Best and Worst Purchases of 2025
I reviewed my sartorial purchases from my clothing budget updates over 2025 and rounded up my best and worst purchases. I didn’t share really any outfits this past year besides what I wore to travel, but I still wore almost everything in my every day life (which is what I intend to do with every purchase).
Out of the 30+ items I added to my wardrobe in 2025, I selected six best purchases (plus two honorable mentions) and a handful of worst purchases, which includes the items I have yet to wear.
READ NEXT: Best and Worst Purchases of 2024
Best and Worst Sartorial Purchases of 2025
BEST PURCHASES OF 2025
MATE the Label Organic Fleece Quarter Zip Sweatshirt (purchased December 2024)
I purchased my first MATE the Label Organic Fleece Quarter Zip Sweatshirt way back in December 2024 and loved it so much that I bought a second one in black off of Poshmark in May 2025! I wear my green sweatshirt more often than the black sweatshirt, mostly because I feel like my black sweatshirt is always covered in cat hair, haha. I packed this sweatshirt for our trip to Haida Gwaii and our trip to Alaska. It’s already a workhorse!
It does irritate me a bit that MATE the Label calls this sweatshirt fleece because it’s not very thick or warm; the inside feels more like a terrycloth than fleece. It’s a good sweatshirt for the transitional seasons and to wear in mild temperatures. I’ve worn my green sweatshirt 42 times for a cost per wear of $2.61!
Abercrombie Curve Love High Rise 90s Relaxed Jean (purchased March 2025)
You know I’m not a fan of jeans shopping, especially with all my recent weight fluctuations. I do own two pairs of Abercrombie jeans that I love, though, so I decided to order a bunch of other styles and sizes to see if I liked anything else. I ended up with these curve love high rise 90s relaxed jeans and wore them 24 times for a cost per wear of $2.37. Read my Abercrombie jeans review to see the other styles I tried and more on sizing.
Zella Effortless Square Neck Midi Dress (purchased July 2025)
I reined it in this year and only purchased a few things in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, including the Zella Effortless Square Neck Midi Dress in two colors. I absolutely love it! I wanted to wear it as soon as it arrived, which means that it was a good purchase. I’ve worn the grey moonbeam dress four times and the black dress three times before the weather turned cold. (I haven’t worn either dress to work; they definitely don’t feel like good work dresses because of the casual athleisure fabric and style, but the black one might be okay.)
Quince 100% Washable Silk Drawstring Wide Leg Pants (purchased September 2025)
I didn’t have anything to wear to my cousin’s wedding in September and ended up purchasing the Quince 100% Washable Silk Drawstring Wide Leg Pants because they looked comfortable and perfect for the occasion! They’re so comfortable, they feel like I’m wearing pajamas. I was worried they’d look too casual with the drawstring waist, but I think they look fine. I love that they’re machine washable! In addition to the wedding, I wore them to see The Nutcracker, and I’ll wear them to another wedding this winter (probably styled the same way I styled them here for The Nutcracker).
Quince 100% Merino Wool All-Season Long Sleeve Base Layer & Uniqlo HEATTECH Stretch Fleece Half-Zip T-Shirt (purchased October and November 2025)
In case you hadn’t yet heard, I started horseback riding lessons again in fall 2025 after 15 years away from the sport! (I rode hunter/jumper and showed locally for a few years in my teens to early 20s.) I’m thrilled to be back at it, this time with adult money (ha), and purchased a few items specifically for riding. So far, I’ve been wearing my Quince 100% Merino Wool All-Season Long Sleeve Base Layer and Uniqlo HEATTECH Stretch Fleece Half-Zip T-Shirt the most! (I also have a merino wool short sleeve tee that I got to wear a couple of times before it cooled down.) I purchased both in size medium.
Honorable Mentions
Honorable mentions go to my Boden Verity Linen Midi Skirt (purchased May 2025; last seen here) and Quince Ultra-Form Bike Shorts (purchased November 2025).
WORST PURCHASES OF 2025
Everything that doesn’t fit
It’s been a while since I purchased items and either forgot to return them or was simply too lazy to return them. But, that happened again this year. These are the items I bought and should have returned due to fit.
I had heard such good things about these leggings and was excited to try them for myself, but I ordered size small and definitely should have gone with the medium. I read so many reviews and was convinced small was the right choice… and then I stupidly didn’t try them on in time to return them. So, these will be leaving my closet shortly.
I had a Girlfriend Collective gift card burning a hole in my email, so I finally decided to use it before they increased their prices due to tariffs. I own bike shorts from a few years ago in size small, and they still fit (just a tad snug now in the waist), so I ordered size medium thinking they’d be perfect. I swear these fit smaller than the smalls I have! I’m so bummed.
I should have returned these and the bra because both arrived smelling absolutely terribly, but I was lazy. I’ve put them through the wash at least five times and now the weird smell is pretty much gone, but oof. I think I may need to get rid of these too, sadly.
I wanted to try one of Girlfriend Collective’s sports bras because they get such great reviews! I think this one may just be a little too compressive for my liking, or maybe I should have ordered the medium instead of small. I need to try it again now that I got the weird smell out.
Everything I Haven’t Worn Yet!
Overall, I didn’t make as many sartorial purchases this year, but I was bad about not wearing everything I purchased (or not returning items that didn’t fit right). Out of 38 items purchased, I only returned 5, which is great… but not good enough in the end.
I promise that everything I buy and share in budget updates I do actually plan to wear regularly! I gave myself a pass for items I bought at the end of 2025 (but not the end of 2024). Here are the items I haven’t worn...yet!
I bought these loafers because I thought they were absolutely stunning, and they were discounted! I actually thought about them for a long time before finally pulling the trigger. I haven’t found the right occasion to wear them yet, though.
I love these leggings and ordered another pair in lava cake, size 6. I’m typically either a 6 or an 8 depending on how bloated I am…and since I’ve basically gained all the weight back I lost when I was sick last winter, I’m not sure size 6 will be comfortable. Argh! I need to refrain from leggings/pants purchases when my weight is fluctuating.
I definitely did not need to purchases these sunglasses, but I love the style so much that I really wanted to add the pink colorway to my wardrobe when I saw it. I haven’t found the right outfit(s) to debut them!
I purchased this tank in two sizes, small and medium, and have yet to wear either! Someday…
I bought this polo to wear to horseback riding lessons, but I haven’t had a chance to wear it yet. I’m not sure that I love the color (heather ocean navy) with the colors of breeches I own, so I may end up exchanging this for either the charcoal or black.
I ordered this jacket thinking I could wear it to horseback riding lessons (and because the packable puffer I already own is a size small and is a little snug in the shoulders when I wear thicker sweaters and fleece underneath), but I haven’t worn it yet. It doesn’t feel super warm when I wear it around the house, so I might need to save it for spring.
Check out my other best and worst purchases!
2017 Best Purchases & Worst Purchases
2016 Best Purchases & Worst Purchases
2015 Best Purchases & Worst Purchases
2014 Best Purchases & Worst Purchases