Low Buy 2022: April Check-In

April felt like one of those long months. Painstakingly slow at the beginning, and feeling like days turned into days within days towards the end. It’s also a rather juicy month with updates for this check-in. Seeing as it’s a long read, let’s get started…

GIVING ME JOY THIS MONTH

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, then it’s likely you’ve already seen my big news. But… I had a baby! We welcomed our second child, a beautiful baby girl in April, and it’s been the biggest joy seeing our son become a doting older brother. Knowing how quickly the newborn bubble passes you by, I’ve been making the most of every moment. Soaking up all of those sleepy cuddles.

We’ve also had my husband’s parents visiting. The first time we’ve seen them since our son was born. It’s been so incredible getting to spend time with family we hadn’t seen face-to-face in over two years. And again, just trying to make the most of it while they’re here.

Finally, when I have had a spare moment, I’ve been immersed in my latest “read”; 1Q84 by Murakami. When I asked on Instagram which of his books to start with, this led by a huge margin, followed by Norwegian Wood. I’ve sped my way through book one via Audible. Can’t wait to listen to the remaining two parts of the story. Highly recommend.

HOW I SPENT MY BUDGET

Reviewing how I spent my budget for the month of April, I have to admit, I felt a little like I was making up for lost time. Instead of keeping to just two purchases, I found myself adding six new items to my closet. Oh, and one “small” accessory. Not exactly how I thought the month was going to pan out… Let’s talk through said new additions, and then we’ll talk through the circumstances.

Rains forest green long rain jacket | First item on the agenda; a rain jacket. After reviewing all the recommendations I received, this was the one that made the most sense for me. From a CPW perspective, it held water. I was conscious that while 2022 might be a year of heavy rainfall as a result of La Nina, next year might look different. And I was hesitant to spend a huge chunk of my budget on an item I knew wouldn’t get a considerable amount of wear beyond the next few months. 

The Rains jacket ticked the boxes for me. A decent sized hood, and long enough through the body to provide ample cover form the rain. Perhaps the only thing I don’t love about it is the interior lining. It’s synthetic (naturally), and has an almost rough quality to it. Reminding myself that practicality was key here, I was able to overlook this. And actually, my husband loved this rain jacket so much, he plans to get his own. The style is unisex so sizing is generous for women. I opted for the S and am glad I did as there’s ample room for oversized knits. Other rainwear brands that were recommended to me include; Okewa Rainwear, Joules, and Stutterheim.

Frankie Shop black bea blazer | Ticking off more of a “nice to have” next, I decided to bite the bullet on an oversized blazer from the Frankie Shop. I still can’t tell if this particular purchase was inspired heavily by social media, or just my current love of oversized tailoring. But consider me influenced, if so. For me, I saw this as a more affordable alternative to the Tibi Liam blazer, which I have and love. There’s a few discernible differences; the Tibi blazer has more of an intentional or closer cut fit. It feels less oversized and isn’t as wide across the shoulder. 

But it’s the fabric where you can really tell that the Tibi blazer is a cut above. It feels luxurious, and has an elegance to the touch, despite the polyester blended through. The Frankie Shop one on the other hand is comprised solely of synthetic fibres, and it’s obvious to the touch. It doesn’t have quite the same drape, yet the upside is that it isn’t easily prone to creasing. All in all, while I’m content with my purchase, I’m still not 100% certain that the Frankie Shop prices are reflected in the quality of the item you get. You’d be just as well off shopping the men’s section of Uniqlo for tailoring for a similar look in a wool fabrication, at a fraction of the price.

Veronica Tucker esme blouse | One thing I credit social networks like Instagram with is building a sense of community with like-minded women; Veronica Tucker being one of them. She’s someone I’ve long admired and when she asked if I’d like to receive a piece from her new collection, I was honoured – but only if she’d let me contribute the cost of labour and materials. Running a small business is hard, and I truly wanted to support her and her craft. While it’s safe to say that I wasn’t planning on making this particular purchase, I am excited at the prospect of styling it. It’s beautifully made, and designed with versatility in mind; there’s three ways to wear it. 

Arket striped cotton sweater | Last thing I needed to add to my closet was another striped knit. It’s laughingly obvious at this point that they’re a point of weakness in my closet (along with shoes and multiples of my favourite jeans). I added this to cart during a late night shop for kids clothing, figuring it was by all means a practical purchase. Made from 100% cotton, it would be a breeze to launder. The oversized fit is right up my alley. And stripes well… you can’t really go wrong. Ultimately an item purchased under the haze of sleep deprivation, that I didn’t really need. I don’t often impulse buy, but there’s no other word for this purchase. Will I wear it? Of course. But could I have done without it? Absolutely.

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Then we have my Sezane “purchases”. I had some store credit sitting in my account, and was mindful that there may be an expiry attached. Which was essentially what compelled me to place the order for these three pieces. It’s worth noting that I didn’t actually contribute any budget towards these items, so these wardrobe additions don’t have any weight on my overall spend for the month.

Sezane ecru dita jumper | This knit truly is the epitome of an elevated basic. And as I always say, the devil is in the details. I love the fine cable knit effect to the yarn, and pale tortoiseshell effect matte buttons at the cuffs. Both these things add dimension and interest, something otherwise lacking from many of my layering pieces. Plus I really like the ECOVERO Lenzing yarn that it’s composed of. It has this smooth, soft texture, and washes well.

Sezane marine blue capucine cardigan | The second item I ordered with my store credit was this dark navy cardigan. Again, knitwear it a huge weak spot for me, especially where Sezane is concerned. Having been burned by the brand’s polyamide-blended knits in the past, I’m pretty particular about what I do add to cart these days. Made from a 100% organic cotton, it felt like a safe bet. I loved the “fancy” knit element with open weave, the dark tortoise buttons, and brand’s signature bell sleeves. It’s a heavier-weight piece, so perfect for these transitional months.

Sezane lila earrings in multicolour | Ticking off one of my wishlist items, I also decided to snag these gorgeous acrylic/enamel earrings. The pale pink button with contrasting marbled apricot stone drop felt fun, and an easy complement to my closet full of (mostly) neutrals. They’re not too heavy, so feel comfortable worn in the ears for long stretches. 

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Safe to say, I really tripped up on one of my goals for this Low Buy; to intentionally bring less into my wardrobe on a monthly basis. Circumstances aside, the number of “new” possessions I actively went out and purchased made me feel a little disappointed. Immediately I started to question how I managed to let this happen, and trying to explain it away. Making up excuses for myself. Which confronting as it is, has been a common thread when I’ve let impulsive decisions lead the charge.

One thing I am happy to report, is that I despite the additional spend (on the white blouse and striped knit), I didn’t utilise all of the budget carryover from March. So on that front, I’ve continued to stay true to my goals. Additionally, I’ve managed to avoid the excessive shopping I indulged in after giving birth to our son. Through what felt like endless nightly wake ups, I’d often find myself scrolling aimlessly at 2am, shopping my wishlist with reckless abandon. While it’s hard to say whether I can attribute the lenience I seemed to have to shopping this past month to that or not, I am mindful that it’s likely to be a trigger, and I’m taking steps starting now to avoid a total blow out.

GIFTING I RECEIVED

Again another area where I feel like a lot more entered my life than anticipated. A combination of taking on additional partnerships, and also reflective of the time of year. The transitional seasons are generally when gifting tends to be at its peak. 

Laing Home | Perhaps further proving my point that knitwear is my kryptonite, I received a couple of beautiful knits from New Zealand brand Laing. A rose tinted merino roll neck knit, and an oatmeal cashmere vest. Both utterly timeless pieces I see myself wearing for years to come.

The Iconic | One of the “mum” essentials I really found myself relying on during the early months when our son was born was a small crossbody bag. Something that fit in all the essentials for easy access, but could also be tucked away in a larger tote. So when The Iconic asked if I’d like to receive the MJ Snapshot Small Camera Bag, I jumped at the chance. From a styling perspective, I was especially drawn to the canvas guitar strap. The logo is in a neon yellow, adding a bright pop to many of my neutral outfits.

OLEADA | As part of some work that I have scheduled for early May, I received the Marina Bucket Bag from OLEADA. I opted for the “latte” colour, which is a cool-toned light mushroom hue. I really appreciate versatility in bags, and this is the type that can easily transition from work to weekend. Generously sized, and looks smart, but doesn’t have the sharp edges you’ll sometimes find with typical work bags.

W Concept | Call it kismet, but for April I was lucky enough to send through a couple of product requests to my friends at W Concept. One of the items I’d had on my wardrobe wishlist for the year was a navy trench, and I’d been eyeing up this one from Nilby P, so it seemed like the natural choice. It’s even better than I’d anticipated. It’s more substantial that one of the other trenches I’d been looking at, which I think is a good thing as it gives the jacket some weight. Especially at the hem. 

LEO LIN | There’s been a lot of chatter about dopamine dressing, and I’ve clearly succumbed. This vibrant golden ruffled midi length skirt caught my eye from their latest collection. As someone who typically shies away from colour, it probably feels a bit out of left field for me. But I’m a big fan of yellows; it’s like wearing a piece of sunshine – happy and fresh. 

FARFETCH | Final gifting I received in April was from FARFETCH. It was in the form of a voucher, which I was able to spend on a few items of my choosing from their site. I had a member reward too which I hadn’t utilised, so decided to add that to the “kitty”. I added this striped Toteme knit, these AGOLDE jeans, and this pair of Lee Mathews culottes to my cart.

DOPAMINE DRESSING

Dopamine dressing being touted as a fashion trend for 2022, and I have to say, I can see the appeal after the last two years. Essentially the idea is dressing in clothing that boosts your mood, connecting the visual element of what we wear with happiness and joy.

It follows a concept that I discussed recently in this video; enclothed cognition. That what we wear has a psychological impact and real effect on our performance and even our behaviour. 

So, by that very logic, wearing fun, vibrant colours, will translate into our moods and our actual happiness levels. Given the trend has been towards neutrals for the last few years, this is a total 180. And also, far removed from the contents of my own wardrobe.

Personally, I’m into it. As much as I love a head-to-toe classic look, over the past 18 months I’ve been slowly introducing pastels and red tones (one of my “happy” colours). I’m not quite ready to go full on bold with “Bottega” green, but a small smattering of colour grounded by neutrals feels within my comfort zone. 

My only hesitation? In the past, splashes of colour have typically been the first to go. I don’t *quite* see the same versatility as with my tried and true basics, so I’m quick to overlook more statement pieces. That said, I’ve been trying to reflect on the items I own with a more discerning eye. And thinking about the long game. Recognising that we can have a “fleeting” moment with an item, and it can be retired for a season or two before coming back out again. Previously, I’d ruthlessly declutter anything I wasn’t wearing (regardless of whether I still loved it or not), so this represents a new approach to my wardrobe. And also with it, a greater comfort in trying things that might feel a little out of the box.

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So that’s my low buy update for April. A few fails this month, but given I didn’t go over budget I’m trying not to be too hard on myself about it. Would love to know how your low buy (or no buy) is going!