Sometimes people ask me if minimizing your wardrobe involves ditching all your old clothes and buying sleek new ones. Certainly not! In fact, some of the oldest items in my closet are my favorites.
For example, this little number here. I purchased it from J. Crew in…{drumroll, please}…1998!
This little black dress is the closest thing I have to a uniform. During the summer, I wear it at least once a week—usually on its own, but sometimes dressed up with a scarf or jewelry. In colder weather, I pair it with a cardigan, tights, and my knee-high boots.
Why do I love it?
1. It’s versatile. I can dress it up or down with a simple change of accessories.
2. It travels well. I can fold it, roll it up into a ball, or leave it in a heap on the floor and it doesn’t wrinkle. It’s been all over the world with me.
3. It wears like iron. I’ve been donning this dress regularly for 13 years (!), and it’s still going strong. The tag says it’s made out of 75% rayon, 17% nylon, 8% spandex. Is that the reason for its longevity? Or is it because…
4. It’s “Made in USA.” Oh, how that little tag makes me smile!
5. It’s incredibly comfortable. The material is soft, and there’s enough stretch that I have complete freedom of movement. It feels more like a second skin than a dress, and I could probably play a sport in it if I wanted to.
I know my beloved dress won’t last forever, and I’ve kept an eye out for a replacement for some time. Unfortunately, it seems that clothing quality has gone drastically downhill over the last few years. Maybe I’ve been looking in the wrong places, but from what I’ve seen, the fabrics are cheap, the cuts are poor, and almost everything’s made in China.
I suspect that when it comes time to replace my wardrobe staples, I’ll be heading to a tailor. I’d rather select a quality fabric, and have something custom-made, than buy a flimsy item made under sweatshop conditions.
So, what’s the oldest item in your closet? And do you have any recommendations on where to find classic, well-made clothing these days?
(This post is part of my “100 Possessions” series, in which I explain why each item I own deserves a place in my minimalist life.)
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
I have a pair of Bass Weejuns that I purchased in 1981, and still wear. And yes, they’re still presentable, thanks to shoe repair people and a tin of polish. I have a (gasp) Coach bag purchased back in 1978 for $55, which I really didn’t have at the time. Got in trouble with my Mom, but she’s faint with admiration that I can still carry it with pride.
Your dress looks great, BTW!
I have a stone knee-length skirt by Dorothy Perkins( a high street British brand) it is fantastic and very well-made and I have been wearing it Spring, Summer and Autumn since 1998. It washes like a dream, even red wine stains just disappear. It was made in Britain, too; it is hard to not to mourn the loss of British manufacturing industries, although the quality of , say. Chinese, manufacturing is often very good. I notice that H&M skirts made in China often have French ( double sewn) seams which is a very high end technique. Anyway, I would love suggestions for clothes that are well-made, stylish and last. I love the sheer luxury of not having to go shopping.
Hi Francine, have you discovered Kristy Powell’s blog, One Dress Protest? She is living with one LBD for a year as a protest against fashion and consumerism. I loved her “deconstruction” of a JC Penney ad! Well worth looking up I think. My equivalent of an LBD is (not so little) black pants. Wear them all the time. So easy to wash and wear and totally classic. I dread them wearing out!
I have a fleece shirt I bought in 1999–and it’s been worn at least once a week the entire time (I’m a freeze-baby, even in the middle of summer). It’s a little “thin” now, not much fleece left, but it’s my go-to shirt for when I’m stressed and in need of some comfort-LOL–I guess sort of my security blanket!
:)
I like the dress, and you in the dress. Love the picture under the about me-link. When you can´t wear it anylonger, I´d recommend considering the dress by “The Uniform Project” before buying a new one. It is also possible to by the “blueprint” (sorry, english as second language) for the dress and have it made by a tailor nearby. or something similar with a personal note.
My oldest piece of wardrobe…that might be a messenger bag which has to be around 20 years old, It´s been pretty much worn and loved to death, I´m a little ashamed to carry it around, cause it really has holes in it, but, well, as long as I don´t lose anything… :D
Yikes–I wanted to like the Uniform Project dress, but it’s way way too short and the open pockets on the hips are the last thing I need. I wish they had another design choice.
100 things seems a lot for a minimalist?
You look great in that little black dress. I don’t have any clothing that has lasted 13 years. Well, I did have a wetsuit if you can count that as clothing, but it spent most of that time in my closet until our recent quest to purge all the useless items from our house. I hope made in the USA makes a comeback. It seems like during the ’80s “made in the USA” was a very popular slogan, but now I hardly ever see it.
Great dress and you look great in it!
I have a pair of brown pants from Old Navy … that I probably bought around 2000. Love them and they wear well.
Also not sure if I commented here before, but I’ve been reading your posts for some time now … and being inspired to continue on the decluttering and minimalist journey I began a few years ago. Thanks for your help!
I can relate to your choice of black. It goes with anything :) So when I get accessories I usually get something more colorful. With clothing I usually like to buy solid colors opposed to patterns (although I admit, I just love plaid!). Also, I agree with your opinion about clothing being made poorly these days- as well as shoes and bags. Even the pricier items don’t last that long- I guess all that price reflects is the tag or brand name. As contradictory as this is to my last statement, I bought a cotton ‘Roxy’ top from a surf clothing store. It lasted six years, and probably would of lasted many more but I donated it in the end because the red had faded a little and it was time for an update (I brought it when I was 10) :P So in my experience I find cotton to be the most durable material.
When I buy clothes, I always shop vintage &/or used. Almost all of the items in my closet are made in the USA and are made of beautiful, quality fabrics that fit me perfectly. The oldest item in my closet? A lined summer dress that I’ve had since 1992 from…..JCrew!
I must admit, when I first started reading about minimalism, I spent a fair amount of time dreaming up the “perfect” minimalist wardrobe – “if I could only have one dress, what would it be? If I could only have two pairs of pants…” etc. Finally, I realized that I have some perfectly nice stuff in my closet, that still has years of use in it. So while I have some ideas tucked away, I’ll wait until my current “less-than-optimal-but-just-fine” stuff wears out.
Hi Francine,
You look great in this dress! I have a hard time looking for my ideal plain white wool shirt that could go with everything. I thought about sewing my own clothes because it’s hard to find what I want exactly.
And talking about shopping vintage, my mom cleared out her closet yesterday and gave me one dress and one skirt from her youth. They fit perfectly. I also felt good that these clothes can be of use again. It reminds me of Toy Story 3: it’s better to give the toys to someone who will play with them than to store them up.
I’ve only recently started to realize that quality is better than quantity. I don’t have many old things in my closet.
I have t-shirt from dance camp in 1997 (they only had adult sizes, so it fits me now.) (I hope this doesn’t make anyone feel old… I must have been in grade 2 or 3.)
I have several vintage pieces (a dress, a jacket, and a coat) which friends have given me, and these appear to date back to the 1940s.
The oldest item that I picked out personally is a safari hat in dark taupe cotton with a brim that can snap up on the sides. Mom bought it for me in 1989. It looks even better at 22 years than it did new. I wear it regularly in the summer.
My uniform nowadays consists of shibori tees by DyeDianaDye. I always request that she start with blanks from TQM, which is located in California. They use fabric with more heft and durability than American Apparel. Here is an example of two tees that Diana custom made for me (the thumbnails are clickable for additional views). I typically pair my tees with khaki, navy, or olive cotton slacks that I find at the thrift store.
Although its not clothing, I have an LL Bean backpack that I got in 1994. I used it the remaining 3 years I had in HS, 4 years in college, and now I use it as a gym bag every morning. And it is still in great condition. I don’t think it will ever wear out.
You absolutely look elegant in that LBD!I love wearing dresses for their comfort and versatility. My job requires that I look professional and polished everyday. I just slip on my little, (whatever color im in the mood for) dress, my black high heels, black purse, and I’m set…
a soft large black shoulder bag i got in 1985. can also double as a travel type bag. i saw this in macy’s for $100 which was unthinkable. i went back a few weeks later and it was 1/2 price! i snapped it right up and have carried it happily ever since. when it shows signs of wear-a magic marker to the rescue!
I still have my little black dress too! I got it from Ann Taylor a few years ago. It fits so good and is perfect when I need it! Actually it’s the only dress I own! I love yours Francine–you look great!
I have a black Express Tricot cardigan I have owned since 1996. It is certainly well-traveled, and I continue to wear it today. Whether hung up, folded, or balled up in the bottom of my travel bag, I take it with me just about everywhere.
The oldest item I have in my closet is a men’s long wool winter coat. I love the vintage feel of it and it keeps me so warm. I am not sure exactly when it was purchased, it was my great-uncle’s. He died in 1972! (not while wearing the coat, that would be creepy). My parents had the coat in our closet and when I found it I grabbed it.
My black Burberry trenchcoat is the most well-made, well-designed item in my closet. I’m willing to pay for quality, because in the long run these items last longer and won’t fill landfills. I’ll have these classic items forever. I completely agree with you on the decline of quality in most clothing these days. I had a very difficult time finding anything I really like, because of the poor fabrics used and the equally poor fit.
I think the oldest thing in my closet is a wool blazer from 1984 which I used to wear with a matching skirt for interviews but now (that the skirt no longer fits) I wear it with jeans on cool Fridays.
My favorite place for classic, long-lasting clothing (besides thrift stores) is LL Bean. They don’t use French seams but the seams are even and the trim lays flat even when the items get old. To me it’s the right compromise between price and quality. Plus, their pants actually fit me, as if they know that women’s waists might be smaller than their hips. However many (most?) items are not made in the US.
What a fabulous dress! I once had a black polo neck jumper bought in the 1970s that had belonged to my Mum and Dad who both wore it (not at the same time ;o). I wore it, my first husband wore it, my college friend wore it and it still lasted for years. Sadly, it got lost or donated to charity during one of my many moves, but I still mourn it to this day!
When I was in second grade, I was very active in the extracurricular musical theatre group my school was lucky enough to have. The time came to purchase Drama Club t-shirts, and they were a beautiful blue, sporting silver comedy/tragedy masks and “Lee Drama Club” across the front. I was really pissed at my mom for buying the largest size they had. I couldn’t wear it to school, as it practically went down to my ankles. The most use I got out of it was as PJs and over swimsuits. I am 23 now, and this shirt fits, feels, and looks better than most of my new clothing (and the silver decal hasn’t faded or chipped a bit!). Maybe moms know what they’re doing after all! :)
I own a pair of Joan and David classic riding boots made in Italy from beautiful leather. They’re over 17 years old and I still
enjoy wearing them. I clean them well and don’t wear them in sloppy weather. I still get compliments. At the time,
I paid $189.00 on sale. Only now do I realize the importance of buying quality and not quantity. I shop for good quality
clothing at estate sales and find classic well made garments that are made in the USA as well as Italy and France.
I have a black skirt that fills the same place in my wardrobe. It was purchased in about 1995. Black knit, waist band is elastic and can be dressed up or down as the occasion requires. I have a similar dress to your black one. It is navy blue and has a matching cardigan. These are the staples I will never give up.
I have been on the hunt for a LOOOONG time to find a natural fiber long skirt (black, navy, brown?) that flatters (and fits) my full figured cury form. I am not an apply but maybe a fig? :)
I can’t seem to find one inexpensively and have shopped thrifts stores galore. I think I may rethink this and spend a bit more for a quality one I can keep. But finding one that is natural fibers is NOT easy!!
Check out Eileen Fisher on eBay. You may pay a bit more upfront, although there are plenty of well-priced choices, but her stuff really really lasts. Measure your self, or a skirt that fits, and you should be able to find something. Her knit skirts are NOT clingy at all, btw.
I love Eileen Fisher. My favorite long brown skirt is from her – I can do everything with it.
oops- I meant to say apple!
I have been thinking more and more about trying to find clothing (or anything for that matter) that is made in the USA. I think we can all see and agree that quality clothing, even if you pay more for it, in the long run lasts much longer costs much less per wear.
I hate to say I don’t know of anything I’ve had longer than 5 years or more. Doen’t help that my size has changed too.
Bernice
How to finally reach the finish line
Yaaaaay another 100 possessions post! I’ve been looking forward to having another one of these. I’m on the hunt for a similar sort of uniform-esque garment but have yet to find it. I think it’s hard to find the right shape/cut to suit my figure, and the right sort of formal/informal quality to carry through the various parts of my life.
Here’s my source for never wrinkles and never wears out clothing. http://www.tilley.com/catalog/searchresults.aspx?filter=&search=TilleySilk
They used to make a t-shirt that I really like. My t-shirts are jewel colors and my slacks and long-sleeve shirts are pairs of matching blues and black. I have 3 sets and took only those with a flower print suit coat that could be worn with or without a blouse when traveling to Europe. With changes of scarves, earrings, necklaces, etc. I could wear a different outfit every day for weeks with just carry-on luggage. I no longer fly to Europe but I still have the clothes. I did change out the buttons, though, once TSA became a fact of life because those fabric covered metal buttons didn’t do well at airport security. :)
it makes sense to have a good dressmaker and a source of good quality fabrics. They can make something from an existing garment, or even a magazine photo that will fit you perfectly. Very much worth the expense.
I love your LBD. So classic. My size, unfortunately, shifts by about 20 lbs. quite frequently. It never goes back exactly where it came off. My clothes are mostly thrift store finds and last a season or two before they don’t fit right and are donated again. Yet another reason to get to a healthy weight and stay there!
The oldest thing in my closet is a homemade white flannel nightgown. My grandmother made it ages ago (no one knows exactly when) and it was well-used when she died. Grandpa kept it and her other clothes until HIS death in 1989, and some time later the family (I represented my deceased father) went through the house and belongings.
I saw that simple, homemade sleeveless nightgown and fell in love. It was obviously made without a pattern and was sewed on her ancient sewing machine (the kind that didn’t use electricity). I still wear it on warm nights to this day, despite the fact that the material is so thin now. One day I am going to attempt to make a pattern from it to craft another, if I can do so without taking apart Grandmother’s stitches.
I am going to keep wearing that nightgown until there is none of it left, because it is like getting a hug from her and Grandpa every time I pull it on.
And THAT is the oldest thing in my closet.
Fun discussion – so glad to read that others hold on to their “old” things for quite a while.
The oldest thing in my closet that I’ve bought is a very classic cut denim jacket, that I got at 19 (17 years ago). I go through years of not wearing it, but it always comes back in fashion. And of course it always makes me embarassingly happy when it still fits.
Another fun topic: cost per use. By far my most frugal buy was a 5 Euro mid-thigh medium dark denim skirt that I got 10 years ago at some street vendor in Italy. Have worn it countless times – mind you these days it goes over opague leggings…
And no I do not only wear denim :) Also have this 10 year old black Gap rain-proof jacket that I’ve used as a rain coat since I bought it – the cut is very classic and flattering and the hood is a great plus (for some reason nobody ever uses umbrellas here in Iceland)
No umbrellas in the rain is very much a Seattle thing too. How funny. Here it’s a good way to spot Californians.
I’ve got a dark grey cashmere sweater I bought at Banana Republic in 1999. The $100 I paid for it seemed a small fortune to me then, but it’s been a winter staple since. (I tend to avoid Gap-owned stores nowadays as I don’t agree with their politics.) I also have an amazing pair of wine-colored doc marten boots that my mother bought me in 2003 that I wear all the time. I’ve had the zipper repaired twice now. I get so many compliments on those boots, and no one will believe I’ve owned them as long as I have.
It seems my longest serving items were created before I was born. Vintage/retro pieces that don’t know how to fall apart after a year.
I have my great grandmothers wool and silk lined coat from the 1940’s (possible earlier). Fantastic shape and you won’t find the quality today. I also have a silk and lace dress from the 1950’s, very Marilyn Monroe type that is also vintage and in superb shape. All from relatives, all quality supreme and all still fashionably stylish. It is amazing how much our clothes have suffered in quality. Who thinks anything made today will last like vintage clothes have????
The oldest clothing in my closet…is the coat which I bought when I was a junior high school student. I think it was in 1989. I got it as a secondhand. Currently, since I work as a farmer, I seldom wear it. But when I have a chance to go to a party or formal meeting, it’s its turn. Though the chance may come one time or two times a year, I am always looking forward to use it.
The oldest things in my closet that I wear almost daily are 4 pairs of nylon “quick-dry” shorts from Land’s End in black, blue, green, and purple. They are great shorts for the gym or at the lake. I bought them in 1991 or 1992, and they have held up very well. I also have a pair of thick, black, fleece mittens from Land’s End that have gotten me through Minnesota winters since 1993. While I still like Land’s End very much, I am sad that almost everything from Land’s End is not made in the USA anymore.
My LBD was a great buy from TravelSmith, one of their basic black travel dresses. I wore it for a decade, took it to conferences, summer holidays, winter holidays, job interviews, etc. Lots of wear for one dress. It folded and packed like a dream, never wrinkled, washed and di=ried overnight, and could easily be casual with sandals and a scarf or dressy with pearls. Got lOADS of compliments on it. Finally had to give it up and a decade had worn the few seams there were. Just bought a new one: for a new decade, I guess!
Hi Francine,
Funny, but I’ve found that there isn’t always a great correlation between store and quality. For example, there’s a cheap Canadian chain called Joe Fresh (the designer/CEO is formerly of Club Monaco, so the clothes are pretty stylish but with a lower price point)and the quality of the merchandise is generally pretty good. I have a navy and white striped cotton shirt I bought there in 2005 that still looks great and is totally holding up. Conversely, I bought a pair of Fly London leather boots at a fancy-schmancy shoe store in Toronto last winter for $350 that split up the back seam after only a few months of wear.
On another note: vintage! I have a black knee length high-waisted skirt that I’ve been wearing for about 12 years, as well as a cute 1970s floral dress that I bought about 10 years ago for $6.99. I get a million compliments on it every summer…
I bought a cute pair of black sailor pants and a vintage inspired top to wear the day after my wedding. That was 11 years ago and I am proud to say that after 2 kids and 11 years later, they still fit perfectly. They are by an Australian Designer Alannah Hill. However, the pants are starting to loose their fit and are probably destined for our local charity along with the top which I havent worn in years.
I had a look at Eileen Fisher, vvvvvvery nice! I am off to Hawaii (Honolulu) in June for a family holiday so I might see if they are in the local massive shopping mall.
My favourite piece of clothing I bought last June in London. My husband bought me a beautiful Barbor Jacket in navy blue with liberty lining… apparently a Kate Moss fav. Its beautiful, tailored and nipped in at the waist, is my favourite colour & makes me feel 100 bucks. It is such a classic I will have it for years to come.
I have a beautiful black velvet skirt with red butterflies I have worn for about 10 years. I still get compliments every time I wear it. It looks and feels so delicate, yet it is very sturdy and has no problem being machine washed and dried.
My really quality pieces are all from 2010. I suppose most things are from 2004, since I graduated from college and suddenly needed work clothes. I would have kept other items longer but I didn’t think I’d ever fit into them again so I let ’em go! Ahh, Minimalism, in 2010 you prompted me to get rid of a classic pair of Doc Martens boots I had cherished since 1996. I think I still have a Dance Hall Crashers shirt from 1998… I dressed ridiculously in high school and college, wearing crazy stuff I found in thrift stores, so most of it wouldn’t be salvageable for a timeless wardrobe anyway. I think I really might have to overhaul most of my wardrobe to have a truly versatile minimalist collection to work with. The problem is I like colors, which make it more obvious when you’re wearing something over and over. I’ve been indoctrinated by those British “What Not To Wear” books and tend to poo-poo a reliance on too many neutrals :P
my best garment is a Marks and Spencer lambswool sweater that I have had for 14 years. I wear it in the house in the winter when its chilly and I dont want to crank the heat. Light, warm and machine washable tumble dry and 100% wool. I have just had to darn a tiny hole in the armpit. Now it is ready for the next 14 years !
Francine, that outfit transforms you into Holly Golightly of “Breakfast at Tiffanys”! Marvellous!
Hm… the oldest item in my wardrobe is my denim jacket, which is 12 years old. I was nearly 13(!) when I got it, and now I’m nearing 25 and still wear it. It’s in perfect condition, made in Italy and wasn’t unreasonably expensive. Other clothes I wore when I was 13 are of course out, because I’ve outgrown them (they no longer fit my body or my lifestyle), but I think the clothes I wear now will last equally long, too, depending on the garment. I have about 80% of my clothes custom-made by a seamstress/tailor who is by now a good friend. The things that I do buy in shops (some turtlenecks, underwear, my only pair of jeans) are all made in Europe (That’s where I come from).
One problem with the dress(es) marketed by The Uniform Project is that the fabric incorporates silk (cruel to animals).
I have a horizontally striped black and grey wool sweater from Express, which I pair with pants, skirts and dresses. It fits well and I get plenty of compliments every time I wear it. I bought it second-hand from a consignment store and the only negative feature about this garment is the fact I need to dry clean it to keep it looking great.