I promised an update to my 2014 Wardrobe Resolutions earlier last week, with some special detail paid to Resolution #3 (25 items or less). Let’s see how I did, shall we?
Resolution #1: Closet trim down. Done. Lots of clothes gone and donated. Check!
Resolution #2: Track my purchases. Yes, but I did end up having to do some credit card statement combing at the end of some months, it got confusing and I plain forgot sometimes to update my Google Doc tracker (leading to frantic updating later down the line…I captured everything, but maybe the dates are a little jumbled). By the way, here’s a little snapshot of mine this year – I pretty much kept the same format as I have in years past.
Resolution #3: Adding 25 items or less (excluding undies and the like) to my wardrobe in 2014. I honestly thought I was going to miss this one by some margin, but a few last minute returns of items I thought would surely work out but were actually hideous on me saved the day. I ended the year with just one item over…so 26 items in total added for 2014!
I actually had been doing quite well up through the last quarter of 2014, but some last minute holiday shopping and some irresistible purchases (including my Hermes pochette, shawl, and canvas strap…come on, it’s just a strap…) did me over. Actually, item #26 itself? An Everlane backpack…which I’m exchanging for a different color this month, but I’m still counting it for 2014. Better to give myself a head start in 2015, after all right?
Any regrets? Honestly, not very many at all this year…I forced myself to leave all tags on and items unworn until I had absolutely decided on them. That helped and I basically returned anything that I hadn’t worn after purchasing for a month or so. And anything expensive and thus non-returnable (like Hermes), I really thought about and tried not to do any impulse purchasing for.
If I could have done anything differently, maybe I wouldn’t have purchased two colors of this identical dress (though I still love it), and I’m still thinking about whether I really needed my Chanel Boy. I have so many black bags!
But overall…I’m happy with the year and going to try for another 25 or less in 2015. Wish me luck!
How did you all do (that tried this challenge)?
33 Comments
Anonymous
January 14, 2015 at 11:01 amI’m going to try tracking my purchases for this new year. How do you count/track jewelry? Sorry if you’ve covered this elsewhere! I’m thinking on a separate list but curious to hear your thoughts.
Katherine
January 14, 2015 at 5:23 pmI count my jewelry as part of the sheet…but I don’t buy very many items so it works to my advantage 🙂
Sanita
January 14, 2015 at 11:12 amSell you Chanel Boy bag & you will be spot on with your ” 25 items ” 🙂
Anonymous
January 14, 2015 at 12:04 pmI’d love to read about the rest of your 26 purchases, and perhaps your review. I’ve also been inspired by your 25 purchases/year rule, and am happy to report I just fell right under 25 for 2014. And I couldn’t be happier with my purchases. Thank you so much for your inspiration!
Katherine
January 14, 2015 at 5:23 pmCongratulations for falling under 25!!
Alice
January 14, 2015 at 12:05 pmI agree – looking through your blog you have so many gorgeous bags…the Chanel boy just seems like a nice to have….! Sell it and be at 25 🙂
Katherine
January 14, 2015 at 5:24 pmI’m thinking about it more and more with all this encouragement!
Falnangel
January 14, 2015 at 4:17 pmI recently discovered your blog and have been reading up on all the past posts. I love your blog because it’s actually relatable to a working professional. Echoing “Anonymous” above, how do you count jewelry? Do you count twillies purchased with an H bag? 🙂
Katherine
January 14, 2015 at 5:24 pmThanks so much! Well I don’t buy Twillies for my bags but if I did I might be tempted to count two twillies as one purchase, LOL! I do count jewelry but I don’t buy very many items 🙂
Keodi
January 14, 2015 at 6:07 pmGreat post! I would say get rid of the boy bag. It’s a nice to have
Mandy
January 14, 2015 at 7:28 pmI agree with the others – i will sell the chanel boy. it’s lovely but doesn’t blew me away. do you count gym wear or pyjamas?
Katherine
January 14, 2015 at 8:31 pmUnfortunately I do not buy gym wear…and great point about the PJs! I did buy a few sleepshirts and didn’t count them, I have them under undies!
billy
January 14, 2015 at 11:29 pmHi,
Read your blog all the time,enjoyed that very much.
Need some help about leather jacket i just bought from Micheal Kor is real leather said on the label but when i wear on make alot squeak noise is bother me how to make that go away ?
Ask someone who had leather jacket and they told me have to buy highend leather jacket ,so what did you think about ? need your opinion,thanks!
Lynn
January 15, 2015 at 1:45 amLove this resolution and am totally inspired by it! Am building my new closet and it’s almost done, so its the perfect time for me to do a massive wardrobe restructuring and institute a max item rule. Does the 1 in 1 out rule apply to those 25 items, or is that separate? Meaning, if something basic (say a classic black pump) wears out and you need to replace it, does it still count towards your 25 piece max? (Obviously am trying to stretch the rules here a bit, hehe.) Also, do you mentally break it down to approx 2 pieces per month…or how do you pace yourself, so to speak? Still loving your blog! xo
Katherine
January 15, 2015 at 9:09 amHi…I usually don’t “cancel out” 1 in and 1 out so I do count everything…exceptions are undies and ratty old PJs. I think its up to you to how you want to define the rules though…I can see certain items (like staple black pumps) you counting as just replacement. I try to pace myself and have some months when I buy 0-1 because I know that I’ll have other bad months lol…just the nature of sale season. Good luck my friend and enjoy your GORGEOUS new closet (and house!!).
Anonymous
January 15, 2015 at 5:02 pmThank you darlin! And yes – sale season is dangerous.
Luxuriously Frugal
January 15, 2015 at 9:01 amDo you mind sharing the complete list? Just the names (no price information) would be good. I am making my wishlist for 2015 right now and would love to see what are the quality items you got. But I completely understand if you prefer not to share it.
Katherine
January 15, 2015 at 9:05 amHi…I prefer not to share, I hope you understand as I do keep some purchases private… 🙂 I do share most of the items I buy throughout the year though on the blog! Best of luck for 2015!
Luxuriously Frugal
January 20, 2015 at 5:40 pmFully understand. Thanks for taking your time to reply!
Mica
January 15, 2015 at 10:31 amAnother great post Katherine! I’m going to track my purchases and cap under 25 this year.
I think I purchased much less in 2014, but I have not tracked, so I may be worse off than I thought!
I am surprised that you don’t track undies though, not for quantity, but because sometimes they are very expensive! Or maybe I need to back away from the La Perla? LOL.
Either way, thanks for the inspiration!
Katherine
January 15, 2015 at 10:38 amBack away from the La Perla! Actually no, the fact that you buy nice undies makes you my hero 🙂 I’m still stocking up at AE with the teenagers for my cheap cotton pairs, lol!
irina
January 15, 2015 at 10:54 amI say, keep the boy:) 2 years from now, when it’s twice as expensive, you will be thinking about it again, probably:)
Falnangel
January 15, 2015 at 11:33 amNoticed a Garden Party in your list above. I read through your old posts and understand that you have a leather GP and a canvas one? I’m currently looking at the GP and can’t decide between all leather vs canvas. I’m attracted to canvas because it’s so light but the leather bags are so beautiful…Do you mind providing your opinion? Or better of, a post! 🙂 TIA
Katherine
January 15, 2015 at 11:59 amI like both but I tend to travel more with the canvas one because it’s darker and survives dirt, stains more easily.
Stephanie
January 15, 2015 at 1:05 pmHi Katherine, I would love to see you do a review of the everlane backpack. I’ve had my eye on it for awhile and actually stopped a girl in Philz to ask her if I could see/touch her backpack lol. What color did you get?
Katherine
January 15, 2015 at 6:41 pmI originally got the charcoal but it had too many brown tones for my taste…I returned for an exchange and am waiting for the navy to come in 🙂
Abby
January 15, 2015 at 4:01 pmOh, I’d keep the boy. I like that it’s got a bit of polished edge. I also think that the point of the 25 item rule is more about being thoughtful about the items you add than adhering to an arbitrary number.
I’ve been tracking my purchases for a few years now and have been holding steady at 45 items. I count everything except underwear and the target tank tops I wear at the gym and around the house. I’m getting to a point where I’m pretty happy with my wardrobe overall now, and am toying with the idea of starting to try to bring that number down a bit.
Katherine
January 15, 2015 at 6:41 pmGood point about the arbitrary number…I was trying not to let myself get too caught up in the 25 items counting…though relax it too much and that isn’t good either, lol 🙂
billy
January 16, 2015 at 9:47 pmHi Katherine,
wait for your reply about leather jacket,thanks!
Katherine
January 17, 2015 at 12:45 pmBilly my apologies I really do not know too much about leather jackets. I can tell you that my Balenciaga leather jacket had that squeaking noise in the beginning and it went away with time. If ou aren’t satisfied I would take it back and try on a leather jacket which doesn’t make the sound.
billy
January 29, 2015 at 9:36 pmHi,
Thanks for your reply it help, love your blog.
Titti
January 17, 2015 at 7:28 amI started to clean out my closet but I’m keeping a lot of things. It’s hard to let go of good pieces that you don’t use but love something about. But I am struggling and tomorrow I will be on trak again.
The 25 pieces is a wonderful thought but I’m aiming for 40 this year. I count everything I bye except undis.
I hope I will sell 40 items this year so it will be a smaller closet next year. I have to many bags.
You inspired me last year and I am getting better buying just the things I love or have a need for. I love your blog and always look forward to your next post.
Grace
January 17, 2015 at 12:30 pmThis is inspiring! I buy entirely way too much in the past few years after following many bloggers and coming from a plain “jeans+t-shirt” engineering wardrobe. Now that things are much more upgraded, I’ve realized I buy a lot of non quality items and far too many. I like how limiting to a max # allows you to be much more thoughtful about your purchases, wondering whether or not you should or should not buy something. These days, I just worry about it expanding my closet(s) and running out of space. What I need to do first is a major purge before I buy anything more!