What is your oldest item of clothing?

vesper

I think the oldest item that I still actually wear is a boho jacket I got when I was about 15 (now 26) but it cost me about £60 at the time in the sales which took me so long to save up for. I have got other items from when I was a kid that I am too attached to, to throw away including a rather dodgy knitted jumper that my mum made me when I was about 8 which is covered in teddy bears. It was huge on me back then so would probably still fit me but I am far too embarassed to.

My mum still wears clothes from when she was about 16 so they are around 40years old.

pretz_2

I was really lucky and was given lots of my nans clothes from when she was alot younger as i have a love of all things 1920's and they are all still in fabulous condition and i wear my cloche to death has to be my favourite thing in my wardrobe

ubamother

Mine's my christening gown too, as worn by my children, myself and siblings, my father and his sibling. It's handsewn cutwork in the finest thinnest lawn. We have to baptise children pretty fast in our household as it was made to victorian sizes - anything after 6 weeks and there's no chance of it fitting a modern baby! It is four feet in length, but so fine if you screwed it up you can hide it in your fist. DS10 asked the other day if he could use it to baptise his children, along with the baptismal shawl my mother knitted for DD25 (also used by DS10).

How wonderful that so many of us inherited items that seem to spark such powerful memories. Soupdragon10's phrase "my mother MADE me wear" made me laugh - I remember my mother doing that too.

Ballymackeonan

I have a pair of strappy silver evening shoes which were older than my partner at the last function I went to! (They were bought at the latest in 1970, he was born in 1974...) Plus a real favourite is a 1950s taupe cashmere jumper, with a tie-neck and bracelet-length sleeves, bought for a massive £5 in a dress agency in the early 1980s and still going strong (and still flattering!)

pingua

Gosh that question made me think, A very expensive still trendy designer top thats about 47 years old given to me by my Mum - wonder if its worth anything - lol

minerva_windsong

Mine is probably a black strapless 50s style prom dress with multicoloured polka dots on it, which I bought for a Christmas ball in Year 10 (aged about 15, so eight years ago now). I've worn it for a few formal occasions since as it's such a perfect shape for me, but could never throw it away - I think I'm just too attached to it, partly for the memories and partly because at the time it was the most I'd ever spent on a piece of clothing!

funkymonkey849

My oldest clothes my great grandmother gave me - a beautiful turquoise shift dress from 1962 - absolutley stunning! Also she gave me a suit from the 1960s, I took up the skirt and wear it quite casual with a jumper. I have the jacket but I need to take the shoulder pads out cos it makes me look a bit weird lol

The oldest clothes I have are probably about 5 years old, I have a pair of very holey jeans which I still wear. I am 25 and before I was 20 I was a size 6 so nothing fits me now lol. I sold most of it on ebay

shopndrop

Still got my wedding dress from 30 years ago, couldn't bear to part with it and my complete school uniform is still at my mums, including my summer straw hat and winter felt hat. They are over 40 years old.

Uniscots97

A pin-stripe waistcoat i pinched off my Dad when I was 16-17 (early 90's) still going strong. My dad bought this in 1981. I also have my first pair of doc martin boots from early 90's which I wear now and again. And a top my Gran bought in 1947, my Mum wore it and now I've got it.

RAS

I am still mourning the fingerless gloves I knitted in about 1985. They kept me warm on the plot year in year out. I lost them last spring .