Just a minute ago, when Hubby and I passed in the dining room, me on my way to the den to start writing, him on his way down to the basement to do his workout, he asked me what I was writing about this week. “Fashion,” I replied, “what I learned about fashion in 2025.” “And what did you learn?” he asked. Ah. Hmm. Well. Ah. And I realized that while I feel as if I have learned some things, mostly about myself and my relationship with fashion, what I was describing in my own mind as “things I learned,” were actually things I already knew. This past year had simply reaffirmed what I knew, and strengthened my resolve to be a better consumer of fashion. And of everything else, I hope.
So let’s break that down, shall we? Let’s review the year and see if we can tease out what I learned.
First off, I fear that I am not constitutionally able to keep my new purchases down to five. I failed spectacularly at keeping my Rule of Five pledge in 2025. In fact, once I surpassed the five, a kind of fever came over me. A kind of “might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb” mind set. In 2024 I bought six new pieces. In 2025 I bought twelve. Twelve!
The black blouson windbreaker I bought at Uniqlo last spring (#4 in the photo) played a big part in my wardrobe this past year. I love. it. It successfully provided me with a rain jacket which I did not have, plus it updated my denim looks and casual-ized dress pants or skirt-with-boots outfits. I wore it a ton all year except for the winter, and took it on our fall trip. My second piece, a short-sleeved cashmere tee from Lily Silk (#6 above) I did not wear as much. But it’s a basic piece and I intend to have it for years.
Most of the rest of the pieces in the photo above I bought when my friend Debbie and I went to Toronto in June. I’d already purchased two pieces by the time we went, and I intended to limit my purchases to three. Ha. Instead, I bought five pieces.
In my defence (do I sound defensive?) my summer wardrobe was really limited when it came to very hot weather. So, the white linen tunic from Max Mara (#1), the black linen COS cropped pants (#5), and the lightweight linen and lyocell cargos from AllSaints (#7) were much needed additions. I wore all of them many times.
The short-sleeved, black and white cotton COS sweater (#3) was a bit of a wildcard. But I loved it with the cropped pants. So… I caved. The bright blue Lafayette 148 sweater (#2) was a total surprise. I was browsing on my last morning in Toronto before heading to the train station. The colour sang out to me. As did the loose-fitting style, the crew-neck, and the classic shape. I added these two summer sweaters to my very limited summer sweater collection. Can one even call three sweaters a collection? Especially since two of them I only wear tied around my shoulders because, while I love their colour, they’re both too snug. And to further justify myself, not that I need to justify myself, I hadn’t bought a summer sweater since 2017.
Now on to the remainder of my confession. When the time came to start planning my packing for our fall trip, I went kind of wild. I bought a black tee shirt from Uniqlo to replace an old, tatty Vince tee. And since I love my burgundy ultra-fine merino sweater from Uniqlo so much, I bought a black one to take travelling. Then that same day, I bought a burgundy sweatshirt from Uniqlo, burgundy Adidas Spezial sneakers, and a pair of wide-leg Levis jeans (#’s 8, 9, and 10 above). I wore all of these last minute purchases a lot when we were in Europe. But then again, everything one packs into a small, carry-on roller-bag will necessarily get worn a lot on a four-week trip.
For a time this fall I was angry with myself. I thought I should just abandon my Rule of Five journey. In my view, I had no credibility left.
But then I read Tiffanie Darke’s January 2 post, Why I’m Back On Rule of Five for 2026, where she confesses that she too fell off the Rule of Five wagon big time last year. She says that some of the pieces she bought were replacements because of wardrobe attrition, that she made some mistakes in buying pieces that didn’t work out for her, and that overall she simply purchased too many pieces.
But she climbed back on the wagon because she knows that slowing consumption is a worthy goal, that we can all do our bit, and that every bit helps. She said that we can’t be perfect all the time. That taking part in movements like Rule of Five is a good thing because of what it can achieve overall. She said that, according to some of her followers who have joined the Rule of Five movement, having a goal “helps break an addictive cycle of consumerism, one where we are manipulated into buying things we do not need, things which offer a short-term hit versus a long-term sense of satisfaction.” You can read Tiffanie’s full article here.
So I gave myself a shake, and climbed back on the wagon too.
Each of my new-in-2025 pieces did, I admit, give me a short-term hit of satisfaction, but I believe that they’ll continue to give satisfaction in the coming years. I’m excited to wear them again in 2026. They all fit really well, they’re good quality, and most are pretty classic. Okay, the wide-leg jeans and the COS pants are sort of trend pieces. But whether they’re trend pieces with longevity remains to be seen. Remember how many seasons we were told that skinny jeans were out when they weren’t? And now we’re told they’re back in. I hope, like me, you tucked yours away.
So, the first thing I learned about fashion in 2025 is that the Rule of Five Challenge is way harder for me to meet than I thought. But I also learned that change is not always consistent. That sometimes we fail, but we keep trying. Because as Morwenna Ferrier says in her 2021 article in The Guardian: “At some point resisting consumerism becomes the only ethical choice.”
The second thing I learned, or reaffirmed, is how much fun it is to shop my closet. It’s fun to try to wear what I own, to create new outfits from old pieces. And it’s also fun to re-wear outfits that for whatever reason hit my fashion sweet spot. Above are three of my favourite outfits from this past year.
The black jacket and white pants I wore several times last spring, both with these white Levis and with my heavy cream cargoes from Aritzia. The short blousy jacket makes the outfit more current and gives the classic look a bit of coolness, I think.
The middle outfit with my green Max Mara coat, black faux-leather skirt, black knee-high boots, black cashmere sweater, and an old silk neckerchief, I first wore in a blog post back in 2023. But every winter I wear it again. I particularly like how the black and white scarf and the black and white bag keeps the look from being too dark. Or too blah. The outfit just does not hit that sweet spot with a black purse, or a green scarf.
The outfit on the far right photo I wore several times last summer. Every piece is old, oldish, or bought second-hand; I’ve had a couple of pieces in this outfit since the Nineties. I like how the ladylike sandals with the heel and the dressy chandelier earrings work against the slouchy, faded mom jeans and the loose shirt. I love this outfit so much. It’s a bit classic, a bit slouchy, a bit minimalist, a lot casual, and a teensy bit polished. Maybe even, dare I say, “chill” a la Amy Smilovic.
So, much of what I learned about fashion in 2025 was about myself and my relationship to fashion. Much of what I learned was merely reaffirming what I already knew. And the value of habits I’ve practised for years. Like shopping carefully and consciously, with an eye to what I actually need and what will work with the things I already own. Choosing quality over quantity… although my quantity definitely exceeded my goal this year. Ha.
Some of what I learned about fashion in 2025, I actually learned in 2024. That shopping second-hand is labour intensive. You might make several forays to your favourite thrift or vintage store and come home empty handed every time. That is until you get lucky and you don’t come home empty handed. I also learned to enjoy just looking with no expectation of finding, especially in vintage stores.
Some of what I learned about fashion in 2025 was how to account for my ethical stance on shopping and consumerism. I learned a lot from reading Substack articles by writers I follow like Clare Press, Amy Smilovic, Tiffanie Darke, and Brett Standiland, to name a few. Some of what I learned had to do with the horrendous effect the fashion industry has on our environment, and the effects of our overconsumption on other countries, particularly in the global south. Much of what I learned simply made me more resolute, and sometimes a bit preachy around friends and family. Sorry about that, guys.
And some of what I learned about fashion in 2025 taught me how to frame my stance on consumerism. Sometimes you read or hear a line that resonates with you, that seems to perfectly express how you feel about a subject, and what you think. Take, for instance, the Instagram account belonging to Alyssa Barber (@newlifestyleabb) which I happened upon thanks to the algorithm.
In the post I encountered, Alyssa Barber was talking about over-consumption. And the excuses people make to do nothing, to stop trying to do their bit. She was preaching “progress over perfection.” Encouraging her followers that they can all participate in change to some extent. As an example, she said, if you don’t thrift “because you can’t find jeans that fit, don’t give up thrifting. Thrift everything BUT jeans.” “Imperfect change” is better than no change at all.
It’s so simple and so brilliant. Do as much as you can, as often as you can, for as long as you can. If we all make imperfect efforts to change, we can make change happen. I love that.
As Clare Press says, we can “resist consumerism but still love clothes.” We just have to love what we already own. Value what we have first, before we shop. Realize that shopping for new is not necessarily the first or only option. That sometimes we’ll shop without buying. And sometimes we will cave. And that’s okay. We’re not perfect. We’re part of a movement of imperfect people enacting imperfect change. And together we’ll make a difference.
And that, my fashionable friends, is what I learned about fashion in 2025.
Now, how about you? What have you learned about fashion in 2025? About your relationship with fashion, or with consumerism in general? Any thoughts?
45 thoughts on “What I Learned (and Reaffirmed) About Fashion in 2025”
When I was in my 20s and 30s I sewed a lot of my clothes, but then I stopped. Mostly because I discovered quilting, which I really love. Over the years I would still buy garment fabric when I found a piece I loved, but it just went into a cupboard. Now in my 70s I decided to change that. In 2025 I made two garments – a dress and a pair of flowing pull on pants and I have worn them quite a bit! My goal is to do even more garment sewing in 2026.
Good for you, Cathy! What a treasure trove you must have of fabric. I feel a bit the same when I look at my stash of leftover yarn. And I’m always amused at how people are amazed when I say I knitted something simple like a scarf. Makes me chuckle. I’ll teach you; it’s easy, I say.
What have I learned? That I know what I like and intend to replace my tired wardrobe, which has done sterling work over the past months, with multiples of exactly what I want. Things I will wear and wear, which aren’t bank-busting and which I can put on and literally not think about. Things which I can wear in any season. So there will be more black trousers, more t-shirts (black and white) and more loafers. Any summer dresses will be sewn by me. I need a new pair of white Birkenstocks as mine split and I miss them. That’s pretty much it. And I am good to go. The weather is pretty miserable at present so I will wait till it warms up a bit and get going.
Sounds ike a good and sensible plan, Annie. Not to mention satisfying to not have to think too much about what to wear.
As an ‘ old dog ‘ I’m not sure I have many new tricks to learn . At one time I used to buy clothes just for the sake of it . Every trip to town meant a new item but I grew out of that a long time ago . It means I have enough of the basic stuff . I tried the rule of five but it didn’t work for me . It seemed to affect my judgement & I made mistakes , so then there was the guilt . Now I buy only if I love something because it is special in some way . The perfect loose trousers that don’t make me look like a circus clown . The all wool jumper in a shade that totally flatters me . The perfect patterned scarf ( normally geometric) that isn’t old ladyish . Coats are a weakness , maybe because they are the most visible part of an outfit in our climate . I get a real lift when I throw on a favourite coat – think your green Maxmara . I probably/definitely have too many coats but I’ll always have a little look at the new seasons range . I don’t feel guilty , my footprint isn’t bad in any other way . No private jets ( no jets at all now ) just one house in 50 years , bought our current car 10 years ago & only one husband in over 57 years . I’m not really a wasteful person & if I find something perfect I don’t go off it easily .
Love your post! I have had to replace my entire wardrobe this year. I’ve lost just shy of 40lbs. I have thrifted and bought items from ebay. I also bought new things too that I love wearing. Giving away my old items has been bittersweet but I’m hoping they go to a good home. My closet is very edited and lean. I hope to keep it that way. I’m back on the Rule of Five for maintenance.
Love that… Rule of Five for Maintenance, AnneDee.
I feel the same, Wendy. We do what we each can. We grow a lot of our own food, compost the waste, don’t go out to eat much, own a paid for car and house, which I decorate by moving around things I already own. But I won’t do a set rule of five, any more than I will buy THE white shirt we ‘all need.’ I have too many jackets/coats. But I don’t move them on, as I wear them frequently, along with their hats and gloves in winter. I feel that in comparison to many, we live in a household that has little waste, and little consumerism, so I don’t need the extra layer of urgency to put on too. (Smiling her.)
You do you, Susan. 🙂 Sounds like it’s working for you.
Love this post, Wendy. I’m like you. I have always felt that coats are a centrepiece in wardrobes in climates that are rainy or have lots of changes in temperature (e.g., where Sue and I live). I also buy things that I truly love and never count them as a result (for example, just bought a tweed suit in the sales in Italy when I happened on it as I really liked it and knew I would wear it forever, even though I hadn’t been looking for a pantsuit). Basics get bought otherwise to wear under the fine things that I love that I buy or make myself. Have never owned a car (!) but do fly. Generally I treat every decision in life as I do the fashion ones – do exactly what feels good to me deep in my bones and that is consistent with my core values; forget about what everyone else is doing. No need to keep up with the Joneses.
I hear you, Wendy. Number goals like Rule of Five are not for everyone. Especially if someone is frugal and makes considered purchases like you do, my friend. I love a great coat as well. In winter, it’s really 90% of the outfit. I have too many coats bought over many years. But even the really old ones get a wear every now and then. And I still love them all, so why get rid of them?
P.S. We keep our cars for ten years too. And husbands for many more than that. Ha.
Downsizing after 35 years to a house with half my former closet space has been a whack on the side of the head! Just too much. I quit browsing retail emails. Didn’t stop to shop at stores. I’ve cleaned out a lot with donations and consignments. Shopping my closet is fun. My big lesson learned is being realistic about my lifestyle. I can still love fashion and looking stylish. Just with more focus. And fewer pieces. Still a work in progress, but I’m on my way in 2026.
Sounds like a great start to 2026, Chris.
I prefer the one in, one out rule, it works best for me. I justify some shopping with recycling, good stuff goes to a charity shop and ancient t shirts are recycled as rags. Swapping with friends is good fun too.
The one in one out rule can be a good way to go, unless one is getting rid of something just for the sake of shopping. Same with donating to charity shops, in my view, after doing some reading about how many Good Will shops in the States are inundated with donations. The back rooms of the Salvation Army stores around here are drowning in bags that they hardly have time to process. It’s all about balance, isn’t it? Love the recycling idea for old clothes that are not worth donating. Giving to friends is great too.
Progress over perfection is a worthy mantra in lots of areas of life. And in your story of your ’25 purchases I don’t see silly impulse things that don’t and won’t be worn, or purchases made because you were hungry or upset or bored (past triggers for me, anyway) but rather considered pieces you are already using. Also summer clothes wear out faster because they get sweaty, spilled on and dusty more, so it makes sense to need those. Same with travel clothes.
So if I were you I would pat myself on the back rather than feel guilty!
Ceci
Progress over perfection is my new mantra. As long as I don’t start using it as an excuse to justify too much shopping. Now that we’ve sold our tent trailer I will need a new plan for what to do with old tee shirts and baggy sweats. They were always relegated to camping wear before. I guess they could still be painting lawn furniture in the backyard wear. 🙂
Somewhere I read ‘to dress for the life we live not the life we wish we had’ That is what I learned this year and will keep as my mantra. I found myself saying ‘wait until you’ve lost twenty pounds’ and denying a much needed top! I’ve been saying that for years…it’s time to be kind to the body I live in and not punish it for being the body I wish it was.
How many ‘fancy’ shoes are needed when I keep reaching for my Birks in the summer and my Vionics in cooler weather. I am still searching for the perfect low heeled, waterproof comfortable black suede booty but until then my old Blondos will get cleaned up again and put to use.
My life will be changing again this year as we unload our East Coast property were we have spent many happy years. Many items that were earmarked ‘cottage wear’ may or may not be kept. The seasons/wardrobes change and so do we.
Ah, I’m sad for you that the P.E.I house is going. Still having two houses so far apart must have been difficult at times. In the ten years we went to P.E.I. every summer back in the nineties, we often thought about buying a property there. But Stu always said he looked after one big property and that was enough. I couldn’t argue with that.
Agree with Wendy’s and Ceci’s comments above, and as always enjoy all of the comments!
I think you love clothes and probably spend less time and money on other things that other people spend on that are also not helping the climate. I think we should always invest in things we love and that make life special and forget about the stuff that doesn’t. You always look very nice in your clothes and I admire the way you care for them. Trust your own instincts, I would say!
Thanks, Steph. I usually do trust my instincts when it comes to clothes. But I think we all need to do our bit to be less consumed by consumerism. Stu is already there and always was. Which he loves to remind me of when we talk about my blog research. I still remember my gasp when we first met and he told me how long he’d had the ancient K-Way jacket that he wore cross-country skiing. But I think my Max Mara jackets are now giving his a run for their money. Ha. Competitive anti-consumerism. 🙂
Ha ha I hear you. I’m the original anti-consumer. Most of my furniture was given to me by my mom second-hand when I was in grad school. I have trouble buying new things because I can always see the use in old things. I like that about myself. Like Wendy, when I was younger I used to buy more clothes more regularly, but these days it’s really on a need or inspiration basis and so there’s no fat to cut.
I know a few guys like Stu with their clothes. I love it. 🙂
I learned that my wardrobe needs refreshing! I didn’t intentionally join the Rule of Five in 2025, but I actually ended up buying less than that (if you don’t count underwear and pyjamas purchased to replace ones that had worn out). I definitely donated more than I bought in 2025 and I’m still weeding out a few more pieces that are either too badly worn to continue wearing or that just aren’t me anymore. Now, in 2026, while I’m not going to try to limit myself to five pieces, I will continue to be judicious about what I do purchase.
That sounds great, Elaine.
I wasn’t able to stick to 5 items – like Annedee, I lost 40 pounds in 2025, and had to buy replacement clothes. I’ve got another 20 or so to go, so I’m trying to limit purchases as much as possible. We’ll see.
I too was relieved to see Tiffany Darke’s confession – I didn’t feel like such a sinner! But I’m wearing everything I bought pretty regularly, so that’s a plus.
One of my goals for this year is to really dig into the vintage scene, both in Lisbon, and when I travel. I’d been avoiding even trying as vintage is notoriously bad at extended sizes. Should be easier now.
We went into a couple of vintage stores in Lisbon in 2023. They were very cool. I remember saying to Stu…”Why am I not doing this more at home?”
I love your blog and this post is really making me think ! Your 2035 purchases are all thoughtful and flattering even if you didn’t meet your ideal number of purchases. For me, this year has taught me that number limits do not have a good effect on me. They make me compulsive and on edge and a lot of the things I buy end up being mistakes. This year I’m going to try what Wendy in York suggested – buy only things I love and that have something special about them. Plus basics (e.g. my go-to white tees which might not be wearable in a few months).
I’m going to retire from full time work at the beginning of the summer so I’m thinking long and hard about buying for a real life and not a fantasy one.
I hear you. I like number goals… but that’s me. Not everyone has to approach things the same way. Buying only things I love as much as my green Max Mara coat was my goal for 2025. I just bought too many of them. Still I have a feeling that I won’t need anything for summer this year.
Congrats on your upcoming retirement, Judi. 🙂
What I learned reading this and trying to apply it to my wardrobe was that I have a certain style I like to wear and if I want to add or replace anything it should fit into my style. I have purchased items I have seen but never wear them because I don’t feel comfortable wearing them. I want to purge some of those things from my closet.
This gave me something to think about.
Getting rid of things that don’t serve you well gives you a clearer idea of what to wear each day, I think. I love to look in my closet and see only things that I really want to own and wear.
I love your thoughtful approach to purchasing clothing and it has influenced me. I did not keep my purchases to five items but I was very careful and love the purchases I made and shipped much less than usual. So I made progress! I did thrift a few items as well. I’ll enjoy seeing what you purchase this year.
That is great progress, Anne. Maybe we should change the name to the “Rule of Five-ish.” 🙂
Excellent post and approach,Sue! I was influenced a lot and hold a value in your opinions
I’ve never bought a lot of clothes,I’ve always thought a lot about the process and I can’t remember buying the whole outfit from head to toe,for the occasion or because I simply can-everything new had to fit in. Boring-yes,I think it is,but I like it this way! As I’ve said at the beginning of Rule of 5- I’ll do my best,but when something needs to be replaced-I’ll replace it. Or if I really,really want something….but first I try to think through my desires and future outfits-usually I don’t need anything and only have to style things in the new and more contemporary way
When one lives in a climate with 4 very different seasons,it seems that I have too much things. But,we have a lot of snow,ice,cold temperatures at the moment,first serious snow since 2013.-I have down parka jacket and snow boots that I’ve wear only a couple of times during past 12 years-now they are a must ,simply a life or death thing. I wear them every day for weeks.
So,I’ve limited my purchases very much,not only clothes but all the home,kitchen,garden,beauty
stuff. I support all the conscious buy/no-buy/ low-buy. It is not neither-nor,it is when one falls,one gets up and on the track again
Dottoressa
Living with distinct four seasons means more clothes, you’re right. And some of them do not get worn as much as others. Yesterday I was thankful for my dad jeans which I railed about for while. Now I’m glad I held onto them. They looked great with my outfit because there was a lot of snow and I could roll them up over my boots. 🙂
I like “progress over perfection,” and “the rule of five-ish.” So important, in my opinion, to have a little flexibility rather than rigid rules. Different subject entirely, but I thought about your post in terms of food. I need to watch what I eat, for several reasons, but have learned over the years that becoming too restrictive always backfires. Aiming for moderation can feel a little nebulous, but it works better for me than hard-and-fast rules.
I don’t disagree, Denise. Some of us work best with rules and numbers and others don’t. I have a numerical goal for my fitness too. I don’t work well with just guidelines. I will always push and push the limit. Having said that, I don’t always meet my goal…as we can see from 2025. 🙂
I tend to be an ” all or nothing” person, and that applies to clothing, food, beauty supplies etc. If I don’t set specific, measurable goals, I’m liable to be too easy going about the process. I set a goal for a no-buy January, and that included haircare, skin care, makeup, clothing (and anything related ) and even food for the pantry. My husband looked a little alarmed when I announced we were buying nothing from the grocery store that wasn’t specifically planned for or needed. I took stock over the holidays and was horrified at how much “extra” of everything I have. I’m hoping this will help break my instant-gratification problem, and help me come to terms with the fact that new clothing will not make one look or feel better. That comes from within. *That’s* what I learned in 2025 :).
Me too, Lisa. The goal has to be measurable for me too. I learned that when I was teaching. A big pile of marking only seemed manageable if I broke it down into the number of papers I’d need to mark in a day to get them done in a timely manner. I love your no-buy January! I now only buy makeup or skin care when I have run out. That rule helps with the little “I’ll just try this new cream or that eye shadow” and pretty soon I have a drawer full of half-used things.
I love your willpower to limit clothing purchases. I was doing quite well on the clothing purchases front and really only buying basic items that I could mix and match for the life I lived.
However I’ve just had two trips to Australia and discovered two clothing chains which had clothes which fitted very well, were not expensive and fitted with my fairly casual lifestyle. So I did buy quite a few items like linen shirts, pull on linen trousers and lovely light weight cotton tops. They are playing very nicely with my existing wardrobe. My daughter arrived today to help look after her father who goes in for heart surgery this week and she has promised to help me do a heavy cull. I know I have far too many clothes than I need and she is an expert at clearing out. Wish me luck!
your blog is always one of my two favorites!
Ive been shopping this year from my closet with only a few new things, but this week realized that it is now time to weed out some over-loved items and to replace them only if they are “that certain white blouse” or that pair of black pants I’ve worn for years. I am due for a try-on day (as soon as I get things better organized from that long Vietnam trip we just returned from.) And if I am making a rule for myself this year, and I’m not promising in writing) I want my new purchases to fit VERY well.
Like you, I make rules, but I believe they are made for breaking if there is a better way!
Happy New Year!
Eva Popovich
Thanks, Eva. I hope your Vietnam trip was wonderful. I’ve heard good things about travelling there. I’ve always been a rule maker, and often a rule breaker, especially my own rules. But these past few years have been my first foray into publicly declaring my rules. That really heightened things. Ha.
Thanks, Kenzie. You and your daughter will have such fun doing that cull together. Mum and I used to do that. She sat on her bed drinking tea and I did all the work. Ha. Good lock with it. And hope your husband’s surgery goes well. 🙂
I’m definitely buying less than I did in, say, 2020 (lockdown madness), and more of it is secondhand. My problem is I love colour – particular shades – and can’t resist building “my collection”, particularly when it comes to coats.
I love loafers. I almost think they are part of a signature look. Please share the brand of the loafers you are wearing in your Europe trip picture. Always love your fashion posts. I am catching up reading them.
Me too. I’ve loved loafers since I bought my first ever pair at the Bass (I think) factory outlet in Maine years and years ago. My burgundy ones are Paul Green, bought at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale back in 2018. They actually still carry similar ones to mine with a slightly chunky sole, which I love. So comfortable.
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