Fun Monday # 11 What's in your wardrobe !!!

I'm delighted to be hosting Fun Monday this week. I can't wait to delve into your wardrobes and drawers (ha ha no wise cracks).

Your challenge is to find a long forgotten, treasured garment or the fashion faux pas and share it:

'I would like to see a photo (if possible) of a vintage item of clothes- it might be something that has been in your wardrobe for ever, that you can't bear to part with and the story behind it (funny, sad, sentimental I know how creative you all are). If you are someone who regularly de-clutters your wardrobe every season don't worry you can tell us about any current favourite item of clothes'.

I expect you have gathered that I am not one for throwing much out. I keep older stuff for doing housework, decorating and gardening. Then there are the seasonal clothes and things I only use for holidays and a stack of stuff that I had for work. As it's only six months since I retired all this is in good condition but I no longer need to dress up and I confess to slobbing around at home. The remainder is too good to throw out and if I loose weight I might get into it but of course this rarely happens. This theme has been at the back of my mind since I posted about clearing out my shoes for a charity appeal. Maybe after this I will send some clothes to the charity shop.

Do you remember Mary Quant of the mini-skirt era. Well back in the January sales in 1966 when I was pregnant with my eldest daughter Sam and very poor I was thrilled when I found a Mary Quant cape-mac. I can't remember how much I paid for it I think it might have been around £5 ($10) but the fact that it was designer and I could afford it was enough for me, plus a cape would nicely cover my fast expanding waist line. The fact that I probably looked hideous didn't even come into it. I could never bring myself to part with this because of the memories it holds of that time of my life. I convinced myself as it was vintage designer it might be worth more than I paid for it. I recently got Beccy to model it (with this post in mind) and I've now given her custody. Oh I also have a pair of gold MQ tights.

You know me I can never stop at one item:

I've still got long skirts and very dated evening wear from the 70's and 80's, a bag that is animal skin from the 60's quite unethical I know but we were less aware back then. I don't want to bore you to death and there are a lot of blogs to visit so I'll leave you with just a few more glimpses of things from my bulging wardrobes.

This is a real vintage item (oldest item of clothing in the house) that I picked up in a jumble sale it's an early Jaegar ladies swimsuit (I have actually contacted Jaegar as I'm hoping they can tell me when it was first on sale so that I can date it circa 1920's or 30's at a guess). Considering its age it's in very good condition and I couldn't model it as I am now far too Rubenesque for that !!

This is moi in my vintage nurses uniform, in 1962, which I still have as I didn't hand in when I left- well I needed a memento. I don't know how we managed to bend and lift in starched collars, caps and aprons.

This was my first ever negligee bought in 1965. Since early 80's it's been used to cover a dancing costume belonging to Sam and it's still in perfect condition. Well it was from a time when M&S really made clothes to last. Not at all practical but I remember feeling glamorous as I had never had anything so frivolous before (it looks so frumpy 42 years on) .

I know my first marriage failed but my dress is still hung in the wardrobe all faded and full of ironmould- says it all really. However at the time of this photo in 1965 I was very happy and blissfully unaware of what lay ahead. Life is full of memories both good and bad and I rejoyce in the fact that this marriage brought me two wonderful daughters whom I love very much.

This is the shawl (knitted by someone I worked with) and the dress both my girls were Christened in and I secretly hoped they might be used again but alas fashions change.

My final item of clothing is much more recent but it's a treasured T-shirt with a printed picture of me and Dillon. At the time he was my only grandchild so I was thrilled to get this as a Christmas present (1994). You can laugh at the hair I am.


Those who are willing to share their wardrobe secrets are:

Beccy peppermint tea (done)

Sam becks&posh (done)

Enidd Third Person Singular (done)

mjd The return of the White Robin (done)

Pamela The dust will wait (done)

Karmyn Dreaming What ifs (done)

Artist formerly known as purpleworms (House of Purpleworms) (done)

Steffi (done)

Swampwitch Anecdotes etc (done)

Stephanie mamadrama(done)

Min mamadrama(done)

Anvilcloud Raindrops(done)

Robin pensieve(done)

Bethany icecream mamma (done)

nikki (done)

Elenajane What she said too (done)

Dayna 2crazzie4u (done)

My4kids (done)

Frannie the tfamily syndicate (will be posting late she has family visiting so we've got something to look forward to) (DONE)

Sally Writes (done)

Vicki Living life and Catching light (not coming out to play this one but she has a nice post for today so still pop over)

Wendz A Bagguette on My table

Lisa the food snob

ktjrdn

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I'VE MISSED ANYONE.

POSTSCRIPT We have a host for next week so a big thank you to Amy w who will let us know the theme later in the week. So please check it out.