It’s time to look back on my clothing shopping habits of the past year. 2021 marked my fifth year of trying to shop more ethically and sustainably — and most importantly, to shop less.
I didn’t really set a goal for myself in 2021. In 2020, my goal was to buy no more than 20 items and make half of my purchases secondhand. (I succeeded in the first part, but not the second.) What can I say, it was a nice round number: 20 in 2020. But after a year of this pandemic, I approached 2021 with a general desire to downsize my wardrobe. I thought, “Just do your best.” (This applied not just to my shopping, but to life in general.)
The Numbers
So, how did I do? I spent $1,158 on 17 items. (This number does not include underwear, jewelry, or items I buy infrequently like this wallet.) This is the least I’ve ever bought in one year, though similar in count to 2020. Here’s a quick overview of past years: A decade ago, in 2011, I bought 66 items. In 2017, the first year of this blog and when I started to pay attention to my consumption, I bought 40 items. Since then, I’ve acquired less every year.
The majority of my purchases in 2021, 88%, were from ethical brands. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve gotten this shopping less thing down. At least that’s one area of my life where I’m making progress!
Here’s a breakdown by category:
Shoes – 7
Tops – 2
Sweaters – 1
Dresses/Jumpsuits – 1
Pants – 2
Sweats/Loungewear – 3
Outerwear – 1
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Ah, footwear. Not surprised that I logged the most acquisitions in this category. It’s a constant struggle for me with shoes. Many shoes don’t stay in my closet because of fit or comfort issues. I purged quite a few pairs of shoes when I moved a few months ago. But in 2020, I found a brand that seems to work for me, dr. Liza. (Read my review of the flats and booties.) So, I’ve been adding pairs to my wardrobe from them during sales. Four of the 7 pairs I bought in 2021 came from them. (Shown at the top of this post are dr. Liza’s blue suede flats and black sneaker pumps.)
The next category with the most purchases is sweats/loungewear, which makes sense given the ongoing pandemic. Two of these purchases were sweatpants (these in particular, reviewed here.) The outerwear was a puffy vest, a useful item that I wear often. These purchases are ones that I deem as useful and needed.
Then there are the items that I don’t really need, but that brought me joy. Not to mention, they added more color to my wardrobe. These include the Girlfriend Shirt, the Boyfriend Shirt, the Every Day Pant (all from Vetta), and the Jonah cardigan from Curator SF.
I also decluttered 31 items from my closet throughout the year. Most of these I donated before I moved. So, in total, I reduced my wardrobe by 14 items.
Welcome Objects 2021 Wardrobe Count
Additions: 17
Subtractions: 31
Shopping Habits & Patterns
Wearing mostly items I bought in 2021: Curator SF Cardigan // Everlane Way-High Jean [review] // dr. Liza Booties [review]
Like prior years, there was a burst of shopping in November to take advantage of holiday sales. I was quiet in January and February. (Makes sense. I tend to chill after the holidays.) But otherwise, I shopped at a consistent pace, placing an order about once a month from March to July.
Overall, I was pretty good about pausing to think through my purchases before buying them. There was one exception, though. One impulse buy. And it’s the one purchase that turned out to be a dud.
I thrifted a leopard print dress from Community Thrift before I left San Francisco. It’s a tighter-fitting cut with stretchy material. I should have known that the dress wouldn’t work for me. In fact, if I’m being honest, I did know right there in the store that the cut was not flattering for me. (I tried it on over my clothes as Community Thrift doesn’t provide fitting rooms.) But there were so many other things I liked about the dress. It was only $10. And I thought, well maybe?
Well no, not maybe. My body isn’t suddenly going to change.
This dress was my only secondhand purchase this year. Interestingly, the one item that didn’t work out for me in 2020 was also a secondhand item. Why am I striking out with these secondhand buys? I think what happens is that I drop into a scarcity mindset. “I’m not going to run across this again.” Or, “This is such a good price for this thing.” I need to slow down so that I can be more clearheaded when it comes to secondhand as well.
It remains one of my goals to buy more secondhand when I do decide to buy something, so I better figure this out! For 2022, I want to continue with a low-buy year. I suspect I might buy more this year because I’ve moved from a place with a constant climate to one with seasons. I definitely have some wardrobe gaps. What shopping/consumption goals, if any, are you setting for yourself this year?
Alright, time to close out this reflection. I leave you with this recap of some of my favorite outfits from 2021.
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Secondhand shopping can be so hard, but it’s so rewarding when you find a gem! I’m definitely guilty of trying items on at a retailer’s store, and then searching Thredup, Poshmark, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for that item secondhand. Sometimes it takes months of searching, but that only makes it sweeter!
I’m looking to add just a few more “fun” pieces to my wardrobe this year. I feel like I’m pretty much “set” on basics, but I would love a piece or two that makes me smile.
That’s a great place to be in — having your basics covered and looking for those extra pieces. I do love the thrill of finding a secondhand gem. I think I’ve had better luck when I’m able to shop in person as opposed to looking online, particularly if it’s a vintage piece or brand I’m not as familiar with.