Recently, my friend [Cindy](http://herethereandback.blogspot.com/) was helping her daughter dress for 80s Day at school. Amazingly, Cindy had kept many items of clothing from her high school days, which got me to thinking about the oldest piece of clothing I still had. I try not to keep things forever, but I think the oldest thing I have is a floor length denim coat my mom bought me for Christmas in 1987 (I think). I was working at Town and County, an upscale clothing store, and fell in love with this coat. I wore it until the sleeves were ragged, then kept it thinking I would one day tear it apart and use it for a pattern to make a new one. That’s how much I loved this coat. This morning I found it in one of my storage closets downstairs. For some reason, I just can’t bear to throw it away even though I haven’t worn it for probably 10 years.
So, what’s the oldest piece of clothing in your closet? Shoes count!
Pretty Pretty Bang Bang 
I’ve been purging a lot recently…but here’s what I came up with, adn each peice represents a very specific point in my personal history:
1 pair Doc Martens bike boots with golden gargoyles embroidered on the ankles.
1 ivory silk/beaded dress I wore to a Greek formal while at Drury in the mid-80’s
1 couture ball gown from when I dated the aerospace millionaire
3 sets of beautiful silk negligee that I received as bridalshower gifts nearly ten years ago and never wore, but never gave away.
A down coat my dad wore in the 1970s that I took to college with me and never returned. Its brown and ugly, but it fits and I can’t part with it.
Tells an interesting story, give recent events in my life!!
YOU own Doc Martens with gargoyles on them?! These I must see.
…and you thought YOU were tough with your Fryes 😉 See, there are parts of my life you haven’t seen yet…I AM AN ENIGMA!
The penny loafers go back to 10th or 11th grade; I have a Charles & Diana souvenir Tshirt from 1980. A burgundy corduroy skirt from 9th grade — wore it in college, though I couldn’t even get a leg into that waist I’m guessing. A long grey wool coat circa 1987; it’s very plain, tailored and really hasn’t aged. However, I now live in Houston where it will never be cold enough to wear. A pair of Mia combat-look boots from 1989 (?). Shoes that I wore to prom, shoes from my wedding, a certain pair of teal bridesmaid shoes … all size 5 1/2 or 6 when today I wear a 6 1/2 or 7. You figure it out.
This list is not comprehensive. Yet I get rid of a ton of stuff. Please don’t connect the dots … or look inside my closet. I discourage my husband from thinking too hard about this equation.