The 'No Buy' 365 Days Wardrobe Challenge is on

Hello Substack, Let's do this!

So here we are. I’m really doing it. After a week pondering over whether or not I was ‘all in’ on this experiment, I decided I’m too curious not to try it. Can I really go an entire year without buying a single item for my wardrobe? Let’s find out….

So what’s the deal? How am I tracking this, and what can you expect here on Substack?

Here’s the ‘rough’ plan. I’ll be tracking my outfits daily on the Indyx app (shown above) and at the end of the year i’ll be able to see what I wore the most, what I wore the least, and if I really have curated a forever wardrobe?

YouTube is where you can find monthly updates on how i’m getting on, what i’m learning and outfit configurations i’m loving (basically more in depth long form content for those who want to watch with a cuppa, or while you do the dishes).

TikTok….(I know I took a while to figure out what to do with it, but alas we got there in the end) is where i’ll be sharing daily fits in real time.

Instagram is for my aesthetic girlies who want to see beautiful content artfully curated (my inner artist is really loving IG again atm), and more stylised content.

And Substack is where I plan to document my weekly findings, both from a psychologically pov, of how the challenge is affecting me emotionally as well as how i’ll be approaching each week with a fresh strategy in order to get the most out of my wardrobe, now that I can’t buy anything for a year! (P.s. some links maybe affiliate links which means if you do purchase I make a small amount from said link).

This is the first YouTube Video where I’m kicking off the challenge, and the ‘why’ behind it, as well as the rules i’ll be following:

I feel fairly confident I have curated a really strong wardrobe, one that consists of forever pieces that make me feel amazing, and I believe can truly stand the test of time. Over the past 5 years I became increasingly conscious of what I purchased especially when it came to quality. I am happy to pay more for exceptional craftsmanship and luxurious fabrics. I value how I feel physically in my clothes just as much as how I look in them. I no longer buy things in the sale unless I would happily pay full price for them and I rarely get rid of things in my wardrobe because of what I’ve focused on putting into it. I love getting dressed and my wardrobe brings me a lot of joy.

The last purchases I made before I started the 365 Challenge…

Over the weekend (prior to starting this challenge), I did one final review and like anyone about to start a diet I did one last binge…..I joke, but I actually really thought about what was missing (which wasn’t much), and I’m pleased with the remaining gaps I filled in anticipation of a whole year without buying anything else.. so what did I buy?

1. Toteme strappy sandals in cream (I have them in black and they are integral part of my wardrobe, incredibly versatile and the cream ones were on my wishlist since they came out. Seeing them on sale at Bergdorf Goodman’s for $188 for the last pair sealed the deal. (Note my rule with sale stuff is if I wouldn’t buy it full price, I don’t buy it just because it’s on sale.)

2. Frankie Shop Avery shirt dress - One thing I noticed at the end of last summer I was loving a very long length shirt dress, and this had been on my wishlist for a while so I decided this would fill a gap and be one of those pieces that can work for all kinds of occasions. This with a tan bag tho!

3. Mango black belt with silver buckle - Looking through my wardrobe the week before committing to this, I realised I didn’t really have a classic black leather belt with a silver buckle (gold buckles are my go to it seems) so this fitted the bill perfectly. I wanted a real leather belt, and I wanted something very simple, that gives Row vibes without The Row price tag.

4. T-shirt maxi dress from Abercrombie - I love t shirt dresses, especially very long length ones. I live in these in summer here in LA and again I find them to be one of those incredibly universal pieces that can be styled so many ways. The key is to make sure its well ironed, so it looks more like a piece of tailoring. I’d been on the hunt for a beige one so hoping this one will complete my set.

5. The Frankie Shop Mara cut out maxi dress - I bought to replace a dress I bought over 4 years ago from mango that I have worn to death (no seriously it has holes in and the cotton has started to go see through) which I adored, and i’ll be honest, i’m not sure how it will fit on my body, as it hasn’t arrived yet and it’s really hard to tell if it will look as good IRL as it does in the pictures online. TBD.

6. Linen blend romper from Abercrombie - I felt this is a piece that’s been missing for some time in my wardrobe, and I liked the long sleeves on this. I think it will look great with the sleeves rolled up for day time looks with sandals, but equally fabulous for occasions with a heel or more elegant shoe or pump, like my chanel slingback flats. 

7. Brown suede pumps from Mango - These are to replace my Topshop ones that I’ve had for over 10 years and loved, but sadly the toe cap is completely water stained and battered, but I always kept them to remind me what I was looking for in a replacement. I’m hoping these will be even better.

Going Cold Turkey….The first week:

I’m under no illusion that there will be days I regret this challenge. I have no doubt that some days it will be REALLY hard, and in a bid to give myself a fighting chance, I thought i’d share with you a few things I did in preparation for my 365 no buy challenge.

• The first thing I did was delete all shopping apps off of my phone, and let me tell you, there were a lot! I’m not going to lie, I do enjoy a scroll through the Ssense app, The Real Real and Net A Porter, and getting rid of these is step one of removing temptation, and winning back 10 hours a week :/

• I also unsubscribed to all my favorite stores email lists, as any email from Toteme is basically my kryptonite.

• I’ve steamed the things hanging up in my wardrobe that let’s just say, haven’t been steamed for a while. I’m the first to admit I will put off steaming/ironing my clothes until I really have to. There was something very cathartic about it tho, and it really got me excited about my wardrobe seeing everything look so inviting post steam.

If you’re new to discovering me and my platforms, Hi! It’s nice to meet you 👋 I hope you’ll stick around.

If you want to know more about my approach to personal style, and how I found mine using my ‘anti style rules’ I recommend watching this short video below:

So thats the first substack, what did we think? I’m very much open to feedback, so do let me know if there’s something in particular you want me to cover during this challenge.

Speak soon

Harry xx