Best of 2018: What I Bought (Part One)

It’s that time of year – time to share Best and Worst Of lists. Before I tackle outfits, I thought I would start with some of my best – or perhaps I should say “favourite” – purchases of 2018. And first of the first: clothing. This is ostensibly a style blog, after all. And true to my track record, there are plenty of options from which to pick.

I do try to be selective with what I buy, I truly do, but I am rarely as successful as I would like. Because the vast majority of my purchases come from local thrift stores — I bought, like, 8 new things this year (almost all of them being accessories) — it’s easy to rationalize most purchases, not matter how experimental in nature. Worst case scenario, if something doesn’t work out, I’m out $10 or less (and the piece is re-donated or gifted); more often than not, I can re-coup my money, or even make a small profit, by re-selling or consigning the item in question. I am pretty ruthless when it comes to getting rid of “failed experiments”, which means my closet is filled only with the things I truly like … and like a lot. So, like I said, getting a list of favourites down to a manageable length is a challenge. I mean, lookit: that $2,500 YSL blazer I thrifted for less than $15? It didn’t make the cut.

What did?

– Sarah Pacini leather vest ($80; consignment) – This has become my go-to piece when I want to add a bit of edge to an outfit. It’s a wonderfully versatile piece for layering, which is my current obsession.

– Ayrtight dress ($45, $0 with consignment credit; consignment) – This is everything I love in dress format – interesting draping, neutral colours, long hemline, natural fabrics, comfortable silhouette.

– Theory tie-waist blazer ($13; thrifted) – I have purchased a ton of great blazers this year (including several black ones), but this one is starting to stand out; the waist tie makes it interesting and can help change out the silhouette of the outfit.

– Dries Van Noten dress ($323, $0 with PayPal balance; eBay) – Beautiful dress by one of my favourite designers. Enough said. This hasn’t turned up on the blog yet, but I cannot wait to wear it.

– Antipast skirt ($6; thrifted) – This skirt is incredibly soft and floaty, and it makes me feel like a (goth) ballerina every time I wear it. I didn’t even know that was an aspiration of mine, but there you have it.

– Zero+Maria Cornejo dress ($12; thrifted) – One of the most elegant sack dresses I own. I love its architectural lines, and the very cool abstract pattern.

– Aritzia Cyprie sweater ($130; retail) – I adore the “tamarind” colour of this sweater, the slim-but-ever-so-slightly-slouchy style, and the overall luxe feeling. It makes me feel like a million bucks when I wear it.

– Aqua butterfly-embroidered leather jacket ($150; secondhand) – I love leather jackets, and I love butterflies. A butterfly-covered leather jacket? I mean, c’mon. This is SO my style alley, they might as well name it after me.

– Armani Collezioni dress ($35; thrifted) – It’s a glitter bomb, and extra AF … but in an understated kind of way. I feel like that describes my overall aesthetic pretty well.

– AllSaints ruffle neck blouse ($7; thrifted) – I am not a fan of ruffles (on myself) but this top is something special. It’s dramatic and has a vaguely Edwardian vibe that works well with some of my more goth-leaning pieces.

– Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic crossbody bag ($20; thrifted) – I’ll be honest, you guys: I use this bag about 90% of the time nowadays. I’ve completely fallen out of the habit of changing my bags to match my outfits. This one goes with almost anything I wear, and it’s the perfect size to wear both on its own, or with my commuting tote/backpack. I especially like the fact that I can wear it on the shoulder or cross-body.

– J. Crew cameo necklace ($8; thrifted) – Finding this necklace (after many years of lusting after it online) is still one of my fave thrifting stories. It’s beautiful, and quite versatile, and it makes me happy every time I wear it.

– Manolo Blahnik “Sedaraby” pumps ($12.50; thrifted) – Another favourite thrifting moment was finding these “Cinderella” pumps just in time for the holidays. They’re a classic style that I can wear with all my special occasion dresses for years to come.

– Anthropologie green resin earrings ($80, $0 with PayPal balance; retail) – These were a real splurge for me, but I have no regrets. I adore the malachite-like resin, and I love how simple yet elegant these are. The posts are a pain to put in for some reason, but I wear them as often as I can anyway.

I could go on, but I will stop here so as not to bore you to sleep … because I want you to tell me: what were your favourite purchases of the year? Any surprise winners – aka pieces that you didn’t expect to end up loving as much as you did? Tell all in the comments.