After seeing how much I bought last year, I decided to start off 2024 with a No Buy January. And then, I just kept going. My goal: to make it through the end of the first quarter without buying any new clothes.

Exceptions were made for essentials like socks and underwear. Now that I have to lug my laundry down the street to the laundromat again, I decided that I needed to resupply these categories — not only because some items were getting worn, but because I hate doing laundry and wanted to increase the amount of time between said lugging.

So, how did I do with my No Buy Q1? Well, two items did come into my life, but one of them was not my fault.

The Accidental Item

In January, the Mister, in need of a rainy day shoe, shopped for L.L. Bean Boots secondhand. He bought a pair from eBay. But while they were listed as men’s sizing, it turns out they were women’s. Not only that, they were my size. He took this as a sign that I should keep them and didn’t inform the seller of their mistake. So now I have a pair of Bean Boots.

I was open to the idea of them, so I didn’t protest. But, the thing is: I don’t need them. On rainy days I wear a pair of secondhand Kate Spade rain boots (stooped last year from the street). I thought the Bean Boots might be good for snow. But apparently, the sole is no good for that. (And I have boots suitable for snow already.) So, I really don’t have a use case for them. I know that duck boots are an essential part of East Coast style, but they’re kind of ugly? That may be part of their appeal. I guess I will hold on to them for now. If you’re a fan of duck boots, tell me why in the comments.

The Item That Kept Me From My No Buy Goal

The other item, though, was my fault. I broke my No Buy goal by buying one cropped T-shirt from the Uniqlo C line designed by Clare Waight Keller. The fact that it was one of these limited releases, thereby creating a manufactured feeling of scarcity, contributed to my purchase.

The different cut of the T-shirt drew me in. It’s both oversized and cropped. I liked the idea of it a lot. I tuck in most of my T-shirts because it looks better with all the high-waisted bottoms that I wear. But with this shirt, I wouldn’t have to tuck it in at all, which was appealing.

However, I wasn’t sure that it was flattering. Though I like a boxy shape, perhaps it was too boxy? I made an Instagram poll, and it was pretty much 50-50 on whether I should keep it. Not a vote of confidence!

I ended up buying it to think it over at home, where I could try it on with other items. Doing so, I realized it looked better on me if I rolled up the almost elbow length sleeves. So that — and the shade of red — tipped me over into keeping it. I mean, I should break out of my mostly black wardrobe, right?

So, I failed. I bought a thing. A fast fashion thing. But at least I’m doing better than last year. At this point last year, I had bought six items.

BTW, the photo at the top of this post is from the Diane von Furstenberg collaboration with Target, which launched yesterday. I went to the preview pop-up in Manhattan last weekend, but I was good and didn’t buy anything.