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Original poster

How old is the oldest thing in your wardrobe?

196 replies

dolphinsarentcommon · 24/08/2022 19:46

I have a dress about 12 years old I really love and may wear again, and a pair of ski trousers I am unlikely to ever wear again (unless I need them because of the gas bill)

OP posts:
babyyodaxmas · 15/12/2022 05:07

I have a pair of white suede ice skates from the '50s, they were my aunts.

antwacky · 15/12/2022 16:11

A black crepe backless Ossie Clark all in one which I bought in 1975. A couple of bits from Stirling Cooper and Bus Stop from about the same time. I did have a Dorothy Perkins poncho from 1969 but I'm delighted that my Granddaughter fell in love with it and now wears it all the time.

Homeworkandholidays · 15/12/2022 18:44

I've got some boots that I've had for 20 years, they were quite expensive but obviously worth it as I still wear them!

TheGander · 15/12/2022 21:44

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 24/08/2022 19:58

I've got a crochet lace jacket my great aunt made in about 1928

I have one too, bought in a second hand shop in the early 80s. Not sure it’s 1920s but it’s certainly old. Must be extra special to have one made by your great aunt.

Whatsthestorytomorrow · 15/12/2022 21:47

A dress from 1996.

DM has a dress in her wardrobe from 1971.

Whatsfordinnerglutenfree · 15/12/2022 22:02

I wore my ski trousers today , bought in 1985 so 37 years old

saveforthat · 15/12/2022 22:05

I've got a t shirt from 1978

moretea · 16/12/2022 07:43

I've loved reading about people's treasured clothing. I have very little that is new, and the memories associated with older pieces make them more enjoyable to wear. The quality of high street pieces was so much better even 20 years ago which is why it's lasting me so well. I have a Miss Selfridge floor length velvet skirt that I bought almost 30 years ago which is stunning and I still wear occasionally. Many of the vintage pieces I've bought are handmade so very difficult to date, but I'd love to know the history of them.

MrsAvocet · 16/12/2022 07:49

I'm wearing a big arran style jumper today, that my late Mum knitted me about 20 years ago. It doesn't get worn that often as it is usually too warm, so it's still in great condition and it feels like I'm getting a hug from across the ages.
I've got a drawer full of things she knitted for the children that I can't bring myself to throw out, but this is the only thing I still have that she made for me, so it's precious.

wineandsun · 16/12/2022 07:52

A beautiful leather skirt from Karen Millen my mum bought me for my 21st. (21 years ago). Thinking back I realise she would have struggled to afford it. Ironically I wear it now more, 8 years after she died. I absolutely love it to this day.

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 16/12/2022 07:52

moretea · 16/12/2022 07:43

I've loved reading about people's treasured clothing. I have very little that is new, and the memories associated with older pieces make them more enjoyable to wear. The quality of high street pieces was so much better even 20 years ago which is why it's lasting me so well. I have a Miss Selfridge floor length velvet skirt that I bought almost 30 years ago which is stunning and I still wear occasionally. Many of the vintage pieces I've bought are handmade so very difficult to date, but I'd love to know the history of them.

I often go to vintage fairs. I've got an angora Christmas jumper, black with Christmas baubles around the neckline made from bugle beads and sequins, from Richards circa 1984. I have it dry cleaned. It looks very classy especially alongside those "return to the pub" poundshop Christmas jumpers!

1fluffydoodle · 16/12/2022 08:00

A long black winter coat I bought from Next in 1987, it's in great condition and I do still love to wear it... unfortunately it's too tight this winter, maybe I'll be back in it next winter.

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 16/12/2022 08:10

1fluffydoodle · 16/12/2022 08:00

A long black winter coat I bought from Next in 1987, it's in great condition and I do still love to wear it... unfortunately it's too tight this winter, maybe I'll be back in it next winter.

I've got a size 10 cashmere coat from Wallis that's from 1985/6 and in great condition. I think I heard they sized up so it's really a 12 but more like a proper nowadays 10. The sizing confuses me!

florenceandthemac · 16/12/2022 08:10

A Topshop top from when I was 17 (I'm 34 now) and a hanger from Chelsea Girl, so that's pre 1988 as it became River Island then.

bobisbored · 16/12/2022 08:15

I have a gortex walking coat I bought in 1996! I've worn it a few times and it's really horrible but it was so expensive then I can't throw it out.

StellaOlivetti · 16/12/2022 08:21

I have an Arran jumper knitted for me by my boyfriend’s granny when I was 17 (am now mid fifties!). I’ve worn it a lot this week as it’s so roomy you can wear lots of layers underneath.

NewToWoo · 16/12/2022 08:24

I found a beautiful dress the other day that DH bought me when we were dating, so that's 30 years old. I am way too big for it now.

IncognitoIsMyFavouriteWord · 16/12/2022 08:24

I own a lot of vintage clothes. One dress is an original 50s dress. So, old.

Zuve · 16/12/2022 08:26

My top, my blue top mum bought 35 years ago in Marks and Spencer. It's like new as I only wear it for very special occasions. Pretty and elegant

schmalex · 16/12/2022 08:27

Gold prada mules that I bought 22 years ago in the Selfridges sale. They were my first ever extravagant purchase. Still love them!

donttalkaboutbookclub · 16/12/2022 08:54

The oldest item I have is a pair of Levi's I bought in California in 1987. I can still fit into them on a good day.

moretea · 16/12/2022 09:52

It must be comforting to have a physical connection to the love that a relative put into knitting an item for you all those years ago. I have jumpers that my grandmother knitted in the 1960's for her grown up kids and their spouses, I've not worn them but couldn't part with them, especially as I've got photo's of them wearing them together.

Floisme · 16/12/2022 10:18

Of my vintage clothes, the oldest is probably a late 19th/early 20th century dress. It's black and covers me from my chin to my feet, and I only ever wore it a couple of times to parties because it was so hard to put on (fastens with hooks and eyes all up the back) and incredibly restrictive. I wouldn't fit into it now and, even if I did, the fabric is getting too fragile to risk it - the same goes for my 20s/30s clothes. But I still regularly wear 1940s jackets.

Of clothes that were current when I first got them, the oldest is probably a shawl that was crocheted for me around 1973 when I was going through my Victorian Mill Girl phase.

Of clothes that I still wear, the oldest is probably a wool jumper that I had to save up to buy around 1986 - as I remember, it cost £40. It's a bit moth eaten but still incredibly warm - I've been wearing it this week.

Floisme · 16/12/2022 10:22

Oh and I still have my Laura Ashley dress with the 'Made in Wales' label that I bought when I was 17. I used to wear it with the shawl I mentioned in my previous post. It's no longer my thing and, even if it was, I couldn't get into it anyway but it brings back great memories, far more so than photos from that time.

Floisme · 16/12/2022 10:31

'Of clothes that I still wear, the oldest is probably a wool jumper that I had to save up to buy around 1986 - as I remember, it cost £40.'
Sorry, I should know better than to post before coffee, I'm talking here about clothes that I still wear that were new when I bought them. I also wear quite a lot of older clothes but they were bought second hand.