clothes from the last century - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

clothes from the last century

MuseumGal

Veteran

So the great purge has revealed a surprising number of really old clothes and shoes. I have a zip sweatshirt from my college days (late 80s), and several pair of shoes from the 90s. Most of the shoes went straight into the trash can (they were worn beyond repair), but I still have a pair of black lace up boots in really good condition that I wore yesterday, and a pair of white Docs that I wore when I was a nurse that I might be able to sell. I also have a couple gearish type fleece coats and pullovers from the 90s, which I still wear occasionally for outdoor stuff, and they don't look too dated or worn. I also have some souvenir types clothes (like a prom dress) that I'm not counting because I never intend to wear them again (even if I could fit back into them).

Don't worry, I purged most of that stuff, but I'm keeping and will wear a few items. (I tell myself that) I can get away with the 90s things because my boho
style favors the 70s and 90s looks, and also those styles are somewhat ...
clunkier? more susbstantive? than today's form fitting styles, and
that also suits my clunkier/more substantive body type.

Anybody else still rocking clothes or shoes (of their own, not bought as vintage) from the last century?

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Catnip

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have a couple. A Contempo Casuals skirt and my oxblood Docs first come to mind. Both have been worn in the last year or two, but only once. They rarely come out anymore.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Ha - I posted my 90s-era coat on Tuesday's picture challenge, which I think is the only item I still own from my high school days. Wait, that's not true... hmm, I'm not sure. I do have a couple pairs of steel-toed workboots that might be from late high school or college, I can't recall. I never wear them, but they're perfectly good, and you never know when you might need some steel-toed workboots, right? I also have a couple t-shirts which I have kept for sentimental reasons, but only wear them in the house / for things like dyeing my hair or cleaning.

carter

Veteran

My LBD is 25 years old. Have yet to find one I like better. Also, still have a pair of jeans from highschool (70s) that I can't quite sit in, but I can't throw them away. My black cashmere overcoat is from the 90s. Other than a couple band tees and sweatshirts from the 70s and 80s, I think that's about it.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I have a pair of Frye boots from the 90s - they're still being made now though. Also some things of my mom's, but those are souvenirs.

Gaylene

Veteran

I just started using two of my Coach bags again. Both were bought in the late 80s but look identical to these on the Coach website, except my bag is a deep hunter green instead of red. I use the green one, sans strap, as my clutch.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Alassë

Veteran

Not old enough - oh, wait, I lie. There's a kids' hoodie that fits in my maternity gear capsule, and a kids' heavy winter coat that goes in the bitter cold & maternity winter coat capsules.

E

Veteran

My middle school years were *not* a fashionable time, lol, so the only thing I have from the previous century are my knee high cream wool Scottish socks! In fact, I don't even have anything from high school or college, except for outerwear, because I hadn't sorted out my style yet. Earliest non-outerwear is 2008 I think. Thank goodness my college self bought a sensible basic navy blue wool coat that still works all these years later.

AnnieMouse

Veteran

Yep! ^__^

In fact, I still have and wear all three pairs of my Docs from the 90s. I wore my senior prom gown to a gala earlier this year (it was a flapper-style fringe minidress), and another of my prom dresses (much more dated) has been turned into an outfit I wear at Burning Man I also have an wear a Mickey Mouse heather grey t-shirt my Mama bought when we went to Disney World when I was 6.

I just recently (finally) fave up the ghost on my favourite black suede Vision Street Wear high tops.

rachylou

Veteran

Well, my grandma's coat. And all my Marc Jacobs is close to turn of the century.

Thistle

Veteran

Docs from the early 90s. Still have 'em! Still is great shape.

K. Period.

Veteran

Totally! I'm wearing my personal retro pointy toe booties from the '90s every weekend right now. I want to get them worn out before the trend is over. I've also got a pair of Docs from the late '90s waiting for more wear (they are very very round toed, so I'm holding them for right now). And my Coach purses, oh how I love those Coach purses. Such great quality. Plus a vintage wicker handbag of my mom's that I claimed about 15 years ago. Yeah. I got that covered.

shedev

Veteran

Harley boots and Wilsons leather coat. Wear each every once in a while.

dustt

Veteran

ummm - I have quite a few.....
Burberry Trench - 1983
Barbour Bedale - 1979
RL - oxford shirts (several)
RL - cable crew necks (several)
Black/White Herringbone wool dress coat
many cashmere turtlenecks

some years the oldies get tons of wear - some years not so much - but I do love them and try to take good care of them all - I can't say that they are in any danger of leaving soon. I think they are all pretty neutral pieces that are really adaptable to changing styles.
I'm noticing there are no pants or skirts in the bunch.... hmmmm

DonnaF

Veteran

I just started to use my black Coach bag like Gaylene's #1. It had been out of circulation for years. I have a smaller one too, but the proportions aren't working as well for some reason. My Casual Corner leather jacket is from the late '70s but I haven't worn it yet this season to the best of my memory. I think my jeans jacket is from the '80s or '90s but the proportions are a bit masculine so if I don't wear it in the next year it's outta here. I should really get rid of some old socks from the '70s and '80s. . .

anne

Veteran

I have a dress I wear all the time (the grey sheath with the armani neckline) and a red cardigan that used to be part of a twin set

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I have a few things kicking around, although most of them don't really fit and I need to get up the gumption to purge them. I'm also keeping my leather 80s motorcycle jacket (sadly a bit too snug but I'm hoping that someday I'll be able to fit into it again) and a jersey cardigan that is beyond wearing but is the perfect layering piece. One of these days I will try to make a pattern from it.

I still wear my Docs (circa 1995) on an occasional basis, and I have a
few cardigans that must be 15 years old but are made from some kind of
indestructible yet soft material. I also have a tan leather satchel that I bought as a souvenir of Mexico as an undergraduate that occasionally comes out, and a few odds and ends of jewellery (mainly big dangly earrings that I bought when I first discovered cheap sterling silver from India).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I still wear a Scottish cashmere sweater that my husband bought (for himself) in the early 70s. It is in pristine condition. The only reason I don't wear it even more often is that it is so warm I can really only tolerate it on our coldest days!

Emily

Veteran

I have a couple of formal dresses from highschool that I bought at a consignment store and were likely originally purchased in the 90s. And a couple of souvenir tees. Nothing else would fit even if I had kept it. Thanks, Puberty!

Dee

Veteran

I'm impressed that so many people have such long-standing items! I think all I have left are a few long sleeve tees from high school that are now in the pajamas/loungewear category. But I've moved quite a bit and changed sizes, so I didn't have much impetus to keep things.

Kbfenner

An oversized cashmere alpaca overcoat I bought at Loden Frey in Munich in the early 90s. I seldom wear an overcoat down here in South Carolina, and although the style is rather early Elaine Benes from Seinfeld, I think it's striking....it has animal horn shaped buttons....

Jules

Veteran

A $1 t shirt bought in Cambodia with an intricate design from Angkor Wat. I never really wore it out of the house but can't/won't part with it.
A $100+ mixed media turtleneck sweater (huge splurge for me at the time) with sheer black sleeves and upper body, purchased in Aix en Provence. Last winter I actually wore & enjoyed it for the first time in over a decade. It's sexy yet warm, not a common combo!
Interestingly these are probably my cheapest and most expensive souvenirs from my traveling youth and obviously have sentimental value. I've also held onto the tiny, crazy multicolour mixed media shirt I was wearing the night I got together with my DH, it must have been in style and my size for 5 minutes - I thought it would be fun to show my kids someday.
I *wish* I still had my oxblood docs!

JAileen

Veteran

I have several sweaters I knit that are from the 90s and even one that is from the 70s (I knit it in high school!).

I have several Coach purses from the 80s and 90s. They are very classic styles and I use them from time to time.

I also have a down vest from the 70s, but my twenty something son wears it now!

Catnip

Veteran

Well, yes, but not much. I have a handbag, several fabulous Hermes scarves I bought in France, and some jewelry. But I don't have any clothes because, thankfully, I've lost weight.