How old is the oldest thing in your wardrobe?

[dolphinsarentcommon]

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)

I have a white linen skirt from Warehouse with drawstring waist. It was maxi length when I bought it. It was shortened to midi length a long time ago and I still wear it every summer. I bought it before I got married so it's 26 years old. I've got two pairs of Gucci shoes that I bought in Rome which I still wear and again are at least 20 years old. I've certainly got other bits in my wardrobe that are at least 15-20 years old. I tend to go for quite classic styling so it's easy to keep stuff for longer.

The oldest thing I have which I still use is a brown clutch bag which DH bought for me at an antique fair. It dates from the 1930's. I've also got a black velvet evening bag which I still use and which I bought in the Oasis sale before I got married so again at least 26 years old.

A dress I wore in 1999. I struggle to get it over my shoulders now tbh, but I've kept it and manage to get into it sometimes.
However, at my parents' house I must have some things from my teenage years.

I have my Grandad's scarf, so probably 60 plus years, but if we are talking about an item I bought then it is 38 years old, a sheepskin flying jacket, from an M&S outlet store in Northumberland (when they manufactured in the UK) and still going strong and very wearable today.

A sheer black top I bought when I was 18 ( I'm now 46). Its way too small for me now but I can't part with it!

Reluctantly had to bin my Uni scarf, after 30 years, this summer because moths had got to it.... Was gutted.

A down jacket I have had for 52 years

A pale pink.and ivory Chanel jacket from 1991 , I bought it in a sample sale when I worked for the company.

A blue embroidered next dress from 1995 but it doesn’t fit me anymore! however the black warehouse jumper I had on yesterday I bought in 1996 (26 years old) I wore yesterday and it’s still as good as new.

29 years. wool suit.

Over 25 years old, it was

Contd. My late mum's and she died about 27 years ago. It's a silky dressing gown and I do wear it occasionally .

I've got a black, knee length heavy weight skirt I bought in a sale from LK Bennett ( back when they were relatively affordable) in 1995 so 27 years old. I've had to replace the elastic in the waist and there's a tiny hole near the hem but it's so handy for just throwing on. It normally comes out as " holiday evening wear" these days.

In terms of vintage, a 1930s evening bag (then a couple of 1940s day dresses, 1950s cocktail dresses and more 60s/70s workwear than I can justify…). In terms of stuff that’s new to me, a blouse I got for 6th form when I was 16 (now 30-something).

Actually, I have a 1920s kimono style jacket, that’s probably the oldest!

A pair of Anello & Davide Mary Jane button character shoes I bought when I was 18 (52 years ago). Were originally grey but I later dyed them red.

I wear DH's grandma's Burberry trench from the early 50's. It still looks brand new.

I have a silk dressing gown which was brought back from Hong Kong for me when I was about 11, so in the late 1970s. Still fits but very fragile now.

I also wear my late stepdad's Aran jumper that our NDN knitted for him in 1971. She kitted out the whole family. It has come in very handy in the recent cold snap.

Lastly, a skirt my mum made for me in 1985 to take to uni. I'm only keeping it for sentimental reasons because I can only do it up if I lie on the floor and stop breathing. 😂

Some DMs that I got second-hand about 22 years ago.

I have my great great granny’s opera cloak. It’s so fragile but still so beautiful, and warm

I've got a beautiful Pronuptia eve dress that I bought just after I got married 35 years ago. I don't wear it often because it's very dressy but it looks as good today as it did when I first bought it. I also have a beautiful navy blue, single breasted blazer from the same era - I used to wear it with jeans in the style popularised by Princess Diana. I can't wear it now because the shoulder pads are too big for a contemporary look but when big shoulder pads are back in I'll be ready.

At the other end of the style scale I regularly wear a pair of Nike trackie bottoms that we bought my son for his first cricket tour 20 years ago and pair them with a blue cotton jumper bought from M&S before I met my husband. It's faded to a lovely, marled denim-y finish and I have to keep rescuing it from my daughters who 'borrow' it when they visit.

A Biba kids maxi dress my mum bought for me in the early 70s. Wish I'd had a daughter to pass it on to!