Last year I had coffee with a reader who is friends with Lady Bracknell. Lady Bracknell is a long term reader, some time commenter and old friend of Lady Melbourne and was the one to take the photos you see of me here.
I’m wearing a dress that belonged to Mother Melbourne well before the term ‘boho’ had entered fashion consciousness. The last time I blogged it the reaction was mixed, but I love it for a whole range of reasons- the colour, the fabrication, the classic 1970s style and of course the fact that it belonged to my mum.
Do you have clothing that you wear for sentimental reasons? I have a wardrobe full of dresses and the like that I’ve kept over the years because of the meaning it holds for me. The shoes that I bought and wore to my first graduation, the dress I wore on my 21st birthday, the vintage brocade ball gown I wore at 17 to my first formal. The list goes on and on and even though I don’t get so much wear out of some pieces these days I will never be able to let them go.
24 comments
Some of my favourite clothing items in my wardrobe are from my mum. Her style was effortlessly chic and classy and the best part is that when i wear them out they are unlike anything out there. The dress looks sensational!
Mother Melbourne has great style, style certainly is an inherited trait!
xx
So Lady, love your style’s…
I have a dress that used to be my mother’s, an outrageously colourful ’90s sundress she wore many times when I was little. The material on the back has become threadbare but I cannot bring myself to get rid of it (even Mum has suggested I throw it out!) simply because of the childhood memories of Mum in this dress. There’s another of hers I have that I don’t think I’ll ever wear, but for me has wonderful memories of her wearing it out, spraying some Anais Anais on her wrists before she left. I love how scents are so linked to our memories, and for these reasons there are many items in my wardrobe I will never part with.
Love it. I always encourage my friends to have 70s parties just so I can don my mum’s old dresses. She had a fab range of them including a brilliant glittery zebra print number with a massive slit up one leg! Any excuse to wear that:)
What a pleasure to see these gorgeous photos after such a time. Rather good, even if I do say so myself. And you, Lady M, look as lovely in the outfit as Mother Melbourne did so many decades ago. And I should know. I was there!
As an eco stylist, I’m so happy that you have shared this on your blog…BUT…. sentimental has some rules…it must be withing your colour (most importantly & style range & fit perfectly! You look great in it!
I think our moms new it all! They were the trylly iconic women of an era of simple and chics outfits
I’m in my mid 30’s and have been saving special things (mostly dresses) since my teens. I call it The Archives and I’m so happy to have a little girl to pass these things onto. I hope she loves them.
I must be the only one who hates hoarding. My rule is if I have not worn it for 12 months, then off to the op shop it goes.
I love this article Lady M. I also love wearing things people have given me or remind me of a happy time. We’re a sentimental bunch! x
I have a tiny pink silk bridesmaids dress by Mariana Hardwick from when I was around 5. There’s even a matching floral headband. Better hope I have daughters. x
I’m the same. I have the dress I wore to my 21st, my Year 12 Graduation shoes and my flower girl dress I wore when I was in my aunts wedding…I was 8 years old!! I couldn’t throw it away!!
Hi Lady M, I’m just the same, there are some pieces that I just can’t bring myself to put in my 6 monthly op-shop drop. I recently put on a velvet blazer that I have had since I was 16, so over 10 years old. I have always been reluctant to part with it as it was purchased in the Netherlands and when I wear it I get that feeling of the time, the place and the excitement being a 16 year old in Europe.
Hi Lady. I adore the dress. You must feel wonderful in it knowing your mum wore it. If it was me I would feel so close to her every time I wore it. My mother died when I was 7 and its a shame her clothes were not kept as she had a beautiful style as does Mother Melbourne. Enjoy your day. Jo
Love that you still keep clothes for sentimental reasons! I tend to do that too, it is hard to clear out my closet as I always remember the good times I’ve had wearing each item!
AwayFromTheBlue.blogspot.com.au
Yes! Clothes and accessories are the best kind of mementos! A pair of shoes/earrings/a dress hold so much more sentiment than a drink coaster or a ticket stub! (Call it wardrobe scrapbooking 😉
Your dress is absolutely stunning, as is that stellar necklace!
Yes, there are a few items I will never get rid of I suspect. I have a long black coat that I have worn with all sorts of styles, but it suits the Gothic look the best. I absolutely adore it and have not seen anyone out with the same coat. I am sure more were made, but it is nice that it is a bit unusual so I don’t see it everywhere.
I like the way the dress above looks, very nice!
I have a beautiful set of French ivory silk knickers and camisole, with hand made lace, that I brought with my first real paycheck when I was 17. $200, it was a fortune back then but it was something I had always dreamed of owning and I adored them and felt very glamorous. Now days I’d have a hope in hell of getting into them, but they are a work of art and I could never throw them away.
Absolutely agree. I discovered my Year 10 formal dress in the back of my wardrobe only yesterday that I cannot handle throwing out, and love wearing a dress my Mum has held onto from the 70’s. There is something very lovely about wearing a sentimental item.
Stunning photos as always .
Emilie xx
Oh my gosh, when i read the title of this blog, the song from that Tip Top ad with all the kids doing a play popped into my head! Hahahahaha
Oh my, these photos of you are gorge! Fantastic colour on you, perfect accessories & shoes. Great hair, as always.
I’ve kept the dress I wore on my first date with my boyfriend, since then my style has changed, but I still can’t bring myself to give the dress away.
Gems x
I must be the “Queen of clothes hoarding” LOL
I have so many that have sentimental value it’s rather sad really *sigh*
love the dress in this pic wow!