A woman has been wearing her 1988 bridesmaid's dress on adventures around the world for 35 years

One of the most important elements of a wedding is a bridal entourage. They are a part of your celebration and you need those special people by your side to help you make critical decisions about the big day. And one of the non-negotiables of the bridal entourage is the bridesmaids' dress. After the bride's dress, it is the bridesmaids' dresses that are given careful attention. While most people leave their bridesmaid gowns locked in the cupboard post the wedding, Rebecca Whitlinger has made it a regular part of her life for the last 35 years.

According to PEOPLE, Whitlinger has had the dress since attending her friend's wedding as a bridesmaid back in 1988. The now 62-year-old has made it her mission to maintain and wear the gold sequin gown over and over again. She has been popular for her persistence to find creative ways to wear the gown everywhere.

While most of us would wear the formal attire to another party or a formal evening, Whitlinger has successfully adorned the golden gown for skiing, exercising, at matches, shopping and more. Any occasion you can think of, Whitlinger has her bridesmaid dress prepped and ready to go.

Although she's kept the dress for 35 long years, she admitted in the interview that she hated the dress initially. However, she went on to say, “I loved my friend. We all went along with it.” Her social media accounts are flooded with photos of her wearing the gown on her adventures around the world as she wrote, “Proving since 1988 you CAN wear a bridesmaid dress again by simply wearing it EVERYWHERE. The gown still fits... breathing optional.” She has worn the dress in different parts of the world, including the Swiss Alps, Morocco, France and many more.

For all those wondering, “It’s been 35 years. How is she still fitting into the dress?” Whitlinger has been maintaining her dress as well as herself. Over the years, she has maintained a diet and even ventured into exercising to simply get the best fit.

She said, “I have some good fitness tips, so I always share that! People get a kick out of it. I think if it still fits, I should wear it. I've certainly got my money's worth out of it.” Whitlinger has gotten the most out of the dress by adorning it confidently over the last 35 years. 

She has even written a book titled "Always a Bridesmaid: 89 Ways to Recycle That Bridesmaid Dress." When asked about why she had such a humorously fantasizing mindset about a dress, Whitlinger said: “It makes people laugh. It's a hobby. Some people knit, I wear a bridesmaid's dress.” Whitlinger is also being kind to the environment by being the most creative and extraordinary example of sustainability and reusing. 

Whitlinger’s experience provokes us to learn more about being who we are and not getting fooled by marketing tactics that promote consumerism. She wears her dress smartly everywhere without worrying about what people are going to say. The next time you have an outfit or perhaps even a bridesmaid’s dress, flaunt it just like Whitlinger did!