Old but still plenty of life in them.

biglouis

I can remember buying a beautiful hand painted cashmere sweater which I wore and wore until it gave out under the arms and could no longer be sewed up. I loved that sweater and made it into a patchwork cushion which I still have. Ive also bought damaged Indian clothes with beautiful embroidery for a song. They get re-cycled into cushions and quilts made in the Indian crazy patchwork style.

Oooh I bet those Indian clothes are beautiful!

Oh this brought back a couple of memories from my teenage years.
Mum telling me I needed new trainers. I didn't, they were comfortable as heck and still looked OK. I went to bed every night hiding them so she couldn't take them. All different places. She eventually found them, and disposed of them much to my annoyance, and bought me new ones. Took me ages to wear them in!
Then there was the nighty. It was the only nylon item I had left (doc had told her to change to all cotton clothing for me as I had psoriasis). It was like your old grandads shirt, with long sleeves, the tail ends and little collar. I just loved it!
Sat at dinner one Saturday night and she said, "I've got something for you." Amd handed me a little bag, but you have to get rid of one thing. I handed the bag back unopened. I knew what she wanted. My comfy old nighty!
Heyyyy, it had seen me through a couple of years & was very comfortably worn in!
I ceded eventually. She had tried her best to find a similar replacement in cotton. My nylon one had been slim vertical blue and white stripes.
The new one, still the grandad style, was pink with tiny flowers on it but had cap sleeves. I wasn't a flowery kid! Lol. But I did eventually get to like that one, too, and it was best for my psoriasis!

I can remember my Mum's consternation when I grew out of my gymslip and blazer after two years at High School.
The next ones she bought had plenty of room to grow into but I didn't grow much more after that spurt!

Yesterday DDiL sent me a photo of DGD on her first and last day at secondary school. She has just done GCSEs and is off to VI Form College.

In each photo she is wearing a kilt - the same kilt. Demurely over her knees at 11, half way up her thighs at 16. She is also into vintage clothing and, as a skilled needleworker, can adapt them to her tastes.

We start them young in our family.

Calendargirl

And of course, the Princess Royal is noted for wearing stuff 25+ years old.

I bet she doesn’t give anyone else’s opinions on her fashion choices a single thought.

She was wearing a suit which must have been years old when I saw her but, of course, it would be excellent quality and she does have clothes altered.

The other thing is that she still stays very trim!

I can remember buying a beautiful hand painted cashmere sweater which I wore and wore until it gave out under the arms and could no longer be sewed up. I loved that sweater and made it into a patchwork cushion which I still have. Ive also bought damaged Indian clothes with beautiful embroidery for a song. They get re-cycled into cushions and quilts made in the Indian crazy patchwork style.

Tend to give my wardrobe a clear out summer and winter
I replace each season as necessary I wouldn't think there is anything older than around 5 years as I lost quite a bit of weight.
I tend to use the charity bags that turn up through my door but for anything in excellent condition I take to our local RSPCA shop

Calendargirl

And of course, the Princess Royal is noted for wearing stuff 25+ years old.

I bet she doesn’t give anyone else’s opinions on her fashion choices a single thought.

I was amused by the fur hat Princess Anne wore for her second wedding in Scotland. She had worn it on numerous occasions in the previous years.
Having said that, if I was a member of the RF, I would enjoy adding to my wardrobe!

My body shape has changed over the years, so even though I have managed to lose the middle age spread, my waist now looks a lot thicker as does my upper body. So clothes that I wore 10/15 years ago don’t suit me now.

Hence new wardrobe to accommodate new shape. (That’s my excuse anyway.)

I think the only key phrase is "I like".
I'd also say that even if you're fed up with something, if you have the room, put it at the back of the wardrobe - I have often found that I can re-purpose an item of clothing.

Monica, years ago we all used to set off in skirts knee length before we got to school they were minuscule, we didn’t get away with it too often,

Wear what suits you and that makes you feel good and is comfortable. I hang on to my high heels but I can’t walk in them as I look like Dick Emery doing Mandy. If I could I would. I notice a persons warmth. The only thing that is a very big no no, is a few elderly people can re wear things that need a wash, doesn’t matter if they shower every day and make up, if there’s a whiff of anything other than nice it doesn’t matter what you wear, it may look clean but does it smell fresh.

But isn't all this what we have always done? Had clothes in our wardrobes from new to decades old?

I was reminded of this yesterday when my DDiL published a photo of DGD starting at senior school 5 years ago and leaving it yesterday, GCSEs now behind her, for VI Form College.

She is wearing a school uniform kilt in both photos, well over her knees at 11, half way up her thighs in yesterday's photo and, yes, it is one and the same kilt.

Over 60 years ago, when I was 12, I can remember my DGM making me a (non school uniform) kilt. A kilt that was still part of my wardrobe when I went to university 6 years later. I had grown, but skirts had got shorter, so it was still wearable. It did not strike me as being anything unusual then - and it doesn't now.

And of course, the Princess Royal is noted for wearing stuff 25+ years old.

I bet she doesn’t give anyone else’s opinions on her fashion choices a single thought.

I have a linen type shift dress that I wore, along with matching coat, to both DD’s and DS’s weddings. DD has been married nearly 22 years.

I am going to an afternoon tea party soon and had thought I might wear it. Still looks ok on and not too dated I hope.

As someone who deals in vintage fashion (albeit accessories rather than dresses) I completely approve of recycling garments. Fabric from the 1950s and 1960s is still sound. I bought many garments from the charity shops when I was mobile and recycled them into patchwork covers and cushions. Ive got things in my wardrobe that I bought 20 years ago and still wear. I dont give a damn what anyone thinks.

I’m happy to wear things again and again. I never realised how long ago some clothes were bought until the advent of mobile phone cameras.
There I was back in 2014, wearing the lovely shirt I had on today!

Georgesgran

Callistemon21 that reminds me when I took a Burberry skirt suit to the Charity Shop (many years ago). It was tiny black and white dogtooth checks and it almost had to be prised out of my hands - think Rita Mae and the $4M cheque in Ghost! Funnily enough I never saw the suit for sale in the shop and wondered if a member of staff had taken (I hope bought) it.

Some things are remembered and you wish you'd never got rid of them!

Mostly, though, they're never missed.

So interesting reading all your varied views the consensus being just wear what you like.

If I like something and it suits me, I don’t care how many times I’m seen in it. I had a friend who never wore the same thing twice to a social occasion. I’m too lazy to be bothered with that…
I’ve just had a favourite Jeff Banks dress from 1972 cleaned by a specialist cleaner. It’s come back into fashion and I’m looking forward to wearing it again.
tanith carry on wearing the clothes you like. You can make a change with your accessories.

Apparently, they dropped the St Michael label in 2000.

I have 2 St Michael cardigans, a shirt, crop trousers, which I often wear. They must be over 20 years old.

When did it become M&S?

Today I’m wearing my favourite hot summer dress a long very faded cotton shift dress . I have just worked out it’s 25 years old . It’s very thin now in places but really can’t find one that fits so well even though it’s a shift dress . I will be very sad when it has to go .

Sadly my favourite Summer cotton tops and cropped trousers have worn so thin.
I have patched them all but the last time I pulled out the embroidered trousers and put my leg in, it went right through the cotton. They were from Bishopston Trading Company, based in Bristol who
ran and imported from a women's cooperative in Southern India.
The company closed many years ago - victim of its own success.

I definitely wear clothes again and again. I do make mistakes too and cart to Oxfam things worn just once.
I don't feel bad about it.

Callistemon21 that reminds me when I took a Burberry skirt suit to the Charity Shop (many years ago). It was tiny black and white dogtooth checks and it almost had to be prised out of my hands - think Rita Mae and the $4M cheque in Ghost! Funnily enough I never saw the suit for sale in the shop and wondered if a member of staff had taken (I hope bought) it.