We Discuss: Springtime Wishful Shopping.

M: I have decided this is cut just like my favorite windowpane plaid Vince shirt that I wear every week and I want all of the colors:

A: Well, thanks a lot. NOW I WANT IT TOO.  Also, that Insider discount...

M: UGH.

M: Anyway, this was meant to be a check in on the fast fashion ban, but so far it hasn't been an issue? I think if spring ever comes it's going to get a lot harder.

A: Madewell isn't fast fashion! I never said anything about not shopping at Madewell.

M: Oh I know! I meant I was going to check in on it but then got distracted. And yeah I have 15% off but it's also 22 degrees today and I'm cranky.

M: I think I want it in black AND in the lilac color. I also want the yellow but it's sold out.

A: Ha, I was like, WHOA WHOA WHOA. I will admit I walk a little faster in Target when I pass by the clothing section.

A: Also, oops. Just bought the dark pink color that's on sale. But I also want it in black.

M: I thought about that color! But I don't know if I'll wear it. I may pull the trigger on the black and lilac.

A: It's 29 degrees out and I literally bought it out of spite. I think the lilac would be SO pretty on you!

A: Also, goddammit, Target:

A: I'm not buying it but it looks so freaking cute.

M: NO NO NO TO THAT DRESS. Here, if it makes you feel better, I recently got rid of two chambray things from Target that got weirdly shiny.

M: I ordered both. I will wear the hell out of those shirts--I already wear my chambray central shirt and I've always wished it was cut a little longer and flowier. Win!

A: Hooray! We'll have to post reviews when they arrive. And no, I know better than to get that dress but now I'm sad I never bought these earrings:

M: I will support you not getting them but will admit I didn't really count jewelry in the fast fashion thing.

M: How pretty is THIS:

A: MARIANNE STOP THAT.

A: …does jewelry count?

M: I don't know! Does it???

A: Technically we make the rules.

M: It seems like a slippery slope but also jewelry is expensive, yo. Having a cheap and cheerful option is nice.

A: I don't buy a ton of jewelry but I do like a pair of fun earrings under $10.

M: I really freaking love that dress.

A: It is SO pretty. If I hadn't just tracked down the leopard version of the Juno dress I'd probably have already bought it!

M: Not sure why a 22 degree day in March has triggered my spring shopping but here we are.

A: Spring will come eventually, right?

We Discuss: Blog Resolutions.

M: Okay, I wasn’t ready to declare this at the beginning of the year, but I’m ready now.

A: This sounds interesting!

A: ARE YOU GOING TO FIND JAMES MIDDDLETON

M: I am giving up fast fashion for 2019.

A: Oh

M: ALSO THAT

A: I MEAN YOU SHOULD

M: It’s good to have goals.

M: It’s going to be HARD.

M: However I stuck to giving up Everlane last year.

A: That was not actually hard for you, though.

A: Giving up fast fashion is something I’ve been thinking about too!

M: I just sent a ton of Target stuff to the thrift store.

A: All the thrifting I’ve been doing lately has really done a number on me. It’s a SEA of garbage from Old Navy, Target, and Walmart.

M: And I am tired of this cycle. I find things I love for a minute, I wear them once or twice, wash, and then they are ruined. Literally disposable clothing.

M: And yes the thrift stores are just CHOKED with it all. It makes me feel gross.

A: It’s really a depressing cycle. I will say, though, I do sincerely love that Target denim jacket.

M: It’s an exception though. You can find winners! I wear my two pairs of Moto pants literally every week.

M: And those silver mules I bought last year! I love those things!

M: But for every denim jacket or moto pant there are a dozen things that shrunk weirdly or unraveled.

A: I recently saw a comment on a Kim France blog post that said “something something Boden is fast fashion.”

A: And I was like…

A: …

A: …

A: NOPE.

M: Oh no that is wrong.

A: So we maybe need to decide what counts as fast fashion.

M: Okay yes I think this is a good idea!

M: Target and Old Navy for sure.

M: Forever 21

A: Def

A: I won’t even link to that store.

M: And H&M, though that pains me and will be the hardest for me to give up.

A: H&M is definitely fast fashion.

M: I know you don’t like H&M but a have several things I love that have held up well.

A: What about LOFT?

M: Ooh Loft is tricky but I am inclined to include it, even though I do think the quality is better.

M: Same with Gap.

A: Loft is my go-to for summer dresses.

M: Oh man this is getting harder now that I’m listing it all out.

M: Maybe I’ll try to find stuff on Poshmark and that’s okay?

A: That is totally okay!

A: I will vow to not buy any clothing this year from: Target, H&M, Forever 21 and Old Navy.

A: And Gap?

M: Yes

M: Maybe we give ourselves one get out of jail free card.

A: Agree.

A: But buying these brands secondhand is fine.

M: Right okay.

M: We can do this!

M: And I think we should keep ourselves accountable and share things we were tempted by but didn’t buy.

M: Ah, good idea.

M: I am going to really try and just NOT LOOK though. But it will find me.

A: I am making no promises with Loft but I don’t know what the line is for fast fashion.

A: Like, I don’t think Madewell counts.

M: No, I don’t think Madewell counts either.

M: What about Amazon?

A: I don’t buy Amazon clothing so I don’t know.

M: I don’t either really.

M: And I feel like it goes without saying no Walmart or whatever but I don’t shop there either.

A: I don’t shop at Walmart either.

M: We can do this.

A: It looks like the biggest fast fashion brands (according to the internets) are: F21, Zara, TopShop, UNIQLO, Gap/Old Navy.

A: I do really love my little UNIQLO jacket but next winter I’ll probably buy a nice version of it from a better brand.

M: Totally

A: I don’t think most of this will be hard, honestly. I’ve already been making a shift away from a lot of these brands (and I already don’t buy anything from quite a few of them) but Target will be hard.

M: Yeah I don’t think it will be that bad. Summer might be a challenge because that’s when I’m more likely to want cheap and cheerful stuff.

A: Oh, definitely. Most of my quality purchases are in the fall.

M: Same. And by February I’m so not interested in buying any more winter stuff.

A: By February I want to burn all my winter stuff.

M: God yes

A: In a big stupid bonfire.

M: That sounds warm at least.

A: It was gotdamn 14 degrees this morning.

M: haaaate

A: But, when it’s eleventy billion degrees outside and Universal Thread comes out with a bunch of cute summer dresses we’re going to help each other through it, yes?

M: Yes

M: 😭

A: WE CAN DO EET.

M: BTW this does NOT apply to housewares from Target because no.

M: Not while I’m decorating a new house.

A: Oh, I didn’t think it did! That would be insane.

M: Plus I need like 11 more candles.

A: The one that smells like the Anthro Volcano candle? I might need it too.

M: Yes hang on:

A: Yep, gonna need that.

M: Everyone does.

A: Also, we are basically incorrigible.

M: Ugh I know.

We Discuss: Blog Resolutions

M: I really agree with all of this except I still love their t-shirts, twisted seams and all.

A: Yeah, I'm basically done with Everlane. Mostly. (But YAS TO THE COTTON V T-SHIRT WHICH IS THE BEST FOREVERRRRR.)

M: That last attempt, trying the wide leg pants, that was it for me. I do still like my almost 4 year old cropped trench. And the v-necks are perfect on me.

A:  I like my weird boots and I still wear the shit out of both my cashmere sweaters though the older one is definitely better.

M: I wish those had fit me but the sleeves are always too short.

A: I'm just tired of buying a vision that isn't built for my body type.

M: THIIIISSSSSSS.

A: But they always get me, Marianne. I fear they're not done with me yet.

M: The fit just isn't there, for me.

A: Oh, it's not there for me either but I still want to believe.

M: Other than the t-shirts I'm making this my new years resolution.

A: Oh shirtballs. Now I feel like I have to make this my blog resolution.

M: LET'S DO IT TOGETHER.

A: OKAY IF WE MUST.

A: We can still buy Everlane t-shirts, right??

M: ONLY the t-shirts, and no new or weird cuts.

A: Yes ma'am. Our blog resolution: No Everlane*

M: Deal. Ooh I want to make more.

A: Yes! MORE. Can you save me from myself? Give me one pls.

M: Let’s think. What’s your trap? What’s mine?

I did not buy these.

A: With makeup it's holding on to products longer than I should. With clothes - I don't even know anymore. Maybe wanting to "upgrade" things I have that are already fine? (See: Madewell Chelsea boots). Wearing current stuff too much and not rotating in my older clothes? Buying stuff because its a good deal rather than because I need it? All of that.

M: Maybe we resolve to do two no-buy months this year? And to clean out our makeup/skin care.

A: Okay! That works for me.

M: Or we could do one month of no-buy and one month where we don't buy anything new, only consignment or secondhand...I don't know.

A: Oh, I like that idea too

M: Okay but the no-buy doesn't apply if we're out of stuff, right? I am out of my face wash. I mean it's just Cerave so not some big deal but I don't want to get in trouble.

A: I think that's fine, I'll add it. Do we need more resolutions? We have:

• No Everlane*
• One No-Buy month (January)
• One secondhand-only month
• Clean out our makeup/skincare

M: What if....what if we did the no buy RIGHT NOW. I have GOT TO STOP LOOKING AT SALES OMFG.

A: ME TOO. PEE ESS there are earrings that match the Soko pendant:

M: Oh I know! But I already have some similar hoops that are sold out so I didn’t include them. I love them though.

A: Oooh, those Madewell hoops are great. And I’m still thinking about your shearling Birkenstocks. I don’t hate the mink color.

M: The mink color is cute!

A: The problem is that Birkenstock is excluded from all discounts and promotions. Also, are we starting the no-buy right now this second? I can't remember.

M: Oh right. Are we? We should. But you need warm feet too.

A: Okay, I do actually need something for my feet I am FREEZING.

M: Maybe we each get ONE get of of jail free card during the no-buy??

A: Please, yes! A no-buy in January with a ONE item allowance. Mine will be shearling clogs because just talking about yours makes me want to die with cold-foot envy.

M: I love it. I am keeping mine in my pocket because I can't think of anything right now.

A: Am I doing the right thing with the color? Apparently the "mink" is similar to the UGG chestnut and not so orange in real life:

M: I like it, I almost went that direction but obviously chose the black.

A: I am going to order them for science.

M: Yessssssss I am missing mine today. Wearing stupid boots instead.

A: Winter - still the worst.

Our 2017 Blog resolutions:

• No-Buy in January (see the rules above) 
• No more Everlane*
• A month** of only buying secondhand 
• Clean out our makeup and skincare*** 

January No-Buy! The rules:

• One Get Out of Jail Free purchase
• Replenishment of existing products is okay

*Except for the plain v-neck tees which are rad
**Month TBD
***Except my Chanel Rivoli lipstick which is, like, 7 years old but they discontinued the color and it’s the perfect red. Hush, Marianne.

Marianne: Brave.

Hello there. Unsurprisingly, the New Year has found me with an assortment of dull finance-related resolutions of sort, meaning what little shopping I do is pretty much off the table but as one last hurrah, I found this gorgeous, handmade, wool/cashmere Cynthia Rowley coat at T.J. Maxx for a steal ($49!).

It fits me like it was made for me, and I don't own a brown coat, so it was fate, don't you think?

I love the lines, the hidden button placket, and the fabulously dramatic collar.

The dress is a repeat, and yes, I purposefully wore brown and black together, and I liked it. However, one of my friends told me I was "brave" for mixing the two together. I can't wait to see the statue erected in my honor.

Like Adrien, I have some Sartorial Resolutions of my own:

No shopping in January and February.

Period. Well, with one exception, if I find a pair of brown dress boots on sale for under $100, I have to get them. But this has proven to be impossible, so really no shopping.

Clean out my closet.

Get rid of things that don't fit but I have held on to anyway. Box up anything so sentimental that I can't get rid of it, and put into storage. (On this note, does anyone else hold on to clothes that were investments but aren't your style any more? Just me? Carry on.)

Take care of the pile of clothes waiting to be mended/altered/dry cleaned.

It's embarrassing. And possibly starting to smell.

Get out of my fashion rut.

Winter is hard for me. I hate the cold and I fall into wearing different versions of the same outfit over and over again. Already this winter I can see the pattern--leggings or jeggings, a tunic-y sweater, boots. Over. And over. And over again. It doesn't make for interesting content here, I don't feel like I'm made any sort of effort, and I need to snap out of it. We have a solid 2 months of winter left, at the least, and let's face it: leggings are just sweatpants you can wear out of the house without feeling like George Costanza.

What do you think? I think this is all pretty doable, but I might be singing a different tune in a month when pretty spring clothes are coming out and I hate everything in my closet. Hmm.

Adrien: Post-Holiday Purchases. And a Resolution.

Hi, back to work with me. Sigh. However, I did hit up a few sales on New Year's day and got the following:

Striped back button scoopneck T

Stripes. I KNOW. But it has cute gold buttons up the back! And these were marked down to nothing and are super squishy:

The city flat

I returned something I'd previously bought, so my total out-of-pocket was $6. I also got these pants (in dark grey) for less than $20:

Logan fit slim cotton pant (no longer on the site, but lots in-store.)

And that's it for me for a while, no really! One of my New Year's resolutions is to spend less, save more, shop smarter (and I just saw that Carol from In Pursuit of Pretty Things has the same idea.) I have been hitting sales lately just to see what's on sale, not because I need anything, and that's just a recipe for disaster. It also means that I've been finding myself returning things a lot. Poorly thought-out purchases often end up that way. SO, my resolution:

Spend less, save more, shop smarter. 

I think I'm pretty much done shopping for winter clothes so hopefully I can be more strategic going forward  towards spring. I also want to start reevaluating what I already have and to solve the current issues hanging in my closet. Are there clothes I'm not wearing because they're damaged/ill-fitting/need a trip to the dry-cleaner? How can I reinvent items I'm bored with? Why the hell can't I get a handle on how to wear belts properly? (Maybe y'all can help me with that.)

What about you guys? Any fashion-resolutions?