My prom outfit is even more on-trend 15 years later –

Marketing manager Claire Mckinley isn’t one for fast fashion – in fact, some of her favourite outfits are decades old. The 32-year-old says that although she’s far from a hoarder, she does like to invest in quality clothing that will last and often re-wears dresses, jumpsuits and skirts she’s had hanging in her wardrobe since she was a teenager.

Last year, when she was invited to present a prize at the No. 1 Magazine Amazing Women Awards, she knew she wouldn’t need to pop to the high street for something new as she already had a very special little black dress.

Claire, from Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, explained: “When I was asked to present an award, I knew I had to wear something really nice, so I chose this strappy black dress, which I actually bought 15 years ago from House of Fraser in Glasgow. “I bought it to wear to my leavers’ dance and, at the time, it was quite different to the dresses my friends had purchased – I think it’s more on trend now than it was then. “I always loved it as it was so simple, and I kept it because I knew I would wear it again.

“I do clear out my wardrobe quite often but I also like to invest in good quality clothes that will last, so that does mean I keep things for longer.” Zipping up the dress all those years later, she said, made her remember the excitement and uncertainty that came with leaving school to embark on her own journey into the world.

She continued: “When I put the dress on, it made me realise how much I’ve grown professionally and personally because the last time I wore it I was just a teenager leaving school.

“I flashed back to a time in my life when I didn’t know what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be, so it felt really special to wear it again.”