Well, I can’t believe we’re here. At the end of my six-month low buy. Perhaps naively when I took this up at the start of the year, I thought that we’d be well into our renovations at this point. The start date has been a bit of a moving target, but with any luck, work will begin in the next two months (fingers crossed!). I’ve made the decision to end the low buy here, as initially planned. For me, I’m quite happy to continue to aggressively save, without imposing rules and restrictions around how I shop.
Wearing St Agni t-shirt; Facade Pattern trousers (10% off with “Mademoiselle2022”); Andersons belt; Mansur Gavriel coat; Saben bag (15% off with “JAMIELOVESSABEN”); Vaneli two tone pumps (back in stock!!)
One thing I wanted to highlight that I really noticed about my shopping habits during my low buy? The majority of my browsing was centred around basics. Limiting potential wardrobe additions each month to a finite number meant I was less inclined to be playful with my style. The intent behind each purchase intensified, as I strived to maximise cost-per-wear. Essentially, it felt a little like I’d allowed my style to plateau, and stay within my “safe” zone.
Nothing wrong with that, but I think there does often come a point where you crave new-ness. For me, that means branching out into a little more colour, and keeping an eye out for striking design details. Which I think was reflected ever so slightly with my key purchase in June. So, let’s chat through how I chose to spend my June budget…
HOW I SPENT MY BUDGET
As with previous months, I had a few misfires with potential purchases. There’s only so far that visualising how an item might look on with get you. So, I had a few returns which I’ll chat about separately. Instead, let’s focus on what I actually added to my closet.
Steele floral crop top & matching maxi skirt set | A little out of left field for this neutral lover, but the second I saw Steele’s “meadow floral” print, I was a little obsessed. Some closet purchases are purely emotional; there’s an inexplicable desire to add an item which is outside your typical range. For me, this is it. Micro-florals aren’t really a new thing to my wardrobe, but in this particular colour combination, it is. Initially I was a little torn between the floral set, or the quilted jacket. I put the question out to Instagram, and the resounding opinion was to keep the set. My husband agreed, and after mulling it over and considering the styling potential of each, I concurred. I’m conscious from the outset that this set is unlikely to get the same amount of wear as my basics. But, establishing that foundation in your closet is what makes way for purchases like this. And this is seriously going to up the ante on my usual summer WFH look of a crop and denim shorts.
Witchery strappy sandals | A pragmatic purchase, my sister is getting married later this year, and the bridal party will be wearing black shoes. I have this style from By Far, but I already know they’ll shred my heels if I wear them all night dancing. Something with a low heel was on my wishlist, and I was immediately drawn to these. They have this uber fun puffy twist strap across the foot, and they’re incredibly comfortable, with enough padding in the sole. The ankle strap does wrap around a few times which I worry might look a little heavy when worn with the dress she’s selected, so I’ll probably get a cobbler to trim this so it only wraps around once.
So that’s what I added to my closet for this final month of my low buy. One purchase that was more emotional, and one which was rooted in pragmatism. The best part? I didn’t exhaust all of my allocated budget. Win-win.
WHAT I RETURNED
By Far Edie Boots | This first item isn’t technically something that I spent my budget on, however it was a serious contender at the beginning of the month. It would have wiped out basically my entire budget (including carryover from the previous month). These boots, from By Far. After mulling over the purchase for a good six months (actually, maybe more…), I finally came to the realisation that this style is just not for me. I’ve tried OTK boots before – hailed as a classic. And for many people they are, but ultimately I never wore them. I surmised that it was likely a boot which comes to the knee would have the same fate in my closet. Instead, I’m choosing to admire them on others, and perhaps the season in my life where I will appreciate this style on me will come, but I’m not out here trying to rush it.
Nelson Made sandals | A brand that’s been on my radar since last year, and that I’ve been itching to buy a pair of shoes from. If it’s not yet obvious, shoes – along with cosy knits – are my kryptonite. When I spotted their latest drop on The Iconic, I made a beeline for these apricot-hued sandals. The colour felt like a good neutral, and the design is incredibly classic. And in person, they were just as beautiful as I anticipated, and well made. However, they’re designed more so for someone with a narrow foot. Straight out of the gate I could tell that the strap which crosses over the toes wasn’t quite wide enough, and would act as a serious pain point for me with wear. Being in my mid-thirties, I’ve owned my fair share of shoes which just weren’t the right fit for my feet. And these days, comfort is king. Another one I’ll be admiring from afar.
Bec+Bridge dress | The last item that was on my wishlist to buy in June was this dress from Bec+Bridge. Actually the only item I managed to try on in person, and it was an immediate, no. I purchased a beautiful black silk dress from the brand last year with the same open back and tie detail (which I later sold as it became a little too small!). It’s clear that I have a solid type when it comes to midi and maxi dresses. This didn’t feel quite special enough to be competing for space in my closet next to my beloved Marle and Matteau maxi dresses. I have a habit of buying multiples, so was thrilled to exercise some restraint here and know when to stop.
You’ll have to forgive the shorter than usual post this month. Three months of sleep deprivation has really started to take its toll, so I’m going to wrap things up here. Do let me know how your low-buy, or no-buy is going. Have you been tempted by the sales? I know I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t!
