Wardrobe Survivors

Please enjoy this guest post from Annie of Streatstyle.

I realised the other day that hardly anything in my wardrobe is older than about two years. Since moving to Ireland from Paris in 2009, I’ve given away or discarded a lot of clothes, either because they no longer fit me or simply because I never wore them. It’s kind of made me realise how disposable my wardrobe is, and how I really need to make wiser choices when shopping. I’ll be turning 25 in October, and so as I move into my late twenties, I should start thinking more about investment pieces rather than throwaway stuff that won’t suit me in 18 months’ time.

I do, however, have two items that have stayed with me for a very long time. They’ve become classic items in my collection, still in great condition, so versatile, and definitely amongst my favourite pieces. I call them my Unexpected Wardrobe Survivors, because when I bought them all those years ago, I had no idea that they’d last me so long and that I’d continue to wear them eight or ten years later.

The first is a dress I bought from Bay Trading Co. when I was about 14. It’s black with tiny white polka dots, and a ruched sweetheart neckline. It’s so flattering and timeless, and I always feel great when I wear it. It’s the perfect date night dress because it’s very flattering but still classy, and needs very little else to make it work. I usually just wear it with a dainty necklace or a bright red belt cinched in under the bust. Sometimes I’ll fold it under and wear it as a top with jeans. I’ve had this dress for ten years and it still fits me like a dream! The dots are starting to fade on some parts of the dress, especially the sleeves and the derrière, but considering it’s a cheap nylon/polyester dress, its staying power is very impressive.

The other item, that has survived eight years and three countries, is this pair of black and white brogue heels. I bought them from Zara for £55, which at the time was sooooo expensive (I was 17). I had originally bought them for a wedding outfit, but they soon became a favourite for everyday wear, too. They’re so comfortable and the heel is the perfect height. I wear them with dresses or with jeans, in summer or in winter. They’re still in pretty good condition, which is amazing considering they’re white, but they’ve definitely been through the wars, enduring more than a couple of visits to the cobbler (actually they’re probably due another one soon).

These two items are very symbolic of the kind of style I’ve loved since I was a teenager: monochrome, classic, and sexy, with a little bit of masculine charm, and a little bit of retro glamour. Looking at my wardrobe now, I wonder which pieces will still be there in five, six, seven years. I’ll be in my early thirties by then, so it’ll definitely be interesting to see what goes the distance.

What are your Unexpected Wardrobe Survivors?