Last year, my New Year’s resolution was to not buy any new clothing in 2023. You can read all about it here: 2023 Resolution.  Now that we have reached 2024, I want to reflect on the 3 main ways this goal altered my relationship with shopping and my closet.  

#1  My personal style changed.

I was able to really hone in on my style without the influence of seasonal trends. Of course, I was aware of what was “in”, but slowly the importance of that began to fade. To be clear, this doesn’t mean that if you stop shopping you will become unstylish, this means you are learning how to shop for you. 

#2  I was able to spend that money on other things. 

Instead of spending a little here and a little there, I was able to save that cash towards a bigger, more fulfilling goal. For me this meant traveling and last year I was able to travel to Japan which was a dream and something I would never trade for anything being sold out of Zara. 

Whenever I had the urge to shop or was missing something I needed, I turned to resale shops/sites. I would make sure to use only the credit from previous items sold to buy something “new” and I have been able to replace items with even better quality ones. Gotta love resale! 

#3  I find more enjoyment in my closet. 

Now I don’t mind outfit repeating because I already know what looks good and most importantly, makes me feel good. Getting dressed in the morning is a breeze! This is partially because this was a year-long process of purging and organization, and my closet has never looked better. 

And as a bonus, I have jumped back into sewing and tailoring, two invaluable skills I am elated to have picked up again.  

Originally, I thought this goal would be impossible to accomplish. But, now that I have come full circle, I feel released from the pressures of consumerism where you have to pay to play, and I have happily turned in all my chips. 

Do you have a New Year’s resolution? Drop it in the comment section below! 

Till next time, 

Dre