Mourned clothes of yester-year

[Hobbes8]

Do you have clothes from your past that you still hanker after? I used to have this denim jacket in the 00s. I think it was from Oasis (90% of my clothes were from there or warehouse) and it was a traditional denim jacket shape, but with quite stretchy material with metallic thread running through it. I loved it and wore it with everything and can’t remember what happened to it.

Yes, I had a lovely Karen Millen skirt bought around 2006. It was white with a pink floral pattern and quite full, really well made with a proper underskirt underneath. I got so many compliments when I wore it and I always felt good in it. I had to throw it away last year because it was past its best but will always remember it.

When I'm on my deathbed one of the things I'll regret most is beautiful clothes I have lost.

I'm good at clothes. And good at losing things. So I've lost the clothes and I've lost the photographs of me in them. It is indescribably painful (even in comparison to painful things happening to people now.)

Not listing them though. These days are hard enough!

In about 2005 I bought a dress from French Connection. It was an a-lime kind of shape, jersey, with a pussy bow neck, and a pattern of pink, purple, and orange paisley print on a grey background. Quite 70s style. I know it sounds hideous, but it was my perfect dress. I wore it with opaque tights and flat shoes or Chelsea boots, and it went from being a going-out dress, to a work dress, then last year it developed a hole in the skirt which couldn’t be mended.

I couldn’t bear to throw it away, because it’s been with my through so many good times, so I still have it.

At the time it was super expensive for me, about £70, but in terms of cost per wear it was eventually paying me.

I had a cream Morgan mini skirt I used to wear clubbing in the late 90s which I loved, not sure where it went.
I've kept 2 dresses I got from Miss Selfridge mid-late 90s.
1 is a short slip dress - violet with a black lace overlay, very pretty.
1 is a slinky long black dress with a crossover back & high split that I wore to my school prom aged 17 & to a work party aged 23.
Both dresses are size 12 but they're much much smaller than size 12 clothes are now.

Yes, I bought a beautiful jade green leather jacket in Oxfam in Manchester about 1996 or 7. It was fitted at the waist and zipped up. 2nd hand but gorgeous condition. A few years later, I was a student and at a friends house. One of us spilled cheap fragrance oil on it and after that, it was ruined. Could never get the smell out. But as it faded, I continued to wear it, even when the lining disintegrated and my boobs expanded to the point I could no longer zip it up. I reluctantly got rid about 8 years ago.

I had the perfect pair of super flared jeans when I was a 15 year old emo. I wore them until they were in tatters but I couldn't bear to get rid of them (and tbh it added to the emo aesthetic).

I also had a tweed jacket from Zara which I actually found hanging on a railing outside my college when I was in fourth year of uni and wore until the lining was totally shredded. Cost me nothing and I had it for a good five years - it took me through my first few years at work!

Bell bottom jeans that I embroidered back in the early 70's. I wore them with my platform shoes which, as I'm 5'10 and the platforms were at least 5" in height, I tottered rather than strode gracefully - great fun though!

Aw so many.
The black silk victorian dress bodice that my landlady gave to the charity shop.
Coral coloured fine cotton full skirt in the late 70s
So many old, old clothes from secondhand shops in the late 70s and 80s-victorian/edwardian blouses, victorian/edwardian riding jacket, Harris tweed kilt jacket.
The purple suede ankle boots with fringing that my dear mother took to a charity shop randomly.
I miss many Laura Ashley pinafore dresses, high neck blouses, a leg o mutton blouse and patchwork squares!
Oooh the 70s patchwork shirt.
70s cheesecloth blouses mmmm

A pair of black soft wool trousers I bought on an extravagant whim in NY in 1981/82. The cut was angled so they folded and buttoned. I wore them until they fell apart, then had them copied by a seamstress. Sadly the replacements were a poor shadow of the originals, but I still wore them out too.

Mine goes back to 1984! A pale grey silk and angora sweater that I got from Primark of all places. It was the softest, most beautiful sweater.

I lost it on a drunken night out with a lot of Frenchmen. I have a picture of me and my dad and I’m wearing it with some red plastic beads (it was the 80’s). Every time I look at the photo I miss that jumper.

Morgan black pinstripe work trousers, they fitted me perfectly. I wore them until they were threadbare and couldn't be repaired.

I also had a gorgeous black broderie anglaise empire line mini dress that I got from TK Maxx. I loved it and I have no idea what happened to it, I just know I haven't gor it any more. Gutted.

My going away outfit from 1992. It was a beautiful pink Jackie O dress and jacket in pale pink linen by Ronit Zilka, I bought it on a whim in Knightsbridge. Never to born again because it’s a small size 10 and is mid thigh.

A pale grey/ beige Jigsaw suit from 1992. It had a fitted jacket and a wrap around style mini skirt. I loved it and wore it to death until I had my daughter and couldn’t fit into it any more.

I had a low slung pair of wide leg jeans from Dorothy Perkins, circa 2003. They cost me a fiver in the sale. I wore them to death - they had some fairly risqué holes which I had to patch. I miss them a lot. Similar for a crazy pair of Topshop flares I had in 6th form with a fluffy fringe round the leg. Wore to death!

A 1920s beaded dress. I paid £150 for it in the early 90s and had sleepless nights over the cost but had to have it. And I've still got it but never wore it because I was keeping it for that ultra special occasion that never happened and now it's too fragile plus I'd look a bugger in it.
Never save for best, people.

Ahh all of the jeans were a size 8 too. Haven't seen that for a long while!

I spent what at the time was an absolute fortune for me on a navy blue v neck sweater from Maxmara when I was a student. I wore it to death though - it was the perfect shape and really flattering and I still miss it.

A navy leather blazer from Topshop. I think it must have been mid 90s. It was from their vintage selection (secondhand), so god knows how old it actually was. I wore it everywhere. It was so soft. I haven't seen it since the late 90s . I remember it cost £25. Which at the time (I was at school) was a lot of money to me, but also a bargain iyswim?

I had a peachy colour sundress’s brought off the local market whilst at uni in 80s. I loved it and wore it until it had got washed once to much and lost its colour. Loved that dress.

Also, had a pair of hush puppy sandals I wore to they disintegrated.

I had a gorgeous skirt which was a beautiful iridescent blue with a fan pleat at the back in 1986/1987. I loved it and have no idea what happened to it or where it went.

The slim cut Levi’s denim jacket I’d worn for a decade but left in the back of a taxi after a particularly wild night out on the Toon.

A Petit Bateau x Christian Lacroix asymmetric neck, one shoulder Breton knit evening gown with fishtail skirt and velvet ribbon details.

An Eley kisimoto silk dress in black, with kimono sleeves and trompe l'oeil purple sash with bow at hip height.

Cacharel a-Line mini skirt in Japanese print in coral featuring fans.

Found in a pub after closing - a lovely black velvet jacket from approx 1977 Biba with rounded lapels and a very small fitted waist. I wore it for 20 years on and off. I've still got it hanging in the wardrobe, but I can't even get my arms in it now.

I had a dress from Warehouse, I loved it so much and I couldn’t get it in my size so got the next size up. It was too big. Would have fit me perfectly now and I’ve never found another one like it. It was a really pretty sundress with pink scalloping

Years ago I had a gorgeous soft leather jacket from M&S. It was shaped like a Harrington jacket, smart rather than bikerish. It was perfect. Dressed up a pair of jeans, dressed down a dress.

I was trying on evening dresses in a posh shop and nipped out to get a different size - and some bugger nicked it 😢.

I can't replace it partly because they don't seem to sell that style anymore but mainly because I've been largely vegan for a few years so it's a no-no!

A beige wool/cashmere mix short swing cardigan/jacket with a shawl collar and big buttons from Banana Republic bought in 2007, sounds hideous but was so gorgeous and could be worn with so many things and beautiful quality, got it in the sale about 70% off as well. Wore it until it fell apart.