My husband and I looked at some old photos of ourselves last night.
I'll admit it, it might have made me feel like crying just a bit. It's depressing to see the aging process taking over.
About the dress…my Grandma made me this dress when I was in my early twenties. She was an excellent seamstress. I only wish I'd inherited a bit of her magic with fabric. As it was I barely passed my Home Ec class where I had to sew my own wrap skirt. I still remember how frantic I was about it, asking my Mom to help me finish it.
This is me wearing the famous dress in our apartment in Nice the evening before I had to return to Canada. I would have been 24. You can see how tanned I used to be all the time and now how I've paid the price with loads of freckles and sun spots galore. At the time I didn't believe I'd live past the ripe old age of 40 so I didn't care how much sun I got.
Ah yes…I was a bit naive and stupid but that's what youth is all about.
At bit of a back story as to why I was in France… I was studying French in Montpellier on my own when I went to visit girlfriends in Nice. We went out partying and ended up meeting my husband-to-be at a bar. Ah the early 90's …what a brilliant time!
And this is me 23 years later wearing the same dress…not because I'm going out in it, but I tried it on for fun to see if it still fit. It is a lycra/cotton mix so it's kind of a cheat saying it still fits but whatever. I could never get rid of this dress because it was the last thing my Grandma ever sewed for me.
And just cause I like my hair in this shot… at least my hair isn't aging too badly. Thanks to monthly visits to the hair salon.
This is not the oldest dress of mine that I've kept. I have my high school graduation dress that I wore when I was sixteen and it still fits.
Do you hang onto sentimental pieces in your wardrobe? If so, what is the oldest piece you've kept and why?
Linking up with: Visible Monday , Sunday Style, Yolo Mondays, Watch What I'm Wearing Monday Mingle GFC Collective Blog Hop My Style Thursdays Favourite Things Monday Bloom Sami's Shenanigans
I haven’t been able to say anything “still fits” for decades. Way to go girl!!!!! You still look awesome! 😀
You look gorgeous and the dress still fits you perfectly ! I loved this post, so original and a bit emotional, great ! My grandma also made me some clothing items, you know ! Loving your blog, just added you to my Bloglovin lists of blogs so I can check for new posts. Also the Zara post was so interesting !. Kisses from Italy
Fashion and Cookies
Fashion and Cookies on Facebook
Bloglovin
Suzanne, WOW! This post makes me wish I’d kept something…but nothing would fit from my younger years. So what would be the point? Okay, I’m over that now. You’ve always looked so pretty and healthy in your posts. I don’t think you did yourself any harm back in the sun-baking days.
You’re gonna have to do a How I stay fit post.
Sue xo
Cool Suzanne ! You should be proud you can fit into those cloths. Not many people can say that. You still look like that young girl !
Such a good idea for a post. I think you look beautiful. ( I want your stylish hair!) The 90’s were such great times. I have kept many items because they are attached to special memories.
blue hue wonderland
Oh, wow!I can’t fit into most of the clothes from two years ago. It’s amazing that you can fit into your high school clothes. What’s your secret? Unfortunately I haven’t kept any clothing for sentimental value. Growing up in Lithuania, in one of those matchbox-sized soviet apartments, we couldn’t hold on to too many thing that were no longer useful. However, I did keep some of my favorite German dolls, despite my mom’s multiple attempts to get rid of them. I think I will never be able to part with them. I can even remember their names. Is that weird?
OMG, Suzanne.. you still fit into that dress after 23 years?! Wow!!! There’s so many wows in this post, the fact that you lived in Nice (I love Nice!!) is another. I had my fair share or naivety.. I wish I used more SPF back then too and moisturize! And now, sigh.. It is sad when we look back at how slim and cute 😉 we were those days but I believe we are still cute! For 40 year plus women we are damn cute actually 🙂 You definitely look cute in this dress and seriously wow!
GREETINGS FROM DUBAI
MRS JACK OF ALL TRADES (a fashion and life-style blog)
http://mrsjackofalltradesdaily.blogspot.ae/
Thanks for stopping by Val : )
Well I didn’t mention that I was also a manager of a tanning salon and would “bake” daily for 40 minutes for at least 2 years, maybe more. For a natural blond with sensitive skin I can see now all the harm it did, especially on my legs and chest.
I’ll have to think about that suggestion for the fitness post. I don’t consider myself very knowledgable in that regard but I do make an effort and have for a long time now. That is probably part of the reason I can still fit into my old clothes.
You are too kind Hazel : )
I don’t think that is weird at all.
In fact I think it’s wonderful.
Certain childhood memories are so special that they stay with you your whole life.
I love that.
I wish I had more memories of being a kid. They can be an escape from adulthood to when times were simpler and life was full of wonder.
Yes living in Nice was nice LOL. I actually did prefer Montpellier to Nice though.
Thanks for the kind remarks.
I have to say I was a bit wary about putting these photos up but we need to own our lives, then and now. This is a bit of therapy for me ; )
Your hair suits you perfectly.
Thanks Trish : )
The dress still looks great on you! The oldest clothes I’ve kept are my wedding dress (it’s actually just a nice, cream dress that I’ve considered using again) and one other nice dress, which is now too tight around the middle. So they’re only about 16 and 17 years old, but my waist is never going to get much thinner now!
It was fun seeing the old picture and hearing a little more of your story!
You look cute both then and now! The story behind that dress is so cool, and it’s also awesome that you can still wear it! I still have a pair of dress pants I wore when I was 12 (9 years old)–mostly because I rarely ever wear dress pants but I have to keep them in case I ever need to look professional. A few dresses from when I was 15-16…so 6-7 years. I hope I’m always able to fit my wedding dress! (It wasn’t a fitted style, so that gives me hope for many years to come!)
Wow. You know what? You have actually got better looking – if that is possible. Looks amazing and it is so fabulous you still fit into your dresses. What a great post. Thanks.
Anything comparable for me would have been from the late 60s! So no, no keepers like that one. You look amazing in that dress, and better now than then!
You are living proof that a great stylist can make even a nostalgic classic look brand new.
Please don’t be too concerned about the ageing process. Really, it beats all the other alternatives. And wonderful things happen as you age and after you get there! You’ll love it, I promise!
ooh, I’d love to see a photo of your wedding dress : )
Okay…you have me beat. There is no way I’d ever be able to fit into anything I wore when I was 12. I was super skinny and had no hips…those all came after 14.
Do you ever think you will wear your wedding dress again?
Shall I send you a cheque or just email you the cash? ; P
Dang! I would have LOVED to have seen some of the stuff from the late 60’s.
That is true that the alternative to ageing isn’t much of a choice.
You need to do a post on all the things to look forward as we age. Then I can print it out for my office to look at when I get melancholic for my lost youth.
WOW, you look incredible, in fact I agree with Charlie, you look better in the dress now. Way to go girl! I also like your hair style much more now than 24 years ago. The oldest piece of clothing I have is my wedding dress (26 years old). I put it on every anniversary just to make sure it still fits, I guess its my way of keeping motivated.
that’s a good question…i don’t know if i kept any of my old things. i do have to say, though, that i think you look better now. you are still gorgeous and are rocking that dress!!
That dress still looks amazing on you!
i can’t believe that dress is over 20 years old.
I love it and you can still totally rock it – i love the colors and print on you!
xo
ola
http://www.stylesbyola.com
You and your dress look stunning 23 years after. When i was 24 i was in France too. Alas 23 years after i neither kept my lycra dresses, nor the french husband. Neither french dresses, nor the lycra husband. They didn’t fit anymore. But we won’t cry, will we? We are too young for that now. :-)))
you and the dress wow