What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear? - 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

What's the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear?

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Aside from vintage items that are new-to-you, what is the oldest thing you have that you still wear?

I just pulled out a jean jacket that I wear on occasion that I've probably had for at least 20 years. It was originally jet black but despite attempts to re-dye it, it is very much charcoal grey at this point. But it's not frayed or worn anywhere so I do wear it occasionally.

How about you?

Dressing

41 replies

Latest reply was from dakotacheryl

Alassë

Veteran

An 11-year-old skirt, a flowered maxi. It works for dressy and casual, and I still love the print.

donnat

Veteran

I have a couple of sweaters from the mid 80's that I wear on occasion.

donnat

Veteran

Oh and a couple of concert tee shirts , circa 1982

Diana

Veteran

This red skirt is from when I was in college, ca. 2000. I don't wear it too often anymore but still pull it out every once in a while.

I also have the tiered floral skirt which is from ca. 1990 (when I was ten, obviously it has been altered significantly since then!) but the last time I wore it was over 2 years ago, as evidenced by the long hair in the pic.

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.

Anonymous

I think the cardigan I'm wearing today is about 10 years old, though it hasn't always been worn every year.

Anonymous

A jean jacket I bought on clearance for $10 about 6 years ago. I have worn it so much that the CPW must be down to zero by now. It's shaped like a blazer and goes with almost anything.

Summer

Veteran

An Indian-style maxi dress that I've had forever (probably dates from the 90s!). It only comes out to play when I go on holiday, but I can't bear to part with it. The deep sea-blue and turquoise colours in the dress just shout "balmy holiday evenings" to me.

Astrid

Veteran

I think my oldest item (not including accessories) that I regularly wear is a pair of H&M denim shorts for boys that I've had around 10 years. They have beend dyed and hemmed in the meantime.

Tania

Veteran

Jean jacket from 1986, when I was 11/12! I had the sleeves altered to fit more slimly.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh shoot, I go back to the 80s. But I did finally toss some shoes from high school last week, even tho they were perfect for 20s style looks. Enough is enough right?

Helena

Veteran

A black cami circa 1992, which JUST gave up the ghost last week, and my university hoodie circa 1998 Can think of a few things that have come back around and I wish I kept though!!

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

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.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

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.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

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.)

This post has 1 photo. 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.

Greyscale

Veteran

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.

MsMary

Veteran

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!

anchie

Veteran

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?

deb

Veteran

I have a few bags from the 90's. Clothing-wise, my black swing jacket which is 9 years old.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

My oldest items are in my scarf collection.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

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).

Laurinda

Veteran

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.

Anonymous

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.

shedev

Veteran

Wilsons black boxy moto jacket. I still wear it a handful of times a year.

Dee

Veteran

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.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

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.

SandyG

Veteran

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.

Author Linda

Veteran

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.

Lyn D.

Veteran

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.

Nebraskim

Veteran

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.

12