Old reds and new brooch - YouLookFab Forum

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Old reds and new brooch

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I'm still trying to edit my wardrobe. The tartan shirt is the oldest item I bought myself. I bought it in 1985. The back of the collar is finally fraying after 33 years. I only wear it with this red cowl neck jumper now as I like how it sits. I will be sad to see it go after all this time.
1985 old tartan shirt, wear #unknown ( well over 30!)
2008 polo neck merino, wear 20-something?
2015 knit charcoal pant, wear # over 50.
March 2018 flat fringed booties, wear#36.
New cactus brooch from last week, wear #2.
Old jade earrings, gift from Mum so over 19 years old.
Thanks for looking.

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25 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Sisi

Veteran

It is a nice shirt - I like the buttoning - and I can understand why you have kept it for so long. Funny brooch. I have huge difficulties in letting old things go. The result is a house full of useless stuff that I "intend" to toss sooner or later ...

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think a shirt that has lasted this long in your wardrobe deserves to stay until it falls apart. I like your cactus brooch and earrings!

Sal

Veteran

I love the new brooch and the jade earrings. I really like this particular tartan too - and I agree it works well with the jumper.

Do you want to keep or pass on? I think either is fine. Is the shirt Viyella? I loved Viyella clothes;)

ChrisM

Veteran

Red is a good color for you, Jenni NZ! Such fun!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Just about to go to sleep. The label of what material it is has long worn off, Sally. It is very soft! Could be Viyella- I forget what that was. I feel I need to stop wearing it soon with the fraying inner collar edge. Maybe it can stay with other precious old fabrics for the ( probably mythical) future patchwork quilt! I so relate to what you say, Sisi! Issue is I'm supposed to be clearing the detritus of 27 years in this house to move into the new one being built behind it. And I want all shiny new stuff without getting rid of all the old beloved stuff! Somehow I have to get past this problem

jussie

Veteran

Jenni- I love this outfit on you. The shirt fabric and collar are cute and the sweater and cactus are the perfect partners for it. However I understand if you need to get rid of it due to it being bedraggled... pity.

Anonymous

Having come to know Katerina, I am now a big fan of brooches. I love the added element they bring to an ensemble. Your brooch is really fun and it goes great with this outfit.

I must have missed some posts regarding the move to a new house. Congratulations!!!!!! How exciting that must be. Moving is always an excellent opportunity to review and and edit your life. I would suggest being ruthless. I say this because in my past I moved every three years ... just due to circumstances (college, graduate school, new job, newer job, still newer job).

I made it my mission to move to each new phase of my life with as clean a slate as possible. Of course, I was in my 20's and 30's and traveled fairly light. I can say with confidence, I never regretted or missed anything that was left behind.

Fast forward to now. I have been in my current house for 18 years. The accumulation is astonishing. The amount of stuff in the kitchen alone is staggering. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to move one more time. I'm sure I would go into some type of shock.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look so wonderful in red and no wonder you kept this shirt -- the detailing is unique and it is really lovely.

Anonymous

I love the look of that shirt under the cowl neck. It looks like a scarf. The broach is fun and that red is wonderful on you.

Mainelady

Veteran

I am a fan of plaids and your red shirt is fabulous.....talk about longevity! If the shirt still makes you happy, even if beginning to fray, then keep it for a while longer. I really like seeing you in red. FUN brooch!

Carla

Veteran

Jenni, this is the second red plaid shirt you have shown us recently. (See Channel-style jacket outfit post.) How many do you own? How much is it a signiture of your style? Why don't you pull all your plaid shirts or shirts that have that 'feel' for you (red patterned button downs, maybe ?). Anything that is worn/frayed, stained, etc. Goes in the toss pile. Try on the ones you REALLY like and show them if you want opinions on FIT or opinions on KEEP. Pick the ones you LOVE and would want to wear in an outfit TOMORROW.

If you are keeping an item of clothing for sentimental reasons only, cut out a square foot of fabric to save for that memory quilt.

*This is a great outfit, however do you prefer a collection of go-together outfits, or a mix-and-match capsule? Do you want to effect a real closet purge before you move to the new house, or do you need the comfort of your past around you to facilitate the transition to the new?

JAileen

Veteran

Red is definitely a good color for you. The outfit is cute, and I love the cactus. My clothes from 33 years ago would be too small for me to wear even if I still had them.

Katerina

Veteran

The shirt looks lovely with the jumper - what a fun and cheerful combo. Love your brooch - very cute with the outfit. You look fab in the red. I would keep the shirt - so fun you have had it all those years... Special.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I have a red shirt I just realized that in spite of it’s great fit it is looking too tired so out it needs to go. I’m sad.
I like the idea of saving part of your shirt for a quilt. Is there enough material in good shape to make a scarf?

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Red is such a good colour on you and I love that cactus brooch.

Thistle

Veteran

Red is such a terrific color on you!

And that tartan shirt has earned it's place. Such unique details, and I can't imagine any garment made today lasting 30 years!

Anonymous

I agree you look great in that red and glad to see you found another way to style the tartan plaid shirt you previously showed us with that great jacket. Fab brooch too.
Enjoy your cool weather outfits because we are having oppressive heat wave here in the NE US...... not complaining btw;-)

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi all, very good eye Carla and efbgen. Actually Efbgen that was a newer shirt in the other post, from 2013. I bought it because it was the same tartan as the older one I love. But it has a less interesting collar. They're the only two I own Carla, promise! The first one is more beloved. J'Aileen, it only fits because it is a swing shape that must have had lots of swing in 1985 on my then much slimmer body!
Thanks Barbara Diane for the scarf idea, I don't wear scarves so a quilt it will be.
I prefer to dress in outfits than capsules overall. If the old tartan shirt is retired now for good service I can use my black skivvy under that jumper instead. Slightly less cute is all but the red merino cowl neck is so warm and comfy. Thanks everyone again!

Anonymous

So Jenni -- If you predominantly dress in outfits, do you hang them together in the closet or separately? If you hang them separately, how do you remember your outfits?

3style

Veteran

I like the red sweater the plaid shirt and the brooch, but I’m not clear that they make a good outfit together. I’m feeling like you’re being weighed down by heavy collar plus heavy brooch plus print on top of that. I prefer to see you in gauzy sheer colored mesh overlay and white lace overlay tops more. I think there might be a way to lighten up these pieces in different outfits. I understand that it’s winter and you want to look and feel cozy.

Not sure about the exact answer, but I think that you try copying an outfit formula or two from Jussie and/or Katerina. Both are amazing at having plenty of fabric volume and yet having it be coherent and flattering.

Anonymous

You could replicate the look of the plaid shirt with a scarf around the inside of the neck of your sweater . I’d think you’d want to retire anything fraying or really worn unless budget is an issue . With the amount of clothing you have , keeping tops with frayed collars doesn’t seem necessary . There will always be more clothes .....
Super cute summer brooch - maybe you could try it with a more summerier and desert-inspired look ?

Aida

Veteran

And to piggy back on Lisa's comment, you may even be able to save a square of fabric for a memory quilt AND take another section to fashion a square scarf out of of to wear as a faux cowl.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi to extra commenters! Lisap budget isn't an issue, I don't want to keep wearing it with fraying obvious, love and sentimentality are the issue. Aida, I don't wear scarves. 3style, that was its last gasp, to be cosy. I might try other stylings of the jumper.
Sterling, I just remember them! If you only have one outfit for a particular item it's easy to know how it is usually worn. Cheers x

3style

Veteran

I’m thinking that maybe complete outfits work better for you than for most people because you need to launder everything that gets worn to work, even if it was only for one day and had no visible stains or smells on it, account of your frequent contact with all kinds of germs? On average, my synthetic items get washed far more frequently than my woolen ones.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Not sure that's the reason, but you are right, I wash things a lot. I wear a lot of 3/4 sleeves for the reason of keeping my wrists and hands freer while examining people, so that is a practical reason as well as liking the proportions!