Re-recognizing Quality and Shopping Regrets

And also the items I don't regret getting in 2026...

End of 2017, I quit my job to be self-employed as a full-time content creator and at the same time I began working out five mornings a week with a personal trainer. A couple of months later, I listened to my stylist and began embracing my natural hair texture, finding I had very curly hair. It was a major life overhaul, and by the end of 2019, I was making almost twice as much as I had in 2017, getting gifting from brands I had only dreamed of just a year ago, plus was a size smaller, a whole different shape, different hair, and with a whole different perspective on personal style and beauty.

As my body changed, my closet changed. I had to decide what was worthy of being tailored, and what just deserved a new home. I really examined what I had, and how some things that were “cool brands” didn’t really fit my body or my life well, some budget items were quality wardrobe workhorses, and I had a lot of clothes that really didn’t provide any value. I began shopping more carefully, focusing on construction, fabric, design, and realizing that closet staples were rarely basic.

And then the world shut down. And then perimenopause had my body shut down. I spent more time than ever at home, and my wardrobe reflected that with elastic waists, easy-care fabrics, and pieces focusing on function over fashion. As the world began to reopen and I got my footing with hormones and mental healthcare, I craved joy with my comfort. Bright colors, fun fabrics, interesting textures and patterns. And during these years, my body continued to fluctuate. Each season as I switched out clothes for the weather, I amassed piles of clothes to donate and sell, and smaller piles to carefully store away for changing climate and an ever-changing body.

In 2025, I felt like I found myself again. My body felt like my own, as did my mind. I closed our mom’s estate and wasn’t finding grief to color every aspect of my day. My husband and I really did the work with individual and couples therapy and changing a lot of lifestyle habits for the better. And this winter as I pulled out my very cold weather clothes from the attic and looked over what was in my closet, I had a good reminder that shit clothes are shit.

When your body is in a state of flux, it seems really stupid to spend a lot of money on clothes. In 2025 I fit a 16 petite, 16 misses, 14W, 14 petite, 14 misses, 12W, 33, 32, 0X, XXL, XL, L, and even some M and one pair of 31 jeans that were super stretchy. Sure, some was the horrific inconsistent sizing of women’s fashion, but a lot was due to a fluctuating figure.

I bought a lot of knits, elastic waists, and shapeless pieces that would adjust with me. And I found that even with the flexibility of these pieces, because a lot of them were from mall brands that had reduced their quality PostPan to keep up with the Sheins and Temus, they didn’t hold up.

And what did hold up… it was actually what I enjoyed wearing the most. And because it held up, it could be tailored if this body keeps changing.

What I Regret Buying in 2025

I regret buying Old Navy Bounce Fleece. I got the quarter zip and matching wide-leg pants in heather gray and the funnel-neck tunic and matching wide-leg pants in a dusky blue. I wear the crap out of the gray set, paired together at least once a week and the pants solo. And each time I put them on, they fit differently and the fabric is a bit less bouncy. The navy pants began unraveling in one of the seams, my 18-lb dog hopped on my lap and snagged the thigh and then that snag turned into a full-on bear claw scrape after one journey in the washing machine. Oh, and though washed together, the navy top and bottom no longer are the same color and the dye transferred to my red socks which are now a gloomy shade of dried blood.

I regret buying Madewell Linen. In 2023 I got a pair of white linen Harlow pants from Madewell and they were perfection. In 2024, I got a pair in black and found a white pair on Poshmark in my 2024 size. By 2025, the white pair was starting to look a little worse for wear. I decided to order Madewell’s 2025 white linen pant. Wow, this pant sucked. It had no shape, the fabric was both rough and transparent, and I had saggy ass within an hour of zipping them up. I also ordered a Madewell linen top and it was a completely different fabric from the pants, also rough, and cut so strangely it was both too big and too small.

I regret buying almost everything I got from Universal Standard. And it hurts me to type this. I have been wearing this brand since 2016, and I have pieces from 2016 that still look new. But Universal Standard isn’t what it used to be. While I still find most of the pieces better quality than one can find most anywhere else in a good size range, the style is lacking. Everything is so… basic. My favorite Universal Standard pieces are the ones that are cool. My double-breasted velvet pantsuit, my one-shoulder merino sweater, my weird cocoon-shaped heavy satin caftan, my wide-leg matte satin trousers… all so cool but not at all what US would carry these days. Everything looks super utilitarian now and I don’t enjoy wearing it. The last thing I got from them that I truly love is the linen Promenade jumpsuit, and that was in 2024. I did get the original Sunshower dress in 2023 and wear it a lot (though I wish it had pockets). Also, I need to accept the fact I am too short for 90% of their clothing.

I regret most of the clothing I got this year from Quince. I have the cotton gauze “nap dress” and I wore the heck out of that this summer, this silk dress isn’t a dupe for anything but is nice though lightweight, and the Quince relaxed straight jeans are some of my most-worn denim, but most everything else has been a fail. The cuts are too straight, the colors too boring, the patterns too basic and utilitarian. I am a big fan of Quince for leather bags and belts, homegoods, and my husband loves his merino tees, but I am hesitant to invest in any more Quince apparel.

I regret any button-front shirts I bought from Gap brands. Banana Republic, its outlet, Gap, and Old Navy… all of them were fails. Weird armholes, uneven arm lengths, wrinkle as soon as you put them on, weirdly spaced buttons… they all seemed fine until they were worn for a bit and you sort of felt like you were wearing a Gordon Gartell.

I regret my Lands’ End swimwear. In the spring, Lands’ End offered to send me swimwear and I picked which pieces. I have had Lands’ End swimwear for decades, and felt I made smart picks. Nothing fit except for one swimsuit, and that suit had stupid removable cups that folded over on themselves and one of those big bow adjustable backs so it was uncomfortable lying on a beach chair or sitting in a car because there was a big knot along your spine. The quality and fit had diminished; I am still wearing a Tugless Tank I got PrePan while the one I got in 2025 in the same size fit weird and the cups and crotch lining were visible. My fingers are crossed this year will be better.

Hey, I got that necklace in 2025 and no joke, I don’t regret it! It’s very similar to the M.M.LaFleur one that is no longer available.

What I Don’t Regret Getting in 2025 (And Will Be Wearing in 2026)

I love everything I’ve gotten from The Shirt By Rochelle Behrens. The Boyfriend Shirt, the WFH dress, and the novelty tops (I wear XL) are all stellar fabric, quality construction, consistent fit, and designed to work with a large bust. Not cheap, but I am impressed the shirts are the same price and the same quality they were PrePan.

I don’t regret my leather goods from Quince. The Sofia Belt is perfection and I have three of them. I have the red MagSafe wallet and just carry it as a regular wallet; the pockets do not stretch out. The Pouch Crossbody Clutch will not dupe anyone into thinking you’re carrying a Bottega but it’s a lovely neutral bag that makes a chic clutch or nicely sized crossbody (I have it in brown). My most used bag in 2025 was my Cognac Italian Handwoven Leather Mini Shoulder Bag and the larger version in black leather was a great choice for sightseeing and travel. And I am impressed with the 100% Leather Collarless Cropped Jacket though as a busty 14/16 the XL only works with a t-shirt or light layer.

I don’t regret the jewelry I got from M.M.LaFleur. I have shopped M.M.LaFleur for years finding high quality workwear and polished separates, but this year I hosted an event at the Georgetown boutique and was able to get some full outfits for free and tried the jewelry… and fell in love. The Sansa Large hoops were the earrings I wore the most all year long; I just wore them yesterday and they always get compliments. No tarnishing or chipping, lightweight, and they look expensive. I also got a necklace that is no longer available; I had gotten a stainless cheapy version of a similar necklace on Amazon and it irritated my neck and looked fake next to my silver jewelry. The M.M. LaFleur one has held up beautifully, is lightweight, the right level of shine, and has been a regular wear for months.

I never regret Soma Vanishing Edge Modern Briefs… they disappear under clothing, are comfortable, and the modern brief is high enough to stay in place but low enough for my petite short-waisted bod so they don’t peek out from the waistband of my jeans. But they’re synthetic and my short-waisted bod likes to breathe. This year Soma came out with a cotton version and I love them. Same fit, same invisibility under clothes, they stay looking nice if you wash gentle and line dry, and far more comfortable on steamy days and everyday.

I don’t regret my LOFT VERSA Crepe Drape pieces. LOFT is hit or miss with me, and I won’t say these pants are the same quality as say my M.M.LaFleur Eco Soft Wave crepe pieces, but the 16 petite of every piece of the Crepe Drape fits me right off the rack, the pieces are washable, they don’t wrinkle, are seasonless fabric, dress up and down, are comfortable, versatile, and have held up great over the year. And each time I wear them stylish people ask me where I got them. I have the LOFT Versa Crepe Drape Palazzo Pant in black, White Clay, and Cool Sage, the LOFT Versa Crepe Drape Relaxed Blazer in black, and a now-discontinued casual jacket in White Clay. I also have the Relaxed Tee in Cool Sage and while it’s nothing special, it does perfectly match the pants. This collection is proof that price and brand does not equal quality.

I don’t regret splurging on the leopard calfhair Adidas SL72 sneakers. Did I need them? No. Do I love them? Hellllz yeah. I wore them just yesterday. I wear them at least once a week. They are wide-foot friendly and so roomy I put insoles in them which means they’re comfortable all day.

Likely there are other items I am glad I got, but these are the ones that are at the top of my head, and are items I believe are quality and the kind of style I will continue to wear, even as my body and personal style continue to change.