keeping a classic






so this is the third piece of vintage clothing that i own that i purchased new.
it is a part of my small wardrobe.
i believe i purchased this ann taylor halter dress in 1986.
i've kept it all these years b/c i thought it would never go out of style.






i wore it to a friends birthday luncheon the other day.
26 years later i think it is still current.
that is the beauty of classic design.







the simplicity of this label is a thing of beauty.

so lesson learned?  if you are cleaning out your closet and come across a classic.
keep it.  26 years later you won't have to go shopping.



be kind this weekend b/c it is just so much easier.

xxx
janet

72 comments

  1. you are both wise and gorgeous!

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  2. I'm with Catie, you are both wise and freaking gorgeous! Combined with your perfectly toned bod and fabulous good looks that dress is stunning! Have a fantastic weekend! xxx

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  3. You got that "make-me-look-thinner-and-curvier-in-all-the-right-places" pose down to a T!

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  4. What a stunning dress! I have to say I'm jealous that you are a size 2 :) Love the shoulder cut-so flattering!
    Jana

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  5. No, no, that's 26 years old? Best buy ever! And kudos to you for maintaining your figure, your arms, shoulder and waist are incredible.
    I've put on a few pounds and can't bear the thought of dieting but I can't afford a new wardrobe and can no longer button some things as I wear my clothes too flipping tight so I'm going to have go cut down to a ridic calorie amount as of Monday - groan.

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  6. You were absolutely right about it never going out of style. And I don't think I've ever seen anyone look better in a halter top.

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  7. That dress is truly classic, and the label! Ann Taylor made their clothes in the USA? Imagine. I really really wish they still did.
    I went back and read your small wardrobe post which I love.
    Have a great weekend Janet.

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  8. You were so right! You look wonderful. I definitely don't have any of my clothes from 26 years ago, and they definitely wouldn't fit me anyway!

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  9. So true classy lady . . . I liked this!

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  10. Lovely dress and you look beautiful! Have you always kept a small wardrobe or did you go through a time where you had packed closets and nothing to wear like a lot of women? :)

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    1. this is really the first time i've had such a small wardrobe. you can read the link in the post about it.

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  11. Great advice my beautiful friend! Happy weekend to you.
    xo~
    T

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  12. 2?! Oh God, if I didn't adore you and your blog, I'd hate you out of envy.
    I found a favorite shirt of mine from 30 years ago and I could only get the sleeve on up to my elbow.
    Sigh....
    But I'm working on THAT. (eating healthy for 1st time in my life).
    and when I get to the best weight for me, I'm only collecting classics.
    I hate you. - Cindi
    Oops! I meant - adore you. :D

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  13. Pretty dress, Janet. A little short for us oldies though I think :)

    S
    xo

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    1. Sorry, but I disagree-Janet, you look fabulous in that dress(and as long as you do, I say rock it!!) Thanks for reminding us to keep what you love and can (still) wear :)
      -Missone

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    2. sorry BB, I heartily disagree. Janet looks fabulous!!! Thanks for reminding us all about keeping things you love and can still wear-AND ROCK-
      -Missone

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    3. I really hate the words " too old' .. too old for what? Please

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    4. I rarely comment on blogs, but I love your sense of style and especially your lovely cottage.

      I strongly disagree with Beach Bungalow as well - who is to say what is too short for 'us oldies'? How presumptuous. I think you look fantastic Janet, and the dress is NOT too short. You look really wonderful in this classic dress.

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    5. Ha! To the knee or below, ladies. Janet and I are the same age, and we have the same knees ;)

      Love you, Janet!

      S
      xo

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    6. BB- Umm, sorry, but you don't have Janet's knees. Only Janet has Janet's knees. But how lucky are we to have someone on knee patrol, telling people in the blogosphere what they can and can't do?

      Janet- This is an incredible dress on you and my first thought was "Wow". Somehow it combines summer casual, basic black, sexy and simple. Quite a feat! I love your outfit posts- they are always inspiring.

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    7. SE- Have a heavenly pain-free day!

      S
      xo

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  14. That label makes me long for years gone by. Made in USA

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  15. You look so classy and your pictures are great! Just followed and look forward to reading more. Love the sound of your gardener's cottage. I love gardening and all things old and with a history.

    xoxo
    Lynn

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  16. Good buy and definitely a classic. You look lovely in it.

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  17. Janet,
    You look absolutely gorgeous! Perfect dress and a classic for certain. I have let go of so many great things...I'm not certain, but I may have had this exact dress from Ann Taylor. I was working at an Ann Taylor that was the first one in Phoenix at The Biltmore. I was just about to get married and before I started graduate school. In 1986 you had to wear dresses or skirts when working at Ann Taylor. I probably wore it a 1,000 times which is why I let it go. I do however wish I had all my old Joan and David shoes from AT. Love that label-made in USA!
    xo
    annie

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  18. Janet,

    You look so beautiful! I love how you always rock whatever outfit you have on. Simply classy and chic!

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  19. The perfect, classic summer dress.....

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  20. Perfection. You look very chic and elegant and are an inspiration. I've been purging my closet all week but there just a few special pieces by Issey Miyake, Comme Des Garcon, Jean Paul Gaultier and Azzedine Alaia that I have kept since the 80's and still get complements on. A well cut, well made classic can't be beat.

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  21. fabulous! janet you look stunning-! yes-yes-yes timeless classics never go out of style!
    xo
    shell

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  22. Truer words were never spoken. I just wish my clothes from 26 years ago still fit!

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  23. You look beautiful. I love the label, too. The simplicity and good ole' USA!

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  24. Dear Janet

    You look so pretty. I'm not into simple but I admire your look and how you own your own style. Are you watching the Lympics??? x

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  25. Wow! You are simply gorgeous! I bought a little vintage dress yesterday at the smallest thrift store and love it more than anything in my closet. I'll have to work on my pose though. :)

    talk to you soon ~

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  26. I never comment but am a faithful reader....I had to comment today because MEOW Janet! That dress is hot and looks amazing on you!!! Congrats on looking amazing!!

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  27. Oh how I love that dress! and I do so want to keep things simple! Why oh why do I keep wasting money on items that I impulsively buy and think will look great, yet when I get home have nothing that goes with it! Oh brother...is acknowledgement half the battle? hope so :-)

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  28. Classic, ageless, and with the wisdom of experience.
    So says one '...with a packed closet and nothing to wear'!
    Sad in many ways...those poor choices...that all seemed right in the moment.
    Drat!
    I'm hoping your influence will come by 'blog-mosis'!
    Beautiful on you! Absolutely classic and classy!
    xoxo, Chris

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    1. LOL! "blog-mosis" How wonderful!
      I am adopting that into my vocabulary. :)

      Thanks Chris!

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  29. Janet,

    Ditto on every comment!! You look amazing in that dress, whatever you do hang on to it! I used to shop at Ann Taylor all the time when I worked. They always had classic pieces.

    Linda
    xo

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  30. You look fabulous and the dress is a classic!
    I really wish that it would be possible to buy items that would hold for 25+ years today, but the quality of clothes is really bad, in general. I think most things start to pill, loose the shape or look worn out after just a few washes. I buy the same brands as I did 20 years ago and I think the quality was a lot better back then.
    I don't enjoy shopping for clothes and want to have a small wardrobe so I wish I could find items that would last forever. Or at least more than one season.

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  31. So elegant Janet. You look wonderful and I'm wondering how you had the foresight to buy such a classic dress in the 80's?

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  32. Janet, YOU are the classic here!! I have an entire waredrobe of classics that is over 30 years old, only problem is I'm no longer the same size!!!!

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  33. You look fab! I love this classic and it's made in the USA tag. Sad that these tags are few and far between these days.
    Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle is so important, on so many levels. You are such a positive example of the affects of eating healthy and making sure to take time to move each day...critical to maintaining such a lovely physique and the confidence to go with it. It only gets harder as we age and becomes particularly easy to lose grip on weight. Thanks for reminding me of the importance in making the extra effort each day to choose my health:)

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  34. That's a great dress and wow you look amazing.
    Seriously Janet you are an inspiration.

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  35. What a beautiful fit! You look fantastic all the way down to your toes. ;)

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  36. That is one beautifully cut dress, you look amazing. You nailed the Hepburn style of elegance.

    You have made me look at my upper arms. Oh dear. Do you lift hand weights to stay so toned? x

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  37. I have many articles of clothing that are twenty-plus years old. I just can't fit into them! I'm saving them for my daughters and granddaughters. Hopefully they'll appreciate them.

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  38. Janet, you look fantastic. Vegan and yoga must be a youth formula.

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  39. So slender! You could carry off New York City, dressed like that.

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  40. Janet,
    What I love most is that you exude and radiate happiness.
    That dress (on you) looks amazing.
    Curious, do you have any photos from 26 years ago?
    Larry is a great photographer too.
    pve

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    1. i have old photos but i'm not sure if i have any of me in this dress. for you, i'll look.:)

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  41. Wow, I don't know what's more amazing ... the fact that you were able to 'hang on' to an article of clothing for so long, or the fact that you can still wear a size 2, or were ever able to wear a size 2! When it comes to discarding things, I have few regrets. But I will forever regret getting rid of a few of my favorite 70's clothes, including a pair of cherished Frye boots than my now grown daughter would love to wear.

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    1. oh i hear you. i wish i had my frye cowboy boots i was married in. who knew that beat up old boots would ever be in style? i also mourn the loss of my chemin de fer jeans. the most perfect fitting jeans ever!

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  42. So classic. You always look fantastic. I was wondering, like pve above, it would be fun to see past and present photos! I receved my soap and body balm order in the mail this week. I love the soap, but the balm is a bit thick and grainy....not sure exactly how or where to use it....but the soap is great!

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    1. mine is thick too but not grainy. i will contact eco natural tomorrow and ask them about that. as far as it being thick, they told me that you only need a tiny bit and that it goes a long way.

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    2. i got a quick reply form econatural soaps. they said to contact them directly with any concerns. they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee policy, so go ahead and contact them with any concerns.

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    3. Oh no, no complaint just has a different texture.

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  43. Another comment, is it ok to have 2 in one day?
    Im not sure if this is within your area of expertise, but would love to know how to present myself so that i look better in photos. You always are in the most flattering poses. Maybe this is a topic for both you and your photog husband? I just have such a hard time with how i look in pictures.

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    1. catherine, neither one of us knows what we are doing. i'm not kidding.
      i will tell you that i've learned to try to keep my arms and feet somewhat together. does that make sense? i try to keep my arms along my body and my feet close together. not always, but those 2 things seem to help. we've also learned that the lighting is important. full sun washes the whole photo out so we try to be in the shade, that's why we always use the driveway. it's almost always shady and it's also super convenient. other than that, it really is just luck. but i'll ask larry if he has anything to add.:)

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  44. Your picture reminds me of those iconic shots of Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O and Brigitte Bardot. It is remarkable to me that often their photos could have been taken yesterday. The clothing and hair are timeless. You have that quality and I enjoy seeing your "vintage" items. And to be able to wear something that was purchased in 1986 is admirable.

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  45. SO beautiful. There are a few pieces like that I have parted with and really regret. It is hard sometimes to know what to keep and what to toss. I am reading a good book right now about excess. It is called 7. I am so guilty.

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  46. Janet - you are absolutely gorgeous, and the dress looks amazing on you! What a wise decision you made in keeping it all these years. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)

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  47. Absolutely fabulous and my favorite cut, the halter. The shoulders have it and will continue to keep it long after other parts have lost interest in looking so good.

    Though you seem to have it all going on.

    xo jane

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  48. You look amazing in this vintage dress and a size 2...WOW!!

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  49. Wise andg orgeous. Yep. Those words describe you petfectly.-Suzanne on Illinois

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  50. What a fabulous dress! I am all about the classic looks and this one is perfect. I can hear Rod Stewart singing, "You wear it well". Apologies if the song means something else because I just don't know, I think the line itself is apropos.

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  51. Also a timeless haircut. Hair, after all, is the crown jewel of accessories. Love your blog. Particularly the photos of your chic decor and gorgeous roses. What a great blog, seems I was the last one to find it!

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  52. Hi Janet - ......that straw bag you always carry looks perfect for daily use. Would you consider giving us a close-up of your bag and the stuff you carry in it? I'm sure the "stuff" is pared down/essential and would inspire us to do the same.

    BTW, since discovering your excellent blog I need an easy way to go back to the start and look at ALL your posts. I'm into November of your first year and wonder if there is an easier way to do it rather than constantly having to click-click-click. Could all your posts for a month be on one long page or is that an impossible feat? Thanks for all you are doing for us! - Jan

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    1. here is a close up of it. http://thegardenerscottage.blogspot.com/2011/03/copy-kate.html

      all that is in it is a wallet a small bag for lipstick and dental floss and my sunglasses.

      i don't know of any other way to read a blog fully. i have to do exactly what you are doing when i find a blog i want to read from the start. blogger does not make an easier way for it to be done, sorry!

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kindness is never out of style.

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