. But I made it out of a piece of fabric from my Nan's stash and I reckon she had it for years.

It's a great top - I keep thinking I should make another one. I've been thinking that for 30 years

I wore the top yesterday :)

I have a French Connection skirt my mum bought when I was 11. I'm nearly 30. I wear it every summer!

I have the top I was wearing on my first date with my H. Still love it, tho Idon't wear it much. 17 years old, still in good nick. Not that old compared to some of your stuff.

Oh and I have a pair of shorts I bought on a road trip in the states about 25 years ago. I love them but they really are threadbare.

A long black dress I bought for a party when I was 17. I'm 40 in a few weeks. It survived many a wardrobe clear out in my fatter days by hiding at the back of the wardrobe but now it fits again

My dad's thermal jumper from when he moved to NY in his twenties. He's 65 now. He gave it to me when I moved to London.

I also "borrowed" a high-cut denim jacket from my older cousin when I was 11/12, and that's still going strong (I'm 30). It comes back into fashion every few years

An InWear vest that's 35 years old. It's started to fray on the straps. Sad.

Off the top of my head, a Levis denim jacket I bought in Paris in 1994 and some 501s that I could fit in when I was 25 weeks pg with DC1 (so, 20 years ago) but have never been able to wear again. Actually, I'm going to dig them out and try them on. I reckon they'd fit again now.

The red C&A blouse I wore to my university interview. Bought specially and kept "for best" ever since.

It's awful!

A black skirt sz 14 from debenhams, im now size 18 on legs it fits but just a bit shorter, ive had it 16 years and wore it last week,

Ive got a couple of older pieces that ive had 20 years and will wear them if i ever lose weight.

I think the quality was better 15 and 20 years ago, wish id kept more of the clothes from my 20s as many have come into fashion once, some twice.

Really, very little. I am ruthless and work on a 'one in one out' policy, and sadly have no vintage wonders lurking. Maybe a leather miniskirt I've had for 5 years. Oh and I have a barbour duffle coat which is about the same age. Everything else is newish and soulless

And I'm not going to tell you how old I am it is, but it's certainly very at home on this thread...

Fascinating thread! I purge my clothes regularly, so the oldest is only a few years, probably a coat. I did have a vintage vest I used to wear when I was young, it was my mother's when she was young, and at the time it was definitely my favourite item of clothing, it was over 30 years old (maybe older!) by the time I was wearing it!

The difference in quality is interesting. As well as the stuff I posted earlier, I still have a couple of jumpers bought in the early 90s: pure wool and made in Britain. I don't wear them that often as they're too warm.

I have some jeans from 1982 or 1983. When I was in the fifth form. Happy days. I still wear them, sometimes. I love them. Black drainpipes. I also have a school jumper that I got in 1978. I still wear that occasionally too, it's a lovely jumper, an unusual shade of blue, lovely and warm and snuggly. It has had moths, or possibly it's just the passage of time, or me abusing the cuffs, which is where the holes are (plus there is one on the tummy which I remember picking in a particularly boring latin lesson, after I had snagged it on a splinter on a desk). If it wasn't for the holes I would wear it to work. It's a great jumper (and still has the name tag). Apart from those two items, I have both my and my sister's school scarves (mine was bought in 1978, hers in 1980), and a couple of market stall dresses (which I could call vintage but are in reality just second hand 1950s jobbies) that I got at Camden lock in 1984. I wear them if it's hot.

I have a shirt from Monsoon from 1985. I loved it so much I couldn't bear to throw it away, but I haven't worn it since 1987.

I have a black, corset style dress emroidered with red roses from Karen Millen, which must be 18 years old? Still beautiful, and holds 100 happy memories, so I can't throw it away.

A pair of Levi 501, very flattering cut and beautifully soft and faded nowadays. Reckon I bought them back in the mid 90s?

I still have the pair of ladies Levi's 501s which I wore when I first met DH. They are a 34/32 and I managed to button them up a few years ago [/str]but not actually sit down on them [str]

Got me thinking now. I have quite a few summer clothes - shorts, skirts and special occasion dresses that date back 10-15 years. Winter wear tends to get far more use and therefore gets chucked earlier. Probably the oldest thing is a St Michaels ( note, not M&S) towelling dress which I occasionally use as a nightie - I'm guessing it dates from the 70s; I swapped it with a friend.

What is really noticeable is the change in sizes. The towelling dress is a size 14 and fits fine. The M&S shorts I bought about 13 years ago are a size 12 and fit perfectly. But in modern day sizes I wear a size 8 or 10! It's not shrinkage either as the dimensions given on the size 12 label (26" waist, 37" hips) correspond to a modern day size 8-10.

I have a brown Laura Ashley print patchwork dress that I bought in 1975 when I was 18. I often look at it longingly. I haven't been able to fit in it for years, but I'll never get rid of it. It holds lots of happy memories .

I have a black jacket from Wallis which must be about 22/23 years old. I felt very grown up when I bought it and it still comes out from time to time - wore it to my mum's funeral 10 years ago.

Been thinking, some more...a really snuggly, black cashmere jumper from Nicole Fahri which must be nearly 20 years old? Still good as new, and totally timeless and I wear it every Winter.

A navy, wool pea-coat from Whistles circa 1998? Classic style, and still looks smart.

I actually don't buy clothes that often, but when I do they tend to be expensive and top quality because I want to wear them for years and years. I have no interest in buying a sweater from Primark for £9.99 and binning it at the end of the Winter because it's already worn out and looks like a rag.