This Old Rag? Our lurking treasures…

‘There’s just something so refreshing about the idea of it…maybe because fashion is always on buying the next new thing, but this is about those old things that we love so much….’

What treasures do you have lurking in your closet? Things you never wear… but none the less gorgeous. Things you can’t simply give to the charity shop down the road… Things you love too much. Actually, I have a lot of them in my closet. It’s come up a lot for me in the past year, with all this financial worries, not buying as much as I used to, I still have this thing where the things in my closet are unworn… yet I still want for more.

A few weeks ago, I asked all of you to send me your ‘old rags’ I wasn’t prepared for the response I got, there are just some gorgeous gems here. Mostly we hold on to the goods that have some sentimental value, either from shopping with a friend, or a super great find, a birthday party… to times from a past life. Some of us are holding onto the idea that maybe one day it will return, and some of us are hoping for that inspiration to one day arrive….

I really loved AsheMischief’s response to the concept of This Old Rag:

‘There’s just something so refreshing about the idea of it…maybe because fashion is always on buying the next new thing, but this is about those old things that we love so much….‘

ThatUnreliableGirl

I have two items that have been languishing in my closet for years. This first one has been hiding for almost 4 years and I’ve only just been game enough to wear it in the last few months! It literally took me 4 years to figure out how to layer it properly…how hard could it be to just wear a tank top underneath?!

This skirt however…worn once, never again, but I love it so. It’s puffy, it’s heavy and it’s made of really delicate vintage materials. It was insanely expensive, yet I have nowhere to wear it anymore! My cocktail party days are behind me, and I’m not quite game enough to wear it to any of the low-key events I attend nowadays. So instead, it hangs on my wall, a tribute to the bygone days of my disposable income.

…love Maegan

So, randomly, but after reading your post a couple days ago ..I found this dress in the “to sell on ebay” pile ..but haven’t for over 4 years!!  Not sure why I couldn’t part with it ..I just love it and it never fit right.  It’s vintage {tag says COCO California} I’m guessing 70′s …and I got it at a thrift shop.

I love the colors and pattern.
I couldn’t part with it because it was just too good to let go of.
I couldn’t wear it {in the past} because it was just too big ….but adding the belt made all the difference in the world ..{on top of the fact that oversized everything is finding it’s way back into mainstream chic again}.

DramatisPersonae

These boots were one of the few things my father bought me in the time between his divorce to my mother and our estrangement.  I was visiting him during high school, and I saw them at our local Journey’s store, on sale.  I begged for them, and he bought them.  I remember the sales guy being the most beautiful black man, with long perfect dreds and a great smile.  They were too big then, and they’re too big now (which makes me think vanity sizing is making my feet bigger).  If you look at the toes, you can see the beating that I gave them for five years of my life.  Kicking the gate to our home open and shut during snow fall.  Tore shoe laces that have never been replaced.  A ball loop, and I’m not sure how long it’s been on there.

I’ve worn them once in the past 5 years.  But I can’t bear to part with them, just like I can’t bear to part with my hot pink steel toed gripfast boots (they were my first credit card purchase ever).

SwanDiamondRose

The blazer is 80s, thrifted, the brand is Van Gogh [seriously], and it’s a western style argyle-ish thing with HUGE shoulders that aren’t really showing here. The scarf is vintage and thrifted and it doesn’t get out much even though I LOVE it. The bolero bow necklace is newly thrifted. And the ring is actually an 80s carebear ring with lipgloss in it from my Flickr friend nicolas cage vampire teeth. Jeans are APC. Boots are thrifted 80s Guess cowboy ankle boots. And 80s t is thrifted too.

I love it because I love the argyle style mixed with western and 80s. and it fits me just right through the hips.
I can’t part with it because some!day! I’ll impress the hell out of someone when I wear it. hehe.
The shoulders are SO BIG. This thing needs the right location.

Art Diva Studio

Why do I love it? This piece makes me happy just to look at: the colors, the diagonal cutouts, the giant buttons, everything!
Why can’t I part with it? It’s been sitting in my closet for about 2 years, and I can’t part with it mainly due to jealousy.1) Because I got it for $2 at my secret Salvation Army in Austin, TX that no one ever shopped at (which no longer matters anymore as that particular location has since closed, and also because I no longer live in Austin) 2) Quite simply, I don’t want anyone else to rock it.
Why I can’t wear it? It’s definitely very “me,” but it’s almost too bold. I’m a perfectionist: I wouldn’t want to pigeonhole it in an outfit with a bunch of other bright colors, yet it’s too slick to “dress down” with jeans… It’s like that puzzle piece you know goes somewhere, you just can’t find the right place.

Caitlin

I love lolita fashion. I love the mix of sweet and gothic and the creativity and romance of dressing up like a doll. I was attracted to the fashion because I feel that I can escape to another time.

I can’t part with them, even in this economy, because they will always be cute and lovely to me. They remind me that I am a princess everyday.

Lately, I don’t feel as inspired as I used to and feel that everyone is just repeating the same coordinates over and over again. I just need to wake up and realize that life is short and that I have to wear what I love.

Consume or Conusmed

The vintage home sewn dress is something I found at goodwill for $4.99 probably 6 or 7 years ago.

I love it because the print is beautiful and unique. The shape is very flattering to my ample hourglass figure. And the cut of this dress is simple, classic, and versatile. In theory, I could dress it up or down.

I can’t part with it because of the memory of finding it. I was thrifting with my then-roommate, Jeanne. She and I were amazed that we found an obviously home-sewn dress that was made exactly to the proportions of my body (at least 7 years ago… now it still fits but my body has changed slightly). I remember her remarking with disbelief that somewhere out there my body twin exists. And in an odd way, we both found that to be comforting.

I cannot wear it because I am stubborn. I am not sure that I still want to wear the dramatically contrasting but bold colors red and black, together. I went through a period of wearing those colors often, I feel like I am past it. I can’t wear it because I don’t think it looks as nice as it did 6-7 years ago, on my then-22 year old body. I can’t wear it because I haven’t yet fixed the “easily fixable” hem. If this flaw was slightly more obvious, it could pass as avant garde, but instead I have come to agree with my mother: it just looks messy.

Anouschca

This is the skirt that is taunting me. I’ve never actually worn it, except this one time to birthday party.
I bought it a while ago, thinking that I would wear it all the time but I can’t find a top to go with it.
In my mind I’ve made up all kinds of sets to go with the skirt, but usually when I put it on in the morning I catch myself thinking: “maybe tomorrow..”
I love it so much because of the high waist and the pattern (it’s so summery). I can’t get rid of it because I’m hoping to find the perfect top.

Style Symmetry

1. Why you love it - it is so pretty and unique!
2. Why you can’t part with it - I am determined to find a way to pull it off.
3. Why you can’t wear it - I have no idea how!!

❤ ❤ ❤

So my loves… do you have any ideas for these ladies? Do you have your own treasures lurking in the overstuffed closet?
Related post: Halloween in my closet