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What is your oldest piece of clothing?

(65 Posts)
ninathenana Thu 16-May-13 11:15:48

I have a T-shirt which I class as house wear. Hanging it on line earlier I was shocked to realize it's. 10 years old It was bought in USA and still in good condition despite regular wear.

Should I blush

Sook Thu 16-May-13 17:38:52

Oh Grannylin an Ossie Clark wedding dress sigh. I loved his designs.

I still have my wedding dress circa 1975 and no it doesn't fit me any more. I have a Wallis blouse circa 1977 which I wear occasionally and a fair isle sweater circa 1987 hand knitted by moi. Other than that I have a large collections of scarves from 1975 to present day which I do wear (not all at once I might add) grin

whenim64 Thu 16-May-13 17:39:58

Mine, too Aka. My son recently asked about it, as he had also been christened in it 38 years ago, so wanted it for my new grandson. 3 months old and it won't fasten round his neck or fit his little arms. It makes a great heirloom, though. smile

Granny23 Thu 16-May-13 17:53:54

Our family christening robe was made for my Aunt Jean in 1910 and had its fifth outing for DG2's baby naming ceremony 3.5 years ago. The pictures of her wearing it and the matching hat now feature in DD1's leaflet advertising her Independent Ceremonies.

absent Thu 16-May-13 19:37:20

I think all my clothes are old and some of them are very old. I do very occasionally wear my "wedding dress" - a one-off designer number (1978) made from cream silk and Victorian lace if I attend some very formal occasion. (It does still fit me.) It isn't a traditional wedding dress, just a long and rather beautiful garment. However, I don't go to many of those sorts of occasions so it will probably now end up in the granddaughters' dressing-up box.

FlicketyB Thu 16-May-13 19:45:46

A big warm woolen sweater I bought in 1963 when working as a waitress in Windemere

The dress I made for my Graduation Ball in 1964, a bit on the tight side now

A Chinese style evening coat my mother bought in Hong Kong in about 1953 and which I wear over my dress on my annual visit to Glynebourne.

Brendawymms Thu 16-May-13 20:35:31

I have a raw wool Aaron sweater that was knitted in 1967 and is kept on a lead! It's never been washed as its waterproof. The pattern is for fishermen of the west of Ireland.
I also have 43 year old wedding dress, and honeymoon coat. I still have some RAF uniform that I had in 1966.

Tegan Thu 16-May-13 20:39:51

A check shirt that I bought when I was @ 17. Very retro looking now but a bit fragile and frayed round the edges [bit like it's owner sad].

Tegan Thu 16-May-13 20:41:29

Oh and my Cornish neckerchief for wearing at Padstow May Day [which I've missed again this year].

Ariadne Thu 16-May-13 21:36:38

A Burberry trench coat, inherited over 30 years ago from my lovely German step mother in law. I wore it for a while, then it was put away for a long time, then all of a sudden it was fashionable again! It is long, warm and in excellent condition, (if only I was) and it looks very smart. It did have a button in quilted lining, which got lost in our many moves. I love it.

Sook Thu 16-May-13 22:17:37

Ariadne green with envy

Joan Fri 17-May-13 07:30:56

A green tweed jacket I bought in 1979 just after my first child was born. 4 months later we moved to the sub tropics, and I wear it once or twice a year, at a winter BBQ or if I'm going somewhere early or late. It is rarely cold here during the day in winter. Actually, it is quite funny: if you are walking down the street and stray into the shadows, it is freezing, then one step into the sun, and it is warm.

PRINTMISS Fri 17-May-13 07:39:52

Everything!

LizG Fri 17-May-13 07:52:27

Sadly nothing lasts long because I keep changing size so my clothes rarely actually fit. At the moment everything is too small sad. Haven't got the space for four different wardrobes.

Sel Fri 17-May-13 08:07:36

LizG how disconcerting to keep changing size - hopefully not an overnight thing grin

I do know what you mean though - I have clothes that cover approx. four different sizes.

trisher Fri 17-May-13 10:42:36

I have a black velvet top made by my grandmother when she was in her 20s- so around 1920. It is hand sewn and fully lined. The lining is showing signs of wear but otherwise it is fine. I last wore it in the 80's with a long flowery skirt- but it is a bit tight now.

Ariadne Fri 17-May-13 10:46:49

Funny how much clothing shrinks over the years, isn't it!grin

Reddevil3 Fri 17-May-13 16:55:05

I have 4 sweatshirts I bought in 1981, constantly washed and worn. They show little sign of wear and the colours are still bright.
Do shoes count? I have a pair of black court shoes, by Ravel (are they still around?) worn them to death, and have just had their very worn and damaged heels mended yesterday by my local shoemender.
They have come up smiling! Bought them also in 1981.
(Not to go with the sweatshirts!) smile

harrigran Fri 17-May-13 18:32:32

I still have the shoes I bought for DD's christening in May 1969. I never wear a pair out and can't bear to part with them.

Supernan Fri 17-May-13 19:22:51

My liberty bodice. Say no more!!

susieb755 Fri 17-May-13 21:47:19

I have my baby nightie, and a lovely rust colour shawl that I bought in 1975

Deedaa Fri 17-May-13 22:53:24

The oldest thing I've got is a black 1920's flapper dress that I used to wear to dances when I was a student. Sadly it's about 6 sizes too small for me now! I've still got my wedding dress from 1970; very hippy from Bus Stop in Kensington. I bought it as a dress that I could wear afterwards but my husband didn't want me to.I still sometimes wear a pair of black flowery 1970's palazzo pants from Wallis and I've got a long sleeved T shirt that I bought in QS 20 years ago which just goe on and on.

petra Mon 20-May-13 11:27:06

I'm beginning to question myself after reading all this.
I think the oldest thing I have can't be more than 5 years old. I don't hoard anything. I have a policy: as something new comes in, something goes out.

dorsetpennt Mon 20-May-13 14:02:20

A quilted black embroidered jacket bought by my mother 56 years ago - also two lengths of material of the same material bought at the same time. We were living in Hong Kong at the time and my Mother bought the jacket to wear on evenings out to parties etc. There is a name for that type of material that is given to that type of cloth and I just can't remember it. I've always kept the jacket and cloth out of the sun and carefully folded - so that's why it's lasted. I also have table linen from our time there. A man used to come over from Communist China with a large cloth sack over his shoulder. He used to go from door to door selling it linen. Some of the linen is especially ornate and beautiful and is now one of our family heirlooms - I gave a table cloth to my D-I-L when they got married.
I also have an Edwardian style blouse that cost me a lot of money when I lived in New York - that must be over 30 years old. I look at it from time to time reminding myself when I was thinner.

JessM Mon 20-May-13 14:36:56

Oh deeda my wedding dress in 1970 came from Biba, just up the road! But i don't have it.

scorpio Mon 20-May-13 17:50:44

My mother's wedding dress from 1939 - but guess that doesn't count. Kaftans from the 70's which I still wear and maternity dress from 1966 which I will definitely not wear again!