Timeless items of clothing?

[Lovemusic33]

Which item of closing would you say is ‘Timeless’ (never goes out of fashion)?

Trying to buy items that will last me for years rather than one year due to fashions and fads changing.

I guess I would say that something like a denim jacket and Dr Marten boots are something I will always have and always wear. What other items are timeless?

The Audrey Hepburn look is timeless.

I think the fabrics and quality matter too. My better cashmere/merino blend cardigans look great going into their 2nd or 5th winter but the cheaper acrylic knitwear looks like they've been worn a million times after just a few days, and somehow they look instantly dated because of that.

You can be fairly safe with a kilt for the winter, cords for autumn, gingham for the summer.

A single breasted camel or navy mac or overcoat is timeless.

Timeless colour tend to be neutrals like army green, camel, navy, grey, black.

Grey, black or beige cashmere and merino crew necks, black t shirts, denim jacket in classic style.

What are we meaning by 'timeless'? A kilt in England would not have gone down well in the 15thC!

Corduroy is a fairly modern fabric, as is denim.

Audrey Hepburn's LBD may seem timeless, but worn with kitten heels, a massive up-do, a string of pearls and a cigarette holder it becomes fancy-dress.

I've got three MaxMara cashmere coats, one I'm thinking of retiring for a while, it just looks a bit wrong at the moment, too short, not quite the right shape, another I bought this year and feels perfect for now, the third is marginal.

I really don't think timeless styles exist. I certainly don't throw my clothes away each season and have very slow churn in my wardrobe, and yes, styling is important as it allows an overall aesthetic to feel more current, but even a constant aesthetic needs movement or it quickly becomes pastiche.

I think the only thing that falls into this bracket for me is my leather jacket. It's 20 years old, possibly not a very current look but I think it still looks great on a night out and I still get compliments on it.

It's quite tight at the moment mind, not sure I dare try and zip it up. 😬

A fairly plain good quality sweater dress in navy, black or charcoal
Cashmere or merino plain style neutral colour sweaters or cardigans
Good quality wool coat again in neutral colours

I have jumpers from M&S that are over 10 years old and I wear them every winter as I do some long sleeved tops that I've had so long that they're back in fashion 😃

I think very few things are truly timeless. The only things I can think of from my own wardrobe would be a black cashmere polo neck, and a grey merino crew neck. Even things deemed “classic” tend to be slightly different cuts - eg, denim jackets going from fitted to over-sized, jeans going from skinny to tapered/straight.

I'd say straight legged Levi jeans, plain silk or linen shirts, plain round or V necked cashmere or merino sweaters, a bike jacket, a plain wool blazer

I second (third!) a Max Mara coat. Mine was a huge investment for me 15 years ago but it has taken me everywhere perfectly. It finally died two years ago and I still miss it but not sure about replacing it yet as now WFH for the foreseeable future.

I don't believe in 'timeless' either. Even denim jackets, trench coats and 'the classic white shirt' change over the years / decades.

But there are things that come around time and time again and, although they don't always look quite the same, they may only need a tweak to look modern again. And the second time they come back they'll be more similar. So it depends on whether or not you're prepared to play the long game.

And there are things that stick around for years and years, like skinny jeans and biker jackets. You can get a lot of wear out of items like that, especially if you get in early. But you also need to be able to spot them early, which is a skill in itself, and even then, they go out of fashion eventually.

I can't think of any item or style that I've worn non stop for 40 years. I'm not particularly proud of that but that's me, I get bored. But there are certainly items and looks that I've always come back to, and I've no shame whatsoever about doing a look the second or third time around. So I think maybe the trick is to work out what your classics are, although even then there are unknown factors like body or life changes that can bugger up your plans.

I have clothes I've had for 25 years. They still look ok. They are timeless classics. Expensive, practical, probably a bit dull and never 'in fashion'.

Nothing is timeless, just take a look at fashion history and see how much things have changed through the centuries and decades. So just buy and wear the style you like.

We're not talking about centuries, but if you bought Levi 501s in the 1980s, you could wear them now, and could have worn them in the decades in betwern, whereas the rock washed capri style jeans or mom jeans were short-lived trends.

Something like a plain black turtle neck won't date.

I think some things can be timeless. i bought a very plain, beautifully fitted single breasted jacket about thirty years ago. Cost a fortune. It is admired every time I wear it and I've worn it for thirty years. It never looks in fashion, it just looks classic - sort of French chic rather than on trend. I try to buy clothes like that. I think a well cut V-necked navy cashmere sweater will never date.

I think simple shapes are timeless but colours aren't and you should choose whichever colours you love and suit you. If you look lousy in black or white or camel or whatever, it being a timeless shape is not going to magically make it flattering.

True. The timeless capsule items need to be right for you. If you look good in it and feel good then you''ll look good.

A LBD is timeless but it needs to be the right LBD for you.

Breton tops are timeless but have probably been overdone in the recent past, but they'll be back.

Knee length boots have not been around recently but I think they are due a comeback.

My black leather biker jacket and my big black tote bag!! It dresses up my jeans with a top or a big jumper and a scarf for cooler days. It looks cool with my dress and some fancy shoes too. It's one (two?) of the very few black items I have but I love it!!

@KirstenBlest

The Audrey Hepburn look is timeless.

Audrey Hepburn was a goddess.

I wouldn't go that far but she dressed very well

If I dressed like her I would still look like I'd got dressed in the dark and been dragged through a hedge backwards.

@Proudofmynane

My black leather biker jacket and my big black tote bag!! It dresses up my jeans with a top or a big jumper and a scarf for cooler days. It looks cool with my dress and some fancy shoes too. It's one (two?) of the very few black items I have but I love it!!

I gave away my black leather bike jacket in my forties when I thought I looked like mutton dressed as lamb. Always regretted it and there have been so many occasions when it would have finished off an outfit. Had it since my early twenties too, but it was an absolute classic style, a real bike jacket and fitted so well. Like you say, they work with everything from a tea dress to a big jumper.

Long baggy kaftans in bright ethnic colours and designs are my staple garments.

Cover a multitude of sins for all figure types.
Can be worn for both formal or semi formal occasions
Ideal for lounging around the house in comfort
Provide modest cover for answering door/going outside
Dont require any underwear
Can add leggings or sweaters underneath for warmth
Dont require ironing

Traditional beige trench coat
Flat black leather knee high boots
Plain single colour tailored cashmere jumpers, crew neck or high v
Havaiana plain flip flops