Timeless classics or pensioner frumpery?

[mrmagoo]

I'm struggling with the concept of "classic" clothes. I am by no means ultra-fashionable but have nothing in my wardrobe from more than a couple of years ago, as doesn't everythng date? I notice that on the "use it up and stop buying things" thread there's a Brora dress that's being described as classic. But are knitted dresses classic? I remember having a couple in my teens when they were fashionable and then no more till they came in again a few years ago. Doesn't the same go for everything? Do you have any items bought years ago which still look current with regard to cut and colour?

There are several years - sometime between (when was it?) late 70s/early 80s? and up until now, when I wouldn't have got away with a jumper dress.

Yes, I do think there are items in my wardrobe that fit the "timeless classics" label. For example:

MaxMara black wide-leg wool evening trousers. Very stylish and beautifully cut. Have had them for 5 years and will still have them (weight permitting) in my wardrobe in 10 years time.

Hobbs black knee high, high-heeled boots. Heel neither chunky nor stilletto. Toe shape: round rather than pointed or square. Excellent quality leather. Bought 5 years ago (must have been on a "classics" shopping spree that year ). Had them re-soled for the first time this year.

I also think my collection of knitted dresses and silk tea dresses (a major weakness of mine) are also "classic", together with the 50's style dresses I wear in the summer.

It may be something of a cliche but thinking "style over fashion" means that you can pretty much get away with anything that you love, and that truly suits you, regardless of whatever item is having a "fashion moment" at that time.

What tulpe said.

I have a knitted dress from student days (how was I richer as a student than I am now?) which I still wear, and the Brora one is definitely a classic! Nice tea dresses also last, and if you wear things like black trousers, it's worth getting decent ones and looking after them (I don't, so have never bought any in my life).

Thing is, fashion does go in cycles, so there may be some items that you can't really wear for a few seasons, but then no doubt they'll be back. For example, I NEVER thought in a million years that leggings would come back. I thought they'd died a death, mid 90s. But here they are, back again. Same with shoulder pads.

But I think if you get a true classic, well made, good design, you can keep on wearing it.

I thoroughly agree.

What if you bought a 'timeless' suit at vast expense in the 80s? Would you have been sporting the giant shoulders and double-breasted jacket and on-the-knee skirt in jade green up until now?

Things subtly change - trouser shapes (peg-top, anyone?), set of sleeve, material...

Unless you can do the vintage thing well - ie you are willowy and ethereal with long tousled hair (glares down at stumpy self) old clothes are best avoided as you will look OLD.

I agree - very few things pass the timesless and classic test- I'd say a cashmere cardi or jumper if well cut, trousers possibly but they are the one thing that changes a lot- leg shape, waist height etc.

I used to buy "classic" coats- and ended up giving them to my 70 yr old mum.
I wore leggings in the mid 90s with sloppy jumpers and looking back at photos think "WTF!" and would not wear them again.

I think most classic can end up looking frumpy.

Some things can be classic and gorgeous.

I have dresses that I can really change the mood of with different boots/jewellery.

Take a plain, scoop neck cashmere jumper. Take care of it. Wear it with jeans and trainers, wear it with skirts and boots, wear it layered over long vests and with long necklaces, it will serve you well for a long, long time. The cut is classic.

Same goes for wide leg, evening trousers, its what you wear with it that will determine its era.

They key is don't wear a classic coat and classic boots and classic jewellery together. Mix....always mix.

I would personally rather buy fewer better (so generally more expensive) clothes and just wear them to death.

Things do date and its a rare item that really does stand the test of time.

I think things like a tea dress, or any flower pattern dress, anywhere outside the UK would be considered old-ladyish. (Have been living here for 15 yrs, but cannot yet accept the concept of tea dresses, neither tops with frills, jam making, or the WI ! ).

Timeless classics, imo, are:

1.) Maxmara camel coats
2.) Burberry beige macs and
3.) Chanel suits.

You could wear either of these 50 years ago, 10 years ago, or today.

I think REAL timeless classics are quite rare.

purplepeony, I wore leggings (patterned!!!) with baggy jumers and thought I looked:

sexy yet tough
feminine
cool

I looked:

frumpy
weird
peculiar

I cringe when I see those photos! Everyone bangs on about the 80s, but my fashion disaster era was most def the 90s.

I would say:

Plain deep coloured v neck or scoop neck jumpers in cotton, cashmere or silk, or a mixture of the above - especially in grey or black.

Fitted cardigans with a v neck and tiny buttons in good fabric and classic colours.

Straight, above the knee denim skirt. Ditto a black skirt in a similar shape (if I could actually find one).

Silk camisoles and those jersey camisoles with a bit of lace at the neck.

Belted, just above the knee mac with no fussy details.

Wide legged trousers in black, grey, tweedy stuff etc.

Long sleeved scoop neck good quality t-shirts.

Knee high, narrow legged, flat or slightly heeled boots in black and brown.

Dark, straight legged jeans (ditto:if I could find any).

Also those French-style stripey tops and jumpers, if they suit you.

And a classic black or grey blazer, with slightly nipped in waist.

Chandon- did you have any Laura Ashley leggings- I did
They looked like a chintz sofa, and I wore with a jumper almost down to my knees.

I just wonder what I wear nowadays that I will at in 10 years time?

I was always very grateful for the 'baggy jumpers over leggings' look, as it coincided with me being pregnant. (And it was actually early/mid 90s, not the 80s!)

purplepeony - thanks for reminding me about Laura Ashley leggings! I had managed to push that particular memory to the dark recesses of my mind! Worn with a huge mans M&S cardy!(nowadays called a boyfriend cardy!)

Now Janeite's list I can see is clearly getting there. But interestingly, items such as long sleeved scoop-necked tees and dark jeans I find never hang around long enough to become years-old classics as they are so frequently worn and replaced. And I put it to you that the dark jeans bought 5 years ago would naturally have been boot-cut and now would be straight-legged, ie that one nstinctively replaces clothes in the latest style. I have found that even a staple such as the long-sleeved tees I am buying these days are a longer length to suit current sensibilities.

Little cardis are about the only thing I have a number of going back 4 years or so. And it does seem to me that even when vintage items come back into style they do so with a modern take and the real thing is too full on and can look positively fancy-dress-like, as Gramercy points out with her jade-green suit example.

my leggings were light grey with large pink roses...!!!! .

Used to wear them with oversized navy man´s jumper and blue lace up shoes with pink laces (to match the roses)...

I did wonder why I never had any success with men...

Maybe we should start a topis on clothes that never were a classic in the making to start with.

I also used to wear tiny mini skirts with huge jumpers that were longer than the skirts! Those were the days...

My leggings were blue/grey with pink roses/floral and I also had another pair that were more yellow and pink floral- both worn with fetching T shirts or plain jumpers.

Yes, it was early 90s.

My other fashion disaster circa 1986 was a tartan belted shirt-style dress from M&S- mainly red with a black bow tie round the neck ( thanks Princess Di- man's look) and complete with shoulder pads.

I have no vintage classic anything- I hope my cashmere cardis and sweaters will become timeless if they last that long.

I used to have French Connection navy blue straight/skinny legged cords- circa 1977- which would be great now.