We’re just days into 2025, and as I sit snuggled up with my morning coffee at my computer (it’s 13 degrees in Chicago today), I’m taking inventory on the vintage and secondhand pieces I purchased for myself in 2024 that sparked long-term joy and helped steer my wardrobe toward an elevated and selective collection I desire. My current personal style is a mix of structured, masculine pieces paired with delicate, feminine pieces 

Some of my stand-out favorite items include a vintage Marino Orlandi cream and saddle leather bag that I found at an antique mall on a sourcing trip in Milwaukee, a vintage Escada blazer I scored at a consignment store in West Palm Beach, and a gold label Victoria’s Secret ivory silk slip that I’ve been wearing as a dress with my vintage Marshall Field’s distressed men’s leather jacket. It’s the perfect balance of masculine distressed and oversized against something innately feminine. I love juxtaposing the two energies together.

At the same time, I’m shining a light on the items that fell more into the camp of pure impulse (we’re all guilty of those “Instagram-influenced-me” purchases). And it’s interesting how these different types of purchases leave me with distinctly different, polarizing feelings. That’s what I’d like to unpack in this post- focusing more on the long-term joy that certain items can and should bring us as we navigate a world of hyper-consumerism driven by fast fashion and social media.

When I buy items secondhand or vintage, the timeline between seeing the item, longing for the item, researching the item, to actually acquiring it, is lengthy. Depending on the piece, it will take me anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months to source.

And with the amount of time and effort that goes into finding the item comes a sense of responsibility to not only take care of the item once I have it, but to cherish it because I know it took a lot of my energy to secure it. There’s something so naturally rewarding in that process. There’s also this cool badge of being able to say “thanks, it’s vintage!” and knowing you are a very small population of people who have the item.

Alternatively, there’s a very specific feeling the impulse buy bring. Inherently, it’s a quicker get, circulated to me and a billion others just as fast as it was made. It’s of course a fleeting rush of dopamine, but it’s a completely different experience that I see as more of a bad habit (like social smoking cigarettes when you’re out with friends you haven’t seen in a while). And then just as soon as it arrives and it’s out of the package, the feeling is gone. The item has little emotional value and is seen as more of a convenience to serve a situation.

Admittedly I over indexed on impulse buys this year. Particularly while I was in the midst of wedding planning. I swear, the inundation of marketing and aesthetic options to choose from within the wedding industry is baffling, but alas I was thrown into the endless abyss of the internet and got got hard (honestly, it was primarily skincare, swimwear and accessories).

So, for 2025 I’m taking the pledge to buy no new things and to solely focus on secondhand / vintage. This is a 30 day no-buying strategy created by sustainability expert Ashlee Piper. Her book ‘No New Things’ comes out this Spring and is available for pre-order now, but a lot of her teaching can also be found on her Instagram. In the book, Ashlee creates daily action items that creates a life less bogged down by spending without compromising on style, convenience, or fun. 

I’m in need of this compass to reground in the pieces that have stood the test of time in my closet, get creative with styling items I already own, and donate what doesn’t bring that long-term joy. The main variable you can keep at the forefront in what you decide to add to your cart this year is: will this bring me long-term joy?

And as a way to bolster the conversation, I’m hosting a clothing swap at Petals & Jackets at the end of this month! If you’re local to Chicago, reserve your spot HERE for a night of letting go, swapping stories, and clothes :) Spots are limited, so pass on the RSVP to a friend now. 

I’m so excited for this. The last time I went to a clothing swap I scored a classic black midi dress that I lived in all summer, took on multiple trips, and now layer with tights, boots and a sweater for holiday parties. If you’ve ever gone to a clothing swap, let me know what your favorite find was.

xx, Leah