Did you have a favourite outfit?

During the past year I have started making my own clothes, something I did as a teenager, in fact I still have some of my paper patterns from those times. Unfortunately they no longer fit me! In the past year I have made dresses, trousers and tops. It is so easy to buy both patterns and fabric on-line. Unfortunately, there is still the chance you won't like them after you have made them!

Oh yes. I have a black stretch velvet column dress. Full length and strapless with sparkles round the top. The reason I like it is it means I’m going somewhere very special. I’ve worn it about twice ???. Ah well. Little dreams.

I have a black fitted 'coat dress' that I bought years and years ago from a secondhand designer clothes shop. It's fully lined, has long sleeves, buttons all the way up the front and has vertical 'stripes' of black sequins all round it. Just above the knee length. (You can tell I love it just because I have to describe it ). It took me to loads of parties.

When I got a bit too big for it it was worn as an evening coat over silk camisole and leggings or velvet trousers.

I have no use for it now, but I love it so much I couldn't bear to part with it.

I have a lovely black lace dress I bought for a club dinner with OH I bought matching bag and shoes, it fits so nicely. Sadly OH was taken ill and we didn’t go, I’ve never worn the outfit to this day but I try it on occasionally. ?

I remember a pair of boots I had in my teens, I wore them until the local cobbler told me they were beyond repair, and even then I put cardboard in the soles and wore them some more!

Now I have a Nancy Mac velvet coat which I love - it hasn't seen the light of day this last year of course, and probably no longer fits but I do love it.

MaizieD

I have a black fitted 'coat dress' that I bought years and years ago from a secondhand designer clothes shop. It's fully lined, has long sleeves, buttons all the way up the front and has vertical 'stripes' of black sequins all round it. Just above the knee length. (You can tell I love it just because I have to describe it ). It took me to loads of parties.

When I got a bit too big for it it was worn as an evening coat over silk camisole and leggings or velvet trousers.

I have no use for it now, but I love it so much I couldn't bear to part with it.

Sounds fabulous. Reminded me I also have a silver/grey brocade opera coat. That’s a special occasion one too. I love coat dresses though.

A Jasper Conran black leather jacket, gets worn with dresses, jeans, etc. It’s so beautifully soft, has a red silk lining and is around 20 years old. I’m not going out anywhere at the moment though.

Our Community arts group had an exhibition years ago called Memorable Clothes where we were invited to bring along an item of clothing or an outfit that we had kept and to say why.
It was incredibly popular and many who came said they had things at home so we held another one a year or so later.
There were was plenty of wedding dresses, unsurprisingly, but also guide uniforms, children's' clothes and home made dresses. I had kept all the sweaters I had knitted for my DS with their unique designs.

There was a Jean Muir original and a photo of the lady in it; A silk wedding dress dating from 1860, made in Paris which had to be handled with care.

My job was to make a sound track using songs referring to clothes such as These Boots are made for walkin' Venus in Blue Jeans, Top Hat and Lady in Red.

I still have a black velvet jacket I bought at the Chelsea Antique Market in circa 1968. It no longer fits me (it must have shrunk)

In the 80's, I had a very full skirt and mandarin collar suit in lilac shantung silk, that I made myself when I was 18. I copied a design I saw at a St. Martin's School of Art fashion show. It was gorgeously swishy around my legs. I wore it with a pair of deep purple heels.

10 years ago, I had a gorgeous pair of lace up, knee high, high heeled boots, that unbelieveable, I used to wear all day to teach in. I LOVED those boots. I got up to unmentionable things in them.

Now, I have a very flattering black crepe dress hanging in my wardrobe that I got JUST before covid hit. Needless to say, I now can't fit into it. I even bought a 2nd one, because when I like something, I keep clothes for years. ? ?

I don’t tend to keep things - probably in reaction to my mother who loved to collect things! But like most people I remember with affection certain outfits from the past: my ribbed, knitted trouser suit in dark plum circa 1971; a fabulous deep blue trouser suit in a heavy but soft cotton with big lapels and flares and worn with white platform shoes circa 1974; the knee high boots with a side zip and lacing up the back that I have just recently had to consign to the bin as the leather is all peeling . My favourite dress hanging in the wardrobe is a vintage Emily Milsom of Norwich midi day dress in deep blueberry needlecord with little button down the front - one of my best charity shop finds.

Grammaretto your Memorable Clothes exhibition with appropriate music sounds fun.

tanith that’s so sad about your black lace dress - I hope you get to wear it out some time when COVID is quelled.

Thanks Litterpicker if an occasion arises I will, hopefully I won’t of forgotten how to walk in heels lol.

I hope you can wear your lovely dress soon tanith

Gosh, I remember a dress I had in the 80's; I think I bought it to go to a wedding as a guest. It was a fine blue pinstripe in cotton, with a fitted bodice, lots of tiny buttons, puffy sleeves and a full skirt. I felt so pretty in that dress! Couldn't eat very much since it was so fitted, but felt like a princess.

Looking back in old photos, I think it was a shame that the 80's had so many baggy, loose fitting clothes. It seems I was swallowed up by baggy sweatshirts and wide legged jeans.

A pale grey suede double breasted collarless coat with a sash belt worn with high leather boots and a white Cossack style fur hat. (Sorry about the fur, but it was quite permissible then). This was in the early 60s, and I don’t think I have ever felt so confident and smart,

As a young woman I had very few clothes, but my favourite outfit was a suedette straight fitted pinafore dress with a blue tie-at-the-neck blouse. Everything else was homemade.
A few years later, when a young Mum, I loved a velour multicoloured jacket which I called my Joseph jacket. I wore it for years with or without its shoulder pads depending on the trend.
Nowadays I never need to dress up and rotate the same few pairs of trousers and tops despite having 2 wardrobes full of things I might wear one day depending on my size!

When I first started working I was living with my parents and had money spare to spend on clothes. I bought something every pay day.
A favourite outfit was a tight fitting off-white angora sweater and a light grey wool sunray pleated skirt. I had a pert chest and a tiny waist back then, and I felt very chic in my outfit.

Yes I have a couple of feel stunning outfits. I think it is colour impact against my silver hair that does the trick. I always remember the look of astonished amazement of a colleague as I entered and she said 'my, that certainly is your colour'. Doesn't say much for how I looked normally but it certainly was a good feeling. I love colour and it's coordination. I enjoy assembling outfits. Not as good with scarves as I'd like to be. Of course, at the moment it's all jeans and jumpers. Nuff sed!

I had a white cotton top from Chelsea Girl when I was a teenager and just loved it. Wore it until it fell apart really. My favourite atm is a skirt I bought in the Next sale for £8.

I had a navy Biba dress with white polka dots. It had massive sleeves and a big bow and I wore it for ever. I also had a denim mini skirt that I bought for 7/6 from Martin Ford (remember?) I lived in it until it was only fit to be a duster.

My favourite now is a Per Una Speziale maxi skirt. Must be a few years old now. I bought it second hand on Ebay - it would have been out of my reach when it was new. Wild abstract flower pattern in purple, green and black and cut with several flounces in two different fabrics. Worn with very plain tops I love it!