YouLookFab Forum » Topic: What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:56:40 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php dakotacheryl on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1508543 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 11:10:48 +0000 dakotacheryl 1508543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My Coach light denim blue leather backpack that I bought in the late 80's...still looks fabulous. After that, a Burberry wool tweed coat with a removable raccoon collar that I bought in Vegas 12 years ago. Love the construction and attention to detail. It had an original price that long ago of $1400 or so, and it was on sale at Nordstrom for less than $400 which was still a lot of money, but so worth it. Still looks brand new. Style Fan on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1508526 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 10:10:45 +0000 Style Fan 1508526@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My brown suede fringe jacket that I bought in high school.  I think it is circa late 1960s or early 1970s.  It occasionally gets some action. I have quite a few items in my wardrobe that are decades old.  I am very loyal.  anne on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1508513 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 07:42:40 +0000 anne 1508513@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The oldest thing worn regularly is a long sort of tee originally made of fleece that I made as a teenager - designed to be long enough to avoid a draughty back feeling. puppycat on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1508505 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 05:58:53 +0000 puppycat 1508505@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A brightly colored indian cotton fabric kimono jacket by Carole Little from the late 80s.  I wear it like a lightweight bathrobe over a tank and lounge pants on summer weekend mornings. tulle on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1508435 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 02:07:26 +0000 tulle 1508435@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ To Retailgirl:  Yes, that coat is a treasure. And I know what you mean about reading your mother's magazines;  I'm the same age, and I read them, too.  Remember "Can This Marriage Be Saved?"  Loved that!  And the ads for Maidenform bras, Blackglama mink, Mr. John hats, Bonnie Cashin, Tabu perfume--all those fascinating glimpses of grown-up female life. Anonymous on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1507864 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 03:05:04 +0000 Anonymous 1507864@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My oldest piece of clothing that is not thrifted is a long skirt and sleeveless top by Carol Little, I think from the 80's. The skirt is wrap-around so survived the weight loss purge about 5-6 years ago because I could just wrap it more. The cotton/rayon fabric is a tiny animal print in dark and lighter browns. I keep intending to shorten the skirt. The pieces together make a two piece dress. I have rarely worn these the last few years . TraceyLiz65 on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1507848 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 02:45:37 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1507848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am like Mary where weight loss means a new closet in the past five years. I will say that my oldest fashion love are pins of my mothers that I add to Necklaces. retailgirl on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1507781 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 00:18:29 +0000 retailgirl 1507781@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Tulle: that Originala coat sounds beautiful. I remember seeing ads for that brand in magazines when I was a child. ( I'm 65; have been an avid reader of ANYTHING my whole life. I started reading my mother's magazines and the daily paper as soon as I could read.) but that's a real treasure. Windchime on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1507765 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 23:39:11 +0000 Windchime 1507765@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Fun question! Mine is a bright red textured coat by Giacci, purchased in 2001 when I started a new job in a beautiful, historic downtown church and felt I needed a classy coat. I still wear it several times each year. That is by far the oldest item I have in my wardrobe. The runner up is probably my 10-year-old swimsuit, worn just a few times each summer, which I still like. tulle on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1507762 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 23:29:55 +0000 tulle 1507762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Fun question!  Actually, one of the things I've had the longest is also the oldest:  a mid-calf-length black cashmere Originala swing coat from the late 1950s.  It has a hood that folds back to a deep collar, and tapered sleeves meant to be pushed up over long gloves.  It functions for me like a fur coat in Winter--it's that luxe, glamorous, and feminine. It has one passementerie button that can be fastened for warmth, but I usually leave it open for the lovely sweep it makes over dressy clothes.  Found it in a thrift shop about 25 years ago, and have worn it sparingly every Winter since.  It cost $5.00. retailgirl on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1507739 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:55:18 +0000 retailgirl 1507739@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have three cashmere turtlenecks from 1999, Lauren by Ralph Lauren. They still look great and get lots of wear each winter. Black, gray and blush. $150 or so back then but the cost per wear must be low...except for the dry cleaning costs over the years. I wear the gray one the most. I also have a gray Austrian Tyrolean style Loden jacket with black trim and red challis lining, pewter buttons, circa 1980 that I still wear. And a Burberry raincoat, not a trench, more of a balmacan style that I wear, too. (1980's) but the oldest item is a Wrangler jean jacket that was vintage in 1970 when I inherited it from my college roommate's uncle. It's very cool and although I might wear it once a year it still looks good. Carla on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear/page/2#post-1507735 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:36:36 +0000 Carla 1507735@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lycra gear seems to last forever, even with frequent wear-so I have some items that are in the 15+ years still in rotation. A favourite vacation bikini, LBD, purple sweater, 10+ years. Some footwear, jeans, winter coat, 5+. Nebraskim on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507725 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:18:26 +0000 Nebraskim 1507725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have a couple of woolen sweaters from the mid 1980s (Benetton is one of  them.) I also have a very cool Perry Ellis charcoal gray wool overcoat from the 1980s. Very tailored and classic. Vintage doesn't really count, I think, but I have a 1955 cutaway tuxedo jacket, with tails, that I got at a vintage shop in Tokyo in 1991 that I still wear. It's sort of costumey, but it's sooooo cool with slim black pants for holiday wear. It fits great and whenever I wear it, it gets raves and compliments. Yes, it's weird but it's so totally my style. Lyn D. on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507709 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:52:26 +0000 Lyn D. 1507709@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I only just donated a wool coat that was about 30 years old this week! Other than that I still have my Wedding dress, but everything else is less than 5 years old right now. Author Linda on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507682 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:04:00 +0000 Author Linda 1507682@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I still wear a black cashmere Jedd Forrest cardigan from 1982. I don't think the brand exists anymore. It was expensive then but has survived like a champ: thick material, no pilling or fading, soft and luxurious. I wear it often in cooler weather and love it like an old friend. SandyG on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507676 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:50:45 +0000 SandyG 1507676@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My Pendleton navy turtleneck sweater (timeless, new was $20) and my Levi jeans cut-offs (new at $8) are from 1968 and still get worn. And now I must confess that those Levi's are REALLY TIGHT at present but should fit after a flurry of workouts :) I loved them back then ... love them now, too. But with this forum post they're really shiny. approprio on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507671 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:44:19 +0000 approprio 1507671@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A bias-cut viscose LBD by M&S from the late '90's. It has the look and feel of a Ghost knock-off and the material is lovely. It still makes a simple, sexy statement in the summer with a studded belt and heeled sandals. Dee on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507667 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:38:55 +0000 Dee 1507667@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't have anything older than ten years. In terms of actual clothes, I have a blue Jones New York dress that I bought to wear to an event shortly after college. It always reminds me of a flapper dress and I've held onto it because it's such an interesting silhouette. Technically, the oldest thing I have is a Coach clutch that my aunt got me as an undergrad graduation gift 10 years ago that is very classic and that I still take to weddings and events. Since I'm younger than many here, I wasn't buying quality or classic clothes a decade ago, so there's been a huge change in my style and my wardrobe since then. shedev on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507646 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:06:18 +0000 shedev 1507646@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wilsons black boxy moto jacket. I still wear it a handful of times a year. Anonymous on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507645 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:04:47 +0000 Anonymous 1507645@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have a jean jacket that is about 20 yrs old, a Gap black bomber jacket that is around 15 yrs old and Frye boots that are around 30 yrs old. Laurinda on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507632 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:41:18 +0000 Laurinda 1507632@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Just like UmmLila, scarves (they always fit!). I have a few paisley silk scarves of my Mum's from the '50s and '60s I wear sometimes. Also some of her costume jewelry, now vintage -- chain necklaces and bracelets. texstyle on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507611 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:04:44 +0000 texstyle 1507611@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That's a hard question - I have a few things - one is a silk emerald green top I've had for I suppose 15+ years and I still love it. Another is my black London Fog Trench (probably from 1990).  UmmLila (Lisa) on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507606 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 18:56:49 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1507606@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My oldest items are in my scarf collection. deb on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507600 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 18:48:35 +0000 deb 1507600@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have a few bags from the 90's. Clothing-wise, my black swing jacket which is 9 years old. anchie on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507595 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 18:39:59 +0000 anchie 1507595@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't have anything in my closet that is older than my 8 year old daughter. I gained weight during the pregnancy and my feet grew a size. I never went back to size 6 and had to redo my whole wardrobe. I did keep some of old items until maybe 4 years ago, in hope that I will loose the weight, but I eventually accepted my new size and donated everything that did not fit any more.  And if I do lose the weight, it will be fun to buy new things, right? MsMary on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507583 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 18:12:24 +0000 MsMary 1507583@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Almost everything in my closet is new within the past 5 years of so because of a big weight loss. But I do still have and wear a jeans jacket I appropriated from my first husband back in the early 80s, and also a pair of cowboy boots ca. 1983. It's funny that for many of us, our "oldest" item is a jeans jacket! Greyscale on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507578 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 18:06:03 +0000 Greyscale 1507578@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A lot of my 1990s high school and college clothing is still in my costume box (all San Franciscans my age have a huge costume box). Prom dresses, gothy velvet, long flowy skirts, fishnet tops... but none of that is anything I'd wear outside of costume occasions (which, to be fair, happen all the time here). I think aside from that, and gear, I've finally gotten rid of everything that old. Probably the oldest still in rotation is a pair of cherry red Doc Martens I bought in 2004 or so; my older Docs all bit the dust. Suzanne (ambergreen) on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507575 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 18:02:42 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1507575@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have quite a few things that I thrifted in the 90s that I still wear, and some of them were old (70s) when I got them. The black 70s leather jacket made in Uruguay with the envelope collar is probably my favorite buy ($7 from Harvard Square's Urban Outfitters basement when they included secondhand items, don't know if they still do). 1990 I think that was? Hmm...but I think the earliest purchased wearable I still have (as well as actually oldest item) might be my Victorian beaver top hat that I bought in 1980. It's really more costume wear now (as it always was), but I did wear it at a Halloween party in the last few years. If we're talking about items that were actually new, it's probably the green Banana Republic leather flight-style jacket from 1988. A close second: the patterned, marble-dyed culottes I got at Pier One around 1990 that I have not worn since those years but will totally wear now. I am so impressed with their quality and comfort 25 years later. ETA: Sneaking in a pic here from an outfit test session. Ancient rayon culottes with this-year Tencel chambray shirt from the Loft, last year's dark silver Birkis. Should work for a beach trip later this summer. (It's hard to see the colors here...culottes are pale blue with olivey-green marbling and black print.) Laura (rhubarbgirl) on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507572 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 17:58:07 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1507572@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A jean jacket from high school (20+ years now). I've also got an oversized t shirt from college that I still wear as a nightgown. I've also got a couple vintage dresses that my mom wore before I was born, but she was much smaller than me then; no way I could wear them as is. Maneera on "What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-the-oldest-thing-in-your-closet-that-you-still-wear#post-1507533 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 17:11:52 +0000 Maneera 1507533@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A pair of grey pants I've had from college. Over 10 years old. They have a bit of stretch and fit me to date. They're worn out now, but I have many happy memories attached to them. I rarely wear them now, but I like to keep them.