I have been reviewing where I am at style wise for 2025.
Goals and Shopping
In January I set the following goals:
1) Buy and spend less than in 2024. I am looking at adding 12 or less new pieces in to my wardrobe this year
2)I want to shop in person for the clothing, either in my home city or when travelling.
The 12 does not include sports gear/active wear.
My short list was as follow:
- new jeans- blue denim
- Coloured sneakers - not white
- bright trousers
- fine gauge sweater - for work
- spring jacket - this is a HEWI
Here is a link to my additions for the year.
Collections – YouLookFab Finds I have added seven items (not gear) that are new with the majority being purchased in person.
Exceptions for the in person were the cycling gear, the yellow sneakers and the red trousers. With the exception of the Jelenew cycling gear the others were purchased from local companies. I have been focussing on supporting NZ companies or boutiques as much as I can, but a couple of pieces were purchased when travelling.
I have added everything on the shopping list although the blue denim is cream, and the spring jacket is a cardigan!!
I have also had two gifts from my Dad which were the sunglasses and the new sandals for my European trip. I am doing more second hand shopping this year although since it is mostly out of season many of the items have not been worn yet.
I have added more gear in 2025 - the cycling gear was required for our trip, and the rest is replacement gear (one in, one out) for gym, walking etc.. It will all get a lot of wear so I am not concerned about that.
Focussing on a flexible shopping list has been really helpful for me along with my DO NOT BUY LIST - which is as follows - puffed sleeves, black winter tops, drawstring trousers, heels......
Wears
In terms of wears, I am getting a lot of wear from my new pieces with the charcoal sweatshirt already being over 30 wears, the cream jeans at 21 wears and the yellow sneakers and green sweater at 17 wears each. They are all forming a piece of the puzzle of getting dressed and filling a hole in some way.
I haven't edited out much this year - a dress that is too soft for me in styling (floral), a sweater that had worn out (hot pink) and a cardigan that I could not make work (lilac)- the fit was wrong. I am trying to be cautious on the editing out unless it is a problem fit or really off stylewise or worn out. I am not editing out pieces I am a bit tired of.
Things that haven't been worn even once this year are below. Since it has been six months including summer autumn and winter I think it is good to review.
- the cream linen blazer and soft folded jacket are useful and I think worth keeping for a while
- the blue floral and 70s dress are great options that got at least one wear each in 2024 so I will keep them
- the spot camisole is nice and worth keeping
- the black and teal heeled sandals I plan to keep for now....
- the black sheath and lace dress - both a bit dated - but good quality dresses that I will try on come summer and re-evaluate
- I could edit out the faux fur and the black heels - now I have the Mary Janes - maybe these won't be needed. These are my least comfortable shoes. The faux fur is fun - but I don't think I have worn it since 2019.....is it time?
I head to Europe in August and have no needs for any more additions (will do a packing list post later) after completing my cycling gear and adding in some new sandals and trail runners. So I am not shopping between now and leaving - with the goal of finding a new bag or piece of jewelry on my trip at some stage.....
Conclusion
I say I don't like shopping much - but I still keep on doing it.....and while I am on track with new items there has still been a fair amount of gear and second hand shopping. So I need to think about why this may be the case - endorphins, boredom, habit?
With four more weeks of winter I can make do with my current pieces until August, and on my return in September I will be into the tricky transitional weather here - which is the majority of my closet.
Thanks for looking and let me know any comments or suggestions!
