Oh gosh-- Best would probably be my new burgundy euro-ish sneaks. After that, the speigel leather jacket (made a great transitional piece this fall, and I can wear it to work, just have been getting too dirty at work to make it worth it atm). Most of the other gear I purchased this year was also a hit, and if not a hit fairly functional.

Worst would be pricey gear shoes that hurt to wear hiking ( so either I toss them or wear gear shoes other places) or my GAP supersoft tees. I loved last year's and tried this year's on in the store and though they were very similar. However, after wearing I've realized they are shorter in the torso and sleeves than the same size from last year, and I should have bought a tall. I will still wear them esp. as underlayers, but since I bought 4 and last year's were a staple, it sucks.

Oh, very hard to choose from the whole year! After mulling it over...

Hits:

• Dark Turquoise Muubaa! Have felt super duper fab whenever I've worn this.
• Both my S/S and F/W trench coats.
• Both my skinny and bf 100% cotton jeans.
• Black draped Olivia Moon midi skirt. Serious workhorse worn at least once a week.
• Madewell linen tees. Finally, the perfect white tee for me.
• The Braaaahmin!

• Bronze Born kitten heel pumps. Not as comfy as they sound, and never broke in sufficiently. Also felt rather dowdy in them.
• Trouve silk blouse that split up the back. Twice.
• Guess red denim moto in completely the wrong size. Still have to list it to resell.
• B44 green bodycon dress, B44 pencil skirt. For some reason, these non-jersey B44 things totally bunch up and ride up on my hips no matter what I do. Super buzz kill.

What a great thread Mo. You and Lyn both posted budget related threads that already started me thinking about my spending and lack of planning for wardrobe and this one has pushed me further along that path.

I seem to find a pair of pants each year that become a go-to staple. Last winter it was a heavy pull on ponte knit and I have them in black and grey and still wear them. In spring to early fall, it was my lands end slouchy cotton pants, and this fall, it is a skinny stretchy jean. It seems that comfort and ease are the factors that make them work. None of them were expensive but they all got worn at least once per week for their season.

Worst is harder. I think it must be in the boot category. I bought a pair of frye sarah otk boots that I wore once or twice. I also bought a pair of Miz mooz black boots that I wore a few times more and that displaced the Fryes. Neither was worn enough to be worth anything near the purchase price. I also bought red tsubo booties that are super cute but the heel is just a touch high for all day comfort.

My style lesson from this post is that clothes need to be comfortable and easy wear or they just look pretty in my closet. If not lesson learned, then at least a step closer.

Bookmarking- need to look at my closet.

best...white longchamps shoulder bag bought on consignment. LOVE and it is super versatile. i would wear it in the winter if it weren't so blindingly white and i am usually head to toe in black.

worst...there are so many for different reasons. things i really like, bought on sale but never worn because it does not go with anything. itchy itchy things. incredible shrinking things.

This thread is very informative! Thanks, Mo.

My best buys:

This Marc Jacobs hobo. I visited Nordie's flagship in September and found it on the markdown table. Mine is teal with a brown handle. The sales associate said she had literally marked it down and set it there moments before and knew it would be gone in a flash … it was

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ma.....in=keyword

Angie-recommended Paul Green boots. Cannot wear them enough.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/pa.....ort&c

A Vince grey and black striped boatneck lightweight sweater.

The Okalas in pony print. I wear them so much, it's embarrassing. I duplicated them.

Worst? There were a few disappointments: an Eliza J zebra-striped dress that looked good standing in front of a mirror but which is waaaaaay to short when I sit at work comes to mind. Also a t-shirt from BP that shrunk to Britney Spears crop top status after one wash. Also, the fact that I have practically stopped wearing earrings makes a couple of earring purchases a disappointment.

It's too soon to tell, but I think the brown distressed boots DH got me for Christmas are going to be wardrobe favs.
My surprise favorites were the VC tube skirts. Never in all my days did I think I could wear a tube skirt without wearing a tent over it to hide all the bulges.
The biggest disappointment was a blackwatch plaid blazer I bought. I just haven't worn it, mostly because it's wool and too hot to wear to work. I work in a 100-year-old school building and heat is coocooballs - feels like a sauna in most rooms. It still has the tags on it, and I have the receipt so I'll probably return it. I have a cotton blackwatch blazer on order from BR, hopefully that won't be as heavy.

This is a great thread and has really got me thinking. I feel like I have to divide my best and worst in to seasons to be fair. I think the winners are winners in terms of CPW and how they make me feel. I love them and want to wear them frequently.
Fall/Winter:
Best: Frye Veronica Slouch in slate. These are worn more than any other shoe in the closet. They go with everything somehow--even when they don't really match.
Worst: Paul Green wedge sneakers. I love the color and the comfort level but they are hard to pair with outfits. I think the white sole makes them look too sporty for most of my fall/winter (UWP) looks and to top it off, they were pricey for sneaks. Hoping they will work better for spring--when I tend to look a little more sporty.
Spring/Summer:
Best: Gap BF jeans in petite length and FitFlop tan, patent gladiators. They were my summer uniform and felt more polished than shorts even when it was hot.
Worst: I don't know that I had a worst. I duplicated a couple of high low dresses which could have been a mistake since I only ended up wearing one of them. I also already purged a bunch of inexpensive knit tees that couldn't make it through a season.

Best:
Bernardo hooded silver down vest. Bought an ebony one for DD for Xmas which she says she loves.
Ambition military vest. Perfect weight in warmer weather. I paid full price which I rarely do.
Unlined polka dot natural linen blazer. Perfect weight in hot weather as third piece.

Worst buy:
Nude sandals. Was deluded re comfort, plus they look frumpy. Fly Londons work much better but cost 6X more.

Hi Mo,

I got caught up in YLF peacoat fever and bought one that I will never wear. It is double breasted (bad style for me) and really too heavy for LA. I have plenty of coats for my trips to NYC. Silly me!

Best purchase? Leopard calf skin pointy flats. I wear them all the time!

Hmm. I bought a lot of things that I have LOVED this year...

Hands down, best purchase was my Cole Haan/Sharapova heeled black oxfords. The leather is sleek and shiny, and the laces are a beautiful black velvet. They are uber-sexy and nerdy librarian, all at the same time, and have been surprising workhorses, especially considering they have a 4" stiletto heel.

My grey danier leather moto jacket is also on the 'best' list. I have worn this jacket dressed up, dressed down, zipped up for warmth as a coat, open as a blazer.

I also bought a pair of vintage Andre Badi boots on ebay. I thought they were all leather, but they are actually leather/manmade material, which has been perfect for rainy days. They're equestrian with a hint of mod 60's.

And the black leather/black rabbit fur jacket I got at a vintage consignment shop is one I keep reaching for - until I look outside and see rain. So I anticipate it will be my glam workhorse on cold, non-rainy days.

Worst, though? Crisp cotton- or linen-blend skirts. I bought two or three this year, and they all got passed on to my 13-year old niece, who isn't bothered by a skirt that creases after you sit down in it, or a skirt that has to be pulled back around after it twists.

Oooh I like this thread!

The HITS (aka the items that get A LOT of wear):
1) Express Portofino Shirt (in royal purple and black)
2) American Eagle Super Stretch Jeggings
3) My Vanilla Sugar Zebra shirt
4) Ann Taylor LOFT Terry moto jacket
5) My drapey crossover tops from Reitmans
6) Rockport Seven to 7 low tall boots
7) My drapey black print blazer. I don't remember the brand

The MISSES (purchase disasters)
1) Gap Ultra Skinny premium pants (HUGE disaster :()
2) I purchased 3 pairs of Aetrex Essences heels. (They did not work on my feet)
3) A silky drapey jacket from Coldwater Creek. The photo looked a lot more elegant than what it actually looks like
4) A few pairs of Suko jeans. They stretched out like crazy after a full day of wear.
5) A pair of black Calvin Klein ponte pants. They stretched out like crazy

As you can see, my MISSES consisted of purchases that had the saggy/baggy bum and knees problem in pants ;)... I am hoping one day... ONE DAY... I will find a pair of pants/jeans that will not leave pools of sag on the bum and knees!

Best were oddly all sales buys. As in wouldn't have spent on them with no discount! Yet have been workhorses and delightful.
1. Black boyfriend cardigan (#1). Bought at the start of the year for this season. So sales goggles plus taking a chance on dating/palling by next season. And not my typical style... I usually steer clear of boyish and the little grey border piping is also too geometric for me usually. Also while I am trying to avoid black. But surprise workhorse. Works with so much. Delightfully warm (merino) but itch-free. Worn about 4 or 5 days a week this winter.
2. Black knee-high boots (#2). Less sleek than I originally wanted and not flat, not waterproof, snugger than I was aiming... but I love them! My first ever. I just never dared splurge on boots for my shortest season. They make my skirts winter-wearable! And refresh the tunic and leggings silhouette I used to wear with ballet flats that feel stale now (most got purged). And I find I like the little heel.
3. Burgundy oxfords (#1) bought in end-of-season sales in January I think? Workhorse. Great fun. So comfy. Helped refresh my style aspirations too yet feel like I will love and wear them till they fall apart.
So while I need to watch out for the sales goggles, it seems sometimes it IS the right incentive for me to take a chance on something I would not typically risk for fear of making an expensive mistake.

Worst... Also on sale. Bought while desperate for nursing-friendly summer tops after the baby came, with no time to go shopping.
1. Benetton sleeveless knit top (no pic) bought online came with top of button placket all wonky. Needed tops desperately enough and was too pressed for time and kept it. The asymmetry irritates me every time I see it, in my wardrobe or in the mirror. Tons of wear. But still. Will be shifted to sleepwear drawer in summer... unless I start sleepwalking to the mirror.
2. Cobalt ponte flared skirt (last pic). Love the colour and shape. No ironing needed. Dries fast. But alas has a sticky zipper that won't improve and pills like mad. Worst of all, works with far fewer of my tops than I had hoped. I only seem to wear it with black or white, of which I have 3 and 1 respectively! Will be discarded midway through next year and is already unlikely to leave the house.
3. Nursing top in peasant blouse style (#3-4). Expensive for what it is. Love it myself. V comfy. Goes with lots... but impractical so not worn much: baby loves the ties at the neckline to distraction! Doesn't make for discreet nursing as hoped or indeed any nursing (he prefers to chew on the drawstrings).

Mandi, so sweet to see the baby.

Fun thread Mo, looks like quality is a big issue for most worsts. My worsts are all impulse purchases. One azure cardigan, one clearance sale white chunky sweater, and one lime green tank. All were purchased as part of a little obsession with either a color or a look I was trying to create. Got a little impatient to find the perfect thing, and now they are gone or going!

My best by far has to be my pleather jeans. I bought the fakes and a real pair and brought them to a girlfriends dinner for a vote on which to keep. The pleather won hands down as looking best on me so I returned the real ones. I am super happy with the quality of them, they haven't stretched out anywhere after several wearing and I feel so BAD wearing them.

Best: a soft gray v-neck sweater from the Gap. Following The Vivienne Files' Dream Specific Wardrobe Dreams I decided I would like to have a soft cozy neutral washable sweater as a good base for scarves, necklaces, or that would work over colored layering-Ts.

Worst: a couple layering-Ts that are not quite long enough to stay tucked. They were inexpensive, and they work ok, but gah, that is annoying! So I measured the length from shoulder seam to hem and will no longer purchase anything less than 26" (66cm).

Good lessons learned in both cases.

I have followed this thread, and first of all, I'm so thrilled that K counts my blue dress as one of her best buys of the year, and also that Cathy listed the jacket I found at Shoptoberfest! So glad I could contribute to some YLFers' closets!

I finally took a look at my newly organized closet and had an interesting realization. Most of my "worst" purchasing decisions of the year went back to the stores before I could make them a part of my permanent wardrobe, or already have been sold or given away to one of my nieces. The exceptions were a few cheap bargain tops that did not work out but they were admittedly cheap.

My best buys:

- Top honors go to the Paige mixed-media denim jacket with the black coated sleeves (waving at jacket twin Angie). I have worn it soooo much, and I love it every time I put it on.
- Cashmere hoodies -- the burgundy one from JCrew and the black one from Lord & Taylor. Workhorses already.
- Canadian Goose Down puffer jacket my husband talked me into getting last winter. An unexpected workhorse.
- Gap snake print sweatshirt. A wildcard. Casual but fun, and got worn to death in TX.
- Ugg Cortonas.
- LD Tuttle black sandals. Love them so much! They provided much needed edge to my summer wardrobe but were still totally comfortable.
- White leather Truth & Pride jacket -- I'm wearing it more than I expected I would. Great neutral departure from my usual black.
- ETA: My turquoise Old Gringo cowboy boots! Already wearing lots. Love them.

The "worst" buys but not necessarily huge mistakes:

- Bailey 44 striped dress -- not the original one in plum, but the later one in grey with red and blue stripes and a more scooped neckline. Don't know why I don't wear this one so much. Also, not sure if I bought in 2013 or late 2012.
- Kamalikulture blue snake patterned dress. Tags still on. It's just a teensy bit snug. I could wear it with shapewear, but that just doesn't cut it for comfortable casual. If I lose another 5 lbs it'll be better.
- Solid black VC tube skirt. Tags are still on. Weird. I wear the black and grey stripe one, but this one sits. It is simple and classic though, so perhaps I should keep.
- The Jeffrey Campbell Produce open toe booties. I wore them a bit but not as much as I thought I would. Lots of walking in them results in some rubbing on the top of my big toe. So they're not the workhorses I hoped for, but I will keep them and wear carefully.

Things that were pricey and haven't been worn much, but I don't regret:

- Rockstuds. No, they're not everyday shoes. CPW will never be low. I don't care. I love them and will wear them when I can.
- The Butter printed kitten heel pumps. Not nearly the price of the Rockstuds but all the same feelings apply. They're so classic in shape that I'll keep and wear when the urge strikes to change up from my usual. Fab with bootcuts.
- Helmut Lang black leather jacket. I think this got short shrift because I was in TX on the ranch for the best weather in which to wear this. I'll wear it for years though. Hubs loves it. On a warmer winter day, this will come out to play!

I'm sure I'm forgetting something from my summer wardrobe, since that's tucked away right now, but overall, I'm pretty happy. I feel like I'm making fewer mistakes and rectifying them (i.e., returning them) sooner. I did a heck of a lot of shopping, but a lot of returning too.

Hmm, I haven't really kept track of what I bought this year. But few things stand out.

Good: black tank-style maxi dress (worn a lot over the summer), funky blue tunic sweater, black and white drape cardigan, padded jacket, black suede ankle boots, and a bunch of new long-sleeved tees.

Bad: jeans that bag out, underwear that doesn't fit properly, jeans that on further consideration are a bit too short, two cotton sweaters that crease easily and look a bit sloppy.

Great thread Mo!!
Best buys Helmut Lang smoking tux jacket, duplicate Helmut Lang Gala tux jacket and Helmut Lang leather sleeve wool blazer. All just up the style quotient and are so comfy!! Also EF merino dresses in black & gray. Just winter work horses and Ugg Cortonas!! As Janet says the Rockstuds are not everyday shoes but a big no regret on that splurge!!
Worst buys: an EF ballet neck dress (too much volume donated after 1 wear, just hated.JCrew cropped v neck cashmere cardigan - was bought to replace one similiar but pilled beyond repair but hated the buttons and the length was not perfect and the style was just off. Translation you can't go home again. Still missing that first cardi!!

Oh, Gryffin, so true - you can't go home again! How many mistakes have been made trying to recreate the magic with a replacement? Sigh.
This is so illuminating. Thanks everyone for chiming in!

I'm realizing that my mistakes were usually something I talked myself into, with the belief that the item would make itself useful once I had it in my closet. Fit issues (too baggy because I sized up to fit the arms, slightly too small in the bust) are also a big danger sign.

I was reading the other posts and am amazed at how organized you all are.
I admit to be in denial regarding not so good buys this year.There might have been a few of them.
Maybe it is because we are in the middle of winter but the clothes I really loved this year and want to go back to are a jumpsuit and a dress from summer (pic bellow).

Best buy: night sky print high low dress I bought last weekend to wear on Christmas Day.
Worst buy: tropical print maxi dress, it's skin tight and I foolishly thought I'd slim into it! X

I've had a lot of misses and returns this year but I think the Best would be the two moto jackets - the black leather Spiegel is getting a lot of wear on colder days and the navy quilted moto jacket from BR on less chilly days. Love these both and love the style so much that I've tried a few others but haven't found a "spring" version quite yet.

The worst is harder - I guess the Frye boots I thought I'd wear a lot that have yet to be worn should be the main item on that list. Of course I techinically bought them in Dec. 2012 I think. You'd think these would be my "go to" shoes where I live, but I guess I'm not as much "country" and "ranch" as I thought, and they seem a bit masculine or heavy for me. I probably will learn to wear them (sometimes I have to own something for a while to learn how to love it). Other things I wish I would not have purchased include some basic long sleeved tees that I've sort of outgrown from a style standpoint but bought on "auto pilot" because I thought I "needed" them. Luckily most of the worst buys I was able to return so they didn't end up sitting in the closet.

Best:
Knit skirt. Although this has not made any of my "5*" outfits, it is the item of clothing I have worn the most often this season, probably because it is comfortable and easy to re-mix.
Wide leg pant. I bought these in both black and white because I just love how they feel!
Flat sandal booties. Worn at least every second day, easy to walk in and adds a bit of a trendy vibe to boring outfits.

Worst:
I bought several drapey. lightweight toppers that to date have had almost no wear. I may use them more as the days start to cool down, but I have a feeling I won't. They were all quite cheap and the construction over the shoulders and the way the fabric falls is just not quite right - not noticeably wrong on first glance, but I think it will bug me with wear. Time will tell.

An Hermes scarf, hands down.

And no misses, but not every year has been perfect...

I have a lot of wins this year. Lots of shoes that I love. Finally replaced all my old jeans with new jeans that are perfect. I bought a LOT of stuff this year and most of it was great, so I'm not sure what the best was.

I'm afraid the worst was this Zara wool dress. I bought it in October, love it, finally cut the tags to wear it for Christmas Eve dinner. And then I put it on and the 5 lbs I gained this winter make it fit very poorly in the middle. All wrinkley and uncomfortable.

Shapewear might help but I hate things squeezing my tummy. Plus, it really needs to be shortened, but I don't want to invest the money if I won't ever wear it... I'm still debating this.

Like Susie I purged close to 20 items bought in 2013 that didn't work out, but only 1 or 2 of these were over $50, and those I will sell to recoup a little at least.
Best purchase without a doubt is my thrifted Chanel dress- I will keep and wear for a long time to come!
Worst would be a pair of $10 pants for work that stretched-out- replaced with a great thrifted pair of no particular brand that fit perfectly.

My best: nano puffer jacket from Patagonia. Crazy warm, stylish, and folds up small enough to fit in a normal handbag.
My worst: everything I bought at Promod in Germany on a trip there- the shirts twisted something fierce after one wash and got promptly donated.

This was actually a pretty easy exercise for me because my best items really stood out.

My best purchases: white leather Danier jacket, TR Cameron BF jeans, bone & silver sandal/shoes, cobalt and cream quilted Danier handbag, black Danier handbag, black patent Ara booties, blackwatch trousers, white blazer and berry cashmere blend knee length winter coat.

Worst purchases: Anne Fontaine double collar white shirt (I'm not a crisp shirt gal - haven't worn it once), silky black-on-black textured Nygard trousers (the raised texture catches on everything and grabs every piece of lint known to mankind - have gone to the thrift store already), And a few thrifted pieces that never even made it to a YLF debut...