2021 in Review: Clothing

At the end of every year, I love to look and and set intentions for the new year going forward, make plans, etc. It can be anything from how the house is run, routines/fitness goals, budgeting, etc.

Every year, T and I make time to sit down in December to do some strategic planning for our family. Beyond our regular monthly budget review, we assess and reset our budget (and do a strategy session for the upcoming year with our financial planner), plan out any big goals or hopes for the year(s) ahead, and evaluate priorities and commitments. Call me nerdy, but I look forward to it now and how it creates a dedicated time for us to get on the same page for the year ahead.

One of the areas I personally love to track is my clothing spending. If you recall, this little ‘ol blog of mine, it really started as a fashion/style blog…and a part of me still honors that today. I’ve learned a lot about my style through blogging, especially through seasons of change like full-time in office work to part-time remote work, having kids, personal preferences, etc. While things certainly don’t look the same style-wise as they did in 2012 when I started blogging, I’m loving the journey. And my love for clothing, accessories and overall style still runs deep. 


I’ve always tracked my clothing spending every year, and while I don’t blog about the specifics of what I buy every month, I do monitor all the data on a spreadsheet, and have pulled some neat conclusions that are interesting (and eye opening). Perhaps it’s motivation for you to do the exercise of tracking what is bought if you don’t already. I know it certainly helps me understand how much money was spent, where it was spent, what I wear most (and therefore

I don’t think actual dollars spent is important here, rather, the motivations and strategy behind what is bought is key, so here are some insights on my spend the past year…

Percentage of 2021 spend by retailer:
28%       Old Navy/Gap
17%       Boutiques (like Adcock Farm & Co, Copper and Lace, Quotes and Cotton)
11%       What I refer to as “Investment Brands” (Rothy’s, Summersalt, Peloton)
9%         Target
9%         Abercrombie & Fitch
5%         J.Crew Factory
5%         Poshmark/eBay
16%       Remaining retailers (various, includes Amazon)

Old Navy/Gap: Doesn’t surprise me as the largest. The only company credit card I have it with this family of brands, and their rewards are so good. I shop for the boys there too, and I get a lot of staples there in terms of tees, sweaters, pants, etc. 

Boutiques: I try to make an effort to support more small businesses and shop local, and there are a few in my area that I really like for unique pieces that national brands just don’t carry.

Investment brands: these are for more high quality pieces that I normally don’t spend that much money on per item. In this case, it was flip flops and swimsuits, and Peloton gear (my uniform these days…I love a good look to sweat in!)

Target: Honestly, I’m thrilled the spend here wasn’t higher :-)  Perhaps because I’ve been more mindful of those impulse buys and browsing the aisles without a specific item in mind. Also, because there isn’t one as close to me at our new house as their was at our old one.

Abercrombie & Fitch: I was surprised to see this one. Their items are a bit more expensive than Old Navy or Target, and I’ve enjoyed their style lately, particularly their pullovers and denim (more on that later).

J.Crew Factory: This brand is definitely my style. There is an outlet near me, and I often stop there when I’m in the area…and their clearance section is hard to avoid, ha!

Poshmark/eBay: Buying secondhand is great and cheaper, especially when I have specific items I love and either need to replace or want more of.

Most worn pieces
While I didn’t track each time I wore something, I have a sense of what got the most wear in my closet.

1. Athleisure (year round)
2. Tees or sweaters/jeans (fall/spring)
3. Dresses or skirts/tees (summer)
4. Layering pieces: moto jacket and quilted vest
5. Shoes (duh)

I definitely wear workout wear every day, and have looked to add more “athleisure” options for when I leave the house in it so I look put together. In fall or spring, I opt for jeans with a tee or sweater– hence me purchasing several tees (which I typically do every year with heavy wear) and 9 (yes, nine) pairs of jeans this year and an overhaul of my sweater collection. Let me tell ya: jeans are hard for ladies, y’all. The fit varies so much from brand to brand, some don’t fit well as your body changes or aren’t comfortable after the break in period, length/rise is off, etc. I’ve found my favorite denim to be from Abercrombie & Fitch, KanCan sold at Copper & Lace and a pair of black Universal Thread denim from Target. 


In years past, I’ve been rocking my olive green cargo jacket, but lately I’ve been reaching for my black moto jacket when I’m out and need a layering piece, along with my quilted vest from J.Crew Factory which has been worth every penny! Learned I’m not much of an open cardigan gal- either layer with my vest or jacket, or go for a sweater. I’ve also added five pairs of shoes to my closet this year, all on the more practical side (after majorly decluttering my shoe stash this summer too.)


This year was also interesting in that I did a BIG closet overhaul when we moved this summer. I went through my closet, shoes, jewelry, etc. before we moved and decided what I truly loved and got rid of a lot of stuff which I either gave to friends/family, listed on Poshmark, or donated. It felt good to be able to know my style, know what works with my body type and what I’d honestly reach for moving forward.

I’m still finding that a lot of my closet is neutrals, lots of black and white/ivory which I love. But I’m reaching for more patterns and pops of color every now and then which is nice when I’m used to a more basic color palette.

All in all, there were certainly items I purchased in the past year that I’m not wild about for whatever reason- poor fit, not quite my style, etc. (if I look at each item, it is about a third– uggh), but I’m always learning as I go and have found it invaluable to keep track of as I go so I can continue to fine tune and make good decisions about what I add to my closet. Looking forward to more mindful style spending in 2022! 

I’m curious- do you track your clothing spending? What were your insights? Best purchase of the year? Any regrets?