The Rundholz parachute skirt is a dream!! I can totally relate about buying things not on your list instead of things you truly need. I don't think it's possible to change completely in one year, but the progress you've made so far is incredible and will continue to add up!! I'm celebrating that for you 🩷
Thank you! You're very kind! I'm proud that I haven't bought any new "new" things this year. That's a big one for me, even though I've been buying mostly second hand for years.
My spending always get out of hand in the summer too, but we’ve been doing so much travelling lately that I haven’t actually had any money for clothing! Saying that, I’ve just bought a cashmere jumper that was on serious discount - ah, out of season sales always get me with good bargains.
I’m terrible at buying clothing that I need. TMI probably but I even put off buying new underwear, even though my current ones are uncomfortable. How silly of me. Environmentally, I do like to make underwear last as long as possible though, because I’ll just end up throwing them out or trying to recycle them.
I've bought some of my loveliest cashmeres in the summer. The prices are usually amazing this time of year!
I am in dire need of new underwear, too. I just keep putting it off because they're just these annoying necessities to buy. I keep complaining that I need to buy new ones and then I just don't do it... Why do I do this to myself..? I wish I knew!
Those skirts! I’ve been loving skirts for winter as it just feels a bit more special, and the winters here are mild enough for me to get away with tights or knee socks with skirts on most days. It’s all the more special that you found them secondhand.
Every year I plan to buy a pair of sleek sandals and then every year I find that I’ll rather spend money on other things.... when I lived in Singapore I used to borrow my sisters’ shoes when I needed something like it, too bad I can’t resort to that any more.
Skirts are so comfortable to wear in the winter! I wear mostly skirts when it's cold, with wool tights and boots.
I've had sleek sandals on my shopping list for almost two years, and I just either can't find a pair I like, or they just don't seem like a priority... I almost pulled the trigger earlier on a pair of Miista sandals but then copped out and now they're sold out. Oh well!
A friend of mine found the first one at a flea market and she alerted me to it. Luckily it was still there when I went the next day! The fringe one I bought directly from my customer, who was looking to get rid of some of her mother's old clothes. I literally squealed when she pulled the skirt from the original packaging! Her mother had never worn it, I guess.
You have come a long way in this process! 11/11 purchases are things that you don’t regret buying, that’s amazing. And if you’ve bought 26 and sold 22 items, that is pretty close to being balanced.
Meanwhile, I have fallen back in to habits worse than they’ve been in a decade, in terms of how much (cheap, secondhand) clothing I’ve acquired this year. But I’m definitely counting it as grief therapy (my Pa died in December) and have decided not to worry for now.
I'm so sorry to hear about your Pa. You're right that it's not the right time to worry about buying too much stuff. You can give yourself a break, and focus on just getting through. Whatever helps you with grieving, it's okay.
Great update. Huge congratulations on only buying thrifted items. You've kept the cost down and stayed away from fast fashion. I've finished the first month of my no buy. I did purchase 2 tank t-shirts using a store credit. In my twisted thinking I call this a no buy because of the credit.
love these updates! on a semi related note, i am doing a scandinavian trip in a couple weeks and my shopping always gets out of hand when travel is on the horizon. while i unfortunately won’t be making it to helsinki, i’ll be going to gothenburg, oslo, bergen, and copenhagen. i know the sun doesn’t set but it also still seems on the cool side to me, temp-wise (i’m a new yorker) - so your hat story about sun stroke is throwing me off! any tips for the necessities for a late july trip (jackets? shoes? layers?)? i’m quite sure i already have what i need, but also not confident i’ll pack the right items...
Yay, Scandi trip! I can imagine that packing might be a bit of a challenge though! We just had a weird June heatwave here in Helsinki (low 80s -- that's pretty hot for us), and today it's 59 F and rainy... so the weather is a mixed bag for sure. Late July is usually the warmest time of the year though. Pack some easy layers or at least a light jacket. I've never been to Bergen myself but coastal cities are windy so it might get chilly... You'll figure it out, I'm sure! (I'm really sensitive to the sun myself, and also my migraine is triggered by bright light, so I definitely need a hat if it's sunny.)
I am so impressed you are completing these quarterly assessments and sharing them with us! So much here that inspires me. Thanks to you I have a) started a spreadsheet at end of last year and b) bought a closet app (Stylebook --- paid app by two Brooklynites who love fashion and closets with a strong privacy policy--not the usual free app looking to use your photos and data to train third party models) which I love and use every day! The spreadsheet...gulp...I am behind because my shopping got ahead of me. Going to sound contradictory but...I think it's great you are holding yourself accountable to # of items, urges to shop and budget ...BUT...I also think your purchases are awesome and I am glad you bought them...maybe that tension between our goals/intentions is a much needed forcing function to get us to purchase wisely?
I keep hearing great things about Stylebook. I'm really glad you're finding it helpful! I've been falling off the wagon with A Closet app. I need to get back on it because I have very little data about some of the things I've bought this year. I'm having a hard time figuring out how much wear I'm getting out of them.
So far I have zero regrets about buying the things I've bought this year... even when everything has not been super practical, and I've bought a lot of items. I still find that I'm learning a lot by just tracking my purchases and trying to stay on budget!
The Rundholz parachute skirt is a dream!! I can totally relate about buying things not on your list instead of things you truly need. I don't think it's possible to change completely in one year, but the progress you've made so far is incredible and will continue to add up!! I'm celebrating that for you 🩷
Thank you! You're very kind! I'm proud that I haven't bought any new "new" things this year. That's a big one for me, even though I've been buying mostly second hand for years.
My spending always get out of hand in the summer too, but we’ve been doing so much travelling lately that I haven’t actually had any money for clothing! Saying that, I’ve just bought a cashmere jumper that was on serious discount - ah, out of season sales always get me with good bargains.
I’m terrible at buying clothing that I need. TMI probably but I even put off buying new underwear, even though my current ones are uncomfortable. How silly of me. Environmentally, I do like to make underwear last as long as possible though, because I’ll just end up throwing them out or trying to recycle them.
I've bought some of my loveliest cashmeres in the summer. The prices are usually amazing this time of year!
I am in dire need of new underwear, too. I just keep putting it off because they're just these annoying necessities to buy. I keep complaining that I need to buy new ones and then I just don't do it... Why do I do this to myself..? I wish I knew!
Same! I just don’t understand my brain. I guess I see underwear as a boring purchase (even cute ones!)
Those skirts! I’ve been loving skirts for winter as it just feels a bit more special, and the winters here are mild enough for me to get away with tights or knee socks with skirts on most days. It’s all the more special that you found them secondhand.
Every year I plan to buy a pair of sleek sandals and then every year I find that I’ll rather spend money on other things.... when I lived in Singapore I used to borrow my sisters’ shoes when I needed something like it, too bad I can’t resort to that any more.
Skirts are so comfortable to wear in the winter! I wear mostly skirts when it's cold, with wool tights and boots.
I've had sleek sandals on my shopping list for almost two years, and I just either can't find a pair I like, or they just don't seem like a priority... I almost pulled the trigger earlier on a pair of Miista sandals but then copped out and now they're sold out. Oh well!
Where did you find the pleats please skirts (if you don’t mind sharing)?
A friend of mine found the first one at a flea market and she alerted me to it. Luckily it was still there when I went the next day! The fringe one I bought directly from my customer, who was looking to get rid of some of her mother's old clothes. I literally squealed when she pulled the skirt from the original packaging! Her mother had never worn it, I guess.
True serendipity. Love that!!
You have come a long way in this process! 11/11 purchases are things that you don’t regret buying, that’s amazing. And if you’ve bought 26 and sold 22 items, that is pretty close to being balanced.
Meanwhile, I have fallen back in to habits worse than they’ve been in a decade, in terms of how much (cheap, secondhand) clothing I’ve acquired this year. But I’m definitely counting it as grief therapy (my Pa died in December) and have decided not to worry for now.
I'm so sorry to hear about your Pa. You're right that it's not the right time to worry about buying too much stuff. You can give yourself a break, and focus on just getting through. Whatever helps you with grieving, it's okay.
Great update. Huge congratulations on only buying thrifted items. You've kept the cost down and stayed away from fast fashion. I've finished the first month of my no buy. I did purchase 2 tank t-shirts using a store credit. In my twisted thinking I call this a no buy because of the credit.
Well, you had store credit, I think that's allowed!
I'm very pleased with myself for having only bought second hand things. Still, so many things! They accumulate so fast!
love these updates! on a semi related note, i am doing a scandinavian trip in a couple weeks and my shopping always gets out of hand when travel is on the horizon. while i unfortunately won’t be making it to helsinki, i’ll be going to gothenburg, oslo, bergen, and copenhagen. i know the sun doesn’t set but it also still seems on the cool side to me, temp-wise (i’m a new yorker) - so your hat story about sun stroke is throwing me off! any tips for the necessities for a late july trip (jackets? shoes? layers?)? i’m quite sure i already have what i need, but also not confident i’ll pack the right items...
Yay, Scandi trip! I can imagine that packing might be a bit of a challenge though! We just had a weird June heatwave here in Helsinki (low 80s -- that's pretty hot for us), and today it's 59 F and rainy... so the weather is a mixed bag for sure. Late July is usually the warmest time of the year though. Pack some easy layers or at least a light jacket. I've never been to Bergen myself but coastal cities are windy so it might get chilly... You'll figure it out, I'm sure! (I'm really sensitive to the sun myself, and also my migraine is triggered by bright light, so I definitely need a hat if it's sunny.)
thanks for the tips! hoping for chilly weather tbh - i think i’m Scandinavian at heart ❤️ next time, helsinki!
Tiia VM how do you track your closet and purchases? I swear you mentioned a specific app in one post, and now I cannot find the post
I've used A Closet app myself. IPhone users prefer Stylebook, I think. I've never tried it myself but I hear it's great.
thank you!
I am so impressed you are completing these quarterly assessments and sharing them with us! So much here that inspires me. Thanks to you I have a) started a spreadsheet at end of last year and b) bought a closet app (Stylebook --- paid app by two Brooklynites who love fashion and closets with a strong privacy policy--not the usual free app looking to use your photos and data to train third party models) which I love and use every day! The spreadsheet...gulp...I am behind because my shopping got ahead of me. Going to sound contradictory but...I think it's great you are holding yourself accountable to # of items, urges to shop and budget ...BUT...I also think your purchases are awesome and I am glad you bought them...maybe that tension between our goals/intentions is a much needed forcing function to get us to purchase wisely?
I'm sorry I'm late to replying!
I keep hearing great things about Stylebook. I'm really glad you're finding it helpful! I've been falling off the wagon with A Closet app. I need to get back on it because I have very little data about some of the things I've bought this year. I'm having a hard time figuring out how much wear I'm getting out of them.
So far I have zero regrets about buying the things I've bought this year... even when everything has not been super practical, and I've bought a lot of items. I still find that I'm learning a lot by just tracking my purchases and trying to stay on budget!