I Bought 27 Pieces of Clothing in 2025 (And Here's What I Learned)
The average American buys between 53 and 68 new items of clothing every year. That's more than one piece per week. When I learned that statistic, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
So at the start of 2025, I set myself a challenge: buy fewer than 30 pieces of clothing for the entire year. No exceptions. Everything counted — dresses, tops, pants, shoes, swimsuits, coats, underwear, accessories. If I purchased it, I tracked it.
Spoiler alert: I did it. But the journey taught me way more than I expected.
The Goal: Under 30 Pieces
I am a practicing conscious consumer. I discovered minimalism about 10 years ago and it was a big shift in my relationship to stuff. I quickly saw that if I spent less on stuff, I would have more money to spend on experiences.
Between learning this statistic and watching Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy on Netflix with The Pledgettes Movie Club, I wanted to know how much clothes I actually bought.
This was less about money and more about consumerism. My target was simple: stay under 30 items for the year.
The Result: 27 Pieces
I made it! Here's the breakdown of what I bought in 2025:
3 Dresses
7 Tops
1 Studio Coat
3 Pants
3 pairs of Shoes
1 Swimsuit
1 Beach Cover-Up
2 coats
5 pairs of underwear
1 bra
Every purchase was documented. Some were planned. Some things I bought…then returned (not counted in the 27). And one final sale top which I regret. But all of them were part of the experiment.
My Celebrations
1. I Actually Hit My Goal
Honestly? I had no idea how many clothes I was buying per year. I didn’t know if 30 would be easy or hard. There were some tempting sales and some things I still want to improve my overall wardrobe. I kept true to my values, and finishing the year under 30 felt genuinely rewarding.
2. I Used My Spending Filters
I've developed a set of questions I ask myself before buying anything:
Do I already own something similar?
How often will I wear thing?
Is there a specific time I would wear this? (Special Events, Working Out, Speaking Engagements)
Does it fit my dream wardrobe?
Am I buying this because I love it, or because it's on sale?
These filters saved me from impulse purchases this year.
3. I Returned Things I Didn't Love
Old habits die hard. It feels good to shop! I love dopamine.
In the past, I would buy things on sale or felt like a good deal. I’d want to make that unique dress in the sale section work but wouldn’t have anywhere to wear it.
But when it comes to fancy events, I have happily worn the same dress to ever events (and still get compliments on it). It was a good reminder that I already have clothes I love and want to wear those more!
So, if things came home and I didn’t want to wear it right away, it went back to the store. I want a wardrobe that is easy and exciting!
4. I Supported My Favorite Designer
One of my favorite purchases this year came from Pop of Neutral, a designer I genuinely love and want to support. Buying from small businesses and brands that align with my values felt so much better than mindlessly scrolling through fast fashion sites.
5. I Traded In My Old Patagonia Jacket
Here's a win I'm really proud of: I purchased a new Patagonia pullover by turning in my 10-year-old Patagonia puffer jacket through their Worn Wear program and received a $44 Patagonia credit for it! Not only did I get a credit toward something I actually needed, but I kept my old jacket out of a landfill. It felt like the kind of circular economy decision I want to make more often.
My Lessons (AKA: I Still Have Work to Do)
1. I'm Still Buying Too Much Fast Fashion
This is the big one. Even though I bought less overall, I still reached for fast fashion brands more than I'd like to admit. The convenience, the price point, the instant gratification — it's hard to resist. But I know the environmental and ethical cost, and I want to do better.
It also feels like Anthropologie is fast fashion. Every time I would walk in there this year, it felt like a whole new store.
2. I Keep Buying the Same Thing in Multiple Colors
Why do I do this? If I love something, I immediately want it in three different shades. It feels like a "safe" purchase, but it's also redundant. Do I really need the same shirt in navy, black, and maroon? Probably not.
And the Anthropologie Somerset dress? Yeah, I have more than one.
3. What is my 2026 Clothing Goal?
Inside of focusing on quantity in 2026, I want to focus on quality. And do less than 10 pieces of fast fashion next year.
I already ask myself… do I want 3 dresses from Target or one from Anthropologie? That has been a good spending filter for me.
But can I push it further? What is my Wealthy Life Wardrobe and how can I shop small to get it.
4. The Final Sale Regret
I bought one item on final sale. I had spent hours at the mall trying on every pair of jeans. And as I was leaving the dressing room, the sales associate showed me a top and said, “can you believe this is $4.97?”
I replied, “What!?! That’s so cheap!” I tried it one and took it home. That was 3 weeks ago and I have yet to wear it. I'm not sure I will. I mean, I will. I just had enough pieces that I would wear instead of that one.
It's a reminder that even "cheap" purchases have a cost — they take up space, mental energy, and contribute to waste if they just sit in my closet.
What This Experiment Taught Me
Buying less wasn't about deprivation. It was about clarity.
When I slowed down and really thought about each purchase, I started to see patterns in my shopping habits. I noticed what I reached for over and over again (classic basics, comfortable fabrics, versatile pieces). I also noticed what I ignored (trendy items that looked good online but didn't fit my real life…or the pants that gave me a wedgie).
I learned that I don't need a packed closet to feel stylish or prepared. I need a few great pieces that I love and actually wear.
And maybe most importantly, I learned that this is a practice. I'm not perfect. I'm still figuring it out. But every year, I'm getting a little more intentional, a little more mindful, and a little closer to the kind of consumer I want to be.
What's Next?
So, how does this evolve in 2026? If historically, I looked at overall spend, and this year I looked at quantity. Next year, I’m focused on quality.
More than the number, I want to focus on where I'm buying from. I want to prioritize small businesses and slow fashion brands. I want to buy fewer things, but better things.
And I want to keep asking the hard questions: Do I need this? Will I use this? What impact does this purchase have?
If you're thinking about tracking your own clothing purchases — or just being more intentional about what you buy — I can't recommend it enough. It's eye-opening, humbling, and surprisingly empowering.
Here's to another year of learning, growing, and buying less.
What about you? Have you ever tracked how much clothing you buy in a year? What did you learn? These are the conversations we are having in The Pledgettes community. Join us!
