25 in 2025: My plan to shop smarter and wear what I have

Sticking to wish-list-only shopping was a goal for 2024 that I didn’t quite achieve (oops).

I kept a wish list, referred to it often, and made many thoughtful purchases. But I still found myself adding items to my wardrobe on impulse—things that weren’t on my list but caught my eye. The result? I ended up with over 40 new-to-me pieces in 2024. Now, I’m feeling the weight of it, both in my closet and my mind.

So, I’m committing to only adding 25 items to my wardrobe in 2025, including shoes, belts, hats, jewelry, etc. It’s my 25 in 2025 plan.

Reflecting on my wardrobe journey

When goals don’t align with the realities of our lives, they’re hard to stick to.

I’ve been tracking my wardrobe for two years now, and while I’ve made progress—reducing consumption and spending by 20% year over year—going “cold turkey” on shopping doesn’t feel realistic for me. I love clothes, discovering new independent brands and thrifting. But I want to shop less.

From a financial perspective, tracking my clothing expenses has been an eye-opener. While my purchases haven’t impacted my budget or savings goals, I’ve had to ask myself: Is this spending aligned with how I want to live?

What else could I be doing instead of shopping? Exploring my new city (Hello Austin!). Improving my golf and pickleball games (desperately needed). Spending time with the people I love. And continuously shopping takes time away from doing what truly matters. 

So instead of cutting out shopping completely, I’m setting a new goal: shop more consciously and focus on wearing and loving what I already own. I’m committing to only adding 25 items to my wardrobe in 2025, or what I’m calling 25 in 2025. 

Making a plan for 25 in 2025

For 2025, I’m committing to a curated list of 25 intentional purchases. There will be no mindless evening scrolling. Instead, these are pieces I’ve thought about carefully: Do they fit with my lifestyle? Are the styles and colours complementary to my current wardrobe? Are they from ethical brands or can I find them secondhand easily? I want these to be items I’ll wear often and truly love. I’ve done the research up front to curate this list so I can spend 2025 actually living and enjoying life in my clothes. 

As always, my intention is to shop slowly and prioritize secondhand items so I’ve set up alerts for each of my wish list items on my favorite apps like Gem and Beni. If you’re just starting your slow fashion journey, these tools are great for finding pre-loved treasures while shopping more sustainably.

My 25 in 2025 wish list

While I don’t have all 25 purchases planned, here are some of the items I’ll be prioritizing in 2025:

1. Cowboy boots (hello, Ganni! These have been on my wish list for years.)
2. Long white cotton skirt (So many to pick from on TheRealReal)
3. Crewneck cardigan sweater
4. Bomber jacket (like this one from Isabel Marant)
5. Suede penny loafers (Jamie Haller, I’m looking at you)
6. Classic golf shoes
7. Essen The Glove Boot
8. Supportive sports bras (seemingly impossible to find)
9. Dark denim shirt (like this one from Faherty)
10. Maguire Noto silver heel
11. Toteme silk shirt in Laurel green
12. Toteme silk pants or shorts in Laurel green
13. Black belt with a gold buckle
14. Brother Vellies Huarache shoes
15. Clarks Wallabees
16. Large silk scarf
17. Donni rib kick flare pant (for all my WFH and travel days)
18. Lisa Yang Danni cardigan
19. …to 25 will be whatever sparks my fancy—or maybe nothing at all!

The theme for 2025 is practicality and longevity. I’m prioritizing quality shoes—that aren’t sneakers—for ample walking excursions and versatile pieces that focus on creating a more sustainable, thoughtful wardrobe.

Join me on the journey

If you’re inspired to shop more consciously or curious about slow fashion, let’s do this together. Share your own goals or wish list in the comments—I’d love to hear what you’re focusing on this year!

Need help getting started? Check out my guide to sustainable fashion apps and tips for curating a wardrobe you love.

Let’s make 2025 the year we shop smarter, wear what we have, and feel great about our choices.

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