My Best & Worst Purchases of 2023

Final (style) look back at the year that was, this time, through what I purchased. More specifically, my top five buys, and the three pieces I wish I’d reconsidered buying. 

Aside from recounting my most worn pieces of the season, this has been one of the more valuable reflections when analysing personal style. Because you’re forced to consider the root cause of why an item has been tucked away at the back of your closet, unloved and unworn. That said, if I’ve taken away anything from my purchases over the years, it’s that regardless of how much time we spend agonising over buying an item, its success in our wardrobe isn’t guaranteed. It’s only when you have the thing, that you are living with it in your closet that you’ll discover how much it truly shines, or whether you consider it to be a bit of a “dud”. 

So, let’s chat through my best and worst of 2023.

Best purchases of 2023

#1 | Andersons mock croc leather belt

Buying duplicates can be a little bit of a gamble. Often, we’ve already conditioned ourselves to instinctively reach for the original, that any repeat buy in another colour doesn’t get quite as much love. It also can limit styling options as the only new element you’ve introduced into your wardrobe is colour. 

But, my black Andersons leather belt has been a cornerstone piece in so many of my outfits. A real wardrobe workhorse. And one thing I lacked was a textural belt, so when I saw the chocolate mock brown leather, I thought… “why not”. 

I’ll admit I’ve been pleasantly surprised by just how much I’ve worn this. So much so, it’s essentially taken out that top spot as my most reached for belt. Much more versatile than you’d think, too. 

One thing to note? The gold tone does start to wear off with time. The buckle on my black belt now has a bit of a two-tone gold/silver gradient effect but I personally don’t mind this. 

#2 | Sezane Pippa dress

Another one of those items that I didn’t think I’d like as much as I did. They’re sleeper “hits”; unassuming, but great. T-shirt dresses have a tendency to be kind of unflattering. As a pear shape with shorter legs, I find that the traditional loose silhouettes underscore how long my torso is, in a way that doesn’t feel great to wear.

So the Pippa dress was a welcome reprieve from what I’m used to seeing. I was drawn to the way it’s designed to hug the contours of the body, and the ruched tie at the waist. Also, the side slits. These provide a nice element of movement. 

It’s a cotton/elastane blend, so very stretchy and in my experience, has washed well. I believe it’s supposed to fit close to the body, so would recommend sizing down for a figure-hugging fit. Classic black was my choice, mostly because my kids seem to get everything I wear grubby and I wanted an easy-going piece. But the colourful options are fun, too. I also have the Sabrina dress which is a similar style but in a mini length, that is just as good.

#3 | Facade Pattern grey wool trousers

One of the top pieces on my 2023 wardrobe wishlist was a pair of grey wool trousers. Something in a fluid drape style, 100% wool, with belt loops. Single pleat. And while I’ve not really had much opportunity to wear these yet, the quality is exceptional, and they are a dream to have on. So while a late player to the game, I can already predict they’ll be on solid rotation for 2024.

Some purchase, you just know. If it’s within your style wheelhouse and makes sense with how you build your looks, it can be a bit of a no-brainer. I have a few pairs of trousers from Facade Pattern at this point and they’re generally the pairs I will reach for first above any other. Which speaks volumes!

#4 | H&M rib knit top

I’ve purchased “dupes” of this iconic Khaite top in the past, but none of them ever felt quite right (though I do love this one from Sezane). Until now. And I think, for me, it was losing the sleeves. This absolute high street gem from H&M (available internationally here) was such a winner that I immediately bought it in a second colour. 

The ribbed knit is very thick, the cut is lovely and not at all revealing. It feels modest despite the style. These elements actually add a level of refinement that I like to try and tone down with more chilled out styles like jeans, denim cut offs, or a fluid drape pant. Opting for a silky skirt for example, immediately gives off an impression of elegance. Love that it’s easy to tone down. If you have been considering this, size down as it runs large, and from what I understand is best for smaller-chested girlies.

#5 | Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 sneakers

Better than Samba’s in my opinion. On my hunt for the slim sneaker, I was tossing up between Onitsuka Tiger and Adidas and decided to get both. And when I’m getting dressed, these win out every time as I find they’ve got more support in the sole (bouncy, with arch support). I like all the colour options too. Originally, I got these in a red/blue combination, and later purchased the silver. Which I think comes off as being a subtle but very wearable nod to the metallic trend that gained in popularity in 2023. 

They’ve filled the gap in my closet for a slim fitting sneaker nicely, and I love the ease with which you can style these. 

Worst purchases of 2023

#1 | The Row black heeled loafers

It’s always disappointing when an expensive and drawn out purchase just doesn’t get worn. Even more so when you’re really excited about the item. The Row’s Margaret loafers are exquisite. Minimally designed, with a mid-height but walkable heel, there’s no reason in my mind why I wouldn’t reach for these. But I never do. 

And the “a-ha” moment came to me when I realised that they just feel a little too mature for me. I tend to like more playful elements, adding Pokemon pins to my denim jackets, minimalist components with a small feminine touch like a light ruffle. Something centred. These feel a little austere by comparison. Too minimal, and whenever I put them on I always feel like I’m trying to be a version of myself that I’m not. 

Doesn’t help that the heel height is a little higher than what I typically reach for when working. Combined with the fact that I have a reasonably solid shoe collection as it is, any new pairs need to work double time to earn their place. 

#2 | Tibi navy macrame set

A purchase I think was guided by my fantasy self, as despite trying to wear this countless times, it’s never felt quite right. My personal style isn’t overly fashion forward; it’s more restrained, leaning in on classic designs with the odd flourish. So perhaps that was the first “tell”. But you never know until you try, and I generally love my Tibi pieces so thought this would fall in that camp. 

I ordered these pieces during their end of season sale, and as I couldn’t try it on ahead of time, I took a real gamble. Because the purchase was final. No returns. And I think if I had been able to try it on first, I might have struck this off my wishlist, instead resorting to admiring it on others.

Add to this that I’d originally wanted to buy it in white but that had sold out. Which serves as a reminder to stick to your guns, or be okay with missing out.

Quite a few recommendations on Instagram were to try both pieces worn as separates. I have tried this previously with the skirt and again, just didn’t come off quite right, but want to spend some time trying to style them up separately before I give up on them for good.

#3 | Oroton olive green cotton shirt

You know when you try something on in-store, and just can’t stop thinking about it? Well, that was me with this Oroton cotton poplin shirt. A great basic, in a deep earthy neutral. 

And ironically, it’s the colour that’s thrown me off. That has had me questioning the purchase. 

I loved how it looked on me in-store. I paired it with the matching mini and had a little monochromatic moment which felt chic and easy. In my mind, thinking it would look great worn with my (mostly) neutral wardrobe, too. And I was thrilled when I managed to snag it during a sale. But since it arrived in the mail, I haven’t been able to recreate that incredible feeling from in-store. Which is a real shame as it was another purchase I was so excited about.

What this highlighted to me, properly for the first time, was how much my complexion plays a role in whether I will wear colour, or not. I have olive skin, so the base colour of my complexion is green, and in my case, has a bit of a yellow-ish tinge. Neither overly warm or overly cool colours suit me, so naturally I’m drawn to options which carry more of a neutral colour value or sit in the middle of the temperature spectrum. So greens in general are tricky for me. And when I look back at what I’ve worn over the decades, greens that are more intensely saturated, with a darker value tend to work better for me. 

Again, I’ll be seeing if I can make this work with my wardrobe, but ultimately, if I’m wearing colour (instead of my beloved neutrals), I want to make sure I’m feeling my best.

Let me know your best and worst purchases of 2023 in the comments!