Do you miss any clothes you no longer have?

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

When I was in 6th form (1980!) had a cardigan from Next - when Next were only a few years old and were a good quality, slightly above average shop for thinking women's workwear. It wasn't that amazing, but it worked really well for me.

It was lambswool. Boyfriend style (except it wasn't called that then, it was just a v neck cardy then). Not too thick for summer, not too thin for winter. It was just the right shade of cornflower blue to make my eyes pop, and made me just look amazing. It was long enough to reach the top of my trousers (I have a long back, this is my holy grail in tops). Slightly oversize. Slightly oversize, but not chunky, pearl buttons. I wore it to pieces, literally.

I have tried to replace it so many times over the years. Nothing is ever quite right. Woolovers did a good blue a few years ago, but the cardigan was too short and the buttons too fiddly. Two or three other "cornflower" or "bluebell" pieces have proven to actually be drab, smokey, RAF blue. It needs to be lambswool. I'm can't wear synthetics without stinking! I'm too rough for anything delicate like merino or cashmere. (TBH, I'd settle for Shetland wool if everything else was perfect).

I do miss that cardigan.

Not clothes but shoes! I had a pair of ankle boots with a massive wedge heel from dolcis. I wore them to my Mums when I was pregnant and realised my error so wore my trainers home. After my son was born I asked for them and she had thrown them away. I was gutted.

I regularly mourn a late 1990s. Versace electric blue pencil skirt and matching jacket with full on Medusas on the zips. I have no idea where I’d wear it now, but it would make me happy to open my wardrobe and see it.

I also had an amazing Karen Millen coat from the same era- black velvet with an embroidered empire waistband and incredible faux fur collar that shed white fluff everywhere I went. Which is probably why I didn’t keep it.

I had an Ossie Clarke maxi dress in peach crepe I leant it to my sil and never got it back😕

I am reliably informed there is one on display in a different colour in the V&A.

lent

I had a beautiful black velvet dress in the 90's. It had a high neck and an open back, I loved it so much!

I had a vintage Jaeger 100% camel hair coat that I bought in an Oxfam shop for £10 in the late 90's. It was long and swingy and warm and very classy looking - totally unlike anything else I ever wear. I wore it until the collar/cuff were just too threadbear and it was looking rather sorry for itself and then got rid, but I still mourn it.

I miss the body that used to fit in the clothes I don't have any more 😢

My much older sister gave me her Katherine Hammett ‘Choose Life’ t-shirt. I hate that I wore it to bed for years before chucking it.

Italian wool, straight front, trousers from 90s M&S and worn till they wore out. A black virgin pure new wool, straight dress, again M&S mid 80s which never creased and always looked good, a Next early 80s wool dress, matching longline bell shaped jacket, wonderfully tailored, a Nicole Fahri two piece in navy wool, late 80s bought in the Liberty's sale. You can tell I miss wool tailoring and cherished items that really did wear well and always made me feel my best.

A beautiful tan real leather bomber jacket from River Island, gifted for my graduation. Took it on holiday the year after and it was nicked from a club in Ibiza! Have never found a replacement and I still miss it!!

I had a long fitted black velvet coat. I was a tiny size 8 and it looked Mary Poppins-esque, really elegant. There was only a few years in my early 20s that it fit me but I loved wearing it.

A pair of sandals that I bought in Sweden about 15 years ago. They were so comfortable and very cute. I wore them constantly until they could be worn no more. I’m still on the lookout for a similar pair, but I’ve yet to find one.

An ash blue full-length suede coat with a giant fur collar, bought in a vintage shop in Dublin around 2002. A dry cleaner ruined it about 15 years ago and I'm still cross.
Also the real silk pyjamas from Knickerbox that went missing in a house move, suspect stolen by then flatmate.
Denim pencil skirt from Topshop in early 2000s. It wore to pieces eventually but you could wear it nearly anywhere.

Some of these sound so gorgeous - I'd wear loads of them!

I've got so many missed items. It's heartbreaking when loved things wear out. I miss lots of pairs of shoes and boots that I wore to death.

So many things over the years but I fear none of them would fit me now even if I had held on to them. To list a few:

My favourite stripey cheesecloth shirt from the 70s
A colourful quilted Indian cotton jacket from the same era that I lived in during my hippy youth.
A cheap long raincoat I bought in Dublin that was really lightweight and easy to pack. I have been trying to find one similar ever since.

A classic Chanel dress that I stupidly sold a few years ago on Ebay. It no longer fitted but I miss seeing it hanging in the wardrobe!

Ah I forgot about my cheesecloth shirt! Mine tied at the waist

This is my favourite ever dress, wish I could remember the make so I could search for one on eBay. Def wasn’t Phil as I was too poor for that make! This was a knock off version from a market

Forgot to add the photo

I'm all confused now. I thought Next opened in 1982 (lots of their clothes say that year on them)? But googled and then it said 1862 or something. But also first store in uk opened 1982- but I thought it was a British brand?! Does anyone know?

Just you saying 1980 OP I thought maybe you'd got the shop wrong 😂

Flat, black unbelievably pointy shoes with a puritan like buckle on the front. Bought in Kensington market in 1985. They were the ultimate Witchy shoe. I glued and stapled those fuckers back together until they just eventually disintegrated.

I would give a lot to have those back. I've never seen shoes so pointy since.

A pink cashmere cardigan which was stolen at a wedding as soon as I first wore it, and a silver dress I had when I was 18.

Phool not phil!!!

And I’ve just remembered something else I got rid of in the 70’s which I’d wear again today - my wraparound Indian block print skirt!
I’ve just looked on eBay at similar clothes to those I wish I’d kept- they cost a lot!

My afghan coat in 1975

I wish I had a top I bought in C&A over 50 years ago. It was a really soft woven cotton smock type top in off white and pale cornflour blue. I still remember the feel of it.