5 Things I'd Never Buy Again
And what I'd shop that I think will have staying power
We are faced with so many decisions on any given day. Some come easily, some we labor over. Some don’t have much impact beyond the moment; others ripple and can change the trajectory of our paths. Being decisive takes confidence and a deep sense of self-knowledge. I think that sometimes it’s best to start with what you don’t want, what you don’t like, what is an absolute no. Of course, I’m talking about all sorts of decisions here, but it had me thinking about what I know I’d never purchase again—just naming the total non-starters that might help everything else flow a little easier. Then, of course, we can get to the things that are absolutely worth it and seem to have true staying power.
1. Anything Sized Too Small
I’m not talking about something that doesn’t fit. I’m talking about trousers and jackets that just fit. Sizing is so all over the place lately—I go from a 0–4 depending on the brand. I also have a tendency to want to just make things work so I don’t need to labor through the return process. All of this is to say that having a great fit, even a touch too big when we’re talking jackets and coats, makes everything appear a bit more elevated and expensive. Pay attention to what size the model is wearing in photos—it’s almost never the smallest.
2. Faux Leather
I’m not here to talk about advances in mushroom materiality—I’m referring to polyurethane shaped into would-be leather jackets, skirts, pants, and trenches. They feel awful on the body, like you can’t breathe, are a bit sticky, and they’re still often quite pricey. I haven’t bought faux leather in years, but just because pleather has been rebranded doesn’t make it feel nice to wear.
3. Motorcycle Jackets
This is 100% a me thing, but it speaks to a larger idea. I am not a motorcycle jacket person. They’re just a touch too edgy for me. I can hang with a bomber, but the hardware on the moto puts it over the edge within the realm of my personal style. I know the moto will come back again someday, and I feel completely comfortable sitting out the trend cycle. I also think if you’re a true moto person, they’re their own sort of classic style. The message here is to know what suits you and what doesn’t so that you can be immune to this exhaustive trend cycle when it’s called for.
4. Dupedy Dupe Dupe Dupes
I’m so not here for dupes. It’s like taking the aforementioned trend cycle and making it even more throwaway than it already has the potential to be. You know you’re not holding onto an Amazon version of The Row jelly shoes for years to come. You might hold onto The Row jelly shoes if you loved them, as some fashion nostalgia that you bring out every summer. The whole idea of last season is, well, so last season. I’m not referring to trickle-down ideas that go from the runway to the mass market. COS’s take on an oversized sweater like the Ophelia is not dupe culture, in my opinion. Dupe culture requires a highly recognizable fashion item that feels like a one-off no one else has really made before. If you love something and it’s out of your budget, look for a vintage piece that holds that same ethos. It will probably feel more special.
5. Trend-Driven Sunglasses
If there’s anything that makes an image or a look feel dated it’s over-the-top sunglasses. I’m talking colored lenses, weird proportions like super teeny tiny Kardashian shapes or wildly huge goggles. Are your kids going to want to post beautiful classic photos of their young and beautiful parents if they’re not in chic, classic sunnies? The answer is no. Of course, I’m joking, but a classic sunglass, like everyone’s continuing fixation on Carolyn Bessette’s Selima Optics, or Robert Redford’s Ray Ban aviators, or Audrey’s Oliver Goldsmith black shades prove that classic is best in sunglasses. I’ll never fall for a trend again. I think.
What to Actually Buy
I’ve been in a nostalgic mode in my iPhone photos, and it’s very clear to me which pieces have staying power—the ones that show up over and over again and still look great ten years later. One is a classic brown fur I got at a sample sale in 2014 and still wear (no surprise, I wish I’d sized up one size, but it’s still great). A pair of brown tortoise sunglasses that are a bit oversized and aviator-esque have gone on nearly every vacation with me since the mid-2010s. Dark-wash, straight-leg, mid-to-high-rise denim. Black turtleneck sweaters. White long dresses. Silk maxi skirts. Below are some items that I’d buy now and, I think, keep for a very long time. They don’t need to be basics—they can be an interesting shaped heel or a cool necklace. Why not?
Toteme jeans, Nour Hammour Cooper , Jude pumps, Loewe sunglasses, Jamie Haller ponyhair loafer, YSSO necklace, Hunting Season bag