"I went into the year feeling confident and even made it through March without buying a single item. Eventually, real life kicked in. I ended up having to replace a pair of bleach-stained pants and a ripped cardigan. I also made a few thoughtful upgrades and bought seven new pieces under my "replacement-only" rule. For each of those, I donated or sold something else, and ensured to opt for higher-quality fabrics instead of mostly synthetic materials."
"Don't buy anything new unless something is damaged. Since all my clothes were in good condition, this wasn't something I thought I'd have to do. Wear what you already own. This rule was inspired by a realization I had in the winter of 2024: I found about eight pieces in my closet I hadn't worn all year. I remembered how excited I was when I bought them - and how quickly I'd moved on to something new instead."
The author set a 2025 no-buy year to stop buying new clothes, aiming to be more intentional with style, limit overconsumption, and avoid excess closet clutter. Three rules guided the year: don’t buy anything new unless something is damaged; wear what is already owned; and buy one, get rid of one. The year began confidently and passed March without purchases, but replacements were required for damaged items. Seven new pieces were purchased under a replacement-only rule, with each addition paired with a donation or sale and a shift toward higher-quality fabrics instead of mostly synthetics.
Read at Apartment Therapy
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