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:

@cantonet I'm no expert in formal wear but any of those options look good to me.

I'm home today between two short walking breaks, so I'm in something comfortable while I do endless washing!

it so so cold today, I wore a hat and gloves, in mid-April.

Yesterday and today:

Hi.
Please may I ask CortieTat - how do you store or display your beautiful scarves? I am starting to collect, currently on a tie storage rack (vertical) and I cannot see the wood for the trees IYKWIM.
Much enjoying seeing people's outfits. Thank you.

I store some of them on vertical hangers, the kind that have several levels (for trousers). The more valuable ones are folded in their boxes, if you buy directly from Hermès the scarf comes in an orange box that itself comes in slightly bigger box of the same shape. That one is very handy, I use the larger boxes to store up to three scarves that came to me without their own boxes (bought second hand).

Nothing on display, ever :-) Silk is animal protein, it’s as UV sensitive as our own skin. I also only wear cotton scarves during summer.

Thank you for your reply, I will look for the trouser hangers. Sadly, a box from Hermes is a dream away. Ah well 😀
Interesting about silk, thanks for that information too.

Today is the first day of proper spring weather although I was freezing in the morning.

It’s getting warmer, there are fields of wood anemones everywhere around my usual walking paths. We even have some under the trees in our garden. It’s the time of the year when it’s too warm for a babywearing coat but too cold for a t-shirt, so I’m wearing whatever works.

Instead of buying new things I had two old handbags professionally cleaned and restored. DC approves, apparently they are “vintage” and very Y2K. I’m definitely feeling old hearing that.

I agree with your DCs @CortieTat those handbags are really cool, and I love the colour combination of your spring weather outfit. The teal, rust, cream and navy all work so well together.

My outfit today had to go straight from pilates to lunch in a cafe and a museum visit (I had a workout top on under the blouse but it didn't show except at pilates so it's not displayed here). When I got home I realised I had lost my mint green hat somewhere so my lovely DH has gone into town to retrace our steps and look for it 😍

And he has found it!!! I'm so happy.

Thank you for your help re. my formal dressing issue @CortieTat & @DiggoryVenn. In the end the situation resolved itself & the venue is HK & hot so it will be the burnt orange Wrap London dress I bought off eBay last year. It's been chilly in my part of the UK and I found it very difficult to get in the mood to pack for summer and to get around to trying on outfits. So I essentially ended up packing last year's summer holiday wardrobe from Whering.
We arrived last night & went out for roast duck & I enjoyed watching all the latest fashions on the girls in the street. Lots of cutwork white blouses with wide drapey denim on , layered frilly skirts, casual shorts n t's & gangs of girls in BTS & other tribal gear dancing/posing in the street. It's so fashionable here & a welcome break from my local town with anoraks & hiking gear.
Outfits attached from the last 3 days in the UK & travelling.

@robertpisking Nearly New Cashmere sell lots of original Hermes scarves at very reasonable prices with some in boxes I think. Some really wonderful items and I dont really wear silk scarves.
Beautiful handbags @CortieTat. There's nothing like sartorial approval from your kids ...
Glad your DH found your hat @Whowhatwearwolf.

I’m glad DH found your hat @Whowhatwerewolf, beautiful colour BTW.

Enjoy your trip @Cantonet

It’s quite cold again, all the wood anemones have closed their flowers and are waiting for the weather to improve. It was raining yesterday and I spent half of the day making waffles on the waffle iron so I wore sensible clothes.

Yesterday and today. The bag weighs about 16 tons 5 kilos packed with everything I need. It’s basically a workout outfit.

Enjoying the blue @CortieTat- also the pockets on the workwear coat. My favourite kind at the moment. I find as I get older it’s these kinds of details that I’m really interested in! I’m a pocket geek.
a bit warmer here. I have far too many bags so keen to get this one out again, it’s a leather tote from Madewell which my lovely DH did very well to find.

@stnvcfo beautiful bag, your DH did very well there.

A day in the office today so a bit more formal.

I agree with @DiggoryVenn , beautiful bag @stnvcfo . Fantastic dress @DiggoryVenn , looks both classy and classic and great choice of accessories.

WFH today which is always a good excuse to wear a mofusand t-shirt. 15 degrees today and I spotted the first person wearing shorts, so it’s basically summer 😊

I adore that cardigan @CortieTat . My dress yesterday was a Vinted purchase from a while back for a funeral, but didn't wear because the remit was not black. It has proved a very useful work dress though.

Another office day today.

Beautiful skirt @DiggoryVenn

My outfit from yesterday (proper spring weather)

I found two old shirts i bought around 2008, so nearly 20 years ago. They are from a high street shop, Mexx. I am amazed at the quality - they have lots of tiny little details like small frills and darts at the back and on the sides, rounded bottom edges and perfectly attached buttons. The fabric feels like Tana Lawn cotton. Compared to contemporary clothes that are currently given as examples of reasonably-priced quality (for example COS or Sézane) they feel like little works of art. I wonder how quickly we got used to accepting badly made clothes and expecting very little for our money.

I’m glad I haven’t sold them and they still fit me, today I wore one of them to work. Changed iin the afternoon so two outfits today