Have you got a cheap yet irreplaceable workhorse item of clothing?

[Apologynotaccepted]

Today I am wearing my perfect dress- I’ve had it over 26 years- and it was actually free in a donations box - I grabbed it as I needed something plain and black for a play I was in. It was vintage even 26 years ago and its literally a boat neck A lline knee length tunic. It’s a weird fabric somewhere between scuba and crimpolene. It dries in about an hour after washing. I’ve scrumpled it up in a backpack when I went interrailing years ago and I have worn it everywhere- on the beach, i wore it to a wedding once with a detachable lace collar on (it looks like a Bella Freud number when I do that) I wear it in the winter with a polo neck underneath and I must wear it at least twice a week. It’s somehow the perfect cut and weight of fabric and hasn’t aged at all- no bobbling etc

The other thing I have is a really light floppy men’s silk shirt which is paisley, it’s oversized, soft and gorgeous. It was on the pound rail outside a charity shop when I was on holiday in Cornwall about 16 years ago! Again, I have worn it everywhere and very very often

Have any of you got a similar item?

I think we might have the same trousers!

yes a fatface printed wrap fit and flare jersey dress£28 in sale about 10 years ago - gets worn every week at some point

I have a navy shirt in cotton jersey with a proper structured woven cotton collar, placket and cuffs. It's by the Shirt Company, purchased about 10 years ago. It has just the right combination of drape and structure that makes it really flattering, and like all Shirt Company stuff, has a reverse button at the chest so there's absolutely no gape or risk of wardrobe malfunction in that area.

The thing about it is that it's the perfect top for Teams calls. The dark colour gives a sharp outline, the structured collar and placket allows a deep v neck that is flattering, and it's easy to offset with a good necklace. It can take a jacket for meetings. I can always look put together on screen despite it being very relaxed and comfortable and easy to wear. It washes in destructible and only needs the collar and placket to be ironed.
I'd love to get it in other colours but the dark blue does a lot of heavy lifting.

Forgot to add, although Shirt Company stuff isn't cheap, I bought it in TKMaxx so it was for me....

A black leather, mid-thigh length coat.
It was new in a charity shop, with a tiny split in the lining - £15 c.20 years ago.

A very comfortable jacket I bought in River Island in 1989. It's green cotton with a light sheen to it, the lining is red and it has a brown corduroy collar. It is so comfortable. I've also got a lovely wool coat I bought in Amsterdam 25 years ago. It's a sort of gussied-up duffel coat and it has a large hood. I get nice comments every time I wear it.

I have a 1980's red mans cashmere button up cardigan that I bought in a junk shop for a fiver about 15 years ago. I darned up a couple of holes, but that thing is indestructable! Not a bobble, pill or snag on it all. it washes up amazingly, is thick and super soft. It puts new cashmere in the shade! Brilliant quality

I have a bright green chunky heeled leather boots that are as comfy as slippers & admired whenever I wear them. I bought them in Camden Market around 15 years ago on a weekend trip to London when my shoes were hurting my feet. They don’t have a label & I’ve never found anything as comfortable or funky. I will weep when they finally die.

Ive a pair of tan real leather knee high boots bought in a sale from Sainsburys. There was only the one pair left and was my size. They polish up beautifully and Ive had them repaired once. I think theyre about 10 years old, maybe more, and cost me £6.

I have what I call an "overtop". It is made from a bright colourful ditsy crepe georgette fabric I got from my Nans fabric stash after she died. Big & floaty & goes over everything - top & jeans, dresses, shorts, I can tie knots in it, tuck it etc

I made the top when I was 18 - so I have been wearing it consistantly for 40 years now & it still looks fantastic. I wear it at the beach or to a restaurant. It always comes with me when I travel.

I should make a note to be cremated in it!

I've been meaning to make another one (for 40 years!! 😁) but really there is no need - this one is so versitile.

Mine is also St Michael, from a charity shop. Actual slash-neck (straight across, not curving) long-sleeve top. Still amazing quality.

Retailers used to pride themselves on actual quality not that long ago. It's a race to the bottom now with the bottom line the only thing that matters.

A pair of gold Adidas hi tops that I bought from a charity shop at least a decade ago for £7

The material is some sort of plastic but it's absolutely indestructible.

I wore them to a gig the other day so they're a bit grimy but I know a wipe with a cloth and they'll look like new again.

Now and then i search vainly for a replacement as I know one day they will die.

I had a navy blue button through shirt dress just from H&M and I think I actually got it from a charity shop. Three quarter length sleeves, waist at the perfect height for me. Didn't need ironing, somehow fitted me across about 3 dress sizes, in pregnancy and breastfeeding. I'd imagine I wore it at least 150 times over about 10 years until it got holes in it. Can't quite find anything to replace it.

I’ve got two fleece jackets from Cotton Traders that I wear on rotation pretty much permanently. They are real comfort items and perfect in winter and summer!
Pockets, easy to zip on and off. I’m not giving them up EVER 🥰

It wasn’t cheap at the time, but I’ve just been wearing a ski fleece which my dh purchased for me pre-children. They’re mid twenties now.

2 of the same tops, black, long sleeved, neckline just straight across. Have worn for so many occasions, also to work, hasn’t changed shape, always makes me look like I’ve made an effort yet simple!

A long sleeved white t-shirt that I bought for £5 on the TopShop reduced rail probably around 15-20 years ago. Like many of these items mentioned, it's the fit that makes it so perfect as it's from the Tall range so is actually long enough to tuck into jeans (rare for me as I have a long body). It's a thin cotton with a low scoop neck which makes it perfect for wearing under jumpers in the winter. I must wear it at least once or twice a week during Autumn/Winter. It's going a bit holey at the seams now so won't last much longer. I've been looking for a replacement but can't find anything that fits all those criteria!

A black maxi with white polka dots from ASOS. Not expensive. A proper length maxi (I'm tall) and cut fairly straight so not wafty. It's suitable for virtually anything and washes beautifully.

A blazer that I picked up on a sales rack for a €5. Very comfortable to wear and can be worn either causal or more formal. Washes well and does not wrinkle.

I have two identical boat neck, short sleeve, knitted tank tops in light brown and grey. They're a loose knit in acrylic/nylon from Wallis about 10 years ago - not a shop or fabric I tend to choose!
They're perfect for spring and autumn when a jumper is too hot, but just a blouse is too cold!

I had a blue sleeveless tunic dresses from TU which I wore for years and years. It was just the perfect proportions for me and I should have had it copied by a dressmaker. Best £15 I ever spent.
Sadly I lost it!

An £8 coat from eBay. It’s monsoon, blue wool one. It gets compliments all the time.
im now at a point where i dont want to wear it as I’m worried it wont last.

It’s beautiful, even the dry cleaner was commenting on the quality and cut of it.

I bought a cheap-ish black evening dress from Wallis (I think) in around 1997 for an event. Likely to have been in the sale because I rarely bought/buy full price items. It has a velvet fitted bodice (sleeveless) then an A line full length skirt in polyester. Somehow it’s immensely flattering. I have worn it to numerous events, most recently in November, and both my now-adult daughters have worn it to uni events too - it gets posted up and down the country to whoever needs it at the time. I can’t check the label for the brand because I’ve just posted it to eldest this morning! It’s still in reasonable nick, although aforementioned eldest put a stiletto heel (also borrowed from me) through the hem of it while doing a ceilidh so it’s had a bit of a half-arsed sewing job done to that bit.

Mine are Regatta microfleeces. They are far warmer in winter than they look but thin enough that you can just pop them on if it gets nippy at other times of the year. I virtually live in them.

Not clothing, but I have the most perfect lipstick that I bought when I was 17. Just the perfect shade of red and I wore it for special occasions.

I have a teeny tiny bit left.

I'm 54!