What is your oldest item of clothing?

aloiseb

I still have a blouse which I picked out from my gran's wardrobe for its beautiful blue colour, about 20 years ago.....she told me it was made by her mother, about 1910.
They built things to last then, didn't they?

Emptynester

A sheepskin coat I bought in 1977 shortly after I started work. It is in excellent condition as it was always 'kept for best'. I no longer wear it as it is so heavy it makes my arms ache. I can't bear to part with it as it took so much of my hard earned cash. I often look at it and wonder what I could make with it, any ideas? I am a cold bod and I'm sure there must be something. I am more than warm enough today .:rotfl:

earthmother

I have two items - a nightie that I had when I was about 14 (now 34), that I still wear now - in fact it was in my maternity bag all three times as it's so comfy, and my bike jacket, that I got for my 17th birthday - can't do it up now (three kids again :rolleyes:), the lining is shot, but would never get rid of it as it was the reason my husband first asked me out 15 years ago .

I can top that though if we're talking heirlooms - I have a pair of my Great Grans hand knitted bedsocks - she was totty, and they haven't fitted me since I was about 12, but I could never get rid of them so they live at the back of my undy drawer.


My dad still has his speedway leathers from when he was in his early 20s (61 this year) - he could still do the jacket up a few years ago - don't know if he still can - will have to ask him. He keeps it as it was the first coloured leather jacket in the city - so for once he was a trendsetter (lol, sorry dad) - I have great memories of the smell of the leather soap when he'd clean it on the dining table, and fully intend to 'rescue' it should he ever want to get rid.

gillsmills

I still wear a bright rusty coloured shetland wool polo neck jersey that my mum bought from m&s and she wore it to death too,by the way I will be 44 next month and it still gets compliments every time I wear it and it does not have any worn or holey bits - looks like new.:j

pjw123_2

When I was 40 I made a fair-isle cardigan on my knitting machine in traditional colours. The wool came from Jamieson and Smith in Lerwick. I still wear it regularly now. I had to buy some extra wool to darn a hole in the elbow. I am 58 now.

cheers
P

Martin_Preece

You guys are only playing at this. I've got a sports jacket ( which I use for gardening ) with which my father was issued when he was de-mobbed in 1945. I make this 64 years ( which is older than me but not by much)

Penelope_Penguin

DKLS wrote: »

The oldest item I have would be an Edwardian frock coat, the one item I kept for myself after trading in vintage textiles and clothing for 10 years.

Is that what you're wearing in your avatar

Penny. x

Bitsy_Beans

Up until the start of the year I had two pairs of jeans I bought in DKNY in Florida whilst on honeymoon. I have lived in them and they finally died 5 years later.
I don't have anything quite as ancient as some of you but the oldest I have is chinese style red dress bought at Principles and worn to a couple of Xmas do's and that's at least 11 years old. Likewise I have a simple black cardi type top from Dottie P's that must be circa 15 years old!

Ballymackeonan

As a long-term vintage collector, I've a couple of 1930s winter coats - a travelling coat in "teddy bear" type material with a wondeful art deco label showing a flying boat, and a dressy black Dereta one. But the item in longest continuous wear is a 1950s taupe cashmere tie-neck fitted cardi with 3/4 length sleeves - it was my mother's "best". I appropriated it in the 1970s and have worn it a lot since. It's still in good condition, and very stylish!

scrobble

My oldest item of clothing is a 50s purple and white polka dot cotton dress that I bought from eBay last year, second oldest - also from eBay - is an orange nylon shirt dress from the 70s.

The oldest item to me is the waterproof I was bought for school when I was 13 - so 17 years old, although I do also have a silk top I got when I was 15 that I wear regularly.