Name it! Best and worst purchases of 2024

My three best and three worst purchases this year, and a surgical assessment of why

The year is coming to an end and I thought it might be fun to summarise my three best and three worst purchases of the year.

I think it is important to reflect on why something was a good or a bad purchase as it helps to (hopefully) make better decisions in the future.

I at least have become a lot better at buying things I know for certain are “good”, and finding three buys that were “bad” was actually quite difficult. As you’ll see I bend the rules when it comes to one of them below…

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Good purchase #1: Loulou Studio wool and cashmere blend coat - £285 (full price £595)

I first saw this coat on Leandra Medine in grey early this year and instantly loved it. I loved that the coat almost looked like a robe in its simplicity and lightness. However, it felt stupid to buy a light, unlined coat when winter was coming to an end.

Luckily for me, my patience paid off, and when I got back from summer holiday the coat was suddenly 40% off at Net-a-Porter! I had originally wanted it in grey (I don’t own a grey coat and often find that it is a hole in my wardrobe). But grey was sold out so I clicked it home in camel. And I am so glad I did.

It has probably been my most worn item through fall. Because it is unlined I have been able to wear it on milder days with just a t-shirt or over a skirt, as I did here:

noName Sienna Polo in navy, old Acne Studios silk/satin skirt, The Row Canal Slippers in suede (also a top purchase of 2024, love them in black pony hair too)

Or on colder days with a thicker cashmere sweater underneath, as I did here:

noName Carla Roundneck in navy (I think everyone needs a navy sweater in their closet), old VB by Victoria Beckham navy trousers from the Outnet, Old Celine Frame bag (I love this colour way)

I also love the combination of camel and red (my favourite colour):

noName Florence Roundneck in poppy (available to order), FloreFlore Esme tank, Old Celine Frame bag (I love this colour way)

Left: noName Florence Roundneck in poppy (available to order), FloreFlore Esme tank, old Alaia bag (Resee have some really really good ones like this one) - Right: noName cashmere Cecilie Tie-Neck (available to order), Bernadette Antwerp brooch which is part of a gown I have from them

I even wore it to the shops in my loungewear when I was sick which made me look less shitty than I felt:

My boyfriend’s men’s noName Peter Roundneck in the nicest shade of blue, white Uniqlo ribbed longsleeve (a cheaper alternative to the Miu Miu everyone is wearing)

Even though I got this coat 40% off, I think I would buy it again full price - it is worth every penny.

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Bad purchase #1: Agolde 90s pinch waist black jeans - £280

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that jeans are difficult to shop for… In January I suddenly felt I needed a pair of black jeans. In hindsight I don’t know why because I rarely wear the pairs I have in my closet (first mistake).

Over the years I have come to wear jeans less, and I change jeans-preferences quite often. I’ll go through a periods where I prefer one style of jean over another, before it changes again. Therefore spending a lot of money on a pair of jeans, doesn’t really make sense. Thinking that I wanted to “invest” in a new pair was therefore my second mistake.

I ordered a couple of pairs from Matches (RIP), to try on at home (so much better than in store), and ended up liking the Agolde 90s pinch jeans the most:

noName Boyfriend V-Neck in black, The Row Salpa Margaux bag, Khaite snakeskin boots (I actually sold these to fund my third best purchase this year, I didn’t use them enough…)

No matter how hard I want to look like Emanuelle Alt (my first style crush) in black jeans, it ultimately isn’t my style.

noName Sienna Polo in kensington, Prada satin mules in slimy green

They are a nice fit of jean (I actually have the same pair in blue, but I got these for £60 at a car boot sale), but I have not worn them enough to justify the price. (I have therefore listed them for sale here)

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Good purchase #2: Saks Potts Christie tweed jacket - £440

I very rarely buy on impulse. I like to think hard (and often long) about how the item under consideration would fit in to my wardrobe.

But once in a blue moon I make an impulse purchase, and more often than not the impulse purchase is made when I’m with the two most impulsive people I know, my mother and sister.

We were in Copenhagen in September and at Saks Potts I tried this gorgeous little tweed jacket. The three of us sighed once I put it on…it was that good.

The store in itself makes you want to try everything…

I was a bit forth and back in store, mainly because I wasn’t planning on spending money on the trip. But I had been reasonable up until this point. So surprise, surprise, I went for it. And I am so glad I did, especially since the Saks Potts girls recently announced they were shutting down the brand. I really admire what they have built over the past ten years, and this jacket will remind me of that.

A few days after returning from Copenhagen I wore it with jeans for a casual dinner at Straker’s in London:

Mixing gold and silver here, which I don’t mind if it looks intentional. Saks Potts Christie tweed jacket, old Zara jeans, Jil Sander navy Goji bag (I love it in silver too..!), Old Céline gold heels (I really love this sock boot version), Bottega Veneta earrings in silver (but I really like these in resin if you want something new)

And the following weekend I wore it with my striped trousers from The Garment and flats:

Cos t-shirt in off-white, The Garment striped trousers, Marni Trunk Bag in patent leather (I prefer them in the patent leather and here is a beautiful pre-loved one in black), The Row Canal slippers in light beige suede as above

And with heels that same evening:

The Garment striped trousers, Marni Trunk Bag in patent leather (I prefer them in the patent leather and here is a beautiful pre-loved one in black), Old Céline gold heels (I really love this sock boot version)

I also wore it through fall under my Toteme blazer. I love the different textures and greys layered on top of each other:

I just love the fitted waist and the silver hooks

I’ll miss Saks Potts, and can’t wait to see what the girls do next. I also went back to London and instantly sold some clothes on Tise to make up for my impulsiveness.

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Bad purchase #2: Phoebe Philo Dahlia white brooch - £750

Disclaimer: I actually returned this…because it was a bad purchase…