At the beginning of 2020 I started logging EVERYTHING I wore and EVERYTHING I spent money on. I wanted to really keep track of what I was buying and to watch over time to assess whether things were a good investment or not.

THEN Covid. I kept it up for about a month into Work From Home but then I was like this is such a skewed perspective of what I would normally be wearing…and stopped altogether.

But I was able to compile a list of all the clothing I bought this year from my monthly “What I Bought” posts and I have a pretty good idea of what was a win…and what was not.

Sanctuary Curve New Generation Boyfriend Shirt

Sanctuary Curve - New Generation Boyfriend Shirt

NAILED: I bought this shirt in January after renting it from nuuly.com. I liked it and wore it so much during the month that I could not imagine life without it. I wear it on its own and over and under other things.

LOFT PLUS BUTTON DOWN TUNIC SHIRT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAILED: This is the white button-down I’d been dreaming of. It’s a rayon-blend, but heavier than typical lightweight rayon, so it drapes very nicely. I love wearing it under cardigans and crew-necks.

SEDONA WOOL SWEATER COAT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAILED: Another item I got to play with for a month via nuuly.com. I had such a crush on it there was no way I was going to let it go, even though it as a bit of a splurge, for sure. It’s a real outlier from my usual solid, neutral, classic style…but sometimes I can let loose!

CATHERINE MALANDRINO CASHMERE CREWNECK PULLOVER

Image of Catherine Catherine Malandrino Cashmere Stem Hem Pullover (Plus Size)

NAILED: The love affair with cashmere continues. I had gotten this sweater in black at the end of 2019 and loved it so much…that when this one went on sale for TWENTY-SIX DOLLARS (whaaaattt?!?) I couldn’t resist. It would have financially irresponsible to resist! And I’ve worn it tons and love it every time.

Amazon Brand – Daily Ritual Women’s Plus Size Jersey Short-Sleeve Scoop Neck Swing T-Shirt

NAILED: This was a repurchase of the exact same shirt. I accidentally put a hole right on the chest of this tee last fall, rendering it unwearable. It’s been out of stock for months, and as soon as I saw it available in my size, I grabbed it.

LOFT PLUS CLIP DOT RUFFLE TOP

LOFT Plus Clip Dot Ruffle Top

NAILED: This was a fun find…something just a little frilly without being too girly.

Old Navy Sleeveless Jersey Swing Dress – leopard print

Sleeveless Jersey Swing Dress for Women | Old Navy

FAILED: I know I’m gonna get push-back on this one. It’s fine. But you know how when you ask someone what they think…of the meal you prepared for them, of the favor you did for them, whatever…and they say it’s FINE? Fine is Not Good. There’s not really anything wrong with it but…I’ve struggled too long to figure out what I DO love to wear, what I DO feel my best in…to wear anything that’s just “fine.” Plus, I have to add “jersey knit” to the Do Not Buy list.

Old Navy Sleeveless Jersey Swing Dress, blue ikat print

Sleeveless Plus-Size Jersey Swing Dress | Old Navy

FAILED: And I didn’t just do it once, I bought essentially the same dress twice. Ugh.

FINE.

Kate & Alex Cuffaro DOUBLE CROSSBODY BAG

NAILED: My girlfriend will say FAILED, ha ha, because the multi-compartments challenged me constantly. I never knew where anything was. BUT – the color was So Perfect for the lighter colors I wear in the summer…and the crossbody strap was a good length for me AND it did hold a lot of stuff (I just never could find it)

FOSSIL KARLI LEATHER CROSSBODY BAG

Karli Leather Crossbody Bag

FAILED: I used it, but the whole bag is a little on the too-small size. I bought these two at a DSW BOGO sale so no real harm done, but…I’ve got black crossbody back on the shopping list, ugh.

Old Navy Stripe Plus Size No Peek Striped Stretch Shirt

Striped No-Peek Plus-Size Stretch Shirt

NAILED: This was definitely the year of the button-down for me and I’m really happy with the ones I got. I’ve worn this a lot. I love it buttoned all the way up under a crewneck with just a sliver of collar peeking out.

Madewell Oversize Ex-Boyfriend Shirt

MADEWELL Oversize Ex-Boyfriend Shirt, Main, color, APRIL STRIPE POLLEN

NAILED: This has been a great casual button-down. One of my favorite summer/fall outfits was this shirt worn out over a pair of lightwash cropped jeans. It’s very soft, not “crisp” like the grey striped one above.

ABLE MAMUYE CLASSIC TOTE

Mamuye Classic Tote

NAILED: I’d wanted a cognac leather tote for a long time. I’d bought several in the past and they just weren’t quite right (I’m the Queen of Not Quite Right). It’s a little pricey but I waited for a sale and went it was discounted 50% I nabbed it and have no regrets. It’s great for schlepping all my stuff to and from work, fits the camera and laptop and lunch and a book, etc.

J CREW SHORT SLEEVE POPOVER IN LINEN

j.crew: short-sleeve popover in linen for women, right side, view zoomed

NAILED: Well, it WILL be perfect once I take it to the tailor to have side slits put in for an easier fit. It ticked a lot of boxes: short sleeve, casual but more elevated than a tee-shirt, linen, white.

J Crew Pleated midi skirt

j.crew: pleated midi skirt for women, right side, view zoomed

HMMM. Jury’s still out. Knowingly, I bought it in a too-small size because I’d obsessed over it for so long that by the time it went on sale my size was out of stock. But my weight has continued going down slowly so I’m hopeful eventually it will fit. Cuz navy pleated skirt with white sneakers and a white button-down shirt (and who knows, maybe a navy tie?! Total boarding school look).  Can’t. Go. Wrong.

ONESTI RILEY LIGHTWEIGHT OPEN WEAVE KNIT SWEATER, SIZE 3X

FAILED: This was a rare impulse buy. I saw it on a new online plus-size boutique and I was thinking I could wear it over my sleeveless dresses with GIANT ARMHOLES, so they’re work appropriate without having to wear a long cardigan…but that didn’t quite work. I tried it over a cami and…I’m not a cami girl. It’s that “a thing under a thing” thing. It’s not my thing.

OSIE-DURO LAYER DRESS IN BULLFROG BY MOONLIGHT

Layer Dress in Bullfrog by Moonlight

NAILED SO HARD: This dress is a DREAM! It’s a lightweight, swishy, drapy rayon batiste that is lovely to wear. IT IS THE NEW JUNAROSE DRESS. It was pricey but it was a birthday present to myself (thank you, Afterpay).

BIRKENSTOCK ARIZONA SOFT SLIDE SANDAL TAUPE

BIRKENSTOCK Arizona Soft Slide Sandal, Main, color, TAUPE SUEDE
NAILED: I’d wanted these for SO LONG and I finally bit the bullet and have no regrets. I only got them late in the summer and have still worn them tons. If I could get %*%%$E! socks on my feet, I’d be wearing them now in the dead of winter.

BIRKENSTOCK MADRID HEX SLIDE SANDAL COGNAC

BIRKENSTOCK Madrid Hex Slide Sandal, Main, color, COGNAC LEATHER

NAILED: Apparently my motto last summer was Go Big Or Go Home. I definitely spent more on some individual items than I normally do but…I DESERVE IT, ha ha.

J. CREW SOPHIE OPEN-FRONT SWEATER-BLAZER IN KHAKI

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NAILED: I’d obsessed over this camel blazer for over a year but waited til it went on Big Sale….I just have a sleeve issue with it. They’re too loose. Too-loose sleeves, along with poorly-fitted shoulders are two big schlubby no-nos for me. I just haven’t bitten the bullet to take it to the tailor to have them taken in.

J. Crew Striped boatneck T-shirt

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NAILED: Always on the search for The Perfect Striped Tee…this J Crew top just seems like the epitome of Paris chic/American casual. Another item I watched for a long time while I waited for it to go on sale. It could also use a sleeve take-in like the blazer above, and I’ll get that done before spring when I would start wearing this.

Old Navy EveryWear Striped Slub-Knit Plus-Size Long-Sleeve Tee

EveryWear Striped Slub-Knit Plus-Size Long-Sleeve Tee

FAILED: Shhhh…it’s okay. It’s okay. It’s fine. I’m not in love with the 100% cotton no-stretch, slightly too-loose sleeves. And I want to be IN LOVE. I got swept up by the color and overlooked the fabric content. But it’s fine. 

Old Navy Rib-Knit V-Neck Plus-Size Cardigan Sweater

Rib-Knit V-Neck Plus-Size Cardigan Sweater

NAILED: Got this in my quest for shorter length cardigans. I like this over dresses but not so much jeans, so it hasn’t gotten much wear this winter. But it was very useful in the fall over dresses.

Old Navy Cozy Open-Front Long-Line Plus-Size Sweater

Cozy Open-Front Long-Line Plus-Size Sweater

NAILED: Am still deep deep in love with this cardigan (just wore it today!). I love me some brown. I really like the length with jeans. I had let go of that chestnut cardigan I’d had for several years because it had just gotten too big and schlubby for me.

Old Navy High-Waisted Elevate Powersoft Plus-Size 7/8-Length Side-Pocket Leggings, size 3x

High-Waisted Elevate Powersoft Plus-Size 7/8-Length Side-Pocket Leggings

NAILED: My jump rope buddies! I wear these like 17 times a week when I jump around in the living room. They feel so good, the super stretchy fabric. AND POCKETS! My only teeny complaint is they’re a little long. I hate when I don’t see any skin between my leggings and my sneakers. Maybe I’ll have them shortened. HA HA HA HA HA HA.

BELK PLUS SIZE WAFFLE HENLEY TOP, SIZE 3X

NAILED: This top came to me before I even knew I was entering a casual grunge era. You’re so SMART, Waffle Henley Top! Plus…FIVE DOLLARS. Come on

UNIVERSAL STANDARD NAVY KENNEDY BLOUSE

Kennedy Cupro Shirt - Navy - Image #1

NAILED IT & THEN SOME: This was a real win. I’d been coveting this shirt all year since renting it on nuuly.com (Part 3) but it was JUST too much money. BUT I FOUND IT NEW WITH TAGS ON POSHMARK FOR LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE. Woohoo.

BP/NORDSTROM EASY RIBBED CREAM SWEATER

NAILED: I’m a sucker for a cream or white top. And “lightweight knits” was on my fall shopping list. So…win-win and I still love it.

WOMEN’S CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR SHORELINE SLIP-ON SHOES

Chuck Taylor All Star Shoreline Slip-On Sneaker - Women's

NAILED: These quickly become My Favorite Sneaker. I love the look, the fit, and the feel. They make me feel like a cool girl 🙂

ANNE KLEIN COGNAC NUBUCK OXFORDS

Laden Oxford

FAILED: There was some crazy super sale at DSW and I went nuts. I managed to return the other two pairs I bought but these were like $12 and that hardly even seemed worth the effort of returning them, so they’ve stayed for “just in case.” If I had Just the Right trousers, I would wear them. But I may never have those perfect trousers. So.

Bueno Olivia Derby Flat

FAILED IT: Pretty much same story as above…but not on super sale. They’re the pretty face without the great personality 🙁

TREASURE & BOND CREWNECK PULLOVER, SIZE 3X

NAILED: So much love for this new sweater I just got in December. It’s loose and swingy with long slim sleeves and side slits. All The Things. It comes in a couple different colors and I wish there was a color I wanted cuz it’s such a nice sweater.

TEESPRING TEE You Matter Most X4 Long Sleeve 5XL White

NAILED: This was a TikTok purchase. If I remember correctly, it’s a doctor (two doctors?) who started this slogan tee (and hat, etc) business with sayings like “You Matter Most” and “Mental Health Movement.” And part of the sales proceeds go to…mental health? Ha. I can’t find the account right now for the details. ANYWAY, I liked the saying and the ginormous size of the long-sleeved tees (they go up to 5x).

PHEW! 33 things. Is that a lot? I saw people on Instagram doing a “buy 20 things in 2020” challenge. I should count for 2019. I feel like it was a much higher number. So at least I’m trending downward.

That’s like when I step on the scale and it’s gone up a pound or two but I say, “well, at least it’s not 300!”

Always trying to give myself the win. Nothing wrong with that. I spent a lot of years always feeling like I was failing. So. It’s all good.

I feel like I learned a little more about what I’m happy with it and what I’m not…so I feel this will be an even better year.

Let’s hope!