Acquired or Abstained (#3)
Resolutions of sorts...
Happy New Year everyone!
Since this is the first substack of the year I thought it would only be right to share some goals and resolutions when it comes to my shopping habit addiction. I know it is not realistic of me to do a no-buy year. I have watched enough of the girlies on TikTok to know that ultimately, when something comes up and needs replacing or you slip up, that it can feel like failure only to send you into further regression because, well you’ve already failed. So instead I am going to really think about what I like in my closet, take note of some observations I’ve already had during this substack exploration and make a list of what is allowed to be purchased, whether items or a general rule for said items. I am hoping my readers, albeit few of you, can keep me accountable! So if you see an acquirement not from this list, fight me in the comments. I am literally welcoming troll behaviour, so tell your friends or enemies or any internet troll you may come across.
Before I share my list and goals, let’s dig in to the cart from this week. Also, this week is still limbo week we all agree right?
As a female I’d actually argue there is no such thing as the perfect jeans actually. Unless you get them tailored. So I lied in the title, but as I mentioned last week I was looking for a couple more. So we did a little Boxing Week mall trip and I tried these on at aritzia. They’re a bit long for me, which is great if you’re taller that 5’6”! I acquired the dark rinse and really like them as a black alternative. I think I still need a black pair but haven’t found a good one yet.
I got targeted with this in an ad. I clicked on it because I do think living in Canada and traveling abroad a packable puffer is quite handy for layering and space saving. I’m just not sure I would spend $350 on one since that’s essentially the cost of a coat, not a layer. So abstained. But this blue colour is really speaking to me!
Honestly this piece is so fun and iconic; the texture, the length, the collar. It seems like a very fun fall/spring coat option. I’m just not entirely sure it’s me? I may purchase this if it is discounted further but for now I’m abstaining.
The Cartier Baignoire watch has been haunting my mind for probably a year now. Partially because its chic simplicity seems timeless and partially because the price is astronomical. If ever you see me with one please know I would’ve had to come into insaaaaane money. But this watch is very close to looking the same. I was an avid Apple Watch wearer until giving birth and now I just don’t feel it’s serving me. I spend a lot of time on the floor with my baby so I may not be “standing” but ya girl is moving. I like it for workouts but don’t wear it outside of that. Since one of my other goals is to get off my phone more, a good old fashioned watch would mean I’m not tied to my phone for time management as well. I think what’s special about the Cartier one though is the elongated face so I’ve abstained from this one but I will keep an eye out for a closer dupe I think!
Ugh sad. Another technical abstain because it is out of stock! I don’t yet have a Babaa… largely because of the price and slightly because I’m afraid it’ll be itchy. But the small fashion lovers ADORE anything Babaa. So alas I missed this in the sale… perhaps luck will have it that I will find it secondhand. To date my best second hand score was a James Street Co reid zip up that I missed and thought of so frequently and I was lucky enough to snag it on Facebook . So what’s meant to be, sometimes will be!
That is a wrap on what was in my cart this week! A win in my books for sure. As promised, here is what I’m aiming for in terms of shopping this year.
If the above Lululemon puffer has taught me anything, it’s that I really should not be buying from Instagram ads. So I am going to try be very conscious of how I even started the shopping cart at all!
If I’m buying something it actually has to be a piece that’s going to help me add dimension to outfits I already love. I don’t need another item of the same thing, but I’d love some pieces to help me make them look more special and stand out, like the lace top mentioned last week.
I am allowed to buy a couple more basics this year — my current white tees are looking a little worse for wear and I wear my Okay to Rest long sleeves every week, so I’d be happy to replace my short sleeves with OTR ones.
Some items I do intend on purchasing, call it a wish list of sorts: another James Street piece (yes this already defeats rule 2), a chic but warm winter boot (Maguire perhaps), a flannel (I think they’re making a comeback and I think this will serve rule 2), a Nikki Chasin Sheba cardigan (ideally the color block one but only on sale!), a new swimsuit (my fav youswim one pieces have both worn through so I currently don’t have a one piece and as a mom, a must), a good pair of black denim that fits and lastly, I would maybe do another pair of XT 6 Solomon’s in the right colorway because I haven’t stopped wearing mine. I probably don’t need anything else if I’m honest. So let’s see how we do this year.
On money saving note, my friend Emily is hosting a year long challenge on Keep Better Books! If you are like me and are extremely scared at the idea of a year long challenge I hear you! But I do think you can take what serves you from this challenge, so maybe check it out.
See you next week folks, hopefully with $0 spent! Cheers to 2026.
ok firstly, those jeans *heart eyes*, i love. that cartier watch ALSO haunts me daily and I’ve also found my apple watch no longer serves me since having T (strange coincidence??) Also thank you for being real about no spend challenges! I feel similarly and was struggling to put into perspective why it was so tricky for me to grasp, but you summarized it perfectly.