90 Days Into My No Buy 365 Wardrobe Challenge

My most worn pieces & go to outfits so far

It was February 26th when I made the decision to not buy anything new for my wardrobe for 365 days, to really put my forever wardrobe to the test. I’m at an age where I feel very comfortable in my personal style, I know what I like, and I know what I don’t. Doing this challenge has actually strengthened that trust in my personal style, and at a time when my mental health has been challenging to say the least, the clothes I wear have remained the one thing that is constant. There has been immense relief in getting dressed, because right now, it’s the one thing I can do consistently, when everything else feels hard.

I talked about how one of the most unexpected lessons of this challenge was getting my depression diagnosis which I wrote about here. As someone who is very ambitious I remember a close friend telling me the wins will look different right now, and getting dressed is that win most days. Putting on clothes I love that make me feel good (even if I only wear them for an hour) is sometimes the best part of my day, and i’m grateful for that. Getting dressed, has always been, and always will be something I do for me, as an act of self care as well as expression.

My Most Worn Items over 90 Days

From the beginning of this challenge I used the Indyx app to record all my looks, and upon reviewing the past 90 days there are certain pieces that have without a doubt worked incredibly hard for me within my wardrobe and I thought i’d share those here. In no particular order, these are my most worn pieces in my wardrobe during this challenge so far:

1. Aritzia Effortless Pant - Aka the best black trousers.

2. Hérmes Vintage Kelly 32 - I did a YouTube video review of this bag here.

3. Lie Studio Julie Earrings - Bold yet understated, perfect for every occasion.

4. & Other Stories Relaxed White T Shirt - A classic tee with a boxy fit.

5. Men’s Thrifted Blazer - A grey silk and wool blend with a discreet plaid.

6. Toteme Strappy Sandals - The ultimate minimal heel.

7. Massimo Dutti Boots - Like my Toteme Mid heel boots but a flatter version.

8. Toteme T Lock Bag - Minimal yet structural and a favorite with denim.

9. Frankie Shop Dallas Denim Jacket - Oversized & very versatile.

10. Abercrombie Curve Love Ultra High Rise 90’s Straight Jean - The best shape i’ve found for my body.

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My Most Worn Outfits

Looking back of the 90 days there are some very obvious themes, or ‘uniforms’, in particular three I seem to reach for on repeat.

Uniform 1 - Straight leg Jeans and a Menswear blazer

The first one of which is jeans, some kind of top, a blazer and nearly always a belt. This is a uniform I reach for consistently because it works so well for day or night. The shoe and the bag can easily be changed up to change the entire vibe of the outfit instantly.

Uniform 2 - Shirts & Slouchy Black Trousers

My ‘school trousers’ (as Dave calls them) are without a doubt one of the hardest working pieces in my forever wardrobe. My favorite thing about the Aritzia Effortless pant is the fact there are different leg lengths so you can really control how much ‘slouch’ you create depending on the length you choose. This uniform is another very versatile one, because the shirt can also double up as a layering piece.

Uniform 3 - Interesting outerwear

Granted living in LA can make this one a little problematic due to the lack of colder weather and the ‘need’ for outerwear, but given that it is one of my favorite pieces to wear, I always find a way. Whether it’s an interesting shape, silhouette, or a detail that catches my eye, I just think during the Winter to Spring months, outerwear gets to be the main attraction.

So there we have it, 90 days in and i’m still feeling confident about this challenge. As someone who loves data, this is actually the most fun part, noticing the patterns and reflecting on how I use my wardrobe.

I just wanted to say, I genuinely LOVE Substack and i’m so grateful for everyone in this community, i’d love to know more about you and your wardrobe, and your relationship to clothes/style, so if you fancy, feel free to share abit about you in the comments.

Thanks for reading

Harry x