here’s all the new clothing i bought in 2024
So, I’ve officially done it. After challenging myself to a number of Buy Nothing and No New Things challenges, I completed my biggest one yet in 2024: only buying 5 new pieces of clothing over the course of the year. Why 5 pieces? Per a 2022 Hot or Cool Institute report (which I broke down in this post), “If no other actions are implemented, such as repairing/mending, washing at lower temperatures, or buying second-hand, purchases of new garments should be limited to an average 5 items per year for achieving consumption levels in line with the 1.5-degree target.”
I know you all are curious so I’ve compiled all the new pieces I purchased this year - along with why I bought it and whether or not I’d do it again - with the hopes of inspiring others to think twice before making impulse purchases :)
Minnie Contrast Skort (Black with White Binding) from Gil Rodriguez
If you’ve been following me a minute, you’ve definitely seen me in this skort from Ilana Kohn. I’d been looking to add a dark-colored skort to my wardrobe to better mix and match with my warm-weather pieces, so when I saw this skort I had to snatch it up.
Would I buy it again? No.
Honestly? Probably not. While I do like it, I think I fell a little too easily for the ‘white piping on black clothes’ trend. I will obviously continue wearing it, but it’s unfortunately not as versatile as I hoped it would be given that the skort itself is quite form fitting where I’d hoped it would be looser. It’s also really short, even for me. Just another reminder that even when I think I’ve done everything right, I make mistakes! I’ll continue wearing this piece where I can, but I wouldn’t consider it a raving success.
Olive Green Tulay Skirt from Mara Hoffman
Oh Mara… how we miss thee! I’d been eyeing this Mara Hoffman skirt ever since a friend of mine had purchased a khaki-colored one at a sample sale over a year ago. The fact that it was versatile enough for both everyday or more professional spaces was a huge selling point, and I’d been following Mara’s work for a while. I ended up purchasing this in the spring right before my trip to Europe, where I’d planned on attending the Global Fashion Agenda. I wore this piece through Croatia, Spain, Copenhagen, and have loved wearing it ever since.
Would I buy it again? Yes.
If I had some extra cash to spend, absolutely. I’d have loved another version of this skirt in the khaki color, but for obvious reasons I love the olive green. And given that this brand has now shuttered its doors, it’s become all the more special. I’ve gotten dozens of compliments from strangers (the ultimate sign!) and look forward to wearing this piece for years to come.
Slip Dress in Emerald Green from MYKAFTAN
I’ll be the first to admit that I probably didn’t need this dress. However, as someone who doesn’t have too many formal dresses, I was excited to receive this vegan silk dress as part of a gifting offer from Wolf & Badger. Thus far, I’ve had the opportunity to wear it twice (once to a friend’s summer wedding, and another time to a gala I was invited to last minute.
Would I buy it again? No.
Technically, I didn’t buy it. But if I did have to buy it, I probably would skip it exclusively because of the hefty $343 price tag. Plus, I’m certain there are plenty of silky maxi dresses available on secondhand sites. That said, a goal of mine is to put this dress on By Rotation and offer it for rental to other sustainable fashion enthusiasts - something I’d recommend doing for anyone else looking to make some money back on pricier ‘occasion’ items!
Aroha One Shoulder Top in Charcoal from Hara
Here’s another *gifted item that I received this year. While I technically already own another one shoulder top, the one I currently have is slightly too large on me making it difficult to wear comfortably. I’ve been a long-time follower of Hara, so was excited when they reached out to me offering something from their newly launched collection.
Would I buy it again? Maybe.
While I again didn’t purchase this top, I do quite like it. That said, I don’t know if I would necessarily pay for it out of pocket unless I had some extra money to spend and I planned to purchase more than just 1-2 items from Hara. The carbon emissions that went into getting this top to me probably isn’t cute… but given that I was seriously limiting myself this year I gave myself the pass. If I did have the funds and was planning to purchase several items that I know are well made and would last a while, I’d be more inclined to buy again.
Sailor Jeans in Green from Kowtow (bought at Rue Saint Paul)
I was recently invited to a sustainable fashion event at Rue Saint Paul, tagged as ‘Brooklyn's only destination that offers new, rental, and pre-owned sustainable fashion.’ It wasn’t the first time I was there, but while looking through the racks, I fell upon these perfect green wide leg pants. I don’t know about you but I’m a sucker for a good pair of wide leg pants (as evidenced HERE, HERE, and HERE) so when I saw them I immediately tried them on ‘just for fun’. 👀👀 RSP was offering a discount to event attendees so I took that as a sign that it was meant to be.
Would I buy it again? Yes.
While they weren’t cheap, a good pair of wide leg pants is hard to come by. And I should know - I’ve come across far too many ‘sustainable’ pairs that barely hold up after a year, ending up with discoloration and holes in the thighs. While I’ve only been actively wearing these for a couple months, I can feel the durability of the mid-weight organic cotton material and have gotten literally dozens of compliments (just recently from a stranger on the subway - the pinnacle of all compliments). And after putting just a little bit of TLC into them via hemming the pants a bit to fit me better, they’ve quickly become a closet staple for me.
And there you have it! The five new clothing items I purchased this year. If you missed out on seeing all of the secondhand items I got in 2024, here’s a quick recap. For now, I’ll be thinking through what I want my 2025 challenge to be, if any. Stay tuned…
