What have you owned the longest / shortest? - YouLookFab Forum

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What have you owned the longest / shortest?

ironkurtin

Veteran

Alrighty, here's me.

The things I have owned the longest are two incredible ball gowns given to me by a lovely older woman who designed them back in the 50s/60s. Her "maid" sewed them from her patterns, she claimed. One is a golden brocade with a separate full-length cape-like jacket. The other is two layers of sheer black lace. As you can imagine, I have little to no occasion to wear these things, but I keep them in my closet just in case. Other items have come and gone (or I would include the shorts, once jeans, I owned when I was 13 and have just now been trashed for giant hole in crotch alas), but I still have those dresses.

The item I owned for the shortest period of time was something sent to me by my slightly dotty grandmother. She asked my sister and me what we wanted for our birthdays; my father encouraged us to ask her for something of hers that had sentimental value. Perhaps the message got lost in transit, but I received an unwashed beige polyester blouse. My sister received a pair of used cold-cream gloves. I kept the blouse for the 15 minutes it took to confirm with Dad that it was OK to throw it out. Pretty sure my sister didn't even wait that long.

You?

35 replies

Latest reply was from Alassë

AviaMariah

Veteran

The story about your grandmother is hysterical and hopefully you can wear those ball gowns some day. I do have a dress that my grandmother wore, I think for her second engagement (she was in her 40's). It's a sheath dress that is shear in the shoulders. Actually something I could probably wear if I had it altered. Thanks for reminding me of it! I can't think of anything specific for the shortest but I have had those items that I took the tags off, wore and then immediately put them in the donate pile for some reason or another.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, we know you will look gorgeous at the YLF ball, whichever gown you choose.

So will I. My oldest (and longest kept) item is my first wedding dress. Which was, in its time, my mother's first (and only) wedding dress.

She had saved it on purpose for her daughter to wear. I was the only daughter. By a lucky fluke, I actually liked it, and it more or less fit, with just some minor adjustment. Plus, even though there was plenty of pressure on me to wear it, I was happier to wear it than I would have been to buy something else. In fact, I still like it. It's floor length. There's no actual train, but there's a bit of a sweep at the back. It's satin -- by the time I wore it, ivory. It has a fitted bodice, a graceful skirt, a mandarin collar, about a million self-buttons up the front, and long sleeves with points on the hands, medieval style. And that's it. No lace, no detailing other than the buttons. That's what I loved and love most about it still. As wedding gowns go, it's pretty minimal.

My shortest owned item was probably the orange pants I just bought from Banana Republic. Wore them once for trying on and decided...no. Not me. Off to Mary K.

Gaylene

Veteran

A black beaded evening clutch that I bought in the late sixties when I started university.

At that time, there were at least five formal "balls" that were held on campus every year, complete with long gloves, receiving lines, dance cards, and formal presentations to the university chancellor and his wife. I think the purpose was to help us learn the social skills we would need as university woman when we took our place in society. My first year required three ball gowns (it was permissible to repeat a dress twice because we were impoverished students--although swapping was encouraged if funds were tight.)

Kind of quaint now, but I still can navigate a formal, Downton Abbey place setting without hesitation and know exactly how far to dip when curtsying.

Diana

Veteran

I have a skirt that my mom bought for me when I was maybe 10 or so (circa 1990). At some point my mom altered it by taking out the waistband, with the result that it actually still fits me and is knee length (!). I admit I can't remember how long it was when I was 10 but it must have been at least a midi! I don't wear it very often but it's fun every once in a while.

As for shortest... well, I've definitely bought and returned something the same day. Does that count?

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Anonymous

I think my longest is a skirt/blouse and dress I bought through my mum's antique store. A woman in town (who was in her 80s at the time I bought the clothes) had gone on several trips around the world and had outfits made for her at each place. She had moved into a home, and was consigning the clothes.

The dress is made from a cobalt, gold and cerise sari, and the blouse was gauze with the skirt done in crewel work in rust, cream, and moss green. She was just about the same size as me, jut a tiny bit smaller in the waist, bigger in the bust and about an inch taller.

I wish I had had more money to buy some of the other outfits. They were really spectacular. But I was 13 years old, and my allowance only stretched so far!

I should haul them out and take photos!

JAileen

Veteran

I have a sweater I knit when I was in high school in the early 70s:

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rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. My brain doesn't bother with time or dates much. But my christening gown is around somewhere still. I have my prom dress. A straw Madeleine-like hat I wore in high school.

I'm trying to think of something that wasn't essentially a return, but something I owned for a short amount of time. I can't think of anything that scarring. I mean, I've bought things and not worn them much, but something I just had to get out of the house...

Oh, wait! Yes. There IS something. A really hideous, bulbous, silver heart necklace that a guy gave me. Consigned that right away. Haha. Hilariously, years later, my best friend was given some equally, agonisingly ugly silver heart necklace by some guy. We have a thing now about the dreaded silver heart necklace...

Helena

Veteran

What a fun topic!

Longest - my baby nightie which is now my daughter's dolly's nightie

Shortest - my Gap order which hasn't arrived yet so technically I've had it for a negative amount of time

ladell

Longest owned garment. Gorgeous suede and leather jacket and skirt worn in the late 80's. I will forever hold onto them. Hoping my daughter will someday wear them for 80's day!! Another is a full length (called maxi now), cobalt blue cowl neck sweater dress for the early 90's out of a very soft but substantial knit. I am a frequent returner.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

A David Bowie concert tee from 1978. I think that's my oldest piece. And I still have some 90s things packed away in plastic totes -- must investigate.

I think the shortest period of time was 6 weeks. That's really fast for me, I tend to mull things over, try to make my mistakes work, for a long time. I'm proud that it only took me 6 weeks to sell my Rag & Bone boots on eBay this time, big improvement. I usually wait 12 to 16 months to admit my mistakes.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I don't know if this counts, because it's not exactly "fashion". I have 2 pair of black nylon running shorts that I've had for close to 20 years. They are indestructible - I wear them both at least once a week and put them through the washer and dryer, no special handling. They never fade, shrink, get thin in spots, the elastic doesn't wear out. I think they were on the clearance rack for under $10. I wish I had scooped up a couple more pair. I've had a carved black jade elephant pendant since I was around 10 years old (so 35 plus years). It was a gift from my Mom's foster family and is pretty impressively crafted in three dimensional detail.

I know I've worn at least a couple things just once or twice and immediately donated them. Most likely cheap summer tops.

Glory

Veteran

Oh my I am shaking with laughter about the unwashed poly blouse. Will chime back in when I recover from the visual (and sensory)

Glory

Veteran

Longest item: wedding dress which is actually a skirt and blouse thingy.
Shortest Item: red/creme stripe knit top. Bought it, brought it home, put it on, looked in the mirror and asked "Where the heck is Waldo"? I took it off, and it went to donation. So maybe 5 minutes.

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hissylizard

I still have some juniors knit tees from high school. I'm 30. It's amazing how they have lasted this long. I feel like lately, even "nice" clothes are poorly made. But my trendy stuff from the late 90's / early 2000's is going strong. Sadly, most of the pants I wore in high school do not fit...except for a couple of pairs of shorts.

Shortest item of clothes I owned...speaking of grandmothers, some of the clothes items she buys are just not my style and don't fit my body type well. I have to exchange a lot of what she gives. Also, she tends to ask store clerks who are 50+ what "might look good on a young lady" rather than asking...well...a young lady. She finally figured it out and mostly sends accessories, which are more classic.

carter

Veteran

Longest: my LBD that I've had and worn for 25 years

Shortest: everything I bought at BR yesterday! All early Spring stuff: 2 cropped pants, 2 lightweight sweaters, 2 l/s jersey knit tops, 1 long sleeve tee.

retailgirl

Veteran

I have a Shetland cable crew neck sweater that I bought for my husband as a gift in the 1970s. He was slimmer then and things were worn more form fitting. So it's too small for him, but just right for me. Silvery gray heather, brand name Robert Scott if anyone remembers that name. Probably cost about $25 then, and that was a lot for me, making $1.90 an hour! My newest thing, which I haven't even received yet, is an emerald green blazer I ordered from talbots last week. Looked great in the picture, hope I like it!

donnat

Veteran

My Wedding dress, and I have some hand knit sweaters from the early 80s , I think I still have a floor length skirt circa 1972, from church choir. I kept it for my daughter.... Why? The shortest is when I buy something my DD wants.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Like Suz, my Wedding dress is my oldest piece.
Apart from that I have a long-sleeved linen sweater that is about 10yrs old and still gets worn, and a woollen over-coat around the same age.
Shortest? A pair of black jeans bought last week that is ready to be returned when I get the chance. I have ordered a lovely lightweight crop wool pant in pinstripe navy for similar $ that I hope will work better for the coming cooler weather.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

As a Christmas present a couple of years ago, I received a set of Men's XXXL tee-shirts from my in-laws, with a note that said 'I hope you can squeeze into these' Yeah, I 'get it, I'm fat, BIG NEWS' Against my wishes, DH called them to bitch, the next year I received a child size small tee-shirt Nothing since, which is totally fine with me! Both went into donation bags within minutes

rachylou

Veteran

Omg, biscuitsmom. Lol. Sorry. Your in-laws are so awful I had to laugh. I work with this girl who's MIL calls her up and tells her she must come to dinner, bring her boys. And when she gets there, there'll be a place setting for everyone but her. She only gets to watch other people eat. It's so bad, it's funny and we laugh.

That reminds me. Another bf gift that bit the dust quickly: Some giganto plaid flannel shorts. I'm sure it was just me. I just din't understand what a person does with giganto plaid flannel shorts... dry the dog off when it rains? I don't know. Very strange. He's found me some great trousers and blingy sweatshirts. The shorts were very bizarre...

JAileen

Veteran

Biscuitsmom, I am really sorry your in laws are so nasty.

Style Fan

Veteran

I hope you get to wear your ball gowns. I bought a brown suede fringe jacket in 1969. That was the year that I started high school and I felt very hip. I loved that jacket and I still have it. I can sort of get into it. Two years ago my husband and I went to visit my brother for the weekend and it happened to be my birthday. We went shopping and wandered into a consignment store. There was a brown suede fringe jacket! I tried it on and it fit me perfectly. My brother remembered my original jacket and bought the "new" to me one for my birthday. Now I have 2 brown suede fringe jackets.

I probably bought something and came home with it, regretted it and put it in the donation box. I don't remember exactly what piece or pieces. I know I have done it.

shiny

Veteran

Shortest -- 90% of the clothes I order online. Sigh.

I had to wrack my brain on the Longest, as I am very good at culling and churning because we just don't have a lot of space to store stuff, even sentimental items. In fact just this weekend I culled two cocktail dresses, both circa 1997. Both are too short and too tight. I saved both for my daughters, but neither one can fit in them now, and even if I still could, I wouldn't, so off they go....

Longest AND oldest --

1. Embroidered kid gloves my great grandmother used to wear. They fit my hands perfectly. But have seen better days and I wouldn't wear them. I do keep them in a glass display box. Which is in storage.

2. A hair thingie... LOL.. I don't know what this is called -- if anyone does, let me know! Also from my great grandmother. Women would clean the hair out of their brushes, and tuck it into this container. Then when it got full, they pulled out the wad of hair, which would be compacted into a ball, and use the ball to make beehives. I have had it since I was 13. I once experimented to see how much hair it would take. Then later just used it to hold small things.

deb

Veteran

I think we do need a YLF ball and we can dance with each other. I could not think of anything that I have had for a long time but just as I was about to post that I remember my Easter gloves from when I was 2. The newest item? Do socks count?

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krishnidoux

Veteran

IK, your grandma story just had me laughing so hard! You tell it so well too!

What pleasure to read everybody's longest owned item.
JAileen, I am impressed by your talent, at such an early age! I would keep it forever too.

Biscuitsmom, what horrid in-laws. We say in French "ils ne savent pas vivre" (They don't know how to live) meaning they have no manners or even clue of any sort! It has got to be mean on their part but your reaction is the perfect one.

My shortest item: probably a pair of shoes I returned the same day - shopping at the mall, before I even walked out.

Longest owned: actually, a pair of super comfy, warm running sweats from Valhalla Pure. Actually I was just putting them on the other night (I now sleep with them in winter) when it occurred to me that I had bought them one year before my son was born, so I've had them 18 years! I am amazed that they still hold together, actually they don't even look that beat down.

rabbit

Veteran

Longest owned, a dark heather gray cotton tee shirt of my fathers. It's always been over-sized on me, but I've worn in as sleepwear/casual-wear since age 13 or so and the color has never faded and the fabric is thinner but no pills or visible wear. I think the very edges of the sleeves are ragged now or I'd wear it around outside.

Least longest that actually made it home with me? Attempting to buy new packaged tights at Sears. The first pair (in my size) only came up to my knees -- REALLY defective. The second pair and third had visible dye streaks. All were different neutral colors and brands, and I would have given up except they were on a gift card so I had to do an exchange thing.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

The oldest thing that I still wear is a silk Rebecca Taylor skirt - from what was one of her first collections. The oldest thing that I don't wear - probably a dress that was my mother's when she was a bridesmaid in her teens. It's yellow with an overlay of daisy-patterned lace. I also have a black dress from the same era that I bought at a vintage shop in college. It's black crepe with thick black velvet sides.

Shortest thing - a thin hoodie from Old Navy - I had thought I could layer it and make it look cool, but it was really way too casual and cheap for me. I don't think I ever actually wore it out of the house before donating it...but it only cost $10.

Runcarla

Veteran

Oldest...a black cocktail dress my mom wore in the 60's. Black velvet bust and spaghetti straps, rows of fringe from below the bust to knee. Has a flapper feel to it. I wore it in my 20's but now can only zip it up to mid back. I'm too broad across the back/shoulders now.

Like Linda, some of my Lycra sports gear is ancient.

Shortest...do nylon stockings count? Should I even admit I wear them?

Laurinda

Veteran

This is an interesting thread to think about. I have my mum's silk scarves and costume jewelry, dating back to the '50s. From my own wear I have a single knit baby bootie.

When my dad was in declining health I would purchase and bring out possible clothing items while he waited in the car. I would return or exchange what he did not want without ever leaving the parking lot, so I'd say some purchases only lasted 5 minutes.

@ Biscuitsmom, it is so sad that people can be so mean spirited. I pity them.

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