Everything I Bought This Year

and the lessons I learned along the way...

2024 was an interesting year for clothes shopping. I spent my first Winter and Spring in Seattle and tried to determine what I needed in this climate. I purged my closet of plastic-based materials, filling a few gaps with organic material replacements. I also participated in dog shows with my Deerhound, Sage, which required some trial and error to figure out what to wear. I kept a note in my phone to keep track of everything I bought this year and while I purchased a lot more than I intended to, I learned a lot about how I’d like to approach shopping in the future.

Read on for everything I bought this year and takeaways from tracking all my purchases!

Needs

This category covers everything I actually “needed” to buy. The essentials I have no regrets about purchasing.

Pepper Strapless Bras

Before this year, I had not purchased a bra since college! My two most worn bras were from high school. I’ve been pretty happy with the pepper bras although I wish I had found a better non-plastic option.

Socks

I bought these for everyday wear and these for running.

White Cardigan

My favorite cardigan was starting to fray and also had nylon in it, so I was happy to replace it with one I got from the Ambihanako pop-up in Tokyo.

Cotton Sweatpants

After years of searching for the perfect sweatpants, I have found them. Thick, soft, and structured enough to wear out of the house, I love these. They’re also inexpensive! I don’t trust expensive loungewear, I’m sorry.

Merino Wool Running Shorts

Changed my life. So soft and airy. They don’t move while I’m running which is a game changer for me.

100% Cotton Underwear

I am terrified of microplastics and am thrilled to have replaced my underwear with an organic material option.

Blouses

My nicer shirts have disappeared from my wardrobe since having my son three years ago and I’ve been enjoying feeling put-together every day so I ordered the Ulysse Blouse and the Maia T-Shirt from Sézane, a long-time favorite. They haven’t arrived yet so I’ll report back!

Tevas

I needed a sturdy sandal I could wear to our local rocky beach but I also wanted them to be cute enough to wear out and about in the Summer. These exceeded my expectations.

Blundstones

I wear these alongside everyone else who lives in the PNW but I love them...

Wanted but didn’t need

The name of this category says it all. Some of these purchases I’ve been really happy with and some I regret.

Vintage Levis

I didn’t need these at all, but when you find the perfect pair of vintage Levis, you have to go for it. No regrets.

Coffee Shop T-Shirts

I got carried away and bought coffee shop merch twice this year. Both shirts are very cool but I have so many T-shirts now.

Deerhound Specialty T-Shirt

I purchased it at my first-ever dog show which also happened to be the national specialty. I will cherish it forever.

Mango Ribbed Knit Trousers

I bought these on Poshmark after an influencer recommended them. An impulsive purchase! They don’t fit well and the fabric wore very quickly.

Alpaca Wool Sweater

An impulse travel purchase I thankfully love.

White Corduroy Pants

Purchased from my favorite store in Tokyo, Pivoine. The cut is unique and they look good with everything I own. (pictured above with my alpaca wool sweater)

Cotton Leggings

Also purchased from Pivoine, these have been great so far. I love how thick they are. Note to self to stop buying pants.

Hobby Wear

Everything I bought to show my dog.

Vintage Ralph Lauren Trousers

I was running late to an appointment and rushed when I bought these. They didn’t fit quite right and weren’t a suitable option for dog shows.

JCrew Top

I used to love the JCrew shells and thought this one might look cute with the above pants but the entire ensemble didn’t work at all.

The Resume Dress

I ended up buying two of these on sale after agonizing for weeks over what to wear to show my dog. I’m so happy with them.

Takeaways

The biggest thing I learned this year is to slow down. All of the purchases I ended up regretting were made impulsively, in a rush, or with anxiety. It’s always worth it to take a few days between wanting something and buying it. I also learned that I have shopping preferences and need to prioritize the things that are missing from my wardrobe. (I’m always drawn to buying pants and ended the year with more pants in my closet than shirts.) Finally, I learned to start with the bare minimum when you start a new hobby. It turns out that two dresses are enough for an entire season of dog showing when I anticipated needing a lot more.

Thanks for reading! I’ll see you back here on Friday to share everything I bought in Japan and some more tips for shopping mindfully.