Best and Worst Purchases of 2023

I look forward to putting together this list of my best and worst sartorial purchases every year even though I’m always a bit embarrassed by the “worst” purchases because I always speak so highly of what I purchase in my quarterly clothing budget updates. 🫣 It’s even more interesting to put together this post since I shared only a couple of new outfits last year compared to years past!

In 2023, I continued my hybrid work schedule: two days in the office and three days WFH. I wear loungewear far more frequently than officewear, and I find it difficult to wear “hard pants” now! I also still dealt with changing sizes, especially when it came to jeans and pants. I really don’t like wearing items that are really tight around my midsection and instead opt for soft fabrics and stretchy waistbands that don’t restrict. This is part of why I don’t like wearing jeans much anymore…but this year, two pairs of jeans made the cut!

Out of the 40+ items I added to my wardrobe in 2023, I selected six best purchases (plus four honorable mentions) and a handful of worst purchases. If you’re interested in specific outfit details, just click on the photo of interest to see the original post!

READ NEXT: Previous Best and Worst Purchases: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 best/worst, 2016 best/worst, 2015 best/worst, 2014 best/worst

Best and Worst Sartorial Purchases of 2023

BEST PURCHASES OF 2023

Madewell Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean (purchased March 2023)

I purchased six new pairs of jeans in 2023, and these perfect vintage wide-leg jeans were one of my most-worn pairs of the year! I alternate between these and my Abercrombie jeans (more on those below) most often nowadays, and I brought both pairs with me to Germany (and didn’t bring any skinny jeans)! It’s funny how much my taste has changed in just a couple short years. I’m surprised by how much I like these; I think it’s because they’re not too wide through the legs. I purchased these in a curvy petite size. According to Stylebook, I’ve worn them 25 times for a cost per wear of just over $4!

J.Crew Fresco Top (PURCHASED May 2023)

I’m always drawn to items described as “soft”, and this Fresco top in soft gauze was no exception! (Sadly, it’s no longer available, but keep an eye out for these tops on secondhand sites like Poshmark.) I love the fabric, which really is soft, and I don’t find the white to be super sheer so no need for an undershirt. This top also came with me to Germany this past fall. I purchased it in two colors, white and utility green, and I reach for the white top more often, which I’m not surprised by. White just goes with everything! According to Stylebook, I’ve worn the white top 9 times with a cost per wear of just over $3, and I’ve worn the green top 6 times with a cost per wear of just under $4.

Madewell Softfade Cotton Boxy-Crop Tank (purchased May 2023)

I purchased sooo many new tank tops in 2023! I finally realized that I reach for tank tops way more often than t-shirts and took it upon myself to add a bunch of new tanks to my wardrobe. I wear them frequently under cardigans and blazers to avoid the bunching that always happens when you wear a tee under another layer. I REALLY love the Softfade boxy-crop tank that Madewell released; the cropped length is perfect for short women like me! I don’t have to deal with tucking/untucking. I purchased this tank in three colors and wore the cream and dark grey colors most often (both 14 times for a cost per wear of just over $1 each).

Birkenstock Arizona Eva Sandals (purchased June 2023)

I did not envision myself becoming a Birkenstock girly (again, because I’m pretty sure I also wore Birks when I was a kid) but here we are! The Arizona EVA is a great everyday sandal; it features the signature cushioned, contoured footbed Birkenstock is known for but the whole sandal is one color, so they’re fairly easy to clean. Of course, I got a white pair so they are bound to show some stains and signs of wear eventually. I found myself reaching for them frequently over the summer! I took my true EU size. I’ve worn them 23 times for a cost per wear of just over $2.

Abercrombie Curve Love Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight Jean (purchased August 2023)

For not wearing hard pants (a.k.a. jeans and pretty much any pant that isn’t joggers or sweats) all that often anymore, I’m happy I found two pairs of jeans in 2023 that I really loved and reached for whenever I did need a pair of jeans. I finally jumped back on the Abercrombie bandwagon; this was THE store in my high school years where all the popular/“cool” girls shopped, and it was the store I wish I could have afforded back then! They’ve really done a great job rebranding since then. I ordered a few curve love styles and settled on the ultra high rise ankle straight jean. I’ve worn them 20 times for a cost per wear of $3.55!

Middle outfit photographed by Hey Bella Photo

Best Purchase of 2023: Vuori Restore Half Zip Hoodie | Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Vuori Restore Half Zip Hoodie (purchased October 2023)

I first saw the Vuori Restore half zip hoodie on another blogger I follow and immediately fell in love. I had been on the lookout for a cozy, throw-on-and-go hoodie, and this one is PERFECT. It seriously might be my very favorite purchase of 2023. I’ve worn it 19 times already for a cost per wear of $5. The fabric is thick and so, so soft, and as a short person, I really love the cropped fit. I purchased a size medium to ensure it would fit comfortably over my broad shoulders. It still fits great even after being washed and dried! (Now I just need to figure out how to get a few stubborn tomato stains out of it. 🙈)

Honorable Mentions

Honorable mentions go to my Madewell perfect vintage jean shorts (purchased June 2023; last seen here), Uniqlo ribbed cropped sleeveless bra top in five colors (purchased July 2023; last seen here), Lululemon Align high-rise pant with pockets 25" (purchased September 2023; last seen here), and Madewell corduroy baseball cap (purchased October 2023; last seen hereere).

Shop My Best Purchases of 2023

WORST PURCHASES OF 2023

Madewell Cotton-Hemp Denim Button-Up Crop Shirt (purchased April 2023)

I really do love the idea of this cotton-hemp denim shirt (the crop! the shirttail hem!), but I’m wondering if I bought it because I felt the need to own a chambray shirt even though I don’t really reach for one anymore. I still haven’t worn this shirt even though I bought it last spring. I suppose I need to figure out how to avoid buying items because I feel the need to own them. I’ve owned chambray shirts in the past, then after getting rid of my other ones, I basically panicked and replaced them with this shirt. Maybe I got rid of my other ones for a reason! I’ll see if I end up reaching for it this year…

Everything Else I Haven’t Worn Yet!

Even though I didn’t share nearly as many outfits this year as I have in years past, I did still wear most of the items I added to my wardrobe this year. I promise that everything I buy and share in budget updates I do actually plan to wear regularly! I’m surprised by the number of items I bought and shared that I still haven’t worn (I gave myself a pass for items I bought at the end of 2023).

Other than the denim crop shirt above, here are the other items I purchased this year that still have yet to be worn:

Much like I feel like I should own a chambray shirt, I also feel like I should own a white linen shirt. Do I actually wear one often enough to justify having one? I might give it one more year and then decide from there. My replacement size is STILL in its packaging… As for the Everlane sandals, I really thought I’d reach for my new pair of olive sandals! I love this style and really felt like I’d get a lot of wear out of these. Turns out I still wore my other colors more.

I have a couple of pairs of Madewell jeans I still haven’t worn. At the moment, I can’t remember if it’s because they’re just a touch snug on my midsection and therefore not the first pairs I reach for or if I just have other pairs that work better in the outfits I think of. I really felt like I’ve spent the past couple of years rebuilding my denim wardrobe, and I can safely say that I don’t need any more pairs, especially if I’m not wearing all the pairs I do have. I just don’t wear jeans often enough anymore.

Rounding out the list is the Faherty Legend sweater shirt. I had planned to bring this to Germany with me but it ended up being too warm for a flannel shirt. I still haven’t reached for it this fall or winter. It doesn’t matter too much that I haven’t swapped my crossbody strap for the new webbed version I got; the leather strap it came with works well with fall/winter outfits. Time will tell if I actually do feel the need to switch it up!

styleKimi, Cotton Cashmere Cat Haircloset audit4 Comments