I am in the middle of a contentment challenge and I *needed* this post!!! I have been struggling, ha. Going to click through those posts you linked now, too! New mantra: "I can want something and not buy it." Yessss
You’ve got this! I laughed so hard at the mcsweeney article! My signature shoes: rogue paper co keds. And I’m figuring out my post pregnancy/ surgery / late 30s style 🫠
I loved this! Especially the part about clicking Cup of Jo links lol. My daughter has gotten into thrift shopping and to my surprise I’ve found things there for myself, too! (I was never a thrift shopper before—the stores are often overstimulating to me, but we have a nice, small, well-organized one near us.) I’ve been feeling kinda bad about my looks lately and wanted new clothes; my compromise was to try a clothing rental for a month. I’ll report back!
Thrift stores are SO overstimulating! It’s funny you mention this because I’ve just recently wanted to give thrifting a try—maybe my challenge in the New Year will be to only spend money on thrifted clothes. Hmm. I should look at thrifting for my daughter—she grows so fast and we don’t have anyone giving us hand-me-downs.
I'm new to your writing but so enjoyed this post and challenge! I'm a huge thrifter/FB marketplace fiend but recently deleted my fb as a personal challenge to try and make sure I'm creative with home goods we already have or my closet as is (I'm pregnant with another baby right now so I will have some buying post partum as I figure out my size but that's next year hah) and it's been such a fun challenge.
I was gonna say as an avid thrifter I would avoid the Goodwills or bigger chains. They are price gouging greasy tshirts and not great household items right now. I've found the best luck in those smaller (which aren't overwhelming!) one shop out of the way places for fun steals and good prices! 💕
That’s great advice- thank you! And very cool that you’re setting a personal challenge to make do with what you have in this season. Thank you for reading 🥰
Love this! I don't know that I have a signature piece, but I do wear a LOT of navy and white stripes! I'd say a whole lot of what is popular/trendy is missing from my wardrobe though... my style is fairly consistent and the older I've gotten, the less shop for myself unless it's something I really need (or I have a gift card!)... I think changing my clothes out seasonally has helped me with this a lot because they feel new when I unpack them at the beginning of a new season!
I am also so inspired by your no-buy months!!! (And ironically was almost influenced to buy overalls from this piece 😆). One of my “signature” items is a chambray shirt. I love wearing it as intended, unbuttoned over a t-shirt with leggings, and partially buttoned/tied up over dresses. Truly a year-round staple that defines my wardrobe!
Love a chambray! Great signature piece. I won’t lie, I still feel get that magical feeling whenever I wear my overalls. I’d love to find a relaxed-fit pair in 2025!
Item that was so me: famous Coat I wrote about on my last substack. 😁 (Is everyone sick of me talking about this??? Lol!) Item I was regrettably influenced to buy: loafers. They’re cute but rip up my heels à la that McSweeney’s essay. And same for the ballet flats. It’s not just what they do to my heels but the squeezing of my entire super high needs feet. 😭 (Also, is it weird that my feet seem to have grown in my mid-40’s??) This is why I can’t commit to the challenge right now. I had to donate most of my winter shoes, and now I’m on the hunt to replace them.
The famous coat is fab!! Ugh the blisters are the worst. The only loafers that ever worked for me were men’s Sperrys that I wore to DEATH and wish I had never gotten rid of. I adore the look of loafers and so wish they didn’t kill my feet!
I love this! Just another avenue to apply “it is safe to be unsatisfied.”
I regret buying an eye cream that did not help my wrinkles 🙈 and I wish I had a signature item. I pretty much live in Vuori since I stopped teaching, but I’m not sure I’d like to be known for athlesiure. I got a new bike for my birthday and I am still getting a kick out of wearing bike shorts on my bike! (Instead of just to pick up the kids from school)
Love this! I don’t tend to struggle with impulse buying or adding to my wardrobe (I can’t even remember the last accessory I bought! But there are other ways I spend my money that I’d like to curb (you know, lattes at the coffee shop ;) This is such a great reminder of having all we need!
This is so great! I haven't updated my fall wardrobe since furlough (2022), when I could shop in the States, and most of those things were 2nd hand. So I have been buying a few things lately that were missing from my closet, but I've been using percentil, this online thrift store that's like ThredUp (but here in Spain). I follow a fashion-centric journalist, Elizabeth Holmes, for her royal family coverage. She is an expert in sartorial choices and I always learn a lot from her. I love her analysis of what the princess wears. But, lately, her stuff has just been links and ads for stuff she bought for her free trip to London, and it's starting to gross me out. Like, she has like 6 different trench coats! And she never chooses ethical brands, which is so unfortunate. I don't have access to the best ethical brands here, but if I did, I would probably shop more haha.
I definitely bought a couple things in August/September but I would love to join this challenge through the rest of the year! Funny enough I have a draft in my Google drive about applying the “I have everything I need” mentality to my wardrobe (and not just my creativity) — while using some Pinterest screenshots as an inspiration boost to shop my own closet. Kind of like a writing prompt 😜
Yesss join me! I’d love to read your piece when you’re ready to share. Two of my favorite wardrobe change-ups have been monochromatic looks- I recently wore a white open knit sweater with white denim, and I felt so stylish, lol, and wearing Oxford shirts and flannels open instead of buttoned. Such a simple change, but it feels like a new outfit.
P.s. I love the idea of signature items! I have a Clare V crossbody that I wear every single day, and I’m not sure if it’s my signature, but I love having an item that I utilize daily.
I am in the middle of a contentment challenge and I *needed* this post!!! I have been struggling, ha. Going to click through those posts you linked now, too! New mantra: "I can want something and not buy it." Yessss
Ooo you’ve got this, Megan!
You’ve got this! I laughed so hard at the mcsweeney article! My signature shoes: rogue paper co keds. And I’m figuring out my post pregnancy/ surgery / late 30s style 🫠
LOVE those Keds!
I loved this! Especially the part about clicking Cup of Jo links lol. My daughter has gotten into thrift shopping and to my surprise I’ve found things there for myself, too! (I was never a thrift shopper before—the stores are often overstimulating to me, but we have a nice, small, well-organized one near us.) I’ve been feeling kinda bad about my looks lately and wanted new clothes; my compromise was to try a clothing rental for a month. I’ll report back!
Thrift stores are SO overstimulating! It’s funny you mention this because I’ve just recently wanted to give thrifting a try—maybe my challenge in the New Year will be to only spend money on thrifted clothes. Hmm. I should look at thrifting for my daughter—she grows so fast and we don’t have anyone giving us hand-me-downs.
Yes, please report back on the clothing rental!
I'm new to your writing but so enjoyed this post and challenge! I'm a huge thrifter/FB marketplace fiend but recently deleted my fb as a personal challenge to try and make sure I'm creative with home goods we already have or my closet as is (I'm pregnant with another baby right now so I will have some buying post partum as I figure out my size but that's next year hah) and it's been such a fun challenge.
I was gonna say as an avid thrifter I would avoid the Goodwills or bigger chains. They are price gouging greasy tshirts and not great household items right now. I've found the best luck in those smaller (which aren't overwhelming!) one shop out of the way places for fun steals and good prices! 💕
That’s great advice- thank you! And very cool that you’re setting a personal challenge to make do with what you have in this season. Thank you for reading 🥰
Love this! I don't know that I have a signature piece, but I do wear a LOT of navy and white stripes! I'd say a whole lot of what is popular/trendy is missing from my wardrobe though... my style is fairly consistent and the older I've gotten, the less shop for myself unless it's something I really need (or I have a gift card!)... I think changing my clothes out seasonally has helped me with this a lot because they feel new when I unpack them at the beginning of a new season!
I am also so inspired by your no-buy months!!! (And ironically was almost influenced to buy overalls from this piece 😆). One of my “signature” items is a chambray shirt. I love wearing it as intended, unbuttoned over a t-shirt with leggings, and partially buttoned/tied up over dresses. Truly a year-round staple that defines my wardrobe!
Love a chambray! Great signature piece. I won’t lie, I still feel get that magical feeling whenever I wear my overalls. I’d love to find a relaxed-fit pair in 2025!
I’m in!! Thanks for inspiring me ❤️
😍 thanks for reading, Fay!
Item that was so me: famous Coat I wrote about on my last substack. 😁 (Is everyone sick of me talking about this??? Lol!) Item I was regrettably influenced to buy: loafers. They’re cute but rip up my heels à la that McSweeney’s essay. And same for the ballet flats. It’s not just what they do to my heels but the squeezing of my entire super high needs feet. 😭 (Also, is it weird that my feet seem to have grown in my mid-40’s??) This is why I can’t commit to the challenge right now. I had to donate most of my winter shoes, and now I’m on the hunt to replace them.
The famous coat is fab!! Ugh the blisters are the worst. The only loafers that ever worked for me were men’s Sperrys that I wore to DEATH and wish I had never gotten rid of. I adore the look of loafers and so wish they didn’t kill my feet!
Same!!
I love this! Just another avenue to apply “it is safe to be unsatisfied.”
I regret buying an eye cream that did not help my wrinkles 🙈 and I wish I had a signature item. I pretty much live in Vuori since I stopped teaching, but I’m not sure I’d like to be known for athlesiure. I got a new bike for my birthday and I am still getting a kick out of wearing bike shorts on my bike! (Instead of just to pick up the kids from school)
If you ever find a great eye cream, let me know! 😆 Vuori is such a great “decide once” brand—you can’t go wrong!
Love this! I don’t tend to struggle with impulse buying or adding to my wardrobe (I can’t even remember the last accessory I bought! But there are other ways I spend my money that I’d like to curb (you know, lattes at the coffee shop ;) This is such a great reminder of having all we need!
This is so great! I haven't updated my fall wardrobe since furlough (2022), when I could shop in the States, and most of those things were 2nd hand. So I have been buying a few things lately that were missing from my closet, but I've been using percentil, this online thrift store that's like ThredUp (but here in Spain). I follow a fashion-centric journalist, Elizabeth Holmes, for her royal family coverage. She is an expert in sartorial choices and I always learn a lot from her. I love her analysis of what the princess wears. But, lately, her stuff has just been links and ads for stuff she bought for her free trip to London, and it's starting to gross me out. Like, she has like 6 different trench coats! And she never chooses ethical brands, which is so unfortunate. I don't have access to the best ethical brands here, but if I did, I would probably shop more haha.
I haven’t shopped second-hand clothes in probably fifteen years, and it’s something I’d really like to try.
I will live vicariously through you if you start thrifting. Is my favorite hobby and it's so hard here. I live about an hour from any good shops.
I definitely bought a couple things in August/September but I would love to join this challenge through the rest of the year! Funny enough I have a draft in my Google drive about applying the “I have everything I need” mentality to my wardrobe (and not just my creativity) — while using some Pinterest screenshots as an inspiration boost to shop my own closet. Kind of like a writing prompt 😜
Yesss join me! I’d love to read your piece when you’re ready to share. Two of my favorite wardrobe change-ups have been monochromatic looks- I recently wore a white open knit sweater with white denim, and I felt so stylish, lol, and wearing Oxford shirts and flannels open instead of buttoned. Such a simple change, but it feels like a new outfit.
P.s. I love the idea of signature items! I have a Clare V crossbody that I wear every single day, and I’m not sure if it’s my signature, but I love having an item that I utilize daily.
You can’t beat a quality bag!
I AM SO HERE FOR THIS 🙌🏼 You are an inspiration, friend!!
Right back at ya!!