Old faithfuls

I just put on a baggy white shirt, in quite thick cotton, that I bought 20 years ago from a shop in Chatham. It comes out every year, as does the light olive green one. And I seem to remember they cost so little!

I've got a long pink cotton skirt that I have had so long that I can't remember where I bought it. I've also got a really loose blue cotton blouse that is sooooo cool (as in temperature!) I only wear them when the weather is like today but they are just right for really hot weather.

I have a dress bought at least 20+ years ago from a cheap shop. It's floaty thin cotton with no buttons or zips. It has had the stitching redone on several occasions but it still comes on holiday and people still ask me where I bought it and how much they like it.
I have tried to make copies with limited success.

My hot-weather nightie! The cotton is so thin now it's virtually see-through and I dread the day it disintegrates altogether...

I have a couple of those! I have to wear something, otherwise the mozzies eat me alive, and I do worry that one day I will pull just a load of fringing out of the washing machine.

Ancient linen trousers. I have newer ones, but those wash and don't crease, as well as looking nice.

Nighties are so much cooler than Pjs at this time of the year so yesterday I dug out my pale blue and white favourite. It's in the wash already thanks to a couple of dollops of ice cream down the front.

What's wrong with ice cream for breakfast?

I also have a posh version just in case I get run over by a bus.

In your nightie...?

You never know, Ana

Every year for our holiday I feel that I have to buy new clothes. I don't know why, as I have a lot of summer things which are perfectly nice but because they are a couple of years old I feel the need to have new ones to take on holiday. It's ridiculous. I get annoyed with myself.

I'm the opposite - I go to pack and realise I really shouldn't be wearing the swimsuit with the worn-out bottom to it that is going see-through... I love sitting on the sand at the edge of the water and being sucked in and out by the waves, but it wears out the behinds of my costumes! I could always turn them into tankini tops I suppose.

My fine cotton, lined maxi skirt that I bought for £5 in a BHS sale. Great for taking on holiday. So many colours in it that I can wear almost any top with it. Got another maxi this year from Cotton Traders. Can wear all the other colours with that.

I have several cotton tees bought from M&S years ago, really years ago,when the cotton was thicker and very soft.Am wearing a black one today with a v neck with a long floaty skirt which is so old I don't know where it came from.The thing that puzzles me is that all these old clothes fit me, how is that even possible, since I am a few sizes different to 20 years ago?Clothes must have been very generous in the past to allow me to wear a size 12

English summer is so unpredictable we don't very often have to wear "summer clothes" , so It tends to be the holiday outfits that get raided when it's hot. I have a long white linen shirt which is great with Capri pants, and a couple of maxi dresses which are lovely and floaty on a warm summers evening with a glass of wine... I have added to these this year by making a couple of chiffon dresses which are only really wearable in current temperatures! I have just had a shower and changed into one of these and very comfortable it is too ( wishing I was somewhere like Lake Garda with a glass of prosecco...)

Where to begin? There's the long linen skirt I bought in a charity shop at least 10 years ago, a bright coloured Per Una skirt I bought from ebay around 5 years ago, an assortment of vest tops that seem to have been around for ever, and a floaty blue Per Una kaftan. Although they may not count as old I do have linen trousers that are replaced as the previous pair wears out.

I'm just sitting here joining you in the Lake Garda dream suzied

My shorts - navy blue, high waist, just the right length between too short and too long. I've had them since the 80s. Other shorts have come and gone, but these are my old faithfuls.

Also, the beige linen M & S shift I'm wearing right now. At least 20 years old, fits perfectly, washes like a dream. Bought in the days before I resolved never to wear beige.

The thickish cotton navy vest top that I bought from Tesco for £3 at least ten years ago and which I am wearing now.
The navy has faded to purple now but that's ok.
I like it because the cotton's thick enough to cover up any slightly lumpy bits of bra, so I don't have to put a special t-shirt bra on.
And the shoulder bits are wide enough to cover bra straps most of the time.
It's great with jeans or shorts.

The other favourite is a pair of black court shoes I got in Fenwick's sale over 20 years ago. They're quite shiny leather, with a little gold band running round the heel, and the top is quite low cut. They have a little Cuban heel and look very dressy but are so comfortable.

The black 'party' skirt I bought in M&S sale at least twelve years ago. It has an elasticated waist so it expands and shrinks with my so-called waistline. It's made of a sort of jersey material, cut on the bias, with lace inserts above the hemline. It has outlived a good many tops!

You've just reminded me of the floaty, elasticated waist skirt I cut down years ago from a maternity dress bought for a christening in 1982. I consigned it to the charity shop bag last week. And I've just retrieved it.

I have a long M&S floaty shift dress in a cotton crinkle fabric in blues to purple. It is wonderful for the hot weather.
I just throw it on over a bra and pants. The air floats around as I walk, not posh but respectable enough.
I am sure that must be about 20 yrs old.

My cut off denims which I am wearing to-day I cut them short before they became fashionable and they come out every year without fail along with a floaty pink kaftan which I bought abroad about 20yrs ago they are my summer favourites.

I have cut off denims I've been wearing for about 10 years as long shorts and wore as flares for years before that. My evening wear is a long frock I bought 10 years ago. It was reduced from £138 to £20 and I couldn't resist it. I kept it for 'best" or holidays for a couple of years, then realised that it didn't matter if I just slob about in it given what I paid. So, that's what I do - every warm evening, it's all I wear. Love it.

Ancient navy jersey shorts-just so comfy and always pack them along with the usual smart shorts. In fact I am wearing them today-weather is so warm. Not complaining!!