2 weeks into a 365 no buy wardrobe challenge
Thoughts, lessons and perculations
It’s officially 2 weeks since I started my ‘no buy’ 365 wardrobe challenge and while there’s no life altering discoveries or moments of deep regret (yet) I have noticed a few findings I thought might be worth sharing.
1. Deleting shopping apps will give you so much time back in your day
While not many people can say they’re a stranger to picking up their phone for no reason, other than to unconsciously scroll, I have become increasingly aware of all those times I would reach for my phone to browse my shopping apps. First port of call was always the Toteme app, quickly followed by Ssence, Net A porter, Matches (RIP), Mango and H&M.
The times I go to do this and remind myself, wait…I deleted them! Only to think hmm, what else should I do instead has been a bit of a wake up call. I think this had become such a habit for me, I would just sit and scroll the new in section, going from one app to another and while there’s no harm in some online window shopping, i’m just a little surprised by how much time I was spending doing it each day.
I bought a book the other day called impossible conversations with Miuccia prada and Schiaparelli and it’s been nice swapping out a screen for a coffee table book and reading about the inspiration behind the designs, and appreciating their artistic process.
2. I haven’t been as creative as I could be (yet)
It’s only been two weeks, so i’m being gentle on myself, but I swing back and forth of trying to decide if I do want to be ‘more creative’ or do I just have my personal style down so well, that I know what I like and there’s no need to rock the boat?
Granted there’s some outfits that i’m waiting on the weather changing to wear, and I did love what I put together for the black tie event shopping my wardrobe. I think this will be a future YouTube video where I try things out in real time to get a little more playful.
The truth is I feel very grounded in my personal style. I know very instinctually whether or not something feels like me vs something I like on other people but isn’t true to my sense of style.
3. I’m a proud outfit repeater
This brings me onto my next unsurprising realisation, I am definitely an outfit repeater and there are certain outfit combinations that just feel like home to me. They feel effortless and elevated, comfortable and chic, meaning when I don’t know what to wear, or i’m pushed for time, they are the first thing I reach for.
My Aritzia Wilfred Effortless pants are without a doubt one of the hardest working items in my wardrobe, and probably my equivalent of what jeans are to most people. Yes I own 6 different washes, and yes I wear all of them. The black ones though are my go to, whether it’s with a t-shirt and a good quality belt, a cardigan or a sweater tucked in, they are in my eyes pant perfection! The right side of slouchy, high waisted, and I don’t know what kind of witchcraft they are made of but I never have to iron them!
My Hermes reversible belt is really two belts in one, being black box leather on one side and tan togo leather on the other, it’s such a classic piece. I also love that the H just feels like its been personally monogrammed for me!
My Toteme T Lock Bag is still one of my favorite bag purchases of 2023. I’ve had it over a year now and I reckon it would easily be in my Top 5 most worn bags because of how versatile it is. I love the colour, its less orangey than some of my other tan bags and the sculptural fortune cookie type shape is so pleasing to the eye.
4. I wear a lot of things that men don’t get
To be clear, this is not, and never will be a problem in my eyes, but I do find it funny how wearing oversized pieces, or pieces that deviate from being ‘flattering’ (God I hate that word) is something men truly don’t get and I think that sadly stops a lot of women wearing clothes that they want to wear, or at least explore.
Case in point, I remember being in New York in the Frankie Shop with a girlfriend, and a woman was shopping with her husband. She said to me and my friend ‘Do you mind giving me your honest opinion on whether or not this looks good on me, because me husband doesn’t get it’….and i’ve never seen a man go so red in the face! Me and my friend assured her she looked fabulous, but I get it, It’s hard for a lot of people to unlearn that getting dressed doesn’t have to have anything to do with being pleasing to men. One of the things I had to unlearn in order to lean into my personal style was to dress for me, not for anyone else, and especially not for the male gaze.
That’s it for this week. What’s been your biggest take away when it came to finding your own personal style?
Chat soon
Harry xo