<p>I was just folding clothes and I realized that I’m still wearing (regularly, once every two weeks or so) a casual shirt that is almost 40 years old! And it’s not worn out at all - still looks fairly new. It’s a red “Bobbie Brooks” interlock polo-style top that I got when I was a teen. I think my mom may have bought it and I liked it so much that she gave it to me, IIRC. It’s a classic style. Certainly have gotten my money’s worth out of that one!</p>
<p>Anyone else have any items of clothing that have stood the test of time and wear like that?</p>
<p>I have a pair of LL Bean “gum” boots that I got when I was a freshman in college (1980). Still have them. Still wear them occasionally in the winter. DH has a pair of Bass Weejun loafers that are at least 25 years old.</p>
<p>My husband has a shirt he wore in the '70s - brown and green in a shiny fabric (?rayon?) that has been taken over by my older son. I suppose given it’s synthetic, it will live on and on. I have a pair of Clark’s Wallabies that probably are 40 years old. I don’t wear them often but they sure are well made.</p>
<p>I have a few dressy blouses made of polyester that look like silk which I still wear and fit and look great. Got them in HS about 4 decades ago from my mom. H has some tshirts that are older than I am. Some look fairly new and others not as much, but he wears them all.</p>
<p>Hard pressed to think what I have that is the oldest. I did realize the other day that my sleeping pj shorts are probably 10 +years old and still look good - no holes!!! I also have a winter jacket that is now my shoes snow or walk the dog coat that is probably close to 20 years old - still in perfect condition and one of my most comfortable coats - it was a Nike - still looks great!</p>
<p>I wore a suit to my nephew’s wedding that was about 30 years old. I have 2 pairs of jeans about that old, both button fly . One is patched and I wear it all the time because it’s so comfortable. The other pair is in a basket waiting to be patched. </p>
<p>I have a few things I grabbed from my dad’s closet after he died, mostly ties but a few sweaters and a suede jacket (that I think may have bit the dust). Those must be 40 or 50 years old. The ties may be older.</p>
<p>This won’t be anything our children will be able to contribute to. Anything made in the last decade is disposable by design. Cheaply made, cheaply replaced.
I have a 30 year old London Fog khaki trench coat in the closet and just gave up on my equally old Bass penny loafers when I realized I hadn’t worn them in 5 years. Not enough arch support for my current-age feet. </p>
<p>I still have my London Fog raincoat that I got when I was in HS in 1967. I don’t wear it anymore but it’s in perfect condition. The oldest thing I own that I still wear is a nightshirt that I got when I was first pregnant in 1986. It’s so soft and comfortable, I just can’t get rid of it!</p>
<p>I have a few tops that I noticed were in the 1989 baby album. I have black/white checked blouse from my mom 1960s(?). I almost gave it away but noticed a very similar one in LL Bean catalog. </p>
<p>I have three Lanz nightgowns that I have had since high school, purchased in the early 70s. They are so soft and warm in the winter months. I also have my mom’s Pendleton wool coat, probably at least fifty years old. When it got too heavy for her to wear, she gave it to me. </p>
<p>I puff painted a Christmas sweatshirt when S was about 1 year old and still have it. Other than that I have shoes and scarves from 20 years ago but not regular clothes.</p>
<p>H has had some clothes forever- style doesn’t concern him. I unfortunately have not remained the same size. I think I gave away the last handmade hats/mittens from my teens when we moved to Florida (we kept some winter stuff in case we ever travel north in winter). My winter boots I bought in college finally wore out (leaks) a few years ago, would have replaced them but the company had long gone out of business. I have a very small wardrobe as well so keeping things is not something I tend to do.</p>
<p>Forgot about the London Fog. Must have gotten that in the early 80s. Brought it to Hawaii, but have never worn it here. I don’t dress up often, and it usually doesn’t rain for a long time. Hmmmm… maybe I should try to sell it.</p>
<p>I have a yellow sweater that I wore in high school more than 40 years ago. I try not to wear it too often so it won’t wear out, but at least a couple of times a year. A couple of things I wore in college too. I also have some baby clothes I kept from my 34 year old that I put on my new grandson when he was born and I’m waiting for him to get big enough to wear some of the toddler clothes I still have. We bought a Burburry jacket on a clearance sale in London about 30 years ago for a toddler that I can’t wait to see him in. If you wash those old clothes only when necessary, they last a long time. The baby clothes, of course, didn’t get worn for years since they don’t wear them very long and then haven’t been used since then. .</p>
<p>I have a knit top from Penney’s that is at least 30 years old. Still looks brand new. No pills, no pulls. Wish I could say that about anything I have new.
And I have towelsl from wedding 35 years ago that look new also–hems are good, very soft. So I know it’s possible to make good things–they just don’t anymore.</p>
<p>I also have a 30+ year old London Fog raincoat that I haven’t worn in years but is still in good condition. I also have a suit that’s probably 20 years old that I still wear occasionally.</p>
<p>I still have a selection of sweaters that my Mom knit for me, the earliest from the 70’s. I also have two of the sweaters that she knit for Dad early in their marriage - so they are from the early 40’s. When we gut renovated our house twelve years ago my rule of thumb was if I hadn’t worn something within the prior two years it was bagged up and donated. (Let’s be honest, I will never be a size 8 again.) I wish that there had been a reason to keep a Cacharel dress that I had picked up for a song at Filene’s early in the 80’s. I loved that dress. </p>
<p>
Lanz material must have been readily available because Mom would make my current favorite doll and me matching nightgowns each Christmas. How the woman found time for this stuff with four kids still confounds me. She was a marvelous craftswoman.</p>