British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood died on December 30. I’m sure you’ve already heard that. So it’s the end of the year and the end of an era in fashion as well. I’ve quoted Ms. Westwood before on my blog. In fact, her admonition to “Buy less. Choose well. Make it last.” could be my fashion mantra. Like other designers such as Stella McCartney, Orsola de Castro, and Eileen Fisher, Vivienne Westwood advocated for slow fashion, and for ethical practises in the fashion industry. And she inspired many of us consumers of fashion to up our slow fashion game when it comes to what we buy and how we dress.
So in honour of Vivienne Westwood, and her mantra which always inspires me to do better, I will now make my yearly slow fashion confessions.
First, for those who are new here, a bit of background. Since 2016, I’ve been trying to uphold the tenets of slow fashion. Trying, not always successfully, to be a better consumer. And each January I’ve been counting my purchases for the previous year. When I started this odyssey I did lots of research into the habits of the ordinary consumer. I remember gasping when I read that the average shopper in America buys 70 items of new clothing each year. Or did back in 2013. That statistic is what inspired me to count my closet and see how I measured up. And ever since I’ve been writing a blog post this time of year in which I confess my fashion sins.
But before we get into the confession part of this post, let’s look at some more current statistics. In a July 2022 article The 10 Essential Fast Fashion Statistics, Earth.Org claims that clothing sales have doubled since 2000, and that how much and how long we wear the items we’ve purchased has decreased by 36%. Those two statistics alone, they claim, are “the embodiment of fast fashion.” And thus by definition the antithesis of slow fashion. The article includes an infographic (below) which itemises the number of clothing items purchased per person, per year by country. These statistics interested me most.
Let’s assume for argument’s sake that Canada and the U.S. are similar in habits. That means that the average North American consumer buys 52 clothing items a year, paying on average $16.04 USD per item. That’s better than in 2013, but nonetheless pretty abysmal. While the UK is better than we are, they still purchase 32 items a year, paying on average $27.33. Clearly Brits believe the “buy quality” admonition more then we do. But we should all try to be more like Norway. They buy 12 items paying on average $28.26 per item. Now that is a statistic worth emulating. Dame Vivienne would approve of the shoppers in Norway, I think. They buy less, and they buy better.
But how do I stack up against the Norwegians? Let’s find out shall we?
In 2022 I purchased 13 new clothing items. Not bad considering that back in 2016 that number was 26. In 2017 and 2018 I bought 25 items each year. I whittled that down to 20 by 2019, and stagnated at 20 in 2020. You can read the 2020 post here. Obviously, the pandemic didn’t mean that I bought less like I had assumed. Just that I bought more pairs of sweat pants. Ha. Last year, I decreased my shopping somewhat; I purchased 17 new items in 2021. Not bad when I consider that I bought multiples of my favourite tee shirts and tank tops. You should know that I don’t consciously try to decrease the number of items I buy each year. I just try to apply my rules of buying what I love, buying quality as much as possible, and choosing what works with the rest of my closet.
So what DID I buy in 2022? Well, for spring and summer I bought a red Uniqlo chore jacket, an oversize blue and white striped shirt from Nordstrom, a pair of Levi’s Dad jeans, a cream and navy striped cashmere sweater from COS, another navy and white striped top from COS, and a pair of black and white Vejas sneakers. That’s a total of 6 pieces.
I guess I was into navy in a big way. My old, old, old Max Mara navy dress pants (c2002) were the hero piece for me yet again this year. I wore them with my new striped shirt, a Vince V-neck sweater and sneakers, with my new striped top from COS and sneakers. Clearly I love these pants with white sneakers and whatever.
Below are three of my favourite spring and summer outfits from 2022. Only the striped top was new this season. Black and tan, black and cream, navy and white, jeans, sandals, tees or tanks and jackets…. nothing new or different there. Except the proportions have changed. I’m channelling Vivienne Westwood when she said: “I’m not trying to do something different, I’m trying to do the same thing in a different way.”
To continue with my count, I purchased 7 pieces for fall and winter in 2022. My green Max Mara coat is the best purchase I made this year. And the most expensive. I also bought 2 light-weight merino turtlenecks from COS, a lilac scarf, black cargo pants from Aritzia, an Everlane light-weight, cropped black cardigan from their recycled cashmere line, and a chunky blue sweater when I was home in Fredericton in early December.
My oversize COS cashmere sweater bought in the early spring has done yeoman service this fall and winter. I’ve been loving it with a navy turtleneck underneath, my skinny jeans tucked into my tall black boots from last year, and the new Max Mara coat. I’m also getting a ton of wear out of those light turtlenecks I bought at COS in Montreal. And of course, I have to stop myself from wearing my new green coat with everything, literally everywhere I go. Ha.
So all told, I purchased 13 new pieces for my closet in 2022. I was pretty pleased with that number. I may earn a failing grade when it comes to sourcing ethical fabrics or finding better, more ethical companies from which to purchase, but I am making progress when it comes to how much I buy. And as usual my strength is holding onto my clothes. This comes from buying as good a quality as I can afford, and buying only what I love. And with the notable exception of my green Max Mara coat, I rarely impulse buy.
That doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes. When I was preparing to write this post and looking at my purchases from past years, I counted. Of course I did. Ha. I love numbers. Out of the 133 pieces bought between 2016 and the end of 2021, I no longer have or don’t wear 22 pieces.
Several of these were pieces bought specifically for travel. And most of those have now been donated, relegated to fishing wear, or tossed. I bought a fleece and several long-sleeve tees in a hurry before our trips to South America and Italy in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and never wore them again once we were home. They were donated. Washing machines in travel accommodations or laundromats are notoriously hard on clothes. And since we pack fairly light I needed to re-wear my clothes over and over. Tees especially needed to be washed several times over the course of a long trip. Once home, several tatty tee shirts worn for travel were relegated to walking or fishing gear and are now gone altogether.
The mistakes I made are usually because I was enticed by a fabulous sale price on a quality garment that sat in my closet and rarely was worn. My Moncler baseball jacket comes to mind. A couple of pieces look dreadful on me now that my hair is white. Most notable is a beige Vince sweater that I loved but which now makes me look as if I have the flu. Ha. I gave that away to a friend.
A couple of pieces looked as if they were mistakes until I repurposed them. Like my cream boxy-style crocheted summer sweater. Once I started wearing it around my shoulders instead of on my body, it became an integral part of my summer wardrobe. I wore that darned sweater with everything. It was reborn as a scarf.
If I crunch the numbers I see that I am still wearing over 80% of all the pieces I have purchased since the beginning of 2016. That’s not bad, I think. I can account for that by the fact, as I said earlier, that I usually (usually) only buy what I love, love. But also because I am extremely cautious about culling pieces which I may wear again. Especially if I loved them once, even though I haven’t worn them in a while.
The “not worn in a year means bye-bye” rule is not for me. If something still fits me, is in good condition, and I still love it even if it’s not currently in style, I will parcel it away in a storage cupboard. To be hauled out and reassessed on occasion. If I love something but currently can’t figure out how to wear it, I will hang onto it too. Just in case. Sometimes I stumble upon inspiration and figure out how to wear the piece. Or a slight change in styles means that piece is now golden. Take for instance my navy Max Mara summer suit. The advent of sneakers with everything meant that suit went from too business-y to edgy and cool.
Below are three outfits that I styled for the blog last winter and which I am looking forward to wearing again soon. I owned the grey sweater dress for a year before I actually wore it anywhere except on the blog. But I wore it several times last fall with the black boots and grey bag and felt great. That dress has not disappointed even though it took me a while to find occasions to wear it. Similarly a grey chunky cashmere turtleneck bought at the Nordstrom Black Friday sale in 2018. I love that sweater, but had trouble styling it for a while. Who knew that it would go so perfectly with my new-ish leather pants or that faux-leather skirt from H&M. That sweater is testament to the idea that hanging onto basic pieces you love can pay off later.
Well that’s it, my friends. My 2022 slow fashion confessions.
Twenty-twenty-two was supposed to be my splurge year. When I wrote this post last year I knew that I did not really need anything for the upcoming year. Didn’t actually NEED anything, but still felt an overwhelming urge to splurge. I guess you can classify that green Max Mara coat as a splurge. But several other things I decided to research to see if I could find a splurge-worthy item did not pan out.
I never did settle on a new designer bag much as I looked and looked. I kept thinking things like…. “Do I really need another black cross-body bag?” I tried researching second-hand designer bags but the price totally put me off. Besides, I unearthed an old black saddlebag-style purse I bought back in the nineties and fell in love with it all over again. It’s been in constant rotation ever since. So it seems I was not destined to splurge on a bag. And was enticed by a green coat instead.
So what have I learned this year? Buy slow, take my time, do my research. I don’t need a bunch of new pieces that I will regret. Hang onto beloved favourite pieces just in case. None of that is actually new for me. But this year confirmed my belief in careful shopping. Thus when the splurge instinct hits and I fall desperately in love with, say, a green coat I can go for broke… guilt free.
Somehow I think that Vivienne Westwood would approve of my green splurge, don’t you?
I’ve always admired Westwood. Not her personal style exactly. But her gumption. And her advocacy for change in the fashion industry. Her style has always been too out there for me. But I don’t think that you have to want to emulate someone’s style to admire it. I don’t mean to be disrespectful but sometimes, to me, she looked like a hot mess. And yet I still loved her quirkiness. Her style was always an expression of who she was. And you have to respect that.
In the near future I may do a post dedicated to those “shopping mistakes” I was just telling you about. Or a post on closet culling. I’ve done these before when I have edited my own closet. Maybe this time I can find a friend who will let me into her closet to have a go. We’ll see.
I hope you all have had a good holiday. Both Hubby and I wish you a Happy New Year. He’s cooking as I write this. Well, to be honest he’s currently watching the first period of the Canada Sweden game in the World Junior Hockey Championships. Then he’ll tape the rest of the game and start cooking. We’re having seafood stew with fresh shrimp and mussels, homemade focaccia, and salad. Yum. I’m pouring the wine. Like my niece Elisabeth once said when she explained a similar task allocation for meals in their house…. “It’s a win win situation.”
Now it’s your turn. How did your year stack up fashion-wise? Have you taken a look at your shopping habits? Come on, you can tell us. We won’t judge. We’re all works in progress, my friends. And we’re all friends here.
59 thoughts on “Slow Fashion Confessions 2022”
I think last year might well have been the year when I bought next to nothing new in the way of clothing. In fact, I struggle to remember – except that yesterday (31st) I went into Leeds and successfully bought a new pair of boots because my beloved pair had fallen to pieces a few weeks ago, literally as I was wearing them. So, whilst delighted that I got a stout replacement at a sale price, it was a necessity purchase. Mostly, last year, I got rid of things and I will be doing that all over again when this winter is over, aiming to recycle old items that have lived their best life. I had a fancy-shoe try-on session just before Christmas and was pleased with the haul, favourite shoes that have been with me for some years, still wearable and glamorous, which is good news. But I rarely need to wear them these days. Still, pleased to know I could if I wished. I have some sewing projects lined up for very specific occasions that are headed our way this year but I am going to resist buying much until I need to. That will be the watchword: buy it if you need it. Otherwise, enjoy all the browsing. A very happy 2023 to you, Sue. I look forward to Sunday blog reading with relish each week.
I was just about to comment saying it’s such a shame I live so far away as I’d be pleased for Sue to come and edit my closet, when I read your comment and saw that you live in Leeds. Such a coincidence!
Sue, I wish you and hubby, and all your followers a happy and healthy 2023. I also thank you for the time and effort you put in to produce such an interesting and entertaining blog.
Susan D
The blogosphere is a small world, eh? Hope you have a great 2023 as well, Susan.
I have a few pairs of favourite shoes as well. Ones that I haven’t worn since I stopped teaching but which I can’t give away. Every once in a while I miss wearing a dress and pumps. Then the feeling passes. Ha.
Happy New Year !
We had a Vivienne Westwood shop in York for a little while but it disappeared very quickly . Perhaps we were too parochial or was it Yorkshire common sense ? 😁She was very far removed from my own taste but I realise the fashion industry needs extremists with vision . I do wonder about some people who are part of this massive industry , promoting ‘buy,buy,buy’ & then trying to reconcile it with their green conscience . There’s often lip service on the fashion pages these days .
I’m no angel though . I was doing quite well on the count until I realised we included ( walking ) shoes & scarves . Hope we don’t include socks & mittens . My weaknesses used to be coats & bags . These days it’s anoraks & dressing gowns which tells you something about my lifestyle . I’ve had to buy a couple of pairs of trousers because I’ve lost weight this year ( thank you diabetes – think I’m on top of it now 🤞) & trousers need to fit well . On the plus side , all those things I packed away as too tight but too good to sling are back once more .
I like your jumper but then I love tweedy woolies . Do you know the brand Fisherman Out of Ireland ? They do some nice tweedy stuff especially chunky polo necks .
I don’t do the big “hauls”, never have. But lip service is something every one of us who includes affiliate links in their posts has to watch. When does one cross the line into hypocrisy by including them??? I did not know that you were diagnosed with diabetes, Wendy. It’s not easy is it, balancing those sugar levels? I have a few friends who have diabetes, but have had it since childhood. I imagine that adult onset is a whole other thing.
I won’t tell you how many items I bought this year. Too many! I found a clothing line I hadn’t been able to wear for years until I lost 12 lbs. So, I went a little bit crazy! I live in Florida and you change clothes a lot! I wear something for a few hours and it has to go in the laundry. I live in shorts and teeshirts nine months of the year. I have “at home”, grocery trip, and “dress up” tee shirts. I did make a lot of mistake purchases this year which I am selling on ebay. I plan to buy less in 2023. I really don’t “need” anything, except maybe a dress for a wedding in May.
I live in the Houston area so I understand the need for lots tees, shirts, and bras. Things get smelly damp and dirty quickly! Including your body.
Tee shirts and bras definitely take a beating in the heat and humidity.
I have “dress up” tee shirts as well, Linda. I imagine that living in a hot humid climate is much harder on your clothes than living up here where it’s only hot and humid a few weeks each year.
I forgot to say that I sometimes donate items I wished I had kept! For a long time I told myself I could not lose weight, and then I changed a few things in my diet, and I lost 12 lbs! I wish I had some of those items back! Sometimes we donate too quickly. Best to store thins away for awhile and try to wear again.
This was the year I was finally able to donate clothes to a a great women’s organization. If one year I do back down a size at least they’ve been helped. Well done LV!
As our priest would say, God, the Father of mercies….may God give you pardon and peace….if you are confessing. I found the statistics eye opening. My goodness, the consumerism is rattling. I bought four new pairs of casual pants this year. I am still sorting, resorting and culling my closet. It seems to be an occupation or a calming activity of mine. I am trying to wear what I own. I am also trying not to dress in jeans daily. Jeans were my uniform on weekends while I worked. They are so difficult to find a well fitting pair that I get depressed thinking about it. A well fitting pair or two would be ideal and would be happy to purchase those this year. I loved Westwoods spirit but the original punisher style was outside of my preppy comfort zone. Look forward to reading your weekly posts/confessions in 2023. Hope you and hubby have a blessed day.
I must have been channelling my Sullivan grandmother when I talked about confessing. Ha. I think wearing what we own is a great rule to dress by. I’m trying to do the same.
I’m buying less the last couple of years. A day out with friends almost always included some shopping but now I suggest I meet them for coffee. I realized how little of my wardrobe I actually wore by turning my hangars around backwards. As I wore a piece, I turned the hangar. At the end of the season, it was obvious what I wore and what was just taking up space. I also took stock of what I had and what I needed to replace or add to my wardrobe. These two things resulted in less shopping.
On my list for the start of 2023 is a new pair of runners and a dress for an upcoming cruise. I found on my last cruise (2020) I really needed more variety in evening wear, hence the dress.
Your post has me thinking of culling my closet again. I do enjoy decluttering all areas of my home. It’s somehow cathartic.
Happy New Year, Sue!
Funny, but I’m the same. Shopping with friends is something I rarely do these days. It used to be a major recreational activity in my twenties, lunch and shopping or shopping and then lunch. I have heard that cruises require more clothes than other forms of travel.
Do you have a bibliography of your book suggestions? Thanks. Mary Lou, Calgary Alberta
I don’t Mary Lou. You can check out the “Books” category on the blog though which will bring up all the posts about books. But I don’t have a comprehensive list. I will be writing a book post soon about what I read in 2022 if that helps.
Looking forward to the list!
D
Happy new year to you and my fellow readers. I live in central coastal CA, and after a deluge last night that left roads and rivers flooded, this morning there’s not a cloud in the blue sky. Lovely beginnings. Tomorrow we’re in for more rain and I’m grateful, but our joke about having two seasons – fires and floods – can be unnervingly true. A Canadian once told me Canada has two seasons as well – winter and construction. Loved it. I won’t even guess how many pandemic clothing purchases I’ve made in the past few years. Too many. Chalk it up to nerves, boredom, and a frustrating search for authenticity. You’ve lead by example in this search for personal style, and as I edge closer to recognizing myself in what I wear, I thank you. I’ve given up New Year’s resolutions – mainly because they don’t seem to stick. Though it’s a subtle shift, setting intentions feels more doable. This year, I intend to pay attention to feelings like that itch for the new by sitting with rather than acting upon them, and exploring new ways to wear what I have. Thanks again for being such a stellar guide along that road.
Happy,healthy and joyful 2023!
Your New Year’s Eve dinner sounds so yummy (and, especially, role organization!)
I must confess that I have too many things,from as far as 1995-2000 on . I wear some of them still. My excuse (for years now) is that I’ll have to down size when I’ll be moving …and I have a lot of space now
I was always a mindful shopper (but twenty+ years are twenty years),knowing what I want,wearing my clothes to (their) death,choosing only natural fibers,having my basic pieces and then playing around with other purchases,knowing approximately how many things I was buying……but I must admit that your blog inspired me to think in numbers,thriving to be better every year,but it seems that my number,-17- ,is not changing through Covid years. It is nor bad neither stellar-12 would be perfect for me
Dottoressa
Happy New Year, Dottoressa. Hope things in that lovely city of yours are good.
I like the idea of intentions rather than resolutions too, Wendy. Like good goals, resolutions have to be realistic, measurable, and achievable…. and so often they’re not. I still set a few goals for myself, though. I spent too many years setting “expectations” for my courses to stop now.
Ohhhh confession time! When I read your post about slow fashion a couple of years ago I counted and realized I purchased 19 items in 2021. Pretty good I thought but could I do better? In 2022 I pared purchases to 13 items…but alas…5 of those purchases were SHOES! But I am counting court shoes for Pickleball and new runners to complete the Terry Fox 5km run as well. My knees told me new runners were required. Walking shoes and a beloved hiking sandal bit the biscuit this past spring. 5 clothing purchases came with Black Friday sales…my beloved Eileen Fischer came on sale….I couldn’t resist! Sooo….I AM getting better! I think of quality vs quantity and I really am wearing my closet! You are inspiring me and now I am trying to streamline my make up/skincare purchases as well. Happy New Year Sue and all the best from one retired teacher to another. (I often can hear the school bell ring in the morning while having my morning coffee and I always smile and raise a toast to my colleagues)
Happy New year to you too, Wendy. I count runners and hiking boots in my purchase count. Which reminds me that I will need new running shoes this spring. 🙂
As a Visa shareholder (NYSE:V) and a Mastercard shareholder (NYSE:MA) I strongly encourage all of your readers to continue buying rags on a frequent basis.
Their foolishness is terrific for my portfolio.
Your assumptions about the purchasing habits of the thoughtful people here completely misses the mark of what this post and blog is about. The content of your portfolio mentioned here speaks volumes about your values. As to your smug and ironic self-righteousness, the word foolish comes to mind.
Ha. Steve you are so funny. I will say that it’s easy to sneer when you are not fessing up yourself about your foolish purchases.
I backslid this year with the buying, I suspect, although I haven’t yet done any counting. I’ve been increasingly wanting to wear dresses (my middle feels much better without a constraining waist, even though my “core strength” is a pillar of my fitness program!) and building a small collection to suit weather and mood and casual-to-dressy occasions has added to the year’s retail consumption. On the other hand, I’ve also been wearing dresses I’ve had for over a decade and mending moth holes and tired seams, so I’m not going to feel bad about buying good-quality pieces I love while styles that suit me are available.
Happy New Year to you and Stu! Sounds like a delicious meal (we had the same arrangement last night, except that I graciously allowed my guy to pour the wine as well. . . 😉
You have lovely dresses, Frances. And you excel at mending. Don’t feel bad about buying god quality that you know you will hold onto, especially in styles that won’t aways be around. Happy New Year to you and Paul. xo
Happy new year! I hear you on not being too quick to donate good quality clothes. I have been keeping a spreadsheet (although I haven’t updated it since June. . . oops) listing my clothes by type, occasion, season, new/used, price, and whether it’s new type of item, a replacement, or an addition to something similar I already have. Then I go back through periodically and highlight what has been donated. Does this keep me completely on track with only mindful purchases? Not entirely, but it’s a start.
You are organized! I still keep my lists in my little book that lives in my purse. One thing about not donating stuff that still fits is the wonderful feeling that you won’t need to shop when you finally haul it out of the closet. Like Hubby says… it feels as if we’re beating the system.
I buy very few things but I am a big fan of Eileen Fisher and her garments are key pieces in my minimalist wardrobe. I wear her petites which fit me well and I never have to hem the pants which I like.
I occasionally shop at Marshall’s and Winners so a few items that I purchased are made in foreign lands. Vietnam for example and surprising that many are made in USA.
I can’t stop admiring the green Max Mara coat! That was the best thing I think you bought last year!
Happy New Year Sue.
Happy New year to you too, Leslie. I must try Eileen Fisher pants. I have given up on her sweaters and tee shirts because of the neckline.
Wonderful job in terms of both the quantity and quality of your 2022 purchases. My problem is shopping on line. It is just too risky to buy that way for me, so I have pretty much stopped buying garments on line. Since the pandemic, and still, I find shopping in a store intimidating and nerve wracking. I am trying to sew more. It can be risky to buy very expensive fabric and then have your creation not meet your expectations. However, so far, it’s a nice hobby, and a far better way for me to reign myself in. I think for some of you knitting is a great outlet as well.
It must be stressful to buy lovely material and then have to cut it. But I’m NOT a seamstress. I break out in a sweat just thinking about getting the sewing machine out. Knitting is must better for me… I can always unravel. Ha.
I agree we should be aware of all our purchases—- not just clothing. But if something brings u joy .. buy it. Nobody has it written in their obituary that she only bought 12 new items last year😳
Nope. Not saying that we need to obsess about our shopping just be mindful that what we buy has an effect on the environment. Especially all those fast fashion “deals.” I think lots of us feel as if those ff purchases will bring us joy when we buy, only to have them fall apart in the first wash.
I think its a great idea to assess our purchases and our whole wardrobe every year. When I look back at the things that I’ve bought and the things I’ve kept over the years it really makes a few simple truths hit home. Quality over quantity is a big one. I’ve also learned that some things that I almost got rid off just needed a bit of tailoring to update them and for a better fit. I’m looking forward to another year of your enjoyable posts.
I think a good trawl through the shops before we get rid of something is the best motivation to try tailoring it instead.
Your post has inspired me to think and reevaluate my purchases. One area I have trouble with are basics, under garments, and walking shoes. Mine are always wearing out and need to be replaced regularly. Do you count them when calculating your clothing purchases?
I count shoes, sneakers, and boot… but not underwear. And I rotate some basics like tee shirts. They start off as “only for good” and then are relegated to walking or cycling, then camping.
Oh my goodness, your blog Sue and the comments from other friends made me think about what I’ve bought throughout this last year! I’ve had to renew my whole wardrobe as since been diagnosed with heart problems 2 years ago, with my medication having put on half a stone of weight. So I’ve gone from 49kgs to 55kgs and bearing in mind I’m only 5ft 2ins so from a clothes size 8/10 to size 12 is a major shift for me! Having held on to my favourite silk dresses, Hartford tops, pretty Summer dresses, Oska linen trousers and tops for a full year, I decided that there was just no use keeping them any longer. When I went back to County Wicklow, Ireland..my best friend said ‘it’s depressing you to try to get into those clothes, move on and start all over again’. So, I did just that. I bought 5 Summer dresses in a fab shop in Wexford amongst other bits and bobs. I invested in some good linen pieces and arrived back to Spain with nearly a whole new wardrobe! I gave away all my too small dresses etc, begrudgingly, I’m ashamed to confess, oh I was quite attached to those pretty things but hey ho I did feel a lot better when I thought about it later! This Winter, I bought a new Marc Cain teddy coat, I have held on to my original 8 year old Marc Cain labradoodle coat even if it’s a tiny bit small, I’m definitely not parting with that, yet! I’ve had to buy a few jumpers but nothing expensive in that line. Now, I see that Marc Cain on line are showing their new 2023 SS range so I must take on board the advice that Sue and friends have given the next time I am tempted to add something new to my wardrobe. On a different subject, I absolutely love reading the weekly blog and also the follow ups from all those very interesting people who take the time to add their interesting comments. It appears we are all dotted around the globe and are very much like minded folk. Happy New Year everyone.
That was good advice from your friend, Lynne. I’m glad that your new things made you feel better. And think how happy the women who acquired your old things were.
I’m off-the-top-of-my-heading here, but I think my total is 4 new pairs of shorts, a summer top, two jackets while we were on our river cruise and the weather didn’t warm up when it was supposed to, and a lightweight cardigan. And 4 pairs of trail shoes. With all the walking I do, and that walking being on our calçada stone surfaces, I go through trail shoes relatively quickly (and in fact have just switched shoe models within my favorite brand to one that is reputed to have a longer life). As I’ve mentioned before, I did a very heavy closet purge before we moved here, and I’m still regretting a few of the things I got rid of. A couple of times I’ve gone into my dresser to find something (a pair of shorts, a knit skirt) that I thought for sure I’d brought with me, but nope, gone. At the time of the move they didn’t fit, but they would now, so it makes me a bit sad. But I did find a seamstress to take a couple of tank dresses in (I was swimming in them!) and that’s given them a new lease on life.
You couldn’t have predicted that weight loss, Carol. So pleased for you that life in Portugal is good.
Always great to find a new blog of yours waiting for me to enjoy – thank you, Sue.
For me, this was the year ( 2022) that skirts reappeared on the market, & I love wearing skirts if I can find them to fit. I have been looking for jean skirt that hits below the knee, for almost 10 yrs and found one in 2022. I also found a bamboo fleece long skirt, with pockets, that I love . It is nice & warm for our winters. And a faux black suede skirt. So happy that skirts have reappeared again.
My goal for this year is to try and wear something different from my closet each day, combined in a different way. I have a tendency to find a combination I love and never change it up.
Wishing everyone a good New Year.
That’s a good goal, to try to wear something slightly different each day. I’m doing that myself. I find a combination I love and always wear it too often. Ditto on the skirts and dresses. Especially the dresses.
I posted my 2022 fashion shopping review on my blog on December 30. Keeping track of my purchases and writing this annual post is something I learned from you, Sue, and it has served me well! I’ve learned a lot about my shopping habits and I’ve become much more intentional. I did spend more in 2022 than the previous year, but mainly because it was a wardrobe basics rebuilding year. I spent almost $300 on bras alone.
If you find a bra you love it’s worth its weight in gold. Literally. Ha. Happy New year, Elaine.
Well done!
Your fewer purchases have been good ones. You know yourself and buy accordingly, and you have a good wardrobe to draw from. What could be better?
Happy new year, and keep sharing your zest and practicality with all of us in this new year!
Happy New Year to you too, Eva.
Oh, yes, hail and farewell to Vivienne Westwood. I also admired her. If I’d had the means I’d probably have bought something tartan or a jacket with a nipped in waist.
Sue, I applaud not tossing after one year. Sometimes it’s taken me three or four years to get to my vision with a purchase, and those are always the outfits I like the most and wear the most. I try to remember to just wait and watch for sales, unless it’s true love.
I moved cross country in December of 2021, and the movers lost the box that had most of my sweaters. That kicked off a stressful and expensive process of replacements. (If you live in a cool house in a cool climate sweaters are a necessity.) I made mistakes with fast buys and thinking I didn’t really need 100% wool, or high quality mostly wool. It was humbling.
My “green coat” is a red sweater that is not orange-red, but slightly blue-red. Hard to come by. I love it. No regrets there.
I have a friend who moved across Canada and their movers lost a lot of their stuff. I can’t imagine how that can happen. Wow. It would have to be sweaters, wouldn’t it? Not a box of knick-knacks.
Thanks for the sympathy. Most people don’t seem to understand that is, if not a big deal, a medium deal.
13 items shows an impressive amount of careful thought and restraint. Good for you! It is very clear that you mostly buy only what you love and good quality, which is such a smart way to shop. I love your green coat and some of the sweaters that you purchased.
I’ve been meaning to go to Aritzia and try on their cargo pants, because they seem to be very good quality. I ordered some less expensive ones and returned them immediately.
I didn’t count, but I don’t think that I did all that well on limiting purchases this year. I treated myself to several things. I bought several pair of sneakers for walking and I don’t mind that one bit, because I need to take care of my feet and I love walking. I bought several pair and three are my favorites and I bought them on sale. I’ll wear them nonstop next year.
I made some black Friday purchases and bought some clothing (long sleeve tee shirts, a couple pair of corduroy pants, two light cashmere sweaters, and a very “out there” Boden velour blazer with fabulous colors) all on big sale. I didn’t need any of those items, but I wanted them and figured that I might as well purchase them at 40 – 50 percent off. Now I need to wear them!
Like you, I hold on to clothing forever. I am often so glad that I hung onto something, because it is back in style and I am sporting it. I do need to get rid of some things. Perhaps in the spring I will have a try on of some things and make a decision to part with some of it. Right now I am trying to declutter panty shelves and that will take quite some time. Perhaps if I am successful with that project, I’ll be motivated to continue with the clothes.
Happy New Year Sue!
Happy New Year to you too, Dottie. I’m with you…try-on sessions are much more fun when the weather is warmer.
Hello heels,
I came across you on Pinterest when you bought the sweater dresses. Now I happened upon you again. This article especially has me thinking. A friend came over to help me “style” my clothes and said I have too many clothes. I agree. I’m 61 and in a transition phase. I wear skirts and jackets mostly because I’m plus size, smaller on top and curvy on the bottom. I have always loved dresses, but struggled finding any that fit. But my goal is to transition into dresses and eliminate the skirts and tops. Just getting uncomfortable with all the stuff around the waist. Keep the blazers and cardigans to wear with the dresses. I really appreciated this post though. I prefer to have less, but quality. Hard to implement. But I am motivated. I will research Vivienne Westwood. I like her quotes. Thanks for the inspiration. I couldn’t follow you on Pinterest so did subscribe. Looking forward to more.
Welcome, Mary. So glad you found me again. 🙂
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