Will I still wear this in 3 years?

Keeping ourselves honest when it comes to shopping

I can’t keep up with the accelerated fashion cycles - it feels like I blink, only a week or two passes, and then it’s onto the next one. In the age of ever growing digital content consumption, in order to win at the click, engagement, and ad game, pushing rapid trend evolution will keep a captive audience and prevent stale material. And we all know that social media algorithms only exacerbate this reality. From “the 90s are back” to tomato girl to clean girl to mob wife, I’m a bit overwhelmed. When I googled “mob wife fashion trend” last week, Vogue, WWD, Cosmo, Harper’s Bazaar, Refinery29, The Washington Post, The Today Show, Glamour, The Guardian…and I could just keep going with this list…all had very recent articles. Funny enough, my schedule has been busier than usual, so I didn’t have a chance to finish writing and now, a week later, I already feel like the mob wife push is softening. Perhaps I’m just getting old, but I’m feeling a bit over it all.

Since the start of 2024, the question I’ve focused on asking myself is, “Will I still wear this in 3 years?” Though not intended to feel a bit soul bearing and brutally honest, for me, the question has ushered in a shopping reckoning. While I still love to browse, both in-store - because there’s nothing like seeing quality and fit firsthand - and online, my conversion rate has dropped and the items I’ve gravitated toward are more timeless, well-constructed pieces that have the understated beauty to distract from any trend. Upon discovering a piece I love, I’ve also been forcing myself to go through the exercise of articulating how I would style it in my closet, and waiting a week, then a few weeks, then a month or two to see if my level of excitement around the item is still as strong as it was upon the initial find. This has helped me better distinguish between shopping for a need vs. a dopamine high.

Now, don’t get me wrong, my advice is not meant to make your wardrobe boring as trends can add some fun when it comes to styling. I’m just trying to make sure that when I am influenced by a trend, the item I choose is one that won’t lose its relevance in 3 months.

Here are a few of my somewhat recent wardrobe additions that I purchased because I thought, “yes, if I’m still wearing this in 3 years, I think I’ll still feel like me, AND still feel chic.” While one might call them more boring, staple items, I adore the fact that they have some sort of twist that makes them subtly different.

To be honest, I’ve never been a bracelet girl, as I tend to favor a watch on my wrist. I’ve been loving the addition of this Agmes Medium Astrid Cuff. To me, it feels classic, but with a modern twist given the shape.

I’ve also been wearing these Sophie Buhai Reversible Hinged Hoops non-stop. I love the size because they are noticeable without feeling like too much of a statement.

And gray sweaters galore. I wore my 5-year-old Lauren Manoogian sweater into the ground - she lived a great life and it finally reached the point where a sweater shaver (my all-time favorite linked here) could no longer do its magic. I personally find that gray sweaters provide the best canvas for cozy, but still stylish outfits. When I want to wear something I know I’ll feel both confident and comfortable in, I always gravitate toward gray. My latest gray sweater addictions include…

This on sale, soft Closed Official Alpaca-Mix Sweater. I purchased a bigger size for a more oversized fit. They also have this beautiful Chunky Turtleneck Sweater and a Cashmere Mix version as well.

My Jenni Kayne Alpaca Cocoon Crewneck has served me well for 3 years now. I love that it’s warm, but not too heavy and easy to throw over your shoulders when you need to be prepared for another layer. The charcoal is sold out, but it’s available in the lighter gray.

This Vince Wool-Cashmere Blend V-Neck Sweater has been perfect for work. It’s easy to dress up, in fact, I’m wearing it in the bracelet photo above. For this one, I chose my actual size. The thicker ribbed cuffs are perfect for rolling up your sleeves to complete the look (inspired by one of my favorite Lisa Aiken outfits). In full transparency, I have found the quality of Vince a bit more disappointing with the passage of time, so I purchased this one on super sale over the holiday period so that my $ per wear could be justified in case it doesn’t hold up as hoped. This Lisa Yang Cashmere Aletta Sweater is similar, but a bit more expensive.

And finally, if you’re looking for a luxurious splurge, look no further than Lisa Yang’s Margareta Brushed Cashmere Sweater. I find that sometimes the brushed cashmere look can overwhelm my body since I have a smaller frame. So in this case, the v-neck provides some balance by showing a little bit of skin.

Here’s to hoping these choices all still feel relevant in 3 years.

x jz

Images | 1 - 2 | @b.g.mckay | 3 | Closed Official | 4 | Jenni Kayne | 5 | Saks Fifth Avenue | 6 | MyTheresa

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