183: A complete list of everything I bought in 2023

With a cost-per-use analysis of what was worth it.

I woke up the other morning feeling especially year-end-y and proceeded to make a list. I wrote down every single item I bought or otherwise brought into my wardrobe in 2023, which was pretty straightforward seeing as I’ve logged my shopping in this newsletter nearly every week.

To ascertain the real value of these pieces beyond “liked it” / “didn’t like it,” I estimated the number of times I wore each item to the best of my ability and calculated the cost per use (CPU).

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Methodology

This list includes items both personally purchased and gifted by brands. Regardless of origin, all items have been listed based on the best currently available price, or if unavailable, from memory. The number of times worn was estimated, with each outing or new outfit counting as a “wear.” Items I returned have been excluded. I’m sure there are other things I left off, and if you notice something missing, it wasn’t intentional.

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Low-cost things like socks and flip-flops had the best values, closely followed by basics (tanks, tees, button-downs). Pieces that were categorically unique in my wardrobe—e.g. my one raincoat, my laptop-sized bag, my nicest sweatpants—were the hardest-working SKUs, achieving competitively low CPUs despite their high up-front costs.

I then took the most-worn items from each season and built them into outfits—it shouldn’t have surprised me in the slightest, and yet it did, to realize these were outfits I’d worn time and time again since the year began. Major mental note to self that my favorite pieces all work together, and by checking in with this visual language, I’ll avoid future purchases with dreaded can’t-divide-by-zero CPUs.

(Also, just to say, I know this is a lot of stuff! I buy things with resale value and sell them when they no longer serve me. I likely shop more than most people, not least of which because it’s my job. Always be sure to assess your own personal financial situation before making a purchase—big or small—as everyone’s circumstances are different.)

Key: $ Price / # of wears = $ CPU

The first purchases of 2023 filled very real gaps in my wardrobe: a Thomas Meier-era Bottega Veneta intrecciato hobo bag (more here) provided an all-in-one laptop, gym, and travel solution, becoming my most-worn single item of the year, and a Kassl Editions coat became the only raincoat I owned. Both items retail for over $1,000, but the frequency of wear made them great investments—$18 and $27 CPUs, respectively.

Lower-priced, high-wear items had even better CPUs, like my pop-of-blue MNZ Lara bag ($7), my Marni sunglasses ($11), and my many pairs of Colorful Standard socks ($0.60).

Jan

• Thomas Meier-era Bottega bag $1,400 / 75 = $18.67

• Chanel tweed dress $950 / 1 = $950

• Kassl trench $1,100 / 40 = $27.50

• Puppets and Puppets coat $400 / 5 = $80

• MNZ Dance Pants $205 / 5 = $41

• MNZ Lara bag $221 / 30 = $7.37

• Gimaguas’ brown Rino belt bag $87 / 2 = $43.50

• Esse Studios off-shoulder long-sleeve top $202 / 10 = $20.20

• Margiela AW87 gloved top $300 / 1 = $300

• vintage D&G logo bikini $350 / 5 = $70

Feb

• Jil Sander Goji Mini Bamboo Bag $1,415 / 8 = $176.87

• Coach Winnie Suede Kitten Heels $80 / 5 = $16

• EDL Jeff Shirt $300 / 8 = $37.50

• Attersee sculpted vest $495 / 10 = $49.50

• Nicklas Skovgaard bolero $236 / 2 = $118

• loose-and-low Agolde jeans $230 / 5 = $46

• Toteme sunglasses $350 / 15 = $23.33

• Khaite wool bustier top $476 / 2 = $238

Mar

• Marni Black Rainbow Mountains Sunglasses $198 / 18 = $11

• Everyday bag from Janessa Leone $530 / 20 = $26.50

• Emily Dawn Long Black Kingsley Minidress $395 / 2 = $197.50

• Colorful Standard Organic Cotton Socks $18 / 30 = $0.60

• Realisation Par yellow dress $92 / 2 = $46

• D&G dress from Club Vintage $139 / 1 = $139

High-low blending was the defining theme for spring, as with my rotation of black Gap tanks—which had the lowest CPU on this entire list of just $0.20—and Prada skirt, a luxury item with a $1,000+ initial cost splintered into a more digestible per-wear cost of $100ish.

A couple items in the mid-hundreds quickly justified their costs with CPUs under $20, as with the Charlotte Chesnais ear cuff, or even under $10, as with the Martiniano glove shoes, Deiji Studios dress, Flore Flore tee, Lido skirt, and Mouki Mou lace socks (a CPU under $4!).

Apr

• Deiji Studios The Slip Dress $68 / 8 = $8.50

• lace socks from Mouki Mou $38 / 10 = $3.80

• wetlook top from Di Petsa $786 / 2 = $393

• Christopher Esber dress $677 / 0 = $XX

• suede Prada coat from eBay $495 / 2 = $247.50

• MNZ belt from Bona Drag $56 / 1 = $56

• Charlotte Chesnais Initial Cuff $370 / 20 = $18.50

• Gemsun’s Prima Skirt Dress $200 / 8 = $25

• Rus Ayame Dress $330 / 5 = $66

May

• Puppets and Puppets leggings $248 / 0 = $XX

• Jacquemus bralette $47 / 0 = $XX

• linen mini dress from Posse $269 / 1 = $269

• Wolf Circus necklace $325 / 10 = $32.50

• Courrèges skirt with a satchel belt $281 / 5 = $56.20

• Jean Paul Gaultier cropped sweater $134 / 2 = $67

• “JPG” FW05 velvet jacket $325 / 1 = $325

• Prada gabardine skirt $1,690 / 15  = $112.67

• Beaufille bodysuit $192 / 8 = $24

• vintage Louis Vuitton kitten heels $425 / 5 = $85

• Pink Maryam Nassir Zadeh Olympia wedges $325 / 4 = $81.25

• Flore Flore car tee $95 / 10 = $9.50

• Gil Rodriguez tube top $48 / 0 = $XX

• Esse Studios strapless top $110 / 10 = $11

• air-blue Birrot cardigan $182 / 3 = $60.67

• Martiniano High Gloves in silver $536 / 50 = $10.72

• MDR blue-foil skirt set $400 / 2 = $200

• Friends with Frank knit white skirt $239 / 5 = $47.80

• Jagustaw lace bag ? / 5 = $XX

• Toast military blazer $430 / 3 = $143.33

• Prada nylon skirt suit $340 / 2 = $170

Jun

• adidas' Adicolor Classics Wide Leg Pants $80 / 10 = $8

• Birkenstock 1774 Bostons in Faded Khaki $160 / 5 = $32

• black ribbed tanks from the Gap $9 / 45 = $0.20

• Lido “swim” skirt $232 / 30 = $7.73

• Amomento maxi skirt $208 / 0 = $XX

• Maryam Nassir Zadeh's Apollo vest $200 / 10 = $20

• Cerric track pants $118 / 10 = $11.80

• ERL tee $60 / 2 = $30

• Rick Owens brown denim skirt $397 / 1 = $397

Easy, elevated basics proved to be the best investments of summer. A Leset button-down I barely thought about at first became one of my most reached-for pieces (CPU of $5), often jumbled into a suitcase with other everyday essentials like Lemaire and Auralee tanks (CPUs: $10 each), Toteme trousers (CPU: $25), a Bourienne button-down (CPU: $10), a By Far bag (CPU: $30), and A.Emery sandals (CPU: $12).

My Lauren Manoogian base pants, whose current cost per wear is already down to $5, are only getting more valuable as winter creeps in.

Jul

• Lemaire tank $84 / 8 = $10.50

• Bless jeans $380 / 3 = $126.67

• Auralee half-zip $220 / 3 = $73.33

• Live the Process Tuxedo Cardigan $218 / 5 = $43.6

• Deiji Studios Bias Skirt in Grandpa Check $143 / 5 = $28.6

• Puppets and Puppets swirl polo $395 / 5 = $79

• Belle the Label organza top $220 / 2 = $110

• Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen trousers $610 / 0 = $XX

• Leset button down shirt $113 / 20 = $5.65

• Christopher Esber black tank $236 / 2 = $118

Aug

• Auralee tank $140 / 15 = $9.33

• Margiela loafer tabis $760 / 3 = $253.33

• Toteme blazer $785 / 3 = $261.67

• Loewe Anagram tank $430 / 5 = $86

• Gemsun linen wrapped shorts $250 / 1 = $250

• Aeron knit sweater $524 / 2 = $262

• Paco Rabanne dress $425 / 1 = $425

• Baum Und Pferdgarten coat $439 / 1 = $439

• Acne jeans $259 / 2 = $129.50

Sep

• Havaianas Slim Square flip-flops $34 / 5 = $6.80

• Mark Kenly Domino Tan skirt $435 / 10 = $43.50

• Pleats Pleats wide-leg pants $436 / 8 = $54.50

• Belle the Label Vivir vest $210 / 1 = $210

• Kye Intimates Form bra $49 / 2 = $24.50

• Toteme double-pleated trousers $510 / 20 = 25.50

• By Far Amber bag $605 / 20 = $30.25

• Lauren Manoogian twill trousers $552 / 4 = $138

• A. Emery sandals $180 / 15 = $12

• Paid Actor scarf bindle bag $245 / 5 = $49

• Toteme Country Jacket $930 / 4 = $232.50

• Agolde low-slung baggy corduroy pants $250 / 6 = $41.67

• vintage Alaia ballet boots $248 / 1 = $248

• Mara Hoffman Popcorn dress $507 / 2 = $253.50

• Remain Birger Christensen suiting skirt $196 / 1 = $196

• Lauren Manoogian Base pants $258 / 50 = $5.16

• SCHA scarf $100 / 2 = $50

• Bourrienne Paris button down $85 / 8 = $10.63

• G.H.Bass Mary Janes $185 / 3 = $61.67

• Ciao Lucia blouse $189 / 2 = $94.50

I’ve worn this exact outfit, give or take a layer, probably 10 times in the last month. That frequency of wear is super-charging the CPUs of pieces that have only recently come into my possession. For instance, this Sezane cardigan-jacket has already managed a per-wear cost of only $8, and this $1,000+ Studio Nicholson coat feels like a particularly savvy investment at $73 a wear, even though it’s only December. A good sign these pieces will play a big role in the months to come!

Oct

• Lauren Manoogian High-Waist Crewneck sweater $450 / 15 = $30

• Rouje Abella heels $320 / 20 = $16

• Janessa Leone Crossbody bag $597 / 10 = $59.7

• Lemaire Housse dress $787 / 3 = $262.33

• Fane Bra bag $524 / 40 = $13.10

• Loretta Caponi dress $297 / 1 = $297

• Attersee Sculpted Mini Dress $895 / 1 = $895

• Linnea Lund Ingrid cashmere t-shirt $345 / 5 = $69

• open-knit Co top $276 / 2 = $138

• trompe l’oeil Lemaire knit $240 / 2 = $120

• Emme Parsons Ernest fisherman sandals $550 / 10 = $55

• Everlane leather boots $350 / 2 = $175

• eBayed Escada pants $47 / 5 = $9.40

• Auralee darkwash straight jeans $221 / 3 = $73.67

• Toteme's double-wool top $820 / 12 = $68.33

• LoQ Camila in Hueso $225 / 20 = $11.25

• Silk Laundry bias-cut pants $415 / 10 = $41.50

• Maryam Nassir Zadeh Julien bag in Suede Rust $587 / 20 = $29.35

Nov

• Extreme Cashmere Navy N°304 Air $975 / 2 = $487.5

• Lucille Thièvre Second Skin Glass Cardigan $620 / 1 = $620

• Maribaudi The Broken Heart Bag $450 / 4 = $112.50

• Lauren Manoogian Belted cardigan $570 / 5 = $114

• High Sport’s Kick Flare pants $860 / 3 = $286.67

• St. Agni Tied Leather Sandals $210 / 1 = $210

• Tibi silk hooded top $445 / 2 = $222.50

• adidas Goletto VII Cleats $18 / 1 = $18

• Róhe merino turtleneck $180 / 3 = $60

• Skims boxers $36 / 2 = $18

• Beaufille Black Vela Midi Skirt $229 / 3 = $76.33

• Gap Men’s Mac Coat $118 / 3 = $39.33

• Soeur Sapphire Shirt $164 / 2 = $82

• Alex Mill Men’s Wright Cardigan in Chunky Cotton $165 / 5 = $33

• Dion Lee Interloop Tailored Pant $763 / 1 = $763

• Veilance Black Tenia Blazer $350 / 1 = $350

• Veilance Black Khara Trousers $245 / 1 = $245

• Deiji Studios Beige 'The Knit' Vest $245 / 4 = $61.25

• Jamie Haller The Penny Loafer in Black Patent $565 / 15 = $37.67

• Sophie Buhai Silver Medium Everyday Hoop Earrings $225 / 20 = $11.25

• Prada petal pink suede blazer $8,100 / 2 = $4,050

• Still Here Cool Jeans $260 / 5 = $52

Dec

• Esse Studios strapless top $65 / 0 = $XX

• A.Emery silk pants $330 / 8 = $41.25

• dress from La Collection $750 / 1 = 750

• Liberowe Velvet Trimmed Wool Coat $3,000 / 5 = $600

• Soeur Vertue Jumper $255 / 1 = $255

• One Of x Khaore Mini Pillow Bag $495 / 1 = $495

• Santangelo Silver & Brown Bepe Earrings $182 / 4 = $45.50

• By Malene Birger Sandras Shearling Coat $3,200 / 1 = $3,200

• Alex Mill Taylor Striped Cardigan $175 / 1 = $175

• Aeron Forum Knitted Midi Skirt $453 / 1 = $453

• Studio Nicholson Ria Coat $1,100 / 15 = $73.33

• Dissh Tilly Longline Vest $129 / 1 = $129

• Marséll Arsella Slipper $750 / 2 = $375

• Agmes Large Astrid Cuff $680 / 15 = $45.33

• burgundy Reformation heels $278 / 8 = $34.75

• Tibi pocket shoes $595 / 1 = $595

• Ayllon pouch bag ? / 4 = $XX

• A–Company shirt + tie $650 / 15 = $43.33

• Sezane Nathael Jacket $240 / 30 = $8

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