Re-cap of 2015!

My goals for 2015 were to:

• continue to downsize the number of shoes I have - I purged a lot this year but there are still some that I can let go of. Also, I won't be replacing a number of them when they wear through - I ended up purchasing 9 pairs of shoes and was given 2 pairs of pre-loved shoes, for a total of 11 pairs of shoes in. I sold 2 pairs of shoes and donated several pairs (unfortunately, I did not keep tabs on how many I left go). My total count for shoes is 46 pairs =S
• continue to work on using the things I love and not worry about them getting ruined - Still continuing to do this, which is great. I can definitely see that I'm not as panicky when it comes to wearing my Burberry coats.
• build a capsule wardrobe for each month - unlike some capsule wardrobe challenges, I'm not limiting the number of items I will use but I will make sure the amount is reasonable - This was a bust. For most of the year I did not have my Stylebook App, but  think the major reason was that I still have too many items. I ended up switching to a color capsule which yielded better results but it tells me I still need to downsize my wardrobe
• continue to shop out of my bag and wallet collection and implement a one-in, one-out rule. - My biggest success for my goals, and personal best when it comes to not buying any bags or wallets. I bought 1 MbMj backpack which is something I don't have and therefore not counted as a bag, and my husband gifted me a wallet. I sold a cardholder earlier in the year. All in all, I did amazing!  There are still 10 bags I didn't use this year so I will be trying to see if I use them in 2016.
• rotate through all my wallets throughout the year. - My husband was away for most of the year so while he was gone, I missed him and mostly used the 2 wallets he gave me so I didn't make a complete rotation of my wallets. I still had 6 wallet I didn't use, in addition to my travel wallet.
• use jewelry more to accessorize my daily outfits. - still making progress with it and was gifted a few items.The Swarovski bracelet I purchased was used quite often.
• continue to purge, re-fine, and down-size my wardrobe. - still working on this and despite removing a number of items, I did bring in 62 items, including items gifted to me. 
• budget $1,000 for wardrobe purchases (not including investment pieces that may replace current wardrobe staples). - I exceeded my budget by approximately $240. Not bad considering I never implemented a budget before.
• downsize the number of jackets and coats - this started out great, and I managed to let go of 3 jackets/coats, but then I purchased 1 investment coat, 1 casual jacket, and was given 2 other coats.
• use the bags I weren't able to use in 2014 - if I don't use them again in 2015, consider letting them go. - I managed to get through a great rotation of my bags and of the 8 I didn't use in 2014, I used 5 in 2015. There are still 3 bags I haven't used in the last 2 years and so far I am thinking of selling 1 of them.
• have some purchase-free months - I had 3 purchase-free months.

Merry Christmas!!! - Preparing for 2016

Merry Christmas!!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day with their loved ones. I'm spending the day with my husband and enjoying the time we have together before he heads back up north to finish school.

I'll make this post short and sweet =)

After what I consider to be a pretty successful 2015 year of purging and refining my wardrobe, and being mindful about my purchases, I'm very much looking forward to setting new goals and furthering my progress of perfecting my closet. 

How am I preparing?

• I'm taking another sweep of my wardrobe to see if there are any other items I can remove;
• I've set aside some items that may have re-sale value and listed them for sale to build a 'rainy day' reserve fund outside of my budget for some pre-loved bags I have had my eye on should they become suddenly available;
• I'm checking my Stylebook App to remind myself of the number of items I have in each category and revise my 'no buy' lists;
• I'm revisiting my 2015 resolutions to remind me of my goals and decide which goals to keep, revise, and what new goals to add; and
• Reorganizing my closet

I'm looking forward to sharing my new goals with you and seeing how I can make 2016 an even more successful year!

Christmas comes early with a pair of Stuart Weitzman's

It's funny how things work out - despite letting go of 2 pairs of shoes in a week, I was given a pair of almost, brand-spanking new, Stuart Weitzman Geek Loafers in black patent leather.



Yes, I'm up one again in shoe count, but... who can resist? The best part is, I think they will be great to replace all the outfits I made with my Doc Marten loafers, and will be a fantastic everyday shoe since they are so incredibly comfortable!

The start to my pre-loved Speedy 35/40 fund!

After confirming how much I want a pre-loved Speedy, I went through some more of my things and actually started to list things for sale. I started with shoes since I have way too many and it seems to be the most difficult area for me to make a dent in.

The first item to contribute to the fund are my Doc Marten combat boots. I had come up with a number of cute outfits for them, but still hadn't worn them, so I decided to let them go and help them find a home where they could be loved and fully used.

Second on the list is another pair of Docs - my 'second chances' shoes! I did make awesome outfits with them and wore them a few times this year, but over all, I didn't wear them as much as I thought I would. Off to a new home they went!

I hope I'm able to keep this momentum up and continue with the selling. I sort of regret not trying to list my previous items I let go, for sale, but onward and upward!

Whew, that was a close call

Last Friday on my way home from work, I stopped by a new luxury re-seller and stumbled upon a Louis Vuitton Monogram Speedy 40. Although it was pre-loved and had seen better days, it's an item that I have been looking for, for a long time. Why do I want a pre-loved one, let alone one in less than stellar condition? Let me fill you in - since realizing that I baby the bags that I spend a lot of money on, I've been looking for certain bags that have been pre-loved so I can fully use them. 'Fully' as in, wear them in poor weather, put them on the ground, stuff them full, and bring them on trips. 

I have been wanting a Speedy 30 for the longest time and have been debating this for years - why have I put it off? Because my mom has one and it seems redundant to have 2 in the family even though we never share bags. Also, I have a number of Gucci Bostons that are of similar size and don't use them enough to justify a brand new Speedy (not to mention, the price increases have helped to deter me). 

The solution? A pre-loved Speedy in a larger size. This avoids having the same bag in the family, lets me use it as a 'beater' bag (and lets me use it as a carry-on, or smaller weekend bag) so I don't have to be the one to feel bad about breaking it in, and is much less expensive. 

Now that you're up to speed, let's resume. It was actually in a condition that I would love to have it in - no interior stains (this is very important to me), no cracks, pretty even darkening on the piping and handles, and the sales associate was even willing to throw in the lock and key from another bag, for free. It was everything I wanted, and the price was very reasonable. My hesitation? I wasn't prepared to be buying anything this month (remember, I'm trying to have 3 no-purchase months this year, and December is the only month left for me to keep my resolution), and since I wasn't expected to find it (I sort of gave up recently since I have other financial obligations) I hadn't planned to make this significant purchase. The bag was also on hold for another person but the SA told me that it didn't seem like they were interested since they had been unreachable over the 24-hour hold policy. I told the SA that I would go home and think about it and if it was still there on Saturday, I would likely pick it up. 

I spent 2 hours thinking about it and decided to phone the SA the same night to put it on hold for me until Sunday if the original customer had not taken it. When I called, the SA told me that 'Monique' had come and picked it up. It wasn't meant to be =(

Part of me was super relieved that it was gone because I think I would have purchased it and I would have broken my record year of 'no bag and wallet' purchases, and also spent a significant amount of money on an unplanned purchase. If I had bought it, I don't think I would have as much fun and satisfaction of using it, knowing that I was so doing so well. At the same time, it has shown me that even though I haven't been thinking about the bag for a while, it is something that I really do want so I'm taking steps to save up for it outside of my wardrobe budget. Since it's very much a 'want it' item, I plan to fund it by selling items I currently have so that I have the money to purchase it if another 'perfect' one comes along - it'll be even sweeter to buy it then. 

How did I do with my wishlist?

To try to keep myself focused on purchasing the things that I was specifically looking for, I made a 2015 wish list of 'needs'. 

• leopard calf-hair bag or clutch
• find and stock up on good quality tights
• black wedge ankle boots
• a gray leather bag 
• gray wool winter coat
• leopard print, calf-hair belt
• gray jeans to replace my current pair - they are beginning to look in need of replacing and since they are a major staple in my wardrobe, I want to start looking early to find the 'perfect' pair
• navy sheath dress

How did I do? 

Well, the only things I actually bought were tights (it's also probably the closest thing to an actual 'need') and the leopard print, calf-hair belt. The belt has been an amazing addition to my wardrobe and I've already used it 9 times since I bought it in May, and with the fantastic price I got it for, its cost per wear is less than a $1. 

As for the other items - I either couldn't find the 'perfect' item, or realized that what I already owned was working great enough that I didn't feel I was missing anything, or changed my mind about them. I am really happy about this because it means I am being more thoughtful about my purchases, not compromising on exactly what I am looking for, and most importantly, I feel I am learning more about what I own and doing a much better job of utilizing everything.

• leopard calf-hair bag or clutch - I really want one, but with the help of some lovely ladies, I realize that if I were to get one, I'd probably be quite worried about carrying it in the weather we get; I also have a black and white, spotted, calf hair clutch and a crossbody that make for great substitutions, not to mention, found at complete steals!
• black wedge ankle boots - still haven't found the perfect pair and I am not willing to compromise on this. Also since, I want to pare down more on the number of shoes I own, I am happy to wait.
• a gray leather bag - still haven't found the perfect shade of gray
• gray wool winter coat - didn't come across the perfect one
• gray jeans to replace my current pair - I didn't actually wear my gray jeans that much this year, so they're still intact and can probably last another year or two.
• navy sheath dress - I've tried on several and none of them were the 'perfect' one.

Next year,  I think my 'needs' list is going to be a  bit different.

2014 - a catalyst to stopping my frequent bag buying habit

For many, many years I tried to get my bag and wallet purchases under control - I made yearly resolutions and tried to limit the number of bags I purchase per year, but nothing worked.

In 2014, I was thisclose to having a no-purchase year of bags and wallets but caved mid-year and purchased 11 bags!

I was really disappointed with myself but turns out, these 11 bags filled important gaps in my bag collection. 

When I used to purchase bags, I went on simply what I liked and bought it. I didn't think about the function they played in my life, or their practicality. I love all my bags, but the 11 I bought last year, without knowing it, were useful to my daily life. 

Just a reminder, my bag purchases are not included in my budget for my wardrobe.

Why were these bags so important/special? 

Banana Republic clutch and crossbody, used 5 and 2 times respetively

Cole Haan large tote in pebbled leather, used 34 times

Cole Haan satchel in pebbled leather, used 44 times

Cole Haan tote, used 26 times 

Dooney & Bourke satchel and crossbody (another crossbody in 
violet not shown), used 15, 5, 7 times respectively

Dooney & Bourke satchel (nylon version not shown), 
used 25 times, and 43 times respectively

Dooney & Bourke satchel, used 16 times

When I tracked my bag usage, despite only owning them for 1.5 years, these bags were the ones I used the most since I got them. I use them on a regular basis because they are easy to use and their quality is fantastic. I don't have to worry about ruining them, or getting any scratches on them as they are super durable. The calf-hair bags have been my go-to for special events since they go with everything and with the price I paid for them, even if I were to use them recklessly wouldn't be too sad. 

The reason why I didn't use my other bags so much is because they were too expensive and I just cared too much about them. I care about these bags too but the price I paid, wouldn't cause me to cry. In total, I spent approximately $1,059, averaging less than $100 per bag! Since these 11 purchases, I have been able to spend 2015 purchase-free of bags! 

December, the month of reflection

I've been waiting for December 2015 to come along with great excitement! I have been diligently tracking my shopping purchases and trying to work within my wardrobe goals for 2 years, and can finally do a comparison between 2014 and 2015, and with 2 full years under my belt, feel I can finally get a better understanding of my budget and habits. 

Since I only started blogging towards the end of 2014, I'm going to go over 2014 in detail, and work my way up from there until the end of this year.

What I didn't do in 2014 was include my shoe purchases in my grand total of money spent, but I did keep track of them in a separate excel sheet specifically for shoes, so I was still able to determine what I spent on clothing that year. Unfortunately, I was't able to track the cost per wear for those shoes since I don't go into as much detail in their separate excel sheet as I do for my yearly budget sheet. (In 2015, I did include shoes into my full year's tracking.) 

My goal to purge and purchase better items had already begun in 2014 but I was mostly focused on purging rather than finding 'perfect pieces'. My purchases were less thought out in the 'wardrobe staple' department and more about filling in areas that needed replacing, or just things that I liked. The only well thought out pieces were my investment pieces.

In 2014, I didn't give myself a budget, but I also didn't go crazy - I would like to think I'm a pretty responsible shopper to being with, so not having a budget didn't affect me too much. In total, I spent $1028.78, for non-investment purchases, and $1,570 on 4 investment pieces (2 Burberry jackets/coats, and 2 Seiko watches), for a total of  $2,598.78. 

** For 2015, I made a conscious decision not to include any investment pieces into my regular wardrobe budget since they are intended to be long-lasting and very, very well thought out and calculated pieces. **

Spending $1,029 bought me a total of 33 items, including 4 pairs of shoes (including my ever so difficult to fit, knee-high boots), a winter coat that turned out to be one of my best purchases to-date (and an unexpected, very well-priced, investment piece), 3 items of gym wear, and an awesome black sheath dress. I also discovered that GAP boyfriend button-ups fit me very well and that I love their broken-in khakis, having bought 4 pairs. 

From those purchases, I have since donated 2 tops because I didn't like them any more, ended up wearing out my black sheath dress and a tunic, and ruined one of my favourite coloured khakis from a bleach accident (I've only recently bleached the entire pair of pants in an attempt to salvage them).

Since 2014, my cost per wear for each items has ended in single digits, with 6 items well under my $1 cost per wear threshold and approximately 10 items nearing that mark. The only item still in the double digits is my red Burberry quilted trench coat, but that was expected, and since I intend to have that for many, many years, am not too bothered by it.

Over all, my 2014 purchases helped me to: 

• find a great alternative to jeans by introducing me to khakis
• find a well-fitted button-up style
• finally find a pair of knee-high boots that fit me
• focus in on specific colors that are now my color palette of choice - gray, white/ivory, navy/blues, and black
• find an awesome cobalt wool coat that I absolutely love
• determine what kind of investment pieces I'm looking for and what areas of my wardrobe I'm willing to spend that kind of money on (coats, yes, definitely will lean towards paying investment prices; the watches were a one-time purchase and while they aren't in the price caliber as a Rolex, they meet my criteria of going with everything, are of solid quality, and are not pieces I intend to buy again until they break).

November comings and goings

Goings - 6

• Banana Republic colorblock sheath dress - was one of my staple wardobe pieces for work but is now pilling and showing signs of color bleeding into the white portion; tried to treat it but it didn't work.
• My black sheath dress - this was purchased in 2014 at Target and for its price, I definitely got amazing cost per wear with it. Unfortunately it was getting too worn out.
• Banana Republic navy dress pants - didn't like the wide-leg cut anymore; I have been slowly shifting towards skinny fitted pants for a more streamline look since I'm quite short.
• J. Crew plaid tunic - too worn out
• Sparrow blue short sleeved cardigan - lost its shape to due my laundry mishap =S
• Banana Republic pinstriped black trousers - another pair of wide-leg pants that don't flatter me.

Comings - 8

• Casual winter coat with fur hood - my mom gave it to me as she received it as a gift from a family friend but it's too big for her. *As great as it is to receive something for free, this, plus the earlier coat my mom gave me, and the casual jacket I purchased at H&M, puts me back where I was at the start of the year with my numbers in coats and jackets. Bummer.
• black sleeveless top, gray waffled trousers, black trouser pant, plaid button-up, and navy & black pencil skirt
• Marc by Marc Jacobs Printed Crosby quilted backpack - I found my perfect casual backpack!!! =D
• Cole Haan Johanna ankle boots - was given to me pre-loved and gently worn from a family friend; very excited about these