I’m saying ‘spring’ because it’s technically the case, but the weather here hasn’t yet made up its mind. Perhaps that explains, in part, why I’ve been rather disinterested in thinking about my spring closet edit. [The bigger reason is the fact that I’ve been obsessed with one thing, and one thing only, lately and that’s my book. Update coming soon.] I usually love the seasonal transitions each year (summer/fall and winter/spring) because it’s a chance to do a thorough review, clean-up, and switch-over of my closet and to be reunited with clothes that have been in storage for 4-6 months. It can feel like getting a brand-new wardrobe! But … it’s still too early for that now *sad face* Instead, I did a mini closet edit so I could free up some hanger space, because things were getting veeeeeery squeezy in there. The long and short of it is: I don’t need any new clothes.

Yeah, I know: duh! You’re not surprised, I’m not surprised. When you’ve been thrifting for 15 years, this was bound to happen. Over time, your closet gets to be full of incredible clothes that you adore and don’t want to part with. And because clothes are meant to be worn, rather than just stored, to buy new clothes means having to part with old ones. And that means that I’m now at a point where I can buy very, very little. Each purchase has to be an extremely delicate, strategic move — like, closet brain surgery or something. It sounds stressful, but I’m hoping it won’t be. In fact, I’m hoping it will be a fairly easy (and positive) shift. One, I’ve been training for this for a long time; if I were still a novice thrifter, the thrill of the hunt would make it much harder to be as picky and strategic as I need to be. [Been there, done that, learned the lessons.] Two, the thrift scene is getting more and more wobbly; quality finds are getting rarer, prices are all over the place and trending up. Two and a half, I have an unwritten goal this year of not purchasing any retail items (apart from undergarments, if required) and this mindset should help. Three, my creative focus has shifted almost entirely to writing, and will likely remain there for the rest of the year, so I will have less time and energy to think about or shop for clothes.

So why am I still writing a post about my spring wishlist? Manifestation, baby. There are a few things that I’ve been wanting for a while — and continue to want — and I’m hoping that by writing them down, AGAIN, I will persuade the thrift gods to finally bless me. Don’t scoff; it wouldn’t be the first time it happened. I mean, ok, fine, scoff; the law of attraction is bunk … BUT … being persistent in looking for things at the thrifts does eventually pay off and writing them down helps me remember to keep looking. Speaking of which …

Dr. Martens 14-eye mid-calf boots

This is a very sad story indeed, friends. I thought I’d bought a pair on Poshmark, except it turned out the seller was a jerk who thought it would be hilarious to string me along for two weeks, pretend to ship the boots but not actually do it, make up some half-assed story about the post office losing the parcel, then shrug and say “understandable” when I told them I was cancelling the purchase. Like, sir/madam: sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I hope you step on a Lego every morning for a week.

Anyway, back to square one. I have a pair of lace-up boots that go just above the ankle, and I wear them constantly and adore them. I think having a slightly taller pair would be amazing, especially with my shorter skirts and dresses. I’m not hopeful of being able to find something like this at the thrifts, but I’m also a bit iffy on Poshmark now. Bit of a dilemma, but I’m trusting that something will turn up soon.

Brown cowboy boots

Yep, still looking for these. It’s been more than a year, I think. Last summer, I kept finding black and grey cowboy boots. Since then, I haven’t found many at all — nothing in good condition, my size, and/or the colour I want. Hopefully, more will hit the stores now that it’s spring, and even more going into summer which is Stampede season, so I can finally find my perfect pair. I’m willing to wait for it, all the more so since I did recently find a pair of 90s square-toed boots in a light brown/tan, and while they don’t have quite the same vibe, they’ll give me a sense of whether that’s indeed the best colour to look for when it comes to the cowboy boots as well.

Vintage tan jeans

I’m not sure if this is a very accurate/helpful description, this being a case of “I’ll know it when I find it”. Basically, I want a pair of heavy-duty tan chinos in a relaxed fit. When I say “tan”, I mean something between oatmeal (too light) and the colour of classic Burberry trenches (too yellow). When I say “heavy-duty chinos”, I mean a heavier cotton fabric, maybe but not necessarily denim. I’m pretty sure that Calvin Klein made pants that fit these parameters back in the 90s, so that’s what I’m looking for — though I am open to other brands, of course. I think a pair like this would be a good summer option, alongside my beloved vintage white Liz Clairborne pants (and my regular jeans, of course); they’d suit all of my various Ralph Lauren moods, and coordinate nicely with my wardrobe colours.

Ralph Lauren capsule

Speaking of which, I am back on the train of looking for special RL pieces to add to my collection. We are talking about stuff from the 80s and 90s that encapsulates the ethos of the brand: knitwear, patchwork, southwest-inspired pieces, tweeds, etc. Rare and hard to find at the thrifts, but not impossible — witness the dog sweater I recently found at Value Village for $8. I am also willing to allocate a bigger budget to this category, especially if I am buying fewer clothes overall. Remember those RL skirts I bought on eBay back in 2023? They were pricey (for me), but I have never once regretted the money I spent on them, because they are truly special pieces that bring me a great deal of joy whenever I wear them, and I know I will have them forever. So, my plan is to keep an eye out on eBay and Poshmark (and my local stores) for similarly special items and be prepared to splurge a little bit when a good deal pops up.

What’s on your spring wishlist / shopping strategy?