Blast from the Past: Would You Still Wear These Today?
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I was thinking (during my dental cleaning today, whee), how I'm always amused to stumble on older pieces that we've featured here on Corporette… sometimes they still look good, or I remember liking them. Other times, the styling or the featured piece of clothing is just… fug.
Anyway, I started thinking… it might be fun to share some previously featured pictures with you guys, and discuss — would you wear these items today? If so, how would you style them in 2024? If you've replaced these things in your closet, what are you wearing instead of them?
First up, some of the things we featured on June 18 over the years…
In 2014…
This “herringbone linen jacket” from J.Crew was our guest poster's pick for the workwear report (I was out on maternity leave and K from the now defunct blog, “Work That Bump,” was guest posting that week!) — as she noted at the time:
I think it would look particularly nice with a cobalt blue skirt (channeling Kat today) and some black pumps. There’s also a matching skirt if you want to make a suit of it.
OK, I'm dying laughing over the cobalt comment. She's not wrong, though…
As for the jacket… even though we're in prime “lady jacket” season, something about the jacket feels not great to me. The odd cuff length? the black and white edging details? I don't think it looks dated, but it's also doesn't really look current, either.
What We'd Recommend Instead Today:
Some of our latest favorite Chanel-style jackets for work in 2025 include these, but in general check more jacket-y options like Chanel, IRO, L'Agence, and Veronica Beard, as well as more sweater-y options like St. John, and ba&sh. J.Crew and Nic & Zoe offer a bunch of both kinds, in regular and plus sizes. On the budget side of things, check out CeCe, Tuckernuck (XXS-XXL), J.Crew Factory, and Mango. (Also check out our roundup of the best lady jackets for work!) Nordstrom has a bunch in all price points!
In 2012…
This houndstooth blazer was from Smythe, and although things aren't quite so shrunken anymore, I could still see this being relevant. The white top below it looks a bit odd though to my modern sensibilities… I think the same blazer could be really cute styled with wide leg pants and a bodysuit or fitted t-shirt.
What We'd Recommend Instead Today:
Shrunken blazers are coming back in 2025! J.Crew has a suit featuring a shrunken blazer, and J.Crew Factory has always carried schoolboy blazers in both cotton and a sweater knit. On the pricier side, this classic blazer from Smythe has a very fitted look, and L'Agence often has blazers and sweater blazers with a shrunken fit. This asymmetric blazer from Smythe is also great!
In 2011…
The sandals and the dress definitely seem to be of an age, don't they? It's an interesting question whether, if someone found this Gap dress in a thrift shop in mint condition, whether they'd eagerly snatch it up.
I've never been a beige girl, and the black neck detail isn't really my taste, so I'd pass, but… what say you, readers?
For slightly more detail (I forgot to read my own description, ha) — this was a Gap collaboration with “the finalists of the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, designers Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava,” and was $88 back in the day. It seems like the brand Vena Cava was sold a year or two after this and the designers went their separate ways.
Mayock is still a member of the CFDA but now has an interior design brand. Meanwhile, Buhai has her own line of jewelry, which looks lovely.
What We'd Recommend Instead Today
If you want an easy summer dress, I'd go for one with pockets… some of our latest favorites include these options:
As of 2024, some of the best work dresses with pockets include M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew, Lands' End, Elie Tahari, and Boden… Some of our latest favorites are below! If you're on a budget, Quince has a great basic, this business casual Amazon dress has pockets, and Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets! Both Amazon and Etsy make it pretty easy to find dresses with pockets, as well.
In 2008…
I'm 90% sure this blouse was either Brooks Brothers or Thomas Pink. I still do like a pinstriped blouse, but I think the sleeves/cuffs make it look a bit dated, as well as the pale pink manicure. I do like the double-collar look (or a white edging, perhaps)? I'm a bit surprised to see that there were buttons; back in the day I thought I should be collecting cufflinks.
What We'd Recommend Instead Today
Crisp, collared blouses are a classic… these are some of the options readers have sung the praises of over the years.
Hunting for a crisp, collared button-front blouse? Some of our longtime favorites as of 2025 include Ann Taylor and J.Crew; iron-free options from Brooks Brothers and Foxcroft, and we'd splurge on Boss. Also check out our DIY options for gaping blouses — and note that if you just want a collar beneath a sweater, you can always go for a fake collar instead.
These are all great examples of why I want to spend just enough on clothing for it to be well made and last me 5-10 years depending on the piece, but not so much that when something inevitably looks dated, it feels like a poor ROI!
Exactly. I think this is telling me that ten years is about the maximum amount of time that clothing should be kept; it just looks “off” after that.
The 3 you chose as still in are the worst ones. The Smythe jacket looks like a toddler shrunk it and is highly not appropriate in most offices.
I bought that 2014 J. Crew suit! Every time I wore it, my husband said it looked like I was wearing a track suit. I got rid of it several years ago.
wow that pinstriped one – it’s the kind of thing i would have thought timeless at the time though
I am not a fashionista at all. To the extent that I’d probably wear several of these items today and not realize they looked off. This isn’t a fact I’m proud of, but I know I struggle to see fashion evolution and see why a garment looks dated.
That said, I absolutely do not believe that timeless clothing exists. Maybe some jewlery can make the cut. But clothing and home decor just change.
I think the linen jacket would still be fine, but would pass on the rest both then and now. I don’t think shrunken or oversized things, or non functional cuffs are ever timeless. Nor is anything color blocked or mixed media. And that tan dress looks like the dreadful J Crew years where the solution to any design challenge was to stick beading on it, pair it with a big plastic necklace or pair it with an inappropriate evening fabric.
I think the linen jacket would look better broken up with some other pants. With the skirt, it’s more of a specific look.
Great feature – look forward to more!
Agreed, this is very fun.
These all look dated because they have some exaggerated “novelty” feature. On the other hand I have several well-fitted sheath dresses that I got at least 10 years ago that are indistinguishable from what you are showing today.
These all look dated because they have some exaggerated “novelty” feature. On the other hand I have several well-fitted sheath dresses that I got at least 10 years ago that are indistinguishable from what you are showing today.
Buhai’s jewelry line feels very inspired (that may be too generous a description) by Elsa Peretti…