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:

Morning everyone. A slightly chiller day here today so a jumper! But with culottes. How is the Scandinavian weather? Hopefully you’ve been spared the heatwave in the uk!

This is a dress which I bought last year after a big work event, which I was really proud of so means a lot to me. It does come with a belt but can also be worn as a kaftan type dress. I don’t wear it very often so it is a pleasure to dig it out of the wardrobe! @cantonetI think I am channeling your kaftan today!
Trusty old mules and big bag to go with.

Love, love, love your dresses @stnvcfo and @Cantonet Your posts are great to follow because your personal styles really shine through them 😍😍😍

We had a couple of days of scorching heat but they are fortunately over. It was 36 degrees for several days. I found a pair of shorts from 1990s - they have all the annoying features of the 1990s shorts: very short legs and very low waist. Fortunately they are also slightly too big and linen, so worked really well in hot weather with a loose, oversized t-shirt.

I also found a striped shirt that I bought several years ago. I wanted to put it on vinted many times and I am glad I haven’t!

I confess that I bought a bag. Used and in need of some serious TLC. After cleaning, sealing cuts and some minor repairs it looks like new. I really enjoyed the process too!

Recent outfits, including the new old bag. I feel like the bag deserves a tassel so I am going to make one this week from scraps of leather.

I was just thinking today about how I need a bit of a wardrobe overhaul. I’ve never been great with fashion and always feel like I’m a bit boring or things don’t suit me that I do buy.

I like alternative and gothic style, lots of lace and some frills, a little Victorian. But I want to mature it a bit so that I don’t look like I am wearing a costume or trying to cling on to my youth, so looking at Stevie Nicks type drapey swishy outfits and getting to grips with accessories so I can “change things up”. Ultimately I want to look effortlessly put together but still have my alt “edge”.

Following with interest. What app do you use?

I love the red skirt and the coat! 😍 And good on you for shopping your wardrobe! I think I need to take a leaf out of your book…

I use Stylebook.

I’ve always liked floral patterns and patterns in general (my fond memories from the kindergarten are of ditsy floral corduroy mary janes that my mum bought me 😅) but it would be an overkill to dress up like a meadow from head to toe.

Oh yes @stnvcfo but then kaftan style dresses are a classic for everyone 😉
It's a beautiful dress and it's lovely to buy something special to comemorate a certain occasion.
I don't know about you but my summer dresses seem to last for years. They're worn so little & a dress in a good material and a colour that suits you rarely date too much. I've got this stripy sundress in linen - with a handkerchief hem that i thought was rather dated & I was going to take it to the charity shop. Lo & behold I tried it on and it looks great.
@CortieTat
I really adore your blue enamel jewellery.
Especially the dainty flower earrings.
I love hearing about your leather restoration. It sounds so satisfying.
Welcome @ChaosQueenDarkfang.
I use the Whering App and find it incredibly useful.
I like the sound of your style & the Stevie nicks reference. I'm less gothic and more boho now but dressed like that when I was younger.

We are back to normal summer weather today which means I needed a jacket.

I made the tassel from a leftover leather scrap and I am very happy with the result. I then realised that I don’t have anything to go with this deep fuchsia. Tried it today with pinkish jewellery.

Hi @ChaosQueenDarkfangi also use Stylebook. I think it costs a few £ but I have had much enjoyment from using it. I don’t really use it to put together looks but kind of document what I wear, which I then revisit and think, actually that looked quite cool together!
id be interested in how others use their apps.
I think it does help with curating a ‘look’ in the way you describe because you are reflecting on whether what you’re choosing is coherent with the impression you’re wanting to create, IYSWIM. It’s also made me really careful about buying anything new because I know that I have things I need to wear more often, as I have documentary evidence of them!
❤️ stevie nicks, can’t wait to see your outfits :)
@CortieTati really like the blue and white striped shirt, if it’s a big one they’re so useful for all kinds of things. I wear a similar one on the beach when I’m on holiday. Gorgeous. I also really like your jacket! it goes beautifully with the brown trousers.

@stnvcfo the shirt is a regular straight cut H&C shirt, I’ve just bought it several sizes larger. I’m short so I wanted the oversized fit but not the extra length.

My two recent outfits - it’s jacket weather again.

I’ve met two very stylish women today in town that reminded me of this thread. One had a simple outfit - cropped chinos and a short cardigan (both light beige) with a black belt and bag plus gold accessories, including shoes. She was tall with very short grey hair, reminded me of Marie Frederiksson.

The other one was completely opposite, loose long shirt, baggy everything and very much straight-out-of-bed street style look, including messy short grey hair. She had an oversized jacket with two large embroidered roses, they looked like decorative mending. Plus pink space trainers, they stood out and matched the roses perfectly. She looked incredibly well put together.

My outfit today. The bag weighs a ton with baby stuff inside. I’m thinking great free workout and just smile.

I like your descriptions of the two women @CortieTat with very contrasting styles. I'm also impressed by your tassle making abilities!
We're currently on holiday in Perugia & the Umbrian jazz festival is on. There are lots of cool looking students here & the must beautiful dresses & skirts on the Italian women. Designer shops abound. The dd's are loving the vintage shops & the styles. I don't dare set foot in them and am feeling a tad plebian...
Even my two ds's are raising their sartorial game by ironing their t shirts & Jeans before going out.
Outfits of the week attached.

I really love looking at what other people are wearing and always notice and enjoy small details and how people wear things. I remember reading a column in the Guardian about how attention to small things (like cuff shape!) are really what denotes style rather clothes specifically. I don’t know if I completely agree but it made me notice small details more. And I thought about your lovely jewellery @CortieTatand your bag @Cantonet! I also live very rurally but when I’m in cities like london or bristol really enjoy looking at what people are wearing. I think it gives a tiny window into their personalities. I’m feeling quite philosophical this morning.

Love your outfits @Cantonet and @stnvcfo , I try to imagine the kind of weather where you are. I agree with paying attention to small details. And textures.

We had a few quite cold and rainy days, I took out my warm fair isle cardigan.

My outfits this week:

Your gathered skirts are beautiful @CortieTat.
@stnvcfo I also love people watching and Perugia was wonderful for that. Sadly my tiny local town is very rural & stylish people are virtually non-existent.
There are some stylish older women but they're few & far between. I also love visiting Bristol as it's so young & vibrant. Dd1 has just moved away from Bristol to a strange rural town to work as a vet and she's traumatised 😉
Outfits of the week attached.

I love your handbag @Cantonet it’s very classy and goes well with your sandals and the rose gold jewellery.

I’ve been travelling since Friday as well so my outfits tend to be more chaotic, I packed things I liked and only thought about coordinating them in hindsight 😅. I’m afraid I was weak again and got myself another (vintage) bag. It was shipped to a relative I am visiting so that’s the only bag I have on holiday, it’s going to feature a lot. The colour is called Dark Knight - it’s a mixture of green, blue and charcoal.

Loving the skirt with the large flowers. That would make me smile every time I wore it.

Is the bag in the last few pictures @Cantonet? Gorgeous colour and I am a big fan of a floppy large bag. I think actually accessories like bags elevate outfits and refresh them so I don’t think you need to feel guilty 😁
I also really love your dress. Gathered sleeves (chef’s kiss). Very nice. I don’t have a photo to share of recent wears but will try and take one in the next few days.

Some really lovely outfits posted. I confess I have recently got into Vinted and so have bought myself a few new items, but same number have been ousted from the wardrobe too.

I love your dress @DiggoryVenn it’s beautiful and something I would definitely wear too! And the accessories match perfectly 😍

I have been wearing boring clothes recently, a lot of random items put together for hiking or just trying to survive the heat weave while sightseeing. I’m back home now and it’s 18 degrees, feels fantastic (and like home). Got great CPW out of the new old bag already after two weeks of carrying it daily.

Recent holiday outfits (I can only attach 5 pics)

It’s been a couple of hot days, fortunately the summer holidays and travelling in 40+ weather increased my tolerance for heat. Today it’s much cooler. We’ve had no rain for weeks though, I feel for the wildlife, especially amphibians. Met a lovely huge toad while hiking two days ago. Beautiful animal, I hope it survives the drought.

I trying to squeeze as much CPW as possible from my ladybug bag charm this week :-)

Posting my jeans/boho blouse outfits as it's gone a little cooler here. Last week I was Mallorca based and in up to 42°🥵 The only thing to wear was simple loose dresses. I'm so looking forward to cooler moderate weather.

I like your boho blouses @Cantonet, I admire embroidered loose blouses on other people, unfortunately I haven’t found one that goes well with the rest of my wardrobe.

It has been raining every day for a bit for a couple of days now and it feels slowly like autumn. I’m going back to work full time after summer too.

I have made two simple leather bracelets to go with my red and pink bag charms. They were really easy to make and I used leather scraps I had around the house.

One more and the bracelets 💪

I adore your bracelets @CortieTat♥️