Best and Worst Sartorial Purchases of 2020
It comes as no surprise to anyone that 2020 was a weird year for sartorial purchases. My wardrobe plan for 2020 basically went out the window when the pandemic hit (though funnily enough, I did follow my plan more than I thought I did!). My everyday wardrobe shifted from in-person, smart casual office job to very casual, indefinite work from home situation. I started including loungewear and activewear in my quarterly budgets for the first time. I added more items to my wardrobe last year than I did the year before (but surprisingly, and thankfully, I spent less).
Out of the over 60 items I added to my wardrobe in 2020, I selected eight best purchases (ten if you count multiples!) and only two worst purchases. If you’re interested in specific outfit details, just click on the photo of interest to be taken to the original post!
Check out my past best and worst purchases: 2019, 2018, 2017 best/worst, 2016 best/worst, 2015 best/worst, 2014 best/worst.
BEST PURCHASES
Sperry Saltwater Rain Boots (purchased January 2020)
Black rain boots aren’t terribly exciting to look at, but they are quite versatile! Once I switched to working from home and rarely left the house, I wore shoes a lot less often. These boots quickly became throw-on-and-go shoes that I leave by the door in case of inclement weather (but they’ve gotten a lot of wear so far this winter in general). I’ve worn these boots 11 times for a cost per wear of $7.72. My exact pair aren’t available any more but there are similar pairs available from Amazon, Nordstrom Rack, Sperry, Macy’s, and Zappos.
Madewell Bradley Cardigan Sweaters (purchased April 2020)
When I learned I would be working from home, one of the first purchases I made was a bunch of cardigans. I purchased two of the Madewell Bradley cardigan sweater—one in this green color, called kale, and one in marled grey (not pictured; I wore it a lot IRL but it has not been blogged). I’ve worn them about an equal number of times: the kale color has been worn 14 times (cost per wear of $2.71), and the marled grey has been worn 13 times (cost per wear of $2.92). I love these cardigans because they’re easy to wear/layer and they can be machine washed/dried, so the care couldn’t be easier. Also—pockets! Limited sizes are available at Madewell but this cardigan is available in more colors at Nordstrom Rack (plus sizes) and Hautelook (straight and plus sizes).
Madewell Velvet Baseball Cap (purchased May 2020)
2020 was the year of the baseball cap! I wear one almost every day to keep my hair up and out of my face. I purchased this Madewell cap (no longer available) off of Poshmark and have worn it 35 times since then for a cost per wear of 54 cents! I love color and the texture, which adds some much-needed interest to my outfits, especially in the warmer months when I’m not wearing as many layers.
Aliya Wanek Ami Cropped Sweatshirts (purchased July 2020)
I couldn’t help but purchase two of these beautiful sweatshirts when they became available to order last summer! They quickly rose to the top of my most-worn list for the year and for good reason—the cotton-hemp blend is so comfortable. Whenever I’m not sure what to wear in the mornings, I throw one of these sweatshirts on. I’ve worn the olive color 18 times for a cost per wear of $4.50, and I’ve worn the dusty pink color 12 times for a cost per wear of $6.75. Most of the sweatshirts are now sold out but limited sizes remain in the dusty pink Ami! (Read my full review!)
Maison Miru Crystal Stud Earrings (purchased July 2020)
I learned about these earrings from a Facebook group I’m in and decided to give them a shot since they were only $7 (free + $7 shipping)! (I am very easily influenced!) Well, they ended up being an excellent purchase; I’ve worn them 24 times so far for a cost per wear of 29 cents! The original retail price is $29, so if I had paid full price the cost per wear would almost be down to $1. They were most definitely worth it! I’m so pleasantly surprised by the quality; they are lightweight but don’t feel cheap. I don’t wear as much jewelry these days due to WFH, but when I do, these earrings are my top everyday earrings! Good news: You can still get your own pair of crystal stud earrings for only $7 (the cost of shipping)!
Target Mid-Rise Knit Shorts (purchased August 2020)
Even though I didn’t discover these shorts until the end of summer and didn’t get to wear them as much as I would have liked before it got cold, they still made the list because I was in need of replacements for other pairs of lounge shorts I’ve owned for years. And by years I mean decades. Lol. These shorts worked perfectly for the summer WFH life! I purchased them in all four available colors and wore them 25 times between them (the mulberry shown above was worn the most—9 times for a cost per wear of $1.55). Kinda hoping I’ll be WFH again this next summer so I can wear them nonstop again!
Zella High Waist Studio Lite Pocket 7/8 Leggings &
Zella Restore Soft Pocket Lounge Leggings (purchased September 2020)
In addition to sweatshirts/sweatpants, 2020 was definitely the year of the leggings. I purchased four new pairs this year, all Zella brand (a Nordstrom activewear line). I wear all of them consistently, but my favorite styles were two new styles that I purchased in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: the studio lite pocket 7/8 leggings and restore soft pocket lounge leggings. Both are high waist, both have pockets! Both pairs actually have a higher rise than the live in leggings, and it turns out I prefer a higher rise because it doesn’t slide down as much. I’m planning on doing a full review of all of my Zella leggings in the coming months but these are definitely the pairs I wear most often!
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Honorable mentions go to my Marine Layer double knit henley (no longer available; purchased January 2020; last seen here), Amour Vert Tatum dream rib pants (no longer available; purchased March 2020; last seen here), Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Lite circle cardigan (purchased March 2020; last seen here), Madewell pull-on shorts (no longer available; purchased June 2020; last seen here), and Madewell curvy high-rise skinny crop jeans (purchased June 2020; last seen here).
WORST PURCHASES
Madewell Cotton-Linen Baseball Cap (purchased May 2020)
Like I said, 2020 was the year of the baseball cap! This one had been on my list since 2019, and I was finally able to snatch it up in a sale. I love its texture and the fact that it isn’t a bright white. The unfortunate thing is it’s a little too big for my head, and if I push it down so it’s snug on my head, the edges rub on my ears. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t buy it again. That said, I’ve worn it 10 times for a cost per wear below $2, so it’s not all bad!
Uniqlo Cotton Sleeveless Tee
(purchased June 2020)
I thought this was going to be the perfect layering tank, but it fits me really awkwardly. Since it only cost $10, it wasn’t worth returning and paying a $7 return fee. You won’t see this one on the blog. At least I didn’t spend that much money on it!