Today #OOTD — Stories Stitched Into Clothes

OOTD — Stories Stitched Into Clothes

Today’s outfit starts with my Barbour cord hat — the one I bought from John Lewis last year because my Barbour & Gianni coat (unbelievably) doesn’t come with a hood. The tartan lining is my favourite part; I probably love the inside more than the outside. I pinned on a vintage fly‑fishing brooch too, because Gone Fishing and Paul Whitehouse are basically comfort TV for my soul.

At Goodwood Revival this weekend, I saw a Zandra Rhodes poster — perfect timing, because my top today is Zandra Rhodes. It was made for Topshop in the nineties, bought brand new by my friend, kept for decades, and then gifted back to me when I started doing OOTD. Her top, my top, vintage with a full circle story.

That’s what I love about vintage and charity shop finds: everything should have a story. And if it doesn’t, you can imagine one — or give it one. Clothes shouldn’t just be clothes. They should come with memory, meaning, and a little strapline of their own.

The Zandra Rhodes Story (from Kerry)

This top is a Zandra Rhodes piece that was created for Topshop in the nineties. My friend Kerry bought it brand new — full price — and kept it for decades. She never quite worked out how to wear it, or maybe she saved it for a special moment, but what she did do was hold onto it.

Years later, when I started doing Outfit of the Day, she gave it back to me. So now it’s her top, my top, Zandra Rhodes, vintage with a story — bought new, lived quietly, and recycled into my life as something with memory and meaning.

Footnote -

It took me a few weeks to work out how to actually wear the top, because she couldn't remember and it wasn't obvious no where there any photos of her wearing the top.

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