I keep seeing sweaters. I keep thinking I need sweaters. But what about all the sweaters I already have?
It’s very hard to change the way we think about clothing, about buying new things. All the new stuff is, well, new. And they’re all just slightly different from what I have.
I already have a ton of sweaters — not to mention sweatshirts and other fall/winter tops. Why? Because I have been buying new ones! (Actually, some of my sweaters were gifts.) So, I am not short on knitwear!
In an effort to convince myself, again, that I don’t need to add to my wardrobe, I’ve tried on all my sweaters. How many are there? Let me count…23!?
I find that trying on what I already have, and taking photos, reconnects me to those items in a way that is different from just looking at them in my closet. I keep most of my sweaters folded and stacked on a shelf in my closet but a few are on hangers.
Most of my sweaters are warm and cosy but included in here are some that are light and cottony, more for warm weather. After going through everything I have, I decided that: I really love a crewneck sweater, open cardigans are my least favorite and I don’t need any more sweaters.
Take a look at the slideshow, and if you want, scroll all the way through to see each sweater with its details.
One cool thing I recently learned: wool sweaters are antimicrobial/antibacterial. Did you know that? The waxy substance that coats the wool fibers makes it water repellent and inhibits mold and mildew growth. It also means that wool sweaters rarely need washing and only need airing out to smell fresh and clean. Learn more here. And, If your sweater has lost its lanolin coating, you can buy it in a spray like this one.
When I went through all of my sweaters, I took note of what brands I go to again and again, what material they’re made of, how I’m supposed to wash and dry them and how well they’ve held up. My goal in the future is to buy from more sustainable brands and buy clothing with natural fibers like wool and cotton.
Enjoy!
Brand: J.Crew Factory
Material: no tag (cotton?)
Care: no tag (machine wash, tumble dry?)
I love this thin, navy blue crewneck. I’ve had it for a while and the tag fell off at some point, so I’m not sure about materials and care but it was a good pick and has held up pretty well.
Brand: J.Crew
Material: 100% merino
Care: dry clean
One of my favorite sweaters. It’s thin but warm. I don’t always feel comfortable in three quarter length sleeves but it’s very flattering. It has to be dry cleaned so that adds up.
Brand: J.Crew
Material: 100% merino
Care: dry clean
This is a very nice sweater that doesn’t get a lot of wear. Like the previous grey one, it’s merino wool which is soft, thin, and non-itchy. I like the unexpected neon pink and the zippers on the shoulders.
Brand: Old Navy
Material: 55% cotton 25% viscose 20% nylon
Care: hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
This was an inexpensive, impulse buy. I needed a summer sweater and just grabbed this. I can tell you: I do not hand wash it. I’m usually good about reading tags. I guess I got it in my head that if it’s not wool it’s machine wash and tumble dry, but that’s not always true.
Brand: Everlane
Material: 100% cashmere
Care: dry clean
This is the perfect sweater: soft, warm, breathable. It is dry clean but because it’s cashmere it doesn’t need to be washed very often.
Brand: Banana Republic Factory
Material: no tag (cotton?)
Care: no tag (machine wash, tumble dry?)
My husband got this as a gift (from him mom) and I stole it. I don’t mean “borrow,” I mean took permanently. I love its slouchy ‘boyfriend’ style. The tag fell off, but I remember it being tumble dry. And because my MIL always seems to avoid wool sweaters, it’s most likely cotton.
Brand: GAP
Material: 55% cotton 40% nylon 5% acrylic
Care: machine wash cold, tumble dry low
My MIL gave me this sweater and I like it because of its Fair Isle style and low maintenance care. It has a cotton-y feel to it but looks like it should be worn in the winter.
Brand: Lucky Brand Jeans
Material: 60% cotton 40% acrylic
Care: hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
My only graphic sweater. I like that it’s black and a crewneck.
Brand: Banana Republic
Material: no tag
Care: no tag (I cut off tags if the item is machine wash, tumble dry)
This is a slightly long tunic style sweater with zippers on the shoulders (this was the thing back in 2014). I’ve loved it and gotten a ton of wear out of it but I think it might be time to retire it.
I love a cable knit fisherman’s sweater but I’m not sure about the tunic style.
Brand: H&M
Material: 60% cotton 40% acrylic
Care: machine wash warm, line dry
My only cropped sweater which I bought as a summer layering piece. The neck is very boatneck-y.
Brand: Banana Republic
Material: 45% merino wool 25% rayon 20% nylon 5% cashmere
Care: hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
Very pleased with this one. Love navy and a navy v-neck is a great wardrobe staple.
Brand: Banana Republic
Material: 82% merino 16% nylon 2% spandex
Care: hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
I’ve had this cardigan for years. It is good quality and has a pretty velvet detail along the buttons. I wear it buttoned, unbuttoned, and sometimes backwards.
Brand: GAP
Material: no tag (cotton?)
Care: no tag
Gift from my MIL! Again, I think I removed the tag because this was machine wash, tumble dry. Love the color and classic style.
Brand: ESPRIT
Material: 87% acrylic 11% polyamide 2% spandex
Care: hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
This sweater is so good. I bought it in Paris, so I know I’ve had it since 2007. It looks brand new.
Similar to the previous black turtleneck, but thinner. Feels like a thick t-shirt. I love fitted black turtleneck.
Brand: GAP
Material: 100% merino wool
Care: machine wash cold, lay flat to dry
Current favorite. It’s dark green, it’s comfy, and it’s flattering. This merino wool is a little bit itchy.
Brand: Banana Republic
Material: 45% acrylic 35% merino wool 20% alpaca
Care: hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
A very thick, warm sweater. It has this cute zipper detail that turns the turtleneck into a sort of lapel collar.
Brand: GAP
Material: 52% cotton 22% acrylic 24% polyester
Care: machine wash cold, lay flat to dry
I just got this, and it gets high points for soft, warm, work-from-home lounge-y-ness although it’s not very stylish.
Brand: Madewell
Material: 100% merino wool
Care: dry clean
This was a gift from my husband many years ago and is a favorite. Definitely overdue for a cleaning.
Brand: Madewell
Material: 100% cotton
Care: machine wash cold, tumble dry low
I bought this by accident back in April in a Nordstrom haul that turned out to be final sale. It was supposed to be the perfect summer cardi but the lack of buttons makes me crazy.
Brand: GAP
Material: 55% cotton 45% ramie
Care: machine wash cold, lay flat to dry
A short sleeve, open cardigan, I often wonder “what was I thinking” with this one. I guess I was thinking casual summer kimono to throw over a sundress or a tank top and shorts.
The year is drawing to a close. Well, not exactly, but I’d like to think 2020 is almost over! When I started the Low Buy Challenge in January I didn’t know what we were all in for. Buying as little as possible, and trying to buy second hand has been really good for me. Good for my soul, good for my budget, and I think good for the planet.
Following the rules set forth by Signe of UseLess, I tried hard to only buy things that I really needed. Basics like t-shirts, socks and underwear were okay, as were worn-out items. I bought things that I had planned ahead of time, often letting them sit on my wish list for month before purchasing. I asked myself if they were something I didn’t currently have and were truly my style (as in, I would wear a lot.) One area I could use improvement: buying from sustainable brands. I relied on stores I know work for me such as the Gap and Nike. Not so eco-friendly.
This boot purchase was a result of my entire shoe inventory. I had so many black boots (and few brown) and wanted something fun. I wasn’t sold on the snakeskin trend but these really convinced me.
These jeans were a result of my denim inventory. I ended up getting rid of one very worn out pair of jeans and realized I only had one pair of skinny jeans which were actually too big.
Before we start, you might see a small white dog in a couple shots. This is Gabriel, our new puppy. He is a 9 month old, half Australian Shepherd/half Dachshund rescue.
I recently tried on ALL my shoes. I think it’s so helpful to try on everything at once. It really shows you how much you like what you have and don’t need new things just because they’re new.
When I was done documenting everything and tidying it all up, I decided to donate 4 pairs (open toe booties that just aren’t me, two ballet flats that I never wear and really don’t flatter me, and those vintage Dr. Scholl’s I thought I wanted but really don’t work for me), bringing the grand total down to 28 pairs. (Not included are: a pair of tall Hunter boots, a pair of Sorel snow boots and my Asics running shoes, which all reside in the hall closet.)
BP patent heels
J. Crew espadrilles
Steve Madden platform sandals
Steve Madden booties – DONATED
J. Crew platform sandals
Birks!
Vince Camuto espadrille slides
Steve Madden sandals
J. Crew sandals
Dr. Scholl’s originals – DONATED
Sam Edelman thong sandals
Old Navy flip flops
Banana Republic heels
Marc Fisher suede heels
Franco Sarto suede heels
Madewell ankle strap heels
J. Crew leopard ankle strap flats
Troentorp clogs
Lotta from Stockholm clogs
Pumas
Old Skool Vans
NB x J. Crew
Nikes
J. Crew pointy flats – DONATED
Dr. Scholl leopard flats – DONATED
Tahari boots
Cole Haan pointy boots
Clarks boots
J. Crew rain boots
Madewell suede boots
Lucky Brand boots
I pretty happy with this collection. I feel like I have everything I need. Some of my shoes are really worn which I’m okay with. It means they are well-loved. I’m getting my money’s worth and being more eco-friendly. And can I say, through this process I really came to appreciate that all my shoes are broken in and feel so good when I slip them on! I decided to give my brown Lucky boots a bit of shoe polish (remember shoe polish?) and they look so much better. Still very distressed but a darker brown than they were and I think they have a lot of character!
I will be swapping out my Asics for a new pair and maybe adding a pair of boots that are not black or brown. And those $4 rubber flip flops will most likely be replaced by these Rainbows.
I hope you enjoyed this inventory. I highly recommend doing one!
I thought I was immune. I thought, “I won’t get sucked into the Fall mania, shopping for jeans and sweaters and boots.” But I did. Yesterday, I was at Nordstrom Rack, looking at all of them. But, I did not buy any! I tried on 2 pairs of denim from Madewell but they didn’t look right. And the few sweaters I tried, including a super soft black cardigan, were also no-go. Lastly, I looked at all the boots. Craving some clog boots, or possibly some Doc Marten or Blundstone boots.
Honestly, I have yet to really embrace Fall, I mean style-wise. I’m not putting much effort into getting dressed. Maybe that’s a good thing. I keep meaning to spend some time putting together outfits and getting inspired but I’ve been busy working, doing home reno and running middle schoolers around. Today, with those jean-craving feelings still lingering, I decided to try on all my denim. And non-denim. Are you excited? Well, here they are: my 17 pairs of pants.
JEANS
lucky black jeans
gap black cropped jeans
gap gray jeans
ag skinny jeans
coh girlfriend jeans
h&m boyfriend jeans
jcrew jeans
madewell boy jeans
h&m vintage-style jeans
gap white jeans
I’m really happy with all my jeans especially the Lucky black ones. All the GAP jeans are faves as well as the Citizen of Humanity and Madewell pairs. The H&Ms don’t get chosen often but I think they look good. The one pair I might retire are the J. Crew ones, mostly because they’re so thin and rip more every time I wear them. Also they’re a little too low rise. I’ve gotten a ton of wear out of them in the 4 years I’ve owned them. The AG jeans are also starting to show wear and are a little too big (Skinny jeans aren’t supposed to be baggy, right?) I documented all my pants with the same white GAP t-shirt and my Lotta from Stockholm clogs, but many of these would look better with boots since they’re fairly cropped. I think the only addition I could make would be a pair of medium wash skinny jeans that really fit.
NOT JEANS (AKA CHINOS & TROUSERS)
old navy wide leg chinos
gap army green chinos
nordstrom camo cargos
maison scotch chinos
old navy chinos
topshop black trousers
jcrew tartan trousers
Now the “slacks”. Don’t you love that word. Or trousers. The first pair is from a great brand Scotch and Soda or Maison Scotch for the women’s line. They look good but are tight. They are a beautiful thin chino fabric. The Old Navy chinos are a lot more comfy. And then the Top Shop trousers are really too big and never get worn, but they seem so ideal. IDK. I’m torn about the Old Navy ochre-colored chinos. They feel good and are a nice change from all the blue and black. Definitely look better with different styling. The army green chinos are an old favorite, too big now, but can’t give them up. I’m warming up to the camo pants but don’t wear them with a tuck because they do a weird are-you-pregnant thing. And those plaid pants! Can’t wait for the holidays! Some of these won’t get worn much in Fall and Winter. Not sure what’s missing here.
What do you think? Should I add a new pair of jeans or stick with my Low Buy Challenge and wear what I have?
Keeping in mind the Low Buy Challenge, I have not been shopping very much. I avoided shopping ‘because it’s Fall’ and reminded myself that I don’t need any more clothes. I don’t need the new styles. I know what’s “me” and I have so many items in my closet that are tried and true. I pulled out my fall/winter clothes and integrated them back into my closet. Hello sweaters and boots. Definitely don’t need any more of those. Jean? I’ve got plenty. It feels really good to realize that. If I do add something, it’s been on my wish list for a while and I only purchase what I truly need. Here’s what I’ve gotten over the last few months:
J Crew black watch Crimson plaid tuxedo pants (thrifted)
I bought this pair of plaid pants at a consignment shop I recently found. It’s a great place to sell clothes as well! I love extending the life of old items.
Then I found a perfect pair of black shorts on sale at the Gap. I probably won’t wear them much until next year, but they were exactly what I had been looking for all summer.
The best addition was these Old Skool Vans. I finally caved into Pinterest influence and got them! They look so cool with so many outfits, I’m so excited to wear them. Also very happy I found them for a great price because they are kids’ (I’m a youth 7/Womens’ 8.5) and they were on sale.
Finally, I picked up two pair of PJ pants at Gap and one pair of sweats from Aerie. It was not easy finding loungewear these days and I really needed to upgrade my pajamas.
I LOVE these shorts. They are decadently HIGH-WAISTED and that is everything to me right now. I want them in white but they’re sold out now. I sized down a size. My original inspiration was these by The Great.
I’m such a minimalist. I go for solid black… or white. So explain to me why I chose these crazy patterned shorts? Other than they had them in my size and they were flattering. Uh, also, they match the weird sports bra I bought back in June.
Ha ha. I bought this to go with the above shorts. Only it’s not a sports bra. It’s a swim top. I actually found the matching bottoms but they were a no-go. So, I figured, this was a two-fer. I can wear it to workout in or to swim. (I had not yet realized I had already bought the matching Icon Clash Bra.)
That’s it! One pair of shorts and one workout outfit. And workout clothes don’t even really count when we’re talking wardrobe additions, right? Right?
I keep looking through my closet and browsing online and I keep coming back to the thought that: I DON’T NEED ANY MORE CLOTHES. Sorry for shouting. I could have just bolded or italicized that. Maybe I’ve just been too busy to shop. Cleaning out the basement, going to the beach, kids starting back to school, training a puppy. I’m just living my life, you know?
But, here are a couple very carefully selected items I might buy this Fall.
I’ve been wanting these for a while. It would be a splurge. I’ve heard you can give them your measurements and they will work with you to find the perfect fit. Did I hear that from another blogger? Or did I dream that?
My name is Leigh. I am a graphic designer and a photographer. I love minimalism, danish modern decor, clogs, books, and art of all kinds. I strive to live a healthy life and promote sustainability.
