It must be a girl thing
I can remember the origin of nearly every piece of clothing I have ever owned. I discovered this amazing ability as I was looking through a photo album my mother made me for Christmas last year. The cover is a photo of me in 2nd grade wearing a homemade red high neck blouse with white smocking. I clearly remember pouring through Butterick catalogue looking for the pattern.
Next page and it's 1980 and I'm wearing a blue peasant skirt, knee length with three layers of complementing calico material separated by a blue ribbon. Peasant skirts were very popular at the time. I think my sister made it without a pattern (she's very talented my sister).
There's a photo of me at my parents 25th wedding anniversary. I'm in a white lace Gunne Sack dress we bought at the factory outlet in San Francisco. It was $25; I bought it with my babysitting money. A photo at the Russian River — I'm wearing white and blue running shorts (Mervyns). A photo with my grandmother in Cleveland, I'm in a woolly jumper (Macys); next photo and I'm in cropped jeans and a linen blouse (Marshalls); a photo with my Belgian cousin Josipa at Cliff House in San Francisco. I'm wearing long khaki shorts (The Gap), a white T-shirt (also The Gap) with a denim shirt tied around my waist. The demin shirt was from my first tech company and it had the company logo on the right lapel; we wore them to trade shows.
It's uncanny. I can't remember what I had for breakfast or how many playdates I've arranged for the week, but I can look through this album and tell you the origin of every piece of clothing I'm wearing.
I'm sure hubby has no idea of the origin of his clothes. First of all, he'd have a hard time telling one khaki trouser and blue shirt from another. Second, I buy his clothes!
It must be a girl thing.
A Modern Mother | 1st Dec 09
TooMany — yes, talented, wish I could put it to some use!
TooManyHats | 1st Dec 09
LOL – you are very talented. I have that ability, but maybe not as well honed as yours 🙂
A Modern Mother | 1st Dec 09
Lisa — did you say headband?
Iota | 30th Nov 09
Yup, a girl thing.
Lisa | 30th Nov 09
Men reading this will freak! Much as my boyfriend couldn’t understand why women fancy Edward Cullen, so would he find it completely unfathomable that we store such memories! I had a peasant skirt around 1980 too. I loved it. Perhaps it was the same one – it had a matching blouse and waistcoat and… wait for it… headband! Still like peasant skirts come to think of it…
A Modern Mother | 30th Nov 09
Rosie — a scary thought indeed
Crystal– yes!
Vic — and you can still fit in it? well done.
Liz — yes, it is
Liz (LivingwithKids) | 30th Nov 09
Such a cute photo. I’ve always prided myself on my photographic memory – I can see whole scenes as they happened. But ask your bloke what you were wearing at a key moment and they’ll look at you blankly. It’s a compliment. I guess.
Vic | 30th Nov 09
Definitely a girl thing, although I’m not sure I could tell you much about the clothes I had when I was under 10 because my mum bought them all.
That said, I could tell you exactly how old I was when I bought most of my current wardrobe – the worrying thing is I’ve had the oldest piece since I was 14!
Crystal Jigsaw | 30th Nov 09
Perhaps it is a Girl thing – but it’s also wonderful memories which have stuck in your mind, maybe without you even realising.
CJ xx
Rosie Scribble | 30th Nov 09
Ooh, I’m the same. I remember the origin of most of my clothes and all the clothing mistakes I have made stick out more than anything else. I think it’s a girl thing too, most girls love fashion, and thank goodness we do. Can you imagine if men chose what they wanted us to wear?!!
A Modern Mother | 30th Nov 09
Experimental — now all I have to do is buy the book!
Antonella | 30th Nov 09
Great picture. You look so sweet. Like your husband, I do not remember the origins of my clothes, unless I’ve bought them recently. I do remember everything about my handbags and shoes though!!! Have a nice week. Ciao. A.
Las Vegas UK Mums | 30th Nov 09
My mom made my clothes and was also excellent at making/decorating cakes – makes me feel like a poor specimen of a mother for just buying everything at the store! : )
A Modern Mother | 30th Nov 09
Pippa – there’s something in this, I’m sure, not sure what though…
Pippa | 30th Nov 09
I never thought about it and here I was about to say, No not me when I looked at a few photos just to make sure…. turns out I do, and I remember the price of a few bits too!
A Modern Mother | 30th Nov 09
Mad House — yes my mum made many of my clothes too, mainly to save money. I know realise how much time that must have taken! (I am one of five children)
Nappy — Maybe it will come over here… I need to go to the theatre more, lucky you being so close to NY.
Mwa — ha! poor you
Geeky — I forgot you live in SF!
Geekymummy | 30th Nov 09
A girl and a gay thing. My friend stan remembers the origins of each identical pair of black gucci loafers he owns! Love the picture, you are adorable!
Mwa | 29th Nov 09
Must be a girl thing. We got horrible clothes, all the time. But I also remember where I got them.
nappyvalleygirl | 29th Nov 09
Totally true.
In fact, I’ve just booked tickets to go and see an off-broadway show written by Nora Ephron – called Love, Loss and What I Wore. Says it all, really.
TheMadHouse | 29th Nov 09
A real girl thing, enhanced I think by the fact my mum made most of my clothes until I was 16!! I remember things by the patterns, the fabric and even the ric rac. I so have to get some of the old photo albulms from my mum
A Modern Mother | 29th Nov 09
Victoria — yes that’s it! They do reflect who we were at the time. I’ve turned into The Gap!
A Modern Mother | 29th Nov 09
Insomniac — uncanny!
Victoria Riedl | 29th Nov 09
It IS a girl thing. When I recall any story or situation, I always remember not only what I was wearing but also what everyone else was wearing too. Clothes represent a moment. They reflect who we were at that time – the things we liked, the music we listened to. They are an expression of ourselves and I think that’s why us girls remember the details so well. It’s our willingness to express ourselves. Lovely post, which has got me reaching for my old photo album for a reminisce.
Insomniac Mummy | 29th Nov 09
Definitely a girl thing! I can do it too!
Even of I don’t have a photo prompt I can tell you what I wore to certain parties/events/weddings. If I have a stand out memory of an event I’ll probably even rememeber what others were wearing too.
😀