ARTICLE: 20 New Clothing Items In 2026. What Have I Worn?

I've bought 20 items of clothing this year so far (see my June: Low/No Buy wrap up). Well below the 56 average clothing pieces that Australians statically buy each year. So, with that in mind, I thought it might be fun to see what out of those 20 items I have actually worn, to where and how often etc. and what I haven't and why. 

1. Supre Dress 

I bought this dress off Depop in February for $27. I bought it as a replacement for a dress that I previously owned and loved. Realistically I should have looked for a larger size, but vintage Supre dresses are so difficult to find that I took a chance on it. And alas, it doesn't fit me, so I haven't worn it. 

*I've said it before and I'll try not to repeat it in this article, but I know they say it's unhealthy to hold onto clothing that don't fit you but I know myself and I know it will fit me in the future just based on my lifestyle choices (or rather, those currently out of my control). So, I am keeping it in storage for the time being.

2. Unknown Brand Skirt

This skirt, by an unknown brand, was part of my Can I Thrift Better For Myself Than A Paid Stylist? article that I wrote back in April. I got it for $5.50, half off from a secondhand shop. I have worn it out somewhere, as well as the opera, and I stand by the fact that it's such a unique piece, which I love. However, I'm not the biggest wearer of midi skirts so I haven't worn it a lot, but it's going absolutely nowhere as I still adore it! 

3. Target Dress

Another item from my Can I Thrift Better For Myself Than A Paid Stylist? article is this Target dress that I picked up for $4 from a local charity shop. I have considered re-donating it but then I try it on again and I love the look of it too much to get rid of it as yet. I just don't think I'm currently in my corporate era. But I plan to be soon.

4. H&M Skirt

Another item from my Can I Thrift Better For Myself Than A Paid Stylist? article is my H&M skirt that I got brand new with tags also from a local charity shop for $2. I wore it once to the cinema and have yet to again. I spoke about this in the article, but the pockets add a lot of bulk so it's not flattering to wear on its own, but it does look cute peeping out from under a long jumper. I have worn it and I will again, however, it's not the most comfortable to sit in, especially at the movies, so I need to pick my battles with this one.

5. Target Coat

Another item from my Can I Thrift Better For Myself Than A Paid Stylist? article is this Target coat. I have only worn it once, but it is only now getting cold enough to wear coats, so I feel okay with that. I wore it to the theatre one night and I felt very fancy and dressed up. I will definitely wear it again. 

6. Shein Skirt

Another item from my Can I Thrift Better For Myself Than A Paid Stylist? article, this Shein skirt I have considered re-donating as I have yet to wear it. I got it for $4.05 at Savers and although I love the look of it, it's problematic to get on as the zip gets stuck and there's no slit so you can't take large strides as you walk. Again, like the Target dress (see #3), I can't bring myself to get rid of it just yet. I do wish it wasn't Shein though.

7. Capture Dress

The final item from my Can I Thrift Better For Myself Than A Paid Stylist? article is the Capture dress that I got for $4.50, half off from the Salvos. I love the look and fit of this dress, but I hate the polyester fabric. It's okay though as I can just wear something underneath like a slip or t-shirt or something. But I have yet to find an occasion to wear it. I definitely will though. Again, future corporate era.

8. Tokito Dress

I saw this Tokito dress at an op shop but decided not to get it, then ended up going back there no more than 20 minutes later. It was in the half off section at Vinnies, so I paid $4 for it, which is incredible for the quality of it. I love it and do plan on wearing it one day as it's so flattering but again, corporate era.

9. Warehouse Studded Blazer

I bought this studded blazer back in April for a criminal $28 from the Salvos. It's worth $160 and was new with tags, but that doesn't mean that it didn't still hurt to pay that especially in that I haven't worn it yet... and I don't know if I actually will. I love the idea of it but there's something about the placement of the studs that isn't the most flattering on me. I do have it up for sale on Depop but have yet to have any interest, so I think it was just a dud purchase to be honest. But I refuse to give up on it and hopefully one day I will end up wearing it.

10. Stella Jacket

This jacket I bought as a replacement jacket. I saw it at a Save The Children op shop on a mannequin, but the shop was closing and I don't really wear brown, so I left. But I ended up going back within a couple of days and getting it for $19. I do like it and I would wear it, but I just haven't yet and I don't know if I will because I ended up finding a black-on-black one the next month and that one I've worn non-stop. It's currently up on Depop.

11. F&F Shirt

I love coat tails. I think they look amazing and we should bring them back, so I was so excited to find this shirt with coat tails for $4 at a Salvos. It's not in the best condition though but I don't care because I love it anyway. However, I just can't think of the perfect way to wear it as yet and that concerns me. So, I would like to wear it, but I haven't yet. If anyone has any ideas, then please let me know. 

12. Uniqlo Skort

I absolutely love this skort! I saw it at a Salvos but didn't purchase it because it was $9. Had it been under $5, I probably could have justified it more. But I ended up going back sometime later and it was still there. This time I actually tried it on, loved it and bought it. I almost wore it to an opening night but changed my mind because I wanted something more flowy for theatre comfortability. I am determined to wear it though!

13. Splash! Skirt

I have a love/hate relationship with burnt velvet pieces, being that I always love the look of them in theory more than actually on me. I have considered re-donating this skirt but again, then I try it on and I like the look of it. I think in my mind I always think it sits below the knee, but it sits above. I would like it to be a little bit shorter so maybe that's the issue, but I am determined to wear it somehow, someday. It just hasn't happened as of yet.

14. Tartan Coat

I bought this Tartan Coat off Depop for $35, but the seller said it was a size 10 by an unknown brand, but it's actually a size 12 by the brand Garage. I have worn it but it's a little boxy/big, so it doesn't give the exact look I was going for. I wish it was a little more fitted to the body, but I will wear it again. I wore it once when I was in Mt Buller/on vacation. Jury is out on this one, but I have worn it. I think I need to play with it a bit more.

15. Plaid Top

I tried on this plaid top at an op shop, but it was too small for me, so I ended up finding a larger one on Depop for $12.80. I almost wore it with the skort to the same opening night but ended up changing. I will definitely wear it though because it's definitely my style - that time just hasn't come yet as I don't wear tops too often.

16. Glitter Top

Instead of the skort and plaid top combo that I mentioned above, I ended up wearing this glitter top and the below crystal coat on opening night. I felt very fancy and sparkly, so it was perfect. This is one of three new items I bought (not secondhand). It was $28 on sale from Ivy City when I got it (currently for $32 here).

17. Embellished Coat

This coat I got on sale for $122 from Ivy City (you can purchase it here). It garnered a lot of attention when I wore it opening night and I got many compliments. It is a touch too big, so I'd size down one size, but I think it'll be good to layer things underneath. It collects lint/cat fur like crazy though, but I will wear it again.

18. Shearling Jacket

I had been on the hunt for a replacement black-on-black shearling jacket for so many years - hence why I bought it in both beige-on-black and beige-on-brown as I considered dying them. So, I was overjoyed to finally find one on Depop for $25 in May. I didn't hesitate and I've worn it almost every day since. This was a good buy.

19. Pilgrim Dress

I got this dress for $13.97 down from $199.95. Now, it's not a bargain if you don't need it but I know me, and I knew it would fit well into my wardrobe. I ended up wearing it just a few weeks after I got it to an opening night event with the glittery top and embellished coat from above. I felt quite glam. I will wear it again.

20. Miss Selfridge Black Blazer

Jury is out if I needed another black blazer as I own two already, but it was $4 from my local charity op shop and I love blazers with 3/4 sleeves, as all of mine are. I liked it because it's lighter than my other plain black blazer, but weightier than my one with lace, so it'll be good during those in-between days. I only got it late last month so haven't had a chance to wear it (and it's currently winter so I probably won't get a chance to wear it until later this year), but I know it'll be a well-loved piece in my wardrobe for years to come. 

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So, there we have it. I have worn 8 pieces out of the 20 news pieces I've bought this year. Granted that isn't great. But like I said, I think once my corporate era begins very soon, that'll rise to 18 so I'm content with that. 

Also, it's a coincidence that most of these items are black. I do look for non-black items when I thrift. And apologies for some of the bad photos - we're in the middle of moving so I did what I could amongst the chaos.