After taking couple of years off, I decided to bring this year-in-review post back in 2024, although, technically, I shared the post at the beginning of 2025. That post went on to become one of my most popular posts of the year (see the full list here).
I'll be honest. When I was curating this roundup of what I consider my smartest purchases from 2025, I realized that I had forgotten that some of my favorite items were actually purchased this year. That's how you know you've made a good buy -- when it feels like you've been using it for years instead of just months.
In terms of overall spending this year, we definitely cut back. I've actually spent a good bit of the year cleaning out and trying to simplify, so the purchases I have made were done with intention, and I'm happy to say that for the most part I don't regret anything I bought this past year.
This post was actually pretty hard to narrow down, and I'm sure I left something out, but these are the 25 things I bought in 2025 that made huge impacts on my year.
Denim Vest -- This is probably my top clothing purchase of the year. I bought this vest despite already owning a dark denim vest. I felt that my wardrobe could really use a lighter wash vest, and I liked the waistcoat style. I got it on sale, though not by much, but I can confidently say that I have more than gotten my money out of this one. It is probably the most worn clothing item in my closet right now. I wear it with pants, over dresses, and with skirts. It can be left open or worn like a top. It's so versatile, and I wish this exact one was still available. This one has a really similar look.
Ribbed Maxi Dresses -- I love these plain-Jane dresses so much (third picture above). There's really nothing special about them, but they're incredibly comfortable, and I wore them so much over the summer. In fact, I love them so much I wrote an entire post just for them! I have this in three different colors, though I think I probably wear the red the most. These are a similar style.
Woven Mary Jane Flats -- I have really embraced the mary jane flat this year, but none so much as this pair. I bought these because I kept seeing one of my favorite people to follow for fashion advice show them off, and I have not regretted them once. These mary janes have absolutely been my most-worn shoes of 2025, and they're holding up so well. I wear them all the time. I like that they let my feet breathe. These ones have been sold out for awhile, but you can shop similar ones here and here.
Green Overalls -- Last year, the black version of these overalls were at the top of my best purchases list, and I think these green ones got even more wear than those ones. Seriously! I wear these all. the. time. There's just something about green that works in all seasons.
Woven Belts -- These might be my most practical purchase this year. I use these all the time. My favorite thing about them is that they're stretchy, so they don't feel as restrictive as a traditional belt, which means they're comfortable for all-day wear. These are sold in a pack of four, and I went with the more neutral ones, although I do really like the black striped one for adding a bit of interest and pattern-play to an otherwise basic outfit.
Strappy Black Flat Sandals -- These sandals (middle right) filled a gap in my closet I didn't even know I had. I bought them on a whim, prepared to not like them all that much, and they quickly became the go-to solution for when I needed a dressier sandal. These exact ones are no longer available, but these are similar.
Jacquard Wide-Leg Jeans -- Anyone who knows me knows that I rarely wear jeans, so for a pair to make my best purchases list is a pretty big deal.. I typically prefer more interesting bottoms, so when I saw these textured ones, I knew I had to try them, and I am so glad I did. These have been such an asset to my closet. I wear them all the time...and you can, too, because they're still available!
Bluebird Graphic Tee -- This is one of my most worn and most versatile graphic tees. You can see it in the fourth picture above (far right). Y'all loved it too! It was at the top of my best sellers list for months. Sadly, it's been sold out for awhile so I can't link to it.
White Midi Skirt -- This is that Target skirt that went viral in the late spring-early summer. It really was worth the hype and is something that will be a staple in my closet for awhile. It took awhile, but it did finally sell out. Lucky for you, Quince has one that looks just as classic.
Brown Plaid Skirt -- I bought this skirt specifically for the new school year and could not have guessed how much I would wear it. I'm not sure what the fabric technically is; some reviews say flannel but I'm not convinced. What I can tell you is that it's lightweight and not itchy at all, which makes it infinitely more wearable for me. It's also got an elastic waistband and pockets.
Coffee Club Graphic Tee -- Who knew that a t-shirt I bought on a whim would become such a big part of my outfits? I absolutely love this graphic tee. Not only is it cute, but it's also incredibly soft and comfortable. I'll be wearing this one until I wear it out.
Green Cableknit Sweater -- This is a relatively new purchase, but it's quickly found its place in my winter wardrobe. It's super soft and such an interesting color. I've been wearing it with all the things. Unfortunately, this color is no longer available, but it comes in quite a few others.
Flowy Shorts -- I lived in these this summer. They are such a great alternative to wearing a skirt, especially since I donated most of my above-the-knee skirts. I started with a couple of "flounce shorts" from Old Navy which are definitely statements (they sold out really quickly), then I added three slicker pair from this brand. And I already have plans to buy a few more colors!
Neutral Espadrille Platform Slides -- These were my go-to summer shoes (last three pictures). I wore them with most everything. They were just so easy and went with everything from shorts to dresses. Such a smart purchase. I got mine from Old Navy -- I'm telling y'all, don't sleep on their shoes! They're no longer available, but these are similar.
Lluvamia Beach Shorts -- I was curious about the boxer short trend but didn't want to actually look like I was wearing boxer shorts. These were a great alternative, and I wore them so much this summer! The pink striped ones are completely sold out, but the blue stripe are still available in some colors. There's also a green stripe and a beige stripe option.
Oversized Tees -- Y'all know I'm not big on oversized, but I really did embrace the oversized graphic tees this summer...well, as much as a person can when they only buy two to start with. The white beach scene tee (left) is the one that I wore the most over the summer. I really liked that it wasn't one of those crunchy, overlay style designs. It's still available in some sizes. The bright pink one (right) had one of those plasticky, crunchy overlay designs, but I did wear it quite a bit over the summer as well.
Black Floral Two-Piece Swimsuit -- This summer, I ordered three swimsuits (it had been years since I bought a new one), and while I loved and wore all three of them and will continue to do so, this one was definitely my most worn suit of the summer.
Crochet Swim Coverup -- Staying with that summer vibe, I absolutely loved this crochet coverup. It is such good quality, y'all.
Water Shoes -- These might have been my smartest purchase over the summer, and I only spent $10 on them! They seriously saved my feet on our trips to the water park, and we went quite a few times this summer. And I can't believe this but they are still available! Speaking of the water park...
Water World Season Passes -- We've always talked about getting passes to our local water park, and this summer I made it happen. I will admit that doing this didn't really save us any money, and we didn't go as much as planned, but it was so convenient to not have to worry if we had the money to go on any given day over the summer. Also, not having to pay admission to get in meant that we could reserve a cabana and actually stay longer than we would otherwise. So it was definitely a win, and we'll definitely be buying them again this year.
Amazfit Smart Watch -- Not too long ago, I swapped from an iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy Z flip phone, which meant that I needed a new watch. The Samsung smartwatches are so expensive and honestly have so many things on them that I don't need or will ever use. This one was much more practical for me and had a much better price point. Plus, the battery life is insane!
Fire HD 8 Tablet -- I finally replaced my well-loved paperwhite. I decided to go back to a Fire tablet. While I loved my paperwhite, I missed having color covers for my books...and I wanted a bigger screen to scroll through Pinterest on (that wasn't my actual computer). I do mostly use it to read, but I've also been using it in the kitchen for recipes. It's so much easier to read them on than my phone screen.
Hobo Bag -- I am not the type of person who changes out my bag every other week. I mean, who really has time for that? Definitely not me. When I realized that hobo bags were trendy again, I was so excited because they've always been my favorite, and this one is so good. It's nice quality and a great size. It comes in a bunch of different colors; I have the orange-brown which is tan.
Function of Beauty Wavy Hair Shampoo & Conditioner -- Okay, so this isn't a one-and-done type of purchase, but it has made a significant impact in my hair routine. Earlier this year, I started noticing some unwanted changes in my hair in terms of texture, dryness, and frizz. This shampoo-and-conditioner combo has helped restore my hair back to its natural state. It's honestly the closest thing to Monat that I've found, and it costs significantly less! I've been using this for about four months now.
e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi Stick -- This one feels a little silly to include, but it really has been a game changer for me in the makeup department. It's helped simplify my morning routine and in a pinch can be used for more than just blush. I currently have three different shades in my makeup bag.
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