Continuing on with my closet reflections, I wanted to share a recap of my most worn items in 2019. Meticulously tracking each wear has been a fascinating exercise – one I’m glad I returned to – and combined with pinpointing my favourite outfits of the year, it’s given me some major food for thought.
The majority of these items were ones that I was wearing pre-baby bump, and looking at the breakdown, it’s gotten me curious how much more I would have worn certain skirts or shorts this year, had I had the chance.
One thing that strikes me about every single piece in my most worn, is that I can’t wait to wear these items again for 2020. Bar one item, you could easily argue that these are all boring basics. Which, I suppose from some perspectives they are. But for me, that’s what works, it’s my comfort zone, and it’s what I feel best in. Plus, good basics will take you just about anywhere. A statement piece on the other hand… well, it’s a heck of a lot less versatile.
Re/Done off-white t-shirt | It’s really only in the past few years that I’ve come around to the humble tee. But this one is hands down a favourite. It has a vintage, lived in feel with a raw kind of texture to the cotton. But it’s the fit that I like the most. It’s not too long, has a slight shrunken effect, and the sleeves are capped. This has worn well considering I wore it 20 times + this year, plus all the wear it got in 2018. The neckline at the collar is a little misshapen, mostly as I was in the terrible habit of pulling the hangers out through the collar – something I’ve since stopped doing. Aside from that, there’s not a single hole, tear, or pull. It’s not stained at all. A big tip for white tees – don’t wear deodorant with aluminium in it as it stains the underarms! While it’s expensive for what it is, for me it’s been worth it. I’ll definitely be wearing this until it’s threadbare, at which point I’ll repurpose it for rags to use to clean around the house.
Mott & Bow cream cashmere crew neck sweater | 2019 was the year I really developed my love of neutrals; the ones that weren’t black, white, and grey. This cashmere sweater was gifted to me, and it was such a joy to wear. I sized up to a medium, which is a nice loose fit – it’s a lot like being wrapped up in a snuggly cloud. This is ridiculously soft (though worth noting, I have the black and it isn’t soft like my cream one), and despite the slightly thinner nature of the cashmere, it keeps me incredibly warm. It’s washed well, and it memory serves, I’ve not used a cashmere comb on it once all winter. There is some very minor pilling on the sides, which I’ll freshen up using a cashmere comb ahead of autumn.
Everlane grey herringbone oversized wool blazer | I wasn’t really surprised to see that of all my blazers, this one came up trumps. I’ve talked about it at length before; it was a wardrobe addition one year in the making. And clearly I’ve made the most of it since finally adding it to my closet. As far as wool blazers go, this is a lighter weight option. It works as an outerwear piece for me on warmer A/W days, and the oversized nature really allows for optimal layering underneath. I wear mine in a US2, which is my usual size in Everlane outerwear. The shoulders don’t stick out (a tell tale sign something is too big), and it doesn’t feel too roomy in the body. In terms of wear, it still looks pristine. If you’re thinking about buying this and you’re petite, you may like to downsize. For reference, I’m 172cm tall.
Karen Walker gingham mini dress (old but I love this style) | My maternity style has definitely centered around dresses, and this little gingham number takes the cake. I’d been eying this up for years, but it was only by sheer coincidence that I managed to stumble across it, weeks after learning I was pregnant. The one I found is a UK12 – a few sizes up from my usual – but for me, I figured that’d be perfect to hopefully see me through the entire pregnancy and then some. Gingham is one of those prints I automatically associate with spring and summer. Despite it being a bold print, it’s felt surprisingly wearable. There’s an adjustable tie at the collar, I love the waterfall ruffles down each side, and best part? It has pockets! Very glad I was finally able to add this one to my wardrobe. I definitely sense it continuing to be a favourite in the years to come.
Kindersalmon beige wool wrap coat | For a girl who lives in a reasonably warm climate, I definitely have more coats than I need. And despite wearing them all on frequent rotation, this gorgeous Kindersalmon coat was the one I found myself gravitating to the most. In part, I think it’s because I was wearing lighter outfits more often, and it effortlessly complemented them so well. But more so, I think, was just how much I love this particular style. The long, almost ankle grazing length feels luxurious and premium. A cut above many of the other coats I own. Plus it has the wrap/robe style detail at the waist – easy to do up if it’s super chilly. The subtleties of the design are what really draw me in, especially the slightly deeper hue of the interior. You get a glimpse on the lapel, and it’s a beautiful contrast. This was perfect for our Sydney winters, and I think it’d be fine (with layering) for climates where winter hovers around the 0 deg mark. If you live somewhere that goes sub-zero, you’d definitely want to be swapping this out for a down jacket come deep winter.
Dr Denim blue wash high waisted denim shorts | Over the summer, denim shorts are generally a big staple. Most days are 30 degrees C plus, and without air con on my office becomes a bit of a heat box. By far my favourite style are these ones from Dr Denim. They’re high-waisted, and have a streamlined silhouette without any cuffs. Most importantly? They aren’t too short. I liked this style so much that I also bought them in the white – a sign you’re onto a real winner. The quality is exceptional. They don’t really have any give, so have more of a vintage feel, and there’s been no bagging, or sagging – they’re a perfect fit every time. I’m probably not going to be able to wear these again until the summer of 20/21, but they’re worth the wait.
J.Crew white denim mini skirt | One of the few items that’s been a consistent favourite for me over the years is this denim mini from J.Crew. I bought it when I went to Dallas in 2017, and have worn it non-stop since. It’s the perfect piece to dress up or down, and being white, it’s a blank canvas. I will say, the sizing is a little odd. I usually wear a 25 inch waist, and had to size down to a 23 in these. Again, it’s another one of those items that has worn exceptionally well through countless washes. Plus the sheer simplicity of it is what sees me reaching for this skirt over and over again.
Dr Denim faded black high waisted skinny jeans (old but I love these as an alternative) | My most worn jeans of the year will come as little surprise. They pop up all the time on my YouTube Channel, as well as being a big feature in many of my autumn/winter outfits here on the blog. I managed to squeeze in 37 wears of my Dr Denim jeans before my baby bump outgrew them. Chances are that number would be much higher if I still had a waist to cinch! I’ve had these jeans for six years now, and they’re one of the best investments I ever made. I got them taken in and up at the ankle when I bought them so they’re tailored perfectly for me, which I think is why I can’t stop wearing them. I also love the super high rise, and the denim is thick but ultra stretchy and comfortable.
Topshop stone tapered trousers (old but these ones they have are similar)| The one item I regularly get asked questions about when I feature them are these beautiful trousers from Topshop. Actually getting my hands on them was a bit of a ball ache as I was late to the game. After trying to source them for a couple of weeks, I ended up buying a marked pair (which the store reduced the price on), soaking them, and praying that they’d come good. Thankfully, they did, and they were a regular staple over autumn/winter. They have all the makings of a perfect trouser for me. High rise, with a tapered leg, and cropped just above the ankle. I’m usually a UK6-8 in Topshop trousers. I got these in the 6 as that was all they had, so I was limited to wearing these on my less bloated days. Ultimately, these really elevated an outfit. I always felt good wearing them, and they really helped drive my neutral obsession in 2019. Crossing fingers that I’ll be able to fit into them post-baby; otherwise I think I’ll be looking at getting some panels added to the side to accommodate my waist!
Everlane black day glove reknit // Jane Debster tan slides | My most worn shoe was a tie-breaker between my day gloves, and my tan leather slides, both of which I wore 37 times over the course of the year. Starting with the Everlane day gloves; I’ve owned all three iterations of this shoe, and the reknit version is the best. Especiallyif you have wide feet like myself. They don’t pinch or tug, and are comfortable from the get go. I was surprised by just how much give the shoe had – they are made from recycled plastic bottles after all. These are a great option if you’re planning to walk loads, or want to take a cute ballet flat with you when travelling as they are so lightweight. They’re also surprisingly easy to keep clean, too. Just wipe down if anything drops on them. I wear these in a US9.5, which is my usual size in Everlane shoes.
The Jane Debster slides are a repeat from summer 18/19; an old favourite that I was thrilled to revert back to. I’d originally bought these as a dupe for the Saint Laurent Nu Pieds (which I’ve since purchased). They’re so comfortable, and the rich cognac colour goes with absolutely everything. While I prefer the cut of the Nu Pieds – that squared off toe is everything – these have been a great affordable alternative. Really good quality, and hard-wearing too!
So there you have it; a full round up of my most worn items in 2019. Would love to know what your key pieces for the past year were in the comments below! x
