what's the oldest piece of clothing in your closet... - YouLookFab Forum

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what's the oldest piece of clothing in your closet...

kkards

Veteran

a couple of weeks ago, i was switching my closet from summer to fall, and thinking some of the clothes that will always have a place in my closet, and i was wondering if others, like me hold on to sentimental pieces.

for me, i have the 1st item that i ever bought with my own money. it's yellow gauze with embroidery that i bought when i was 12. it was something my mother would never had bought for me, and i used birthday money. it was the start of my finding my own style.

i also have a great pair of riding boots that i bought in high school, they were the most expensive item i had even owned, and again, i have bought them myself. i would still wear them if i could, but alas, they are half a size to small.

what pieces have you held on to?

General

29 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Atlantia

Veteran

I was in marching band in high school, and I still have the tshirts from every year, and the sweatshirts, too. I can't bear to part with them, because it was such a happy time of my life.
But the oldest thing in my wardrobe is actually one of my sundresses. I've had it for about 15 years now, but my mother originally sewed it in home economics class in 1967. I wear it first thing in the morning when I take my dog out for her morning potty break when it is brutally hot outside. Its is navy blue with yellow elephants, has a shockingly deep plunging neckline, and is midi length. Perhaps one of her first projects?
Great idea for a thread.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Mine isn't really sentimental, it's just sort of timeless, I guess. It's a chiffon tiered black skirt from Contempo Casuals, likely late 80's or very early 90's.

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Diana

Veteran

Hmm... not counting vintage items that were gifted to me more recently (like my 80's silk dress from my mom or the 70's belt from my MIL), I have a ditsy floral blouse from (I think) early to mid 90's. I wore it in middle school and high school and it surprisingly still fits me, although I only wear it as a layering piece these days. Oddly, even though it is a lot tighter than it was in the 90's and tighter than many other shirts I own, it's one of the very few button downs that don't gape on me.

I also have a skirt that I had in the late 80's (I was around 8-10 years old I think) that my mom somehow managed to chop down and alter so it still fits me as an adult. I think it was long and quite voluminous on me as a kid and now it's knee length. No idea how she managed to do that. I haven't worn it for a while but I keep it for sentimental value. I think it's one of the first clothing items I picked out on my own. It's tiered, with a floral pattern. Funnily enough it looks kind of current especially with the color scheme (grey and yellow on white) so I might try to wear it one of these days. It's definitely more a spring/summer skirt though.

shiny

Veteran

For the longest time I held on to a pair of high-waisted black dress slacks, circa 1987; they buttoned up the side. They were pre-pregnancy pants from my early career wardrobe. I was hoping to one day get back into them, but all the exercise and dieting in the world just would not make that possible after having two babies. Well, at one point I *did* get into them (just barely), but of course they were awfully dated. Still I held on to them. But, I finally let those pants go a few years ago.

Otherwise I confess I still have several items from around circa 1998 (when I re-entered the workforce after taking 5 years off to raise babies). Though I have been slowly releasing those. I kept them "just in case" but also because there was a window of time when my own daughters could fit into them. So, for example, the classic navy blue interview suit got worn by DD2 in high school when she needed to dress up for a debate. One of my cocktail dresses from that era -- which became too short/too tight/too hoochie for me -- has been worn by DD1 once or twice before finally being released. I'm pretty sure I have a classic black cocktail dress or two still in the farthest reaches of my closet that are around that old. But formal dresses have more longevity.

Let's see.. I also have a circa-1997 brown silk button down that I'm having a difficult time letting go. It went with a houndstooth pencil skirt; I used to wear it with dark brown tights and chunky brown booties. It was one of my favorite outfits. The skirt is long gone -- although DD2 got to wear it for a year before she grew out of it. I pulled that blouse out this fall and I've been trying to find a way to wear it, to no avail. I know it has to go, but I have some serious emotional attachments to it.

There are many other pieces that I let go... but still remember fondly and vividly. I get sentimental about my clothes. In fact, I can tell you exactly what I was wearing when I met my first love in high school (Levi jeans, cowboy boots, red velour long sleeve top). And I can tell you what I was wearing when I went on my first date with DH (I only just released the black BR merino wool V-neck circa-2002 sweater; the gray Gap bootcuts were released long ago).

Lisa

Veteran

I don't have many older items in my closet. The oldest I have is a dress I wore to my bridal shower 3 years ago.

catgirl

Veteran

Ae we counting clothing only? If so it's a concert t from high school. If jewelry, I have items dating from birth, when extended family gifted precious items for my future use (and/or dowry, ha!).

Anonymous

Una 's post reminded me that I still have my baptismal dress and slip...over 65 years and counting. Of course I don't fit into it.
For a long time I had a genuine beaver coat probably from the 1920's. It fit perfectly and the drama department at college was cleaning out their costume closet. It was going to be tossed. I didn't have a warm coat so it went to football games, and more for years until it finally fell apart.

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

The oldest item I have is an antique bracelet (a couple hundred years old), then some circa 60s/70s clothes that I 'rescued' from my parents when I was in high school, most notably a corduroy blazer of my Dads. I'm pretty sure the reason I haven't jumped aboard today's 'boyfriend' fit is because I spent so much time in that then unnamed style way back when, that it feels akin to pulling on a pair of acid washed jeans.

The item I've own the longest is a suede skirt that I was given for Christmas (or my birthday) when I was either 12 or 13. I never managed to develop hips, so the skirt gets worn as frequently as any of my other clothes.

Anonymous

Colorful chocheted sweater, circa 1990, by Contempo Casuals.

Mellllls

Veteran

i also have my high school swim team shirts that i wear as lounge clothes, sleepwear and to go back and forth to the gym. some they are now all 10-15 years old...but very sentimental to me. best times of my life! i also have a fancy cocktail dress i bought when i was 18 (now 12 years old). i would consider it my first adult dress. my weight fluctuates a bit so it does still fit sometimes...but not always, ha. haven't worn it in years though but am having a hard time letting go of it. my sister has also worn it but it doesn't look the same on her as it does on me.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

My oldest item is a dress brought home from China to Norway in 1946 by my Grandmother. It is very pretty and full of sentimental value. I also have a national costume embroidered by her in the sixties. My own acquirements? There is not too much, I'm afraid. I think it must be a green dress in merino wool from 2007. No, wait, I have a black wool coat from around 2002, that must be it.

Laurinda

Veteran

That I am still wearing: two hand-knit wool sweaters from the late-'70s: a fair-isle in amber and rust with bright primary colors, and a heavy Icelandic cardigan in gray, cream, and brown. I also keep a few other sentimental/vintage pieces going back to the 1950s.

kkards

Veteran

reading thru the posts reminded me that i have a box of tee shirts from a high school youth group packed away. we used to go to regional and national conventions, and it was the custom to trade your group's T with kids from other states/countries.

i also have my dad's leather biker jacket that he bought after he got out of the service, and a suede jacket that was my grandfathers from sometime in the 50's. but those only came to me in the early 90's, after my grandmother started to clean out her house.

christieanne

Veteran

I have quite a few vintage items but one of my favorite family hand me downs is a very heavy wool sweater from Norway that belonged to my bestafar (grandfather). I wear it when it gets super cold (perfect for NW beach walks). Circa 1950?

Of items I have purchased and still wear, it would have to be jewelry.

MsMary

Veteran

I have some sentimental things packed away, most notably a pair of denim overalls I embroidered all over with colorful designs back in the mid-70s.

The oldest garment in regular rotation is a charcoal gray tee by Danskin (are they even still around any more) that probably dates from the late 70s/early 80s. It was originally a yoga outfit with matching pants, but the pants are long gone. I also have a pair of gray cowboy boots that my first husband bought me, I think before we were married. Call it 1983.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I have a 1930s black satin, cut on the bias, dress that I bought in an op shop (thrift shop) in the 1960s it cost me 20 cents.

DonnaF

Veteran

I have a Casual Corner short leather jacket c. 1979/1980 that I still wear. It fits me better than it did when I bought it, probably because DD pulled out the shoulder pads. Oh, and I still have my cut-off men's overalls c. 1968 that I used to wear as a day camp counselor. I haven't worn them in years.

JR

Veteran

Not counting vintage jewellery (none of it top quality, alas), my wedding dress is the oldest item in my closet. No, it is not in active rotation... LOL! That makes it a good 32 years old.

After that, are a couple of sweaters that are maybe 2-1/2 years old... This is highly abnormal for me, but that's what happens when your body changes shape.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I have lots of vintage items (not originally mine or family's) and some jewelry (not super fine but very sentimental) from my grandmother. I think I have a few sweaters that I've now had for 20 years. I have a lot of items that are about 10 years old and I don't think outdated (London Fog Wool coat comes to mind) I think if you purchase with purpose and your style or size does not drastically change you can have items that last longer.

Parsley

Veteran

I don't know if this counts, but a have a lace handkerchief that my grandmother carried at her wedding in 1924 as her "something old". It originally belonged to her grandmother (my great-great grandmother).

It has been used as the "something old" for my wedding and my daughter's, and I'm saving it for my other daughters' and grand daughter's weddings.

As far as things I actually wear, I have an Hermès scarf from the 1950s featuring a map of France. I don't wear it too often, but I love it.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I think it is DH's old boyscout shirt! It fits me, so I wear it on occasion. I also have his very, very worn and thin tee from Lollapalooza, back when the Red Hot Chili Peppers played it.

Nicole D

Veteran

Sad to say, other than a few high school relics, I have socks and underwear that are old enough to vote. So wrong.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I think I have some underwear from when I was in high school. LOL.

deb

Veteran

This is so much fun! I have jewelry from my grandmother. As far a clothing, I have a pair of lace gloves that I wore when I was two. WOW, that makes them 56 years old.

nancylee

Veteran

I have two pencil skirts and two v-neck cashmere sweaters from JCrew that are probably 10 years old.

I also have a DVF dress that is just over 10 years old...it's still a fashionable workhorse. In fact, I wore it just last week.

Some things really are timeless.

A.Kiernan

(website)

I think the oldest item in my closet is a dark raspberry corduroy blazer that I bought before I got married eight years ago. It's a pretty casual piece, but perfect for fall. I've been thinking of incorporating it back into my wardrobe this season. It's been an orphan for too long.

Anonymous

Oldest item of clothing: my wedding dress from 25 years ago
Oldest piece of jewelry: my high school class ring from 1979

DonnaF

Veteran

Oh! I just remembered a pair of checkered socks that are/were twinsies with a college housemate's pair so they must be at least 35 years old!

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. What a fun exercise! This is hard to say. It could be this scratchy, moth-eaten '80s teal sweater, which I did receive (new) in the '80s. It was unfathomable to me then, but now I do put it on. I suppose, to do things like water my mother's veg garden.

It must be the moth holes. It's just become very useful.