Shopping my wardrobe in 2026

[CortieTat]

I have committed to a buying break (no clothes in 2026) and feel miserable already 🤦‍♀️.
I’m starting this thread to cheer myself up and rediscover the clothes I already own. I have been tracking CPW for all my clothes for several years but recently it has become automatic and boring.

I would like to rediscover the joy of putting outfits together, instead of buying new things first and then figuring out how they fit together! Also being more mindful about what I wear and how I feel about it.

I use an app called Stylebook to organise my clothes, it helps but I don’t think it’s necessary. If anyone wants to join me, great 😊.

This is what I wore today:

Hi, I'm on the No Buy 26 thread and shopping my wardrobe too. I love your outfit today so I am going to wear something similar tomorrow! I have a plain grey lambswool jumper and a patterned red maxi skirt with black Chelsea boots. Thanks for the inspiration!

I’m on the No Buy 2026 thread too but didn’t want to post there - every time someone on that thread mentions anything that can be bought (book, brand, lost glove, you name it!) my mind is going haywire and I have to work hard to prevent a shopping spree (which I can’t afford anyway ☺️). So I don’t want to enable anyone, just do this for myself and for accountability. My grey jumper, BTW is from 2016 and still going strong!

Tbh there is quite a lot of buying on the No Buy thread so far! Your jumper is fab!

I love this idea, I look through my wardrobe and like everything I have but when I put things together they look so dull?! I really need help with styling!

I think the fact that you like everything is great, that’s the most important bit!

I am no stylist, but I know what I like and I am repeatedly attracted to similar things no matter the current trends and this gets as close to a personal style as I can manage, so it’s good enough for me.

Can you identify what makes your outfits dull? Maybe it’s colours, maybe things don’t fit, but maybe it’s just a matter of expectations? I make an effort to wear well-fitting clothes in my size but I know I will never look like a model - they are younger, have good lighting on the photoshots, they don’t move and they have clothes pinned to them!

Loving my grey jumper and red skirt today! I specifically bought this skirt to wear in the winter with a jumper and yet this is the first time I have worn it 🙄! It's a very dull day here so nice to be wearing something bright.
I bought a bright pink jumper in the Christmas sales that I haven't worn yet so I have been looking on Pinterest to get a few styling ideas, rather than just sticking it on with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt like usual. One of the images that came up was a pink jumper with a blue/white stripy shirt underneath which I liked the look of, so that is my next outfit.
I think you are right, @CortieTat ,when you say it can be expectations that make an outfit feel wrong. I love nothing better than a Pinterest photo of a white shirt and jeans, yet when I put it on it just feels a bit blah. I suppose that is because I am just looking in a mirror in my spare room and not posed in a street with wind blowing through my hair like a model!

May I join?
I'm on a no spend up to April and will shop my wardrobe up until then. I also track my wardrobe & the cost per wear, but I'm on Whering.
I put together mood boards of looks I like on Whering & I've been pinning some this morning. Only to find they're very similar to my early Autumn looks.
All shades of suede & lighter blue jeans seem to feature heavily with all the online retailers.
The outfit you've posted is beautiful.
Here's mine - I live rurally & walk the dog every day so Jeans, Cashmere & Thermals are my everyday wear.

I love your outfit @Cantonet! I love brown and your shoes are fantastic! I also live rurally and walk every day with a pram (I’m on maternity leave) but I am in Sweden so it’s -17 today.

I had to go to town today so ended up getting out my laptop tote from its dust bag. Otherwise very sensible outfit featuring lots of wool. I ended up wearing three different types of tweed so not as polished as it could be but I really like this version of myself.

I’m mostly staying indoors today wearing a big slightly cropped fluffy sweater and cheering myself up with small accessories.

I think it's a lack of accessories! And I'm really missing a fashionable coat, I look every year and by the time I settle on one that I like - the season is over 😂

I definitely need more jewellery, I have very nice pieces but few of them. I think I need some mid range things that are more of a specific 'look'.

Love you scarf you're eating today!

How did you wear the scarf? As a headscarf, round your neck...?

I love the outfit but as an extreme hourglass I couldn't wear it. I love so many things I can't wear. I just find I have to dress around the few things that work on me rather than what I actually like.

@TabbyMcTattle do you like any specific type of jewellery? I love enamel and everything I wear has some enamel bits. I don’t care whether it’s silver or gold as long as the main part is enamelled. I’m a very bland, “disappearing” soft summer so I can get away with both. My best colours do make me look ca. 3 months younger but also melting into the background seamlessly…

@ThatCyanCat it’s a small pocket square from the men’s section, only 45x45 cm. I wear it folded and around the neck. Very short hair so lots of neck space available.

Your enamel earring are so pretty & very unusual @CortieTat.
I'm a soft autumn but often wear soft summer shades too. I believe there's a bit of an overlap. I love colour, but sadly bright colours just don't suit me & too many neutrals can look a little bland.
What I'm wearing today for going out - a light blue cashmere wrap jumper I haven't worn since last spring. Blue & peony pink tones are coming in for spring apparently or so I've read 🤔

Love all of the outfits in here, have inspired me to see if I can do something more interesting with what I own.
im also on Whereing, but I haven’t really used the mood board feature yet, I’ll check that out.

this is today’s outfit, wfh with an eyebrow appointment at lunchtime. My eyebrow lady ‘admired’ the jumper by comparing it to a yeti!!

Why are all the photos on this thread so similar? Are you all using AI? Are they your real clothes or images off the internet?

The photos are screenshots from wardrobe organising apps, they allow you to create outfits and track the use of your clothes. I use a combination of my own photos and I download flat photos of garments I buy if they are available. Putting them together in an outfit is manual, no AI involved.

Oooh where is the red skirt from? it’s gorgeous!

Ah! Thanks for explaining.

No, I don't think I have a particular jewellery style that I like. I know I don't like anything fussy and I prefer gold. But sometimes I like Maximal!

The one thing I really love is my watch, which is gold and white gold so I can wear it with anything.

Love your boots! Where are they from?

Frosty WFH day today, usually I’d be wearing leggings but this thread has inspired me to see what else is in my wardrobe that’s comfortable but warm.
apart from the school runs I’ll probably not leave the house today :/

im Looking forward to brighter colours in spring, especially since I’m a ‘light spring’ and all the burgundies/chocolate brown/khakis of autumn do nothing for me (although I do love the aesthetic!)

I’ve gone very bland neutral today but have dug out my watermelon pink cashmere jumper (even de-bobbled it!!) ready for in office day tomorrow.

@Cantonet @FirstDayonthePlanet I love your outfits, you inspired me to wear jeans and a belt today, I hate belts but it’s good to have at least one so thanks to you it gets some use.

Love the yeti sweater and the blue cashmere wrap top is very much my colour.

@minipie the skirt is from Justine Tabak, it’s thick corduroy and works well in winter. I’ve had it for about two years and it washes well. Very good quality.

Which wardrobe app are you all using?

Thanks!