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'm loving this thread.

Camel knee length wool coat in the sale from Monsoon in 2000. Fits perfectly, warm & stylish. I wear it every winter & get comments all the time. Can be smart or with jeans & trainers, it's so versatile.

A navy, polka-dot pussy-bow blouse - short sleeved & see-throughish. I wear it with a navy spaghetti vest. Primark (that I never shop in, was in with a friend & saw it). Was £8 back before I had children- eldest is 21. It's going strong & I wear it to work loads in Summer/ spring with a navy cardi. It's very me- I wear lots of navy, love a bow neck & am fond of a spot or stripe.

Also late 90s M&S black wool mix wide leg trousers. I also have them in charcoal. I remember them being pricey at the time , £40 was a lot for a youngster, but price per wear is ridiculous. They look great for work with a blazer or shirt/ blouse, or any top in the wardrobe. I've only recently fitted back into them, & I'm so glad I kept them. They're amazing quality. I wore them to a funeral last year & someone said my trousers were a beautiful cut.

A black knee-length dress that I bought from H&M in Covent Garden on a lunch-break whim some time in 2003 (£14.99). It's got a random orangey floral print and floaty sleeves and, I realise, sounds quite hideous from my description. It fits me perfectly and washes like a dream, and seems to fit every occasion as it can be dressed up or down so easily. If my house was burning down it would probably be the one thing I'd try to rescue!

I also have one of these! Mine was free with a magazine. It's probably a health hazard at this point.

I bought a cream acrylic cardigan in a market for my 18 month daughter. It was a bit big but looked lovely on. She wore it until she was four when it was more of a shrug and eventually her little sister inherited it. It never bobbled or discoloured and any spills washed straight off.

That was over 30 years ago. I kept that cardie along with some other favourite clothes and I now have a baby granddaughter to wear them and hopefully love them as much as her mum and auntie did.

Navy blue pleated maxi skirt from Next. Got it about 5 years ago and it’s unbelievably useful. Machine washes and doesn’t need ironing- just hang it up and it dries uncreased and with the pleats still sharp.

Also a relaxed fit black velvet blazer from Hush.

Yes I've had a few over the years. Luckily I've been sewing since I was at primary school (am 60 now).
When a fave item wears out I cut it up carefully to make a pattern for a replacement. Or find its twin on vinted/ebay and cut up for pattern so I can have the same item in different colourways. (Have done several hobbs dresses this way)
Only thing is, different fabrics behave differently and the replacement will never be exactly the same (but sometimes works out better!)

Old black cashmere jumper, bought from Tescos for £40 about 10 years ago. It’s oversized, perfect shape on me, comfy, casual and goes with everything.

A denim shirt I got in a charity shop about 15 years ago. Not too thick or thin. It's been on every holiday since then, over swimming costumes, every festival. I'll be bereft when it dies!

I have several of these items, one is a quilted check shirt/jacket that belonged to a friend's dad, I've had it about 10 years and it's a go to casual layer. I have a long black dress that I bought from Asda for work around 10 years ago and it works weather I'm a size 8 or size 14, it is very simple but a soft cotton with a collar and small gold buttons, pockets and a belt. I also have my absolute go to dress which is a weird fabric kind of like flannel but it's white with a blue pattern. I wore it through pregnancies, to weddings, on holidays, it's literally the dress that can be worn for any occasion. I think it came from m and s 20 years ago.

Yep. I have a black top from Amazon of all
places. Lovely soft fabric, loose fitting but clings in the right places (boobs!) and is sort of lacy around the neck which makes it fancier than a basic black top.
I also have a satin bomber style jacket that’s a grey colour with an almost Japanese type floral pattern on the back and sleeves. I got it in the next outlet and it’s my staple spring and summer casual jacket. I love it so much.

A Miss Selfridge black mini dress, boat neck collar with a big decorative button, slightly ’60s A-line in style. I bought it at a jumble sale for ONE POUND in the year before I went to uni (so 1991 and I was 18).

My god, I lived in it for all nightclubs, gigs and posh pub nights.

I packed it away in a vacuum storage bag and thought I’d lost it, until emptying the wardrobes for building work. I was overjoyed to rediscover it! I still wear it now and I am 54 this year.

A white cotton short sleeve shrug that goes perfectly over summer dresses. Came from Gant I think, via a department store. Lasted 20+ years.

I lost it on holiday a couple of years ago, mourned and searched for ages for a replacement. Eventually found the perfect thing on Amazon to my surprise. That’ll do me another 20 years hopefully.

A khaki TU jumper. It’s been washed so many times, it almost feels like cashmere now.

My favourite item of clothing is a primark puff sleeved jumper. It must be about 15 years old. It still looks brand new. I thought I’d lost it at one point and was devastated but thankfully it turn fed up!

Mine is a grey button up cardigan from the M and S Classic range. These were clothes aimed at (imho) the more mature lady. However it is a fab cardi, is over 12 years old and is still the same shape as the I bought it. Must have been washed hundreds of times, goes straight on a hanger and is perfect.

Black long Monsoon (proper) velvet coat with pink lining which I’d guess is now over 30 years old, always gets a positive ‘ooh’ when I wear it.

I’ve got 2 identical black sheer chiffon shirts that I use over summer dresses and dare I say it came from shein - around £12 each and again a white shrug off Amazon - around £10 .

I’m so happy to read this thread! I’ve got lots of clothes that are still perfectly fine but old. I sometimes think I should get rid purely on the basis of how old they are but this has made me realise that I would mourn them!

A black velvet, three quarter sleeve cowl neck top from M&S, I wear it about once a year with different skirts and trousers for smart winter functions and it always gets compliments, its close fitting and lovely and warm as a bonus. Machine wash and hang inside out to avoid fading.

A deep pink mid thigh length mac, bought from BHS also about 25 years ago, the only problem with it is the pockets are too small for my phone and bags spoil the line of it. Also gets lots of compliments.

2 pairs of White stuff jeans that I bought from the sale rail in a charity shop. £1 each.

They are so so comfortable, soft, and such fantastic quality with just the right amount of stretch. They are vintage I imagine from the label, as that quality is just non existent nowadays.

I had the spotty primark top! Alas I put on weight and it will never for me again.

A denim jacket I bought from a Mulberry outlet shop about 23 years ago.

It wasn’t that cheap, but the cost per wear must be minuscule by now. It’s the perfect length, beautifully cut, a flattering shape and just the right shade of vintage blue.

I absolutely love it.

Knitted jacket/cardigan thing from M&S. Had it for at least 25 years. For some reason I didn't wear it for a few years but recently found it again so it's back!
More recently, a denim dress from Morrisons. It cost £10 about five years ago and looks just as good as ones I've seen for £80-100.
Navy crinkled polyester shirt dress also from Morrisons. I think it was about £15 2-3 years ago. It looks a lot more expensive on me, washes well and if tumble dried it 'crinkles' back into shape and looks brand new again. People have commented on it.

No way! That's so funny! I love that top. Fortunately mine was roomy when I bought it, and since it's loose at the bottom can be worn out or tucked in. Maybe yours could be transformed- cut off the sleeves & wear in summer?

I can’t remember how much I paid but they were from a heavily discounted outlet store and I bought them thinking I would only ever wear them at one specific event. Turquoise patent leather ballet flats. I wore them almost every day for four summers before they fell apart. Wish I’d got two pairs!