Daily discussion post: look in your closet

[magnetic_pole]

What's the oldest item of clothing in your closet right now? How old is it? What's the story behind it?

(And we're looking for folks interested in hosting the conversation for a day or two in April! If you're interested, let us know over here.)

Comments

[angelofthenorth]

It's a slash necked black top that was bought for me for my grandmother's funeral in 2001

[magnetic_pole]

Were you young at the time? Is that why it was bought for you?

I hope the question brought up happy memories of her and not painful ones. M.

[singedsun]

I have a couple of tank tops that I've owned since my senior year of high school - about 22 years ago now. My mother bought them for me to wear under a fancy shirt she'd bought me for Easter church services. I haven't tossed them because they still fit/work for me. I'll keep using them until the straps break. lol

[magnetic_pole]

And they've held up all this time! (I love articles of clothing that last for years like that.) M.

[kulturschnepfe]

The custom made dark pink lacy dress that I wore when my Mum married my stepfather in 1968. I was seven that summer. It was a fun day. I got to ride in the coach with them and all.

I also still have the huge white silk flower that my mom wore in her hair that day.

Both my parents are dead now, and so are most of the wedding guests, I think. Since my siblings were born after the wedding, it feels like I am the only one now to remember that day. But I'll hold on to the memories and that dress. I am fond of both.

[semielliptical]

That's amazing that you still have the dress after over 50 years! Did your Mum preserve it for you, or did you hold on to it yourself for all that time?

[cynthia1960]

I know there is at least one dress going back to before 2000. Still fits.

[magnetic_pole]

HURRAH! I love workaday clothes that hold up and still serve their purpose. M.

[tetleythesecond]

A Jack Wolfskin zip-up fleece that I bought 20 years ago when they still made stuff to last. It kept me warm during below-zero nights in an RV in Death Valley in December ... was it 2000? Clinton was still President, but only barely.

[magnetic_pole]

I know from experience just how cold Death Valley can be! Heroic little fleece. M.

[semielliptical]

I have a t-shirt from 1987, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the tiny town my husband grew up in. It originally belonged to my husband (we had not yet met in 1987) but has not fit him for years. Neither of us usually keeps clothing just for sentimental reasons, but it fits me and I decided to keep it so I can wear it if/when we go back to his home town for a reunion. I've worn it a on a few other occasions; it has a nifty design but it's also quite worn, and I don't want to wear it out.

[magnetic_pole]

Is having the tee shirt actually pushing you towards a visit? :)

I love hearing that his town had the kind of 100th anniversary that would prompt tee shirts made specially for the event. M.

Does it count if I'm wearing it as I type?

[redbird]

I think my oldest item of clothing is a blue/purple/pink striped cotton poncho.

I got the poncho in Juarez, Mexico, almost 30 years ago: a small sf con was in El Paso, Texas, and before things really started a bunch of us took a tourist trolley across the border, I think had lunch, and did some shopping. I got this poncho, which I liked a lot but turned out to be impractical because it catches every breeze. So I put it on a shelf.

My hand is now in a brace, making sweaters less convenient to put on and take off, so I've been wearing the poncho most of the time while I'm home this winter--which is most of the time when I'm awake, lately.

I didn't expect the poncho to suddenly be so useful, I just didn't want to get rid of it.

Re: Does it count if I'm wearing it as I type?

[magnetic_pole]

It absolutely counts! :)

I love it when I find new occasions or new purposes for things like that. I also love encountering folks who've been in fandom for thirty years and more. Hurrah!

I remember taking a tourist trolley across the border from San Diego to Tijuana when I was young, also about 30 years ago. It's shocking today how easy it was back then.

Fun story, thanks! M.

[sorchasilver]

The oldest item of clothing I still own is the black and sparkly ballgown I wore to my graduation ball in June 1997, which is still hanging in the back of the wardrobe. We stayed up all night drinking champagne and talking, sitting on the grass by the loch after the ball ended, watching the sun come up over the hills for the last time as a group. Then we went back to the flat and got changed and went out for breakfast as a group, before leaving campus for the last time.

[magnetic_pole]

What a memorable story! Are you still in touch with the folks you spent that evening with? M.

Extending "closet" to include "dresser"

[ng_moonmoth]

Item of clothing I've had the longest is a swag T-shirt from the 1991 Apple Worlwide Developer Conference I attended. Oldest item of clothing is a vintage haori (a Japanese outer garment) that spouse, who collected them to use as office wear, spotted and encouraged me to buy when we were at a show run by an importer who showed locally. A friend who is a Japanophile and reasonably knowledgeable about haori noted the lining when we shared our purchases with them. (Customarily, the outside of the haori represents one's public face, while the lining, which may be quite personal, represents one's private face and is typically only revealed to people one is very close to.) The lining had a repeating pattern, which, on closer examination, showed a train and a cannon. Friend identified the train as representing the miniature railroad Commodore Perry brought with him as part of opening trade relationships with Japan in the 1850s, making the cannon a reference to the armaments of his ships. Having such a lining indicates that it was most likely created between Perry's visit and the start of the Meiji restoration for someone who favored more open relationships with other countries. This was consistent with the apparent age of the fabric, and the garment's construction techniques.

Opinion on trying to maintain isolation from the rest of the world was divided and fractious at that time, so this garment likely served as a membership badge that a sympathetic wearer could reveal to like-minded other people.

Re: Extending "closet" to include "dresser"

[light_of_summer]

That is fascinating!

[light_of_summer]

I think this dress is currently the oldest item of clothing in my actual closet:*



My memories surrounding its acquisition are blurry—its approximate vintage is late 1970s or early 1980s, when I was either in college or recently departed from college. I think my first college roommate helped me to think through whether to buy it or not—the purchase price was high, for my budget of the time.

I don't recall whether we found and discussed it in Arcata, Eureka, Chico, or Berkeley—we spent time together in all of those places. I still occasionally get a holiday letter or an email from her. She has two grown sons, now...

I still like the dress, and could still wear the very loose cut, but I rarely do. It's light-weight enough to really need a slip under it, and it requires careful hand-washing and air-drying. I might have worn it out, by now, if not for those characteristics. As it is, some examination reveals fading, here and there, and a couple of missing spangles, but it generally looks OK.

*I think I still own a few older clothing items that are in boxes or drawers, somewhere. The oldest one that I think I might still have is a black slip that belonged to my late mom. It has hand-sewn, smooth patches at the underarms, covering up the somewhat scratchy black lace border. It could have been made any time between about 1947 and 1975—my guess is late 1950s or early 1960s. I kept it when she died, and have used it, occasionally, over the years.

[aome]

Oooh, a slip! You're reminding me I own a cotton slip that buttoned - no elastic - and which, as far as I know, belonged to my great-grandmother. The delicate fabric eventually developed a tear so I no longer wear it, but I can't bear to give it away.

(My condolences on the death of your mom, btw.)

[kat_lair]

Now see, the oldest item in my wardrobe has only been there for six months or so. This autumn I made a find at a vintage clothes store: a dress made in the 50s in gorgeous turquoise fabric that (this is the miracle) actually fit me. I expected it to be expensive and was prepared to pay but the owner sold it to me for like 10euro. I also got a pair of leather shoes with strap and heels, also made in the 50s, also fitting me. It's my current favourite outfit and wearing it makes me feel pretty and smart and me as it just seems to fit my personality somehow. I've only worn it to work once (before it got too cold, and now...) but on that one day I got like three compliments on it.

The oldest item of clothing specifically made for me is probably the long black skirt mum made me when I was a teenager. It's stretchy and comfy and yet looks smart. Still fits too. Over twenty years later.

[aome]

Oooh, what a find!

[shadowycat]

Hmmm... I still have the t-shirt I got for gym class as a freshman in high school. It's just a striped shirt with the school name on it. It still fits, so I wear it occasionally, why not? Even if it is close to 50 years old now.

I also still have a cowgirl outfit that I wore as a pre-schooler. Obviously I'm not able to wear it any longer, but I still have it in a trunk in my closet so I guess it counts. LOL ;D

[aome]

I mentioned a couple of "wore this as a kid" items as well. Definitely still counts!

[therealsnape]

I've a woolen jacket, a very traditional British check, that I got from a friend who didn't fit it anymore. That must have been in … goodness … 1988? 1989? It's still a staple in my wardrobe. Very versatile. Goes with a lot of things.

It has been an ideal luggage item on long weekends to France. Casual enough to traipse around vineyards, but when worn with a skirt it's dressy enough for most restaurants. Ideal thing.

[aome]

Sounds like one of those quality items that never goes out of style. Lucky you to have received it!

[meepettemu]

My oldest piece of clothing is a school shirt from 25 years ago. It is my leaving day shirt so it is signed by lots of people.

I’ve been through transition since then so the oldest item of clothes I own is a pair of hot pink underpants with a cat face on the back. I love them but I don’t wear them often, which is how I still have them. They must be 13 years old.

[magnetic_pole]

It is my leaving day shirt so it is signed by lots of people.

Neat idea! I wish I'd thought of that. M.

[aome]

The oldest item that I can (and do) still wear occasionally is a Mickey Mouse tank top I got at Disneyland while I was in high school, back in the mid 1980s. I think my next-oldest still-in-use item might be a fit & flare dress I wore to dance hula in a 1999 wedding. (My actual wedding dress is 2 years older, 1997, but I obviously don't wear that on the regular. ;-) )

The oldest wearable item I possess is a hand-smocked dress that my grandma made for my mom, and then I wore it, and both my kids wore it. It's designed to fit a ~5 year old, so definitely haven't worn that anytime recently. *g* I also have in my possession an elegant cream dress that my cousin wore as a flower girl in my mother's wedding (1966) and I then wore as a flower girl in that cousin's wedding (1979). My daughter wore it for Easter when she was 7 but declined to wear it for First Communion as she wanted something foofier.

[shadowycat]

The clothes you have that have been worn by so many close family members are real treasures to keep! They have so many memories attached to them. :D

[sulien]

Oldest item of clothing...that would be the souvenir baseball tee I picked up at my first Grateful Dead concert in Longbeach, CA, in 1980. It is heather gray with burgundy sleeves and has the skeleton wearing the garland of red roses, and I wore that thing until it became transparent and I just haven't head the heart to throw it out. As for things that I actually still wear on occasion, I have a trunk full of my old BDU's (battle dress uniform) from my Army days (some of them going back to basic issue in 1984 that fall in the 'cook's whites' category of being so worn) that I wear to do garden work or anything else that's going to mean I'll get grubby. Those things last forever and all of the pockets are fantastic for carrying stuff. I also still have my last pair of Corcoran Field Boots, which are almost as comfortable as sneakers and also near indestructible.

[light_of_summer]

Yay for durable clothes with useful pockets, and comfortable shoes!

[secretsolitaire]

The vast majority of my wardrobe is old, LOL, but I think the oldest one is a T-shirt with the logo of the Jordanian embassy in Amman. When I was in middle school (mid-90s?) I met the daughter of a diplomat, and she gave me that shirt. :)

[aome]

What a cool story!

(Yeah, I've got a lot of old stuff in my wardrobe, too - I hang on to favorite items forever, and I tend to buy stuff that is classic and basic and doesn't really go in or out of fashion.)

[petrea_mitchell]

A cloak that I got at a Baycon back in the 1980s when I was 12. Because everyone at sf cons was wearing cloaks and they looked so cool.

It's only just a bit short for me now. I grew really fast as a kid (and then wound up short as an adult).

I did wind up wearing it to a lot of cons, and it's been an improvised pillow or a blanket on more occasions, sleeping on couches and in train and airplane seats, than I can count.

[aome]

So, pretty much serving the same role cloaks did when people wore them regularly! :D

I have a heavy double-layer wool cloak I bought at a RenFaire. It's actually great for wearing when cold, but not if cars are involved because it's pretty damn hard to wear a seatbelt with a cloak on - and still have one's arms free to drive!

[tei]

I think probably a black velvet dress that was my mom's; she's a professional classical musician and so am I, so concert black clothes tend to accumulate, and she gave me this dress that she probably wore in the 70s because it no longer fits her. it's too big for me and not really a style I'd wear now (poofy waistline that falls about my belly button) but I keep convincing myself that I'll have it properly tailored for me some day.

[brumeier]

The oldest thing I have that I never wore is my father's Marine Corps shirt from 1972. It has a peace patch sewn on one sleeve. I used to have a pair of his olive drab pants, too, that I actually did wear for a time, but I ended up getting rid of that during the ex-husband purge of 2014.

I have a t-shirt from the early to mid-80s that I have turned into a pillow.

Something I still wear? A teal-colored long-sleeve shirt from 1989.

[rosefox]

I have a t-shirt from when I was 16. I'm turning 42 this year. It has my username from th first BBS I was ever on; I wore it to meet-ups.

[liseuse]

If I brought my tutu with me when I moved - I can't remember if I did or not, I think I did though - it'll be that because that is from when I was 6 or 7?

If I didn't bring it with me, it's a blue jumper that I have owned since I was 13 or 14? So about 20 years. It's not really fit to be worn out of the house at this stage but it is still functional as a jumper. It came from FatFace and was bought because it's cold by and on the sea and we had not adequately foreseen this on a trip to the seaside in early spring. We were on the Isle of Wight at the time, and we'd gone to Cowes for a Saturday day out.

[lash_larue]

The very oldest is a bear costume my mother made for me when I was in 1st 3rd grade. So 1958 1960. I don't remember the play to speak of, maybe Goldilocks, but I recall quite liking the ears. I haven't had it all those years, I got it from my folk's house after the died.

Runner-up would be P's High School Chorale windbreaker. 1968. That has been with her constantly, not worn now, though.

Heck, the bear costume doesn't fit me, either. :)

L

[jesse_the_k]

Even though she was five inches shorter than me, towards the end of her life my mother went for clothing in comfy looseness. We cleaned out her closet when she died in 1990, and I brought home an eclectic collection.

The one I'm still wearing is a sky blue 100% wool house dress. The body is wool twill and the cuffs, collar, and placket are bulky knit. It's just the thing to wear over my PJs in the many cold months here in Wisconsin.

It was in the back of her closet, so it's at least 40 years old. Thankfully no elastic to rot!

[duskpeterson]

My sixth-grade shirt, circa 1974. It has nice, bright colors.