Everything I Added to my Wardrobe in 2024
Rule of 5...10...?
In some ways, showcasing the clothes I bought in 2024 feels like the most trivial way of rounding up the past year. Then again, adequately recounting this year’s adventures in early parenthood—tallying all the stroller walks, rereads of The Hungry Caterpillar, and cups of coffee chugged—is an impossibility. So I’ll report back on what I can quantify: the shopping.
Around this time last year, I resolved to give my participation in Tiffanie Darke’s “Rule of 5” campaign a go. The challenge really resonated with me when I first heard about it: a communal call to scaling back clothing consumption, backed by compelling research.
I was home with my newborn at the time; my perpetual low-key desire for evermore clothes fell to the wayside as I spent my days entranced by my child’s mere existence. Being a new mother, I knew the massive lifestyle overhaul and physical metamorphosis endured would result in substantiated closet needs. Still, the Rule of 5—or an abridged version thereof—seemed doable, maybe even necessary to weathering a year of reduced household income. I approached the challenge with an open mind; I wasn’t going to chide myself for falling short, but I felt that “5 new, 5 used” was a good personal target for 2024.
As the year wore on, my clothing interests, needs, and desires continuously changed, often in line with general life shake-ups. I found myself augmenting my shopping directives along the way—much like children inventing new rules to an established school yard game, making it their own in the process.
Here are the results of what I brought home in 2024, my reflections on those purchases and the Rule of 5, plus some overarching lessons I’m bringing into the new year.
Sorry in advance for the extremely long post. Consumption with breaks and your beverage of choice is recommended.
Wardrobe Additions
Item 1: Green Corduroy Shirt ($85.88 CAD) / January
Why I got it: A pistachio green corduroy shirt was nowhere near the vicinity of my 2024 wishlist, but after a solid month of ogling it through the storefront window of a nearby shop, it came to be my first acquisition of the year. Deep into winter, I yearned for something bold and fresh to break up the monotony of my colourless uniform. Shopping for myself was not a priority then—I did not have the time and energy to hunt around for the perfect pièce de resistance. Despite my hesitations regarding this particular shade of green, I decided to embrace serendipity and go for it.
Reflections: At the time of purchase, I had no idea “Brat Summer” was going to be a thing, so it became a funny coincidence that this disheveled neighbourhood mom was sporting the hottest colour of the season. It was a fun, frivolous addition that I’m glad made it into my closet, even if I’m still uncertain on its potential to be a long-term closet staple. Number of wears: 13.
Item 2: Tan Guernsey Sweater ($53.66 CAD) / February
Why I got it: I bought this secondhand Le Tricoteur guernsey sweater off of Poshmark mostly for recon purposes, knowing that I probably wouldn’t keep it. Traditionally worn by fishermen, these knitted beauties had long been on my radar. After years of research and obsession, I decided to snatch this sweater up when I spotted it online at a relatively affordable price. I knew it would be too oversized for my liking based on the measurements provided, yet I longed for the opportunity to admire a guernsey in person.
Reflections: As expected, the sweater was much too large. But it clarified a few important things: 1) that I really do like the guernsey neckline and boxy construction, as well as the weight of the dense knit; and 2) that there’s a roughness to British wool which takes some getting used to. I had plans to quickly turnover this piece, recouping some of the cost to put towards the someday guernsey of my dreams. However, it still lingers in my closet—a reminder of how patience-wearing the reselling process can be. Number of wears: 0.
Item 3: Light Wash Carpenter Jeans ($106.14 CAD) / April
Why I got it: On my spring wishlist was a pair of sturdy denim carpenter pants: a garment with stylistic appeal, yet appropriate for chasing after a newly mobile baby. I considered new options from Dickies, Carhartt WIP, and Studio Nicholson, but after noticing a pair of wickedly cool young guys wearing similar vintage-looking jeans to these (complete with sashiko bucket hats and henleys), I decided to follow suit with these secondhand Bobson jeans from Etsy.
Reflections: Buying pants online is always such a gamble. Fortunately, the fit of these jeans was spot-on. Designed for men, these feature deep pockets, roomy thighs, and an adjustable back buckle—the dream postpartum combo. They have been my most complimented-on pants ever and, for the time being, have completely satisfied my desire for all utilitarian-style pants. Sorry Rudy Jude. Number of wears: 50.
Item 4 and 5: Beige Raw Silk Shorts ($22.60 CAD) & Green Fatigue Shorts ($22.60 CAD) / April
Why I got it: Going into summer, I was direly lacking shorts that properly fit me. Following an appointment in the city, I had about 10 minutes of spare time to do some mission-driven shopping before I needed to rush home to feed my child. My favourite basement vintage dealer didn’t disappoint—I walked away with two great pairs at very reasonable prices.
Reflections: Having literally lived in shorts all last summer, I was grateful to have both these options in my arsenal. The beige-veering-on-buttermilk-yellow pleated shorts are my preferred of the two: I love the 80’s dad vibe the longer length gives off, and the nubby silk texture makes it feel more special than your typical chinos. Surprisingly, they’ve been fairly easy to maintain—they still look good after a few trips through the washing machine and even survived a category 5 chocolate ice cream disaster at a street festival. Number of wears: 10. The olive green fatigue shorts are the practical, utilitarian foil to the aforementioned silky number. While they’re a tad shorter than what I currently prefer, I like the wide bell-ish shape of the legs. Unfortunately, the cotton-poly material is highly cat-hair attracting and the pockets are pretty useless—but these flaws didn’t stop me from wearing them repeatedly. Number of wears: 19.
Item 6: Red Silk Tank ($78.10 CAD) / July
Why I got it: Adding more silk to my wardrobe during this messy phase of life should have been a no-go. However, this vintage knit tank I found on Etsy checked all of my other boxes regarding colour, shape, and nurse-ability.
Reflections: In person, the neckline wasn’t quite as high and straight as I wanted it to be, but it still panned out to be a really solid addition. The paprika red is punchy, and the silk knit proved to be reasonably hardwearing (another washing machine success). It was the cherry on top to my vibrant, playful summer wardrobe, which I cannot wait to return to next year. Number of wears: 16.
Item 7: Blue Wrap Skirt ($78.10 CAD) / September
Why I got it: September was a tough month for me, mentally. There were the highs of celebrating my daughter’s first birthday, followed by the lows of my back-to-work anxiety. My head was scattered, and I think it shows in my purchases. This faded blue cotton wrap skirt was a spontaneous find at a local vintage store, purchased during a rare solo outing I took to clear my head. A utilitarian-style wrap skirt had been on my wishlist, and this piece was close enough to my vision that I decided to give it a try.
Reflections: My full review is still pending, but so far I have some mixed feelings about this piece. While I’ve enjoyed having this skirt as a flirtier bottom option, I don’t love the fussiness of the waist tie. The light fabric also blew wide open on a windy day, which makes me anxious to wear it again (I’ll need the security of a safety pin next time). Number of wears: 3.
Item 8: Vintage Print Shirt ($42.94 CAD) / September
Why I got it: Another impulse purchase on a mentally murky day. I needed a few hours to run some errands and—surprise, surprise—ended up browsing vintage clothing. This shirt was the first thing that caught my eye in the store. I didn’t need it—wasn’t sure I even liked it, yet was pulled by an insurmountable gravity to the register.
Reflections: It’s a cool, unique shirt, no doubt—I like the colours and the zig zag detail between the buttons is like nothing I’ve seen before. But it’s an emotional purchase that feels out of place in my wardrobe; I only bought this piece because I was feeling shitty that day and wanted a treat. For now, I’ve decided to keep it, but it’s not the most versatile piece to style, and serves as a reminder of my regression into old habits. Number of wears: 4.
Item 9: Light Grey Jeans ($192.10 CAD) / September
Why I got it: Finally, a good buy from that tumultuous month. These light grey cuffed jeans from Cos were a planned purchase; I journeyed with my daughter to try it on in-store, with the intention of buying them in washed black if all went well. Of course, they were sold out, but I was able to try on this lighter coloured pair for sizing. In the dressing room, I was blown away by the comfort of the relaxed denim and how much I liked this raincloud shade of grey. I decided to sleep on the decision—having hesitations about inviting these very expensive pants into my food- and crayon-stained life—but ultimately trekked back for them.
Reflections: So far, I’m thoroughly enjoying this purchase. I bought it right at the end of my parental leave, so there’s a quasi “back-to-school” energy imbued with it. As such, I mostly reserve these jeans for work-from-office days, but they’re not so precious that I wouldn’t wear them for short periods at home. The best part about introducing a light-coloured bottom into my wardrobe is how well it plays off my dark and colourful pieces; these jeans were instrumental in helping solidify my dark-light-bright dressing formula. Number of wears: 11.
Item 10: Cream Wool Thermal Top ($11 CAD) / October
Why I got it: I knew this wool thermal tee was coming home with me as soon as I spotted it among the racks at a recently-opened thrift store near me. I have a particular affinity with these vintage insulating layers, and have amassed a charming collection of them. While I didn’t need another, I was lucky to find this piece in pristine condition (a rarity for wool undergarments) and in a style I didn’t already possess (3/4 sleeves; scoop neck with a bow).
Reflections: As a base for many potential winter outfits, I see myself getting a lot of use from it as we descend into lower temperatures. Acquiring this at a physical store also pushed me to curb my habit of continuously searching for these online. I already have what I need—anything beyond that I’ll leave to the thrift gods. Number of wears: 2.
Item 11: Red Wool Vest ($10 CAD) / October
Why I got it: Purchased at the same time as the thermal, this 100% wool vest is an experimental piece that I couldn’t leave behind. Part of me had been searching for a bright red sweater to add to my cold season wardrobe, though I wasn’t sure there’d be value in adding more pops of this hue. While I’m not generally a vest-wearer, I thought this might be a better way of satisfying my cozy red knit hankering without taking up too much closet real estate.
Reflections: Okay, I know it’s giving “Welcome to Costco, I love you”, but the unabashed joy this piece exudes brings much needed levity to the rest of my dark, moody clothes for the season—a little Mariah Carey for when you’ve been listening to Miles Davis for too long. As with the green shirt, I question the longevity of its place in my closet, but for now I am embracing the cheery wholesale vibes. Number of wears: 2
Item 12: Washed Black Jeans ($117.05 CAD) / November
Why I got it: This was actually my third attempt at buying a pair of washed black denim this year. I tried ordering a pair of Rachel Comey jeans from the RealReal in August—a nightmare of an experience that’s made me swear off the site completely. (On my first purchase attempt, the order was mysteriously cancelled. The second time, they sent me the wrong pair of black Rachel Comey jeans, which did not fit. It was a huge hassle to get reimbursed, including for the $50 shipping fee to Canada. At that point, I just cut my losses on the duties incurred.) Anyway, a pair of relaxed black jeans had been on my list for several years—to the point where I felt a pang of jealousy every time I encountered a pair I liked on a stranger. Since I adored the Bobson carpenter jeans so much, I immediately bookmarked this washed black pair when I saw it on Etsy. I wasn’t actually planning on buying them this year, having already exceeded my Rule of 5 limit, but a 50% off sale in November was too tempting to ignore.
Reflections: As the newest addition to my wardrobe, I’m still getting acquainted with these jeans. They feel very different from my other Bobsons: the denim is thicker, the inseam is miles longer (luckily it seems like a turned up hem is in fashion), and the fit is mom-ish—a befitting style for me wear, finally. I felt a touch of buyer’s remorse when they arrived in the mail, but not because of anything wrong with these jeans. Rather, I was mourning the conclusion of a years-long hunt, and the various other options I turned down in purchasing these (Le Bon Shoppe’s arc pants in black denim were a strong contender). Overall, I think the jeans are great—but with such a stacked pants drawer already, I can’t help but feel like I could have deferred this purchase like I originally planned to. Number of wears: 7.
Item 1: Black Sandals ($0) / April
Why I got it: A pair of playground-friendly summer shoes was high priority on my wishlist after I broke my leather sandals last summer, literally leaving them in the delivery room at the hospital. I bought these corded sandals with a gift card from Keen, after being influenced by fashion journalist Hannah Rochell.
Reflections: It took some time to get used to the unconventional, sporty style, but gradually these grew on me. The pros: immediate comfort, wide toe box, easy to slip on and off, dries quickly. The cons: getting rocks trapped inside, my cats’ attraction to the cordage, the overtly “gorpy” look. While there are aspects of the shoe I really enjoy, I don’t think they offer quite as much versatility as a classic black leather sandal. Number of wears: 49.
Item 2: Black Swimsuit ($208 CAD) / April
Why I got it: I had lusted after Youswim’s stretchy, shirred suits for years, roped in by their one size fits all claims. With the pressure of finding a swimsuit that fit my expanded chest before my daughter’s swim classes started up, I decided to go for this black one-piece, thinking it could double as a bodysuit during the summer.
Reflections: The pros: good material, easy access for breastfeeding, looks great with a pair of quick-dry running shorts for a trip to the splash pad, low back is sexy. The cons: the low neckline ended up being too easy for my older baby to access my breasts in public (given how challenging breastfeeding was, I had no idea this would ever be a problem), rides up in the butt. While I liked the suit enough to keep it, I definitely fell prey to the Internet hype surrounding this brand. Why did I ever convince myself that I needed to buy a fancy swimsuit to take my child to the pool?
Item 3: Vintage Mother of Pearl Fish Pin ($78.46 CAD) / July
Why I got it: I’m not much of a jewelry collector, but I do have a soft spot for a fish motif—particularly in brooch form. My casual online searches brought me to this quirky mother of pearl pin. I was drawn to the simple design of the aquatic creature, the clean etched lines, and the funny expression—as if it’s seen too much.
Reflections: This fish pin is adorable and charming, but the backing turned out to be in really poor shape. Sadly, it’s unwearable until I’m able to get it fixed; it currently sits in my jewelry box alongside the other shiny bits that I don’t wear.
Item 4: Black Leather Belt ($148.17 CAD) / July
Why I got it: By summer, my body was changing again; the jeans and shorts I purchased in spring were starting to gape, but I wasn’t fitting into my pre-pregnancy bottoms either. Although I had never really taken to wearing a belt— for fashion or functional purposes—I figured it was time to revisit this staple accessory. I already had a hand-me-down belt in reddish-brown leather, but I thought a black rendition would lend more wearability. After entertaining several options, mainly vintage, I settled on this croc embossed belt with a modernist silver buckle.
Reflections: At the time, it felt silly spending so much money on an accessory I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy wearing—but I’m so glad I splurged on this beautiful piece. Leagues above the cheap H&M belts I used to buy and discard, it’s made a huge impact in my wardrobe as a piece of statement hardware, on top of helping my pants stay up.
Item 5: Green Suede Belt ($63.75) / November
Why I got it: Unlike my previous well-thought-out belt purchase, this was a tag-on to the black jeans in an effort to bundle shipping costs. After I decided to buy the jeans, I took the opportunity to scan the Asia-based shop for other objects of interest. Usually this ends badly. Fortunately, this green suede belt was the only thing that stood out to me. I knew I wasn’t in need of another belt option, but I thought this funky piece had potential to inject a touch more brightness into my wardrobe, as cold weather loomed.
Reflections: I love how this narrow strip of emerald green leather has the magical ability to elevate and transform simple outfits I’ve worn dozens of times. While I’m still a dedicated low-fuss dresser, I have enjoyed the novelty of adding on a belt to (literally) tie my look together.
Item 6 and 7: Blue Merino T-shirt and Leggings ($0) / December
Why I got it: The main reason I got this cornflower blue set from Icebreaker was to use up remaining balance on my “wellness spending” allotment from work. As I like to spend winter days vacuum sealed in a baselayer of merino wool, I had been contemplating upgrading some of my old Uniqlo Heattech layers. Dropping by their brick and mortar store after work one day, I picked up the leggings as planned, and threw in this cropped t-shirt because I liked the fit and its potential to straddle my lounge- and regular-wear categories.
Reflections: I haven’t worn the t-shirt yet, but the leggings are perfect and have barely left my body since I got them (mostly because I’ve been home sick). They have a luxurious, après-ski feel that’s helping cheer me up amid this latest bout of child-contracted illness.
Shopping Reflections
I hope reading my line-by-line analysis of every purchase wasn’t as tedious to read as it was to type out! But maybe that’s the point of the exercise—maybe there’s wisdom to be gained from the boredom and discomfort of ruminating over every individual item accumulated over the year.
19 items — or 12, if you subtract the extras as I often do with these exercises. I breezed through the first half of the year with considerable restraint, but by summer, my “5 new, 5 secondhand” rule had evolved into “5 new, 5 secondhand without accessories, shoes, or activewear”. Then, to keep myself in the race along the final stretch, I went back to the original “5 new” concept—a sneaky way of excusing all the secondhand purchases making up the majority of my shopping.
Depending on how you slice it, I technically succeeded at keeping within the “5 new” limit across all my wardrobe-related purchases. Then again, I’m not sure how meaningful that badge of completion is, when it barely skims the surface of my total consumption picture.
Rule of 5 notwithstanding, I do feel at peace with the quantity and quality of what I brought into my closet in 2024. It’s nothing impressive next to the year-long no buys and more faithful Rule of 5 adherents, but I feel like I’ve followed through on my resolution for considered moderation. I’m pleased that nearly all my clothing purchases were secondhand, with a balance of online and in-person acquisitions. I’m also patting myself on the back for not directing my materialistic urges toward superfluous extras like socks, underwear, or winter accessories (which I could always use, but didn’t need to replenish this year). While there were a few purchases that didn’t work out as envisioned, along with several items I’m still undecided on, the overwhelming majority of my closet additions are clear winners—doing their part in helping me navigate shifting style sensibilities.
As for the Rule of Five and low-buy schemes in general, I still appreciate the sentiment behind them: of seeing “open spots” in my closet as highly limited, and thus worth filling very carefully—with only the best, most special pieces I can afford. I think it’s always worth aspiring towards the ideal of less, but I’m not so bogged down with defining a numerical threshold these days. While my lifestyle and body continues to be in flux, I want to be gentler and more accommodating with myself—something that can be difficult to practice as a woman with perfectionist tendencies.
When it comes to clothing consumption, I see value in being more restrictive and more fluid at different times. The flaw with these annual pledges is the difficulty of pinning down life’s ebbs and flows at the beginning of a calendar year. Some things we can’t plan for, nor control.
Shopping Lessons
Here’s a quick list of some realizations I’ve had over the past year:
A retro lesson: don’t splurge on clothes that only fit me at my smallest size. Prior to having a child, I enjoyed the privilege of being a slim woman whose body hadn’t changed much in 15 years. I had gotten very comfortable being a set size, and my closet reflected that. After nearly two years of intense physical transformation, I can’t see myself ever buying clothes (particularly bottoms) that aren’t at least a little size-flexible. Drawstrings, elastic bands, and adjustable tabs are my new best friends.
Buy clothes to wear, not collect (dust). As a new mom, the clarity of my dressing constraints has been a helpful filter for all the stuff I’m drawn to, but won’t ultimately wear. My closet space is limited; I want it to be taken up by stuff I regularly rotate through, rather than cram its contents like my spice drawer—full of fancy, exotic blends that have gone stale. I’ve done my best to stay away from trophy hunting when I shop, investing in practical hardwearing garments over delicate vintage ones (these pieces didn’t survive a century to be ripped apart by my kid’s razor nails).
Err on the side of “no”. In the past, I frequently glossed over defects and unmet criteria for pieces that were “good” deals and/or “rare” commodities—especially those encountered in physical vintage stores. Nowadays, I am much more tunnelled into what I want, and have little capacity to entertain pieces in that dreaded “it could work” category.
A bad purchase isn’t worth catastrophizing over. I don’t beat myself up if an overpriced coffee comes out watered down, or if I didn’t love a meal at a restaurant with rave reviews. Yet, a regretful clothing purchase can send me into a spiral. In the grand scheme of things, I know that the wasted money isn’t worth fretting about. Learn and move on, is all we can do.
Wardrobe building is completely arbitrary. I’m always reminded of this when I look back at old wishlists: most of the entries I’ve long forgotten, but there’s usually a few near-buys that still stir a longing, that perhaps I should’ve gone for. The good news, though, is that I’m still alive without them—and have a wardrobe stacked with plenty of other things I love in their stead. Those missed connections can be a temporary sore spot, but life goes on; there will always be something else to desire and covet. In shaping a wardrobe, there are no clear right or wrong choices—good decisions only reveal themselves over time.
In the context of our bustling, complex lives, the clothes we choose is small potatoes—yet I am more convinced than ever that investing in style is not a meaningless pursuit either. As someone who spends a good deal of time indulging in questions about how to dress, and how to acquire clothes for the long haul, I’m trying to overcome the sense of guilt that often comes with dedicating my depleted brain space to this stuff. The flashing warnings of “your battery is dangerously low” go ignored as I type this out in the dark. What can I say, it’s a source of enjoyment and outlet for creativity in my life worth protecting—but it can be good to question its role, too.
My relationship to style and clothes is always evolving, never still. There’s relief to be gained in accepting that, like in our most intimate relationships, there are naturally changing dynamics and external forces moulding its course. Sometimes a carefully researched garment that looks like the missing puzzle piece fails to fit. Sometimes an impulsive bargain buy lingers beyond threadbareness. Sometimes a great passion peaks and crashes like a meme coin. It’s impossible to perfectly map our individual style point of view, or contain the flame of what fancies us—but we could snuff it out in trying to.
A heartfelt thanks to everyone who’s been reading my words—and the bevy of new subscribers I seem to have garnered. After years of writing my puny little Wordpress blog (which I loved writing every word of), I am grateful to have found a vibrant community here. See you in the new year!
A great read- I loved the breakdown of each item and the reflections. Thank you so much for sharing!
This was a great read! I love understanding how others think about their purchases. Thank you for sharing!