Low Buy Update: November

When things don't work out quite as you hoped - both in your wardrobe and in life

When it comes to our wardrobes, each choice either nudges us closer to the style we want to express, or it doesn’t. What at the moment can feel like a good choice - like buying a random crewneck just to add variety - might solve an immediate problem, but it won’t help me build the long-term wardrobe I’m aiming for. If it doesn’t express my style, it’s not a step in the right direction. But making the right decision can be hard, especially when it’s something you really want to love.

The things I really wanted to like, but didn’t

Top: Hi Anika! / JW Anderson x Uniqlo / Me. Bottom: COS / Uniqlo / Massimo Dutti

1. The textured belt I wanted to love
I’ve been looking to add more texture to my wardrobe, so the croc embossed belt from COS seemed like the perfect way to do that. I imagined it adding interest and dimension to my simpler, classic outfits, but struggled to style it. It wasn’t something I could just put on and immediately make work. It felt more like a project that needed effort to fit in, and I don’t need that. I want pieces that blends in almost seamlessly with what I already own.

2. The jacket I keep revisiting
You know those pieces you keep trying, thinking this time it will be different? I had previously tried the JW Anderson x Uniqlo barn jacket as I really like this style on other people, but it wasn’t an immediate yes for me, so left it in the store. The I saw Anika Krueger styling it and loved how it looked. She mentioned sizing up, so of course I had to give it another shot. Even then, the jacket still didn’t feel right on me. I’m not sure if I’ll try sizing up even more, or if I should just accept that this piece isn’t for me.

3. Tricky crew-necks
The same theme continued with crew-neck sweaters. I tried a classic one again from Uniqlo to bring more variety to my winter wardrobe, and I wanted so badly to like it. But it just didn’t feel like me. Maybe it was that particular sweater, or maybe it’s simply a neckline I need to warm up to - something that’s happened with other styles before. Still, right now it feels too casual for what I’m trying to express. I have to work hard to style it in a way that feels true to me, and even then, the result often falls short. I love the look on others, but on me, it feels off.

A crew-neck cardigan seemed like a more polished option, so I tried a cashmere version from Massimo Dutti. I loved the idea of it, but the quality didn’t match the nearly $300 price tag. It wasn’t the “full-body yes” I was looking for. I still think the right crew-neck cardigan could add variety, but it has to be the right one. It can be so tempting to settle and just go for something that “works”, but I know that isn’t going to help me to build a wardrobe I love.

4. The almost perfect oversized knit

Then I came across an oversized version from My Essential Wardrobe. There was just something about it, even though it felt a bit outside my comfort zone. At first, I really struggled to style it. But there was still something there - an energy, a possibility. Eventually I realized I actually preferred it untucked, which was a bit of a shock to me since I almost never wear anything that way. Maybe that was the appeal: a new silhouette, a different proportion, a new colour. Once my eyes adjusted, my body language told me I was onto something. It felt like a winter version of my “unforced boldness”.

And then reality hit. After testing it with almost all my winter bottom making sure I had several outfits I was genuinely excited to wear - the itchiness started. I’d hoped a T-shirt underneath would be enough to deal with my wool sensitivity, but it wasn’t. Just as I was getting excited about adding a new winter sweater into the mix, it ended up not being meant to be.

An oversized knit could still bring something fresh to my wardrobe, but for now, I’ll likely stick to V-necks and add variety through silhouette, layering, scarves, and even brooches.

What I actually bought

Massimo Dutti / Monica Vinader / Uniqlo

1. The pinstriped number
I did say I didn’t need any more trousers, but when I came across these grey 100% wool pinstriped ones from Massimo Dutti during my October browsing, it was love at first sight. The fabric felt incredible; soft with subtle sheen - and since I don’t currently own anything striped, they actually did add something new. Of course, they weren’t available in my size at first, so I spent two weeks obsessively refreshing the website, watching every other size pop in and out of stock, before finally managing to snatch them in my size. They arrived, fit perfectly, and gave me an instant full-body yes. I don’t care what I said about not needing more trousers - these are staying!

2. The barrel leg
This ended up not being the only pair of trousers finding their way to my wardrobe this month. Oops! This time it was an olive pair of barrel leg trouser from Uniqlo. One of my style goals for this year was to up my style game at home and finding pieves that were both practical, comfortable and express my style. These tick every box. A bit of stretch, a sturdy fabric, and a shape with some interest. Maybe I’m still overcorrecting from not having enough trouser options, but I really do need to slow down…

Right now I find it so much easier to create variety through trousers than through tops - especially when I’m living in V-neck sweaters all winter. Layering and accesorising helps, but having a couple of interesting bottoms can make even the simplest knit feel more intentional. If two great pairs of trousers help my sweaters feel a little less repetitive, I’ll take it and call it a win.

3. Switching it up with silver
The only thing I actually bought during the Black Friday sale was a pair of silver earrings. I’ve mostly worn gold for the last few years (or ten!), but missed having a silver option to switch things up. The Monica Vinader hoops felt just right - simple, sculptural, easy to wear, yet still bold enough to make an impact. The only issue? Now I want a silver necklace too. At least I know what to put on my Christmas list, which can be quite hard to figure out.

4. The necessity
I also got quite an expensive - though totally necessary - “accessory” this month - has anyone spotted what it is? ;)¹

Low buy count - October:
New items: 15/20 (2 pairs of trousers added)
Replacements: 16
Not counting accessories and jewellery

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And then, at the end of November, we learned that 10% of our organisation will be laid off, with names announced before Christmas. Suddenly a $300 sweater felt irrelevant. To make matters worse, my husband and I work in the same place, so there’s a chance we could both be affected. We’d be okay in the short term, but it would still change things, and it’s always nicer when leaving a job is your own choice. We are trying to stay positive, but working in an administrative role, I must admit to being a bit nervous because they are often the first to go.

In the end, this month felt like a reminder that building a wardrobe is really just a long series of choices, and not every one of them will land. Some pieces help you clarify what you actually enjoy wearing and what you’re forcing. And then some simply arrive at the right moment and make everything click. The news at work put the month’s little wins and frustrations into perspective, but it also made me appreciate the choices that truly serve me: the ones that make getting dressed calmer, clearer, and a little more like myself.

Maybe that’s what this month was about. The point isn’t to get every choice right; it’s to keep choosing with intention, even when the circumstances around you feel uncertain.

How do you navigate choosing with intention and steering clear of the ‘not-quite-right’ pieces?

1. Don’t worry if you don’t - my family didn’t.