My Top 19 Fashion Buys of 2019

Well today I’m wrapping up my 2019 year in review series. This will be the last post in which I look back at 2019, both for the fun of it and to analyze how things went. But today may be my favorite of these review posts, too. I’m sharing my top 19 fashion buys of the year.

I’ve gathered up 19 fashion items, including clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelry, that I purchased in 2019 and either wore to pieces this year or plan to have in my closet for another year at least.

Many of these items are investment pieces that I hope to wear for several years or more. To make my list, however, they have to be earning their way in my wardrobe based on an ever decreasing cost per wear. In other words, these are not just nice to look at; these pieces are constantly on repeat, at least in their appropriate season.

So yeah. Be prepared for the fact that most of these are not the least expensive things I’ve purchased. Honestly, I’ve found that the cheapest things rarely satisfy (or last!) for long. However, you can bet I purchased 99% of these items when they were deeply discounted or I was able to use frequent buyer points to help defray the cost. And that makes these purchases all the sweeter!

Let’s get started!

Wardrobe Essentials

Favorite White & Black T-Shirts

I’ve shown a lot of white and colored basic t-shirts here at Dressed for My Day. They are perhaps the most basic essentials and I find that I need a few in my closet at all times. But I think this Supima Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt from Banana Republic is my absolute all-time favorite…at least until I find a better one. Ha!

This t-shirt is also available in grey and it comes in petite sizes. What do I love about it? It has a soft, smooth drape, lies flat at the neck with minimal care, is a nice thickness and has a modest v-neck. The tee is available in many sizes right now, but I really hope they restock it for spring and summer. I’m wearing a small with ease.

Ribbed Crew Neck Long Sleeve T-shirt

I promise this post is going to get more interesting! Hahaha! But when you score some wardrobe essentials that truly pull their weight plus some in your closet, that’s pretty exciting to me. And I think that’s exactly why I love the t-shirts above and these ribbed crew neck long sleeve t-shirts so much: they are polished enough to be worn with dressier pieces like my blazers and nice cardigans and not just limited to pairing with sweats.

I have these ribbed crew neck long sleeve t-shirts in black and white. The grey seems to be gone, and I regret that I didn’t snag one. I’m wearing a medium because these fit closer to the body…but with lots of stretch.

Grey Cashmere V-Neck Sweater

I got my grey v-neck cashmere sweater at Talbots, but they are sold out. However, J.Crew has their cashmere on sale, and it’s a good quality, too. The reason I love this purchase is probably not so much about the specific sweater anyhow. I simply love having this grey v-neck in my wardrobe to wear with so many of my favorite pieces. It’s easy to create chic looks around, has a casual but sophisticated vibe and softens up the black I enjoy wearing so much.

Chambray Shirt

I’ve also purchased several renditions of this wardrobe essential in the past. But this year I landed on Talbots’ chambray shirt and satisfied the itch once and for all.

While I still have a couple of other chambray shirts (that I’ll probably end up donating), I prefer this one because the fabric is the perfect thickness. Not too thin, not to thick. I also prefer the simple styling and the middle of the road darkness of the blue. Also, I sometimes have trouble rolling up sleeves on shirts because my arms are a little thick muscular, but this one has ample room for cuffing.

The actual shirt I own is just about sold out. But this newer version is oh so similar.

The Farrah High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans by AG

I’m so, so thankful that we’ve returned to high waist jeans! Y’all. That higher rise makes such a difference in comfort and fit. If you have a short waist, you’ll probably want to not tuck your shirt in. But most gals don’t want to tuck anyhow, so that probably isn’t a problem.

I bought these AG Farrah high waist jeans during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. If you’re going to invest in premium denim, that’s a great time to go for it. They usually have several styles of AG jeans on sale at that time, which is what seems to fit best on me. But there are other premium denim brands featured in the sale as well.

I love the modern raw slit hem on these jeans and the medium wash. I’m wearing a 30 in these, whereas I have a 29 in my other pair.

White Girlfriend Chinos

You might not consider white chinos a wardrobe essential, but they operate that way in my wardrobe. I find myself reaching for these relaxed fit pants even more than I wear my white jeans.

I love Talbots’ girlfriend chinos. I think I have about 5 pairs. I’ve noticed they’ve come out with these Stretch Cotton Chinos recently. I haven’t tried them yet, but they don’t look like the same silhouette. Maybe girlfriend chinos are going out? I don’t know. But I’ll be wearing them.

However, the Stretch Cotton Chinos do look “neat.” So I’m sure I’ll give them a shot!

Black Veronica Beard Scuba Jacket

This sleek, versatile jacket is by far the biggest fashion investment I made this past year. But already I’ve worn it at least a dozen times and I haven’t even had it quite a full month. What makes this black blazer worth the price for me? The fit is bar none, the interior stitching is immaculate and streamlining, the look is chic and the versatility – especially with the addition of the dickeys – is optimal.

As I head out the door in just a bit, I’m wearing this blazer with this dickey (as seen above) paired with my white ribbed tee and these Wander Stash Skinny Pants in black. Oh so chic. But also quite comfortable!

White linen blazer

Of course my white linen blazer is long ago sold out, but I had to include it in this list. I purchased it from Talbots last spring and I must have worn it dozens and dozens of times. I think my mom ended up with one, too!

Signature Clothing

These next few pieces are not really wardrobe essentials, but I consider them signature pieces. These are the pieces that make my wardrobe look like it’s “mine.” Know what I mean? While I purchased several cardigans, jackets, pullovers, dresses, etc., this year, these are the ones I have loved wearing the most.

Green Sweater Dress

I rarely wear any other kind of dress during the winter, even when I lived in a warmer climate. To me, winter just begs for a sweater dress.

This dress is a favorite because it checks all the boxes. It’s one of my signature colors, it works well with my suede boots, it’s warm and cozy and the silhouette is pleasingly feminine. This sweater dress is still available, but sold out in the size I’m wearing, medium.

Long Plaid Blazer

I’m hard pressed to choose a favorite from the blazers I purchased this fall. I think I ended up with five! And I don’t regret buying a single one of them. But this plaid blazer is probably actually my most versatile, next to my black blazers.

I think I rate this long plaid blazer so high because it’s a lighter weight than, say, my corduroy blazers, so it’s a good transition piece. And I especially like to wear it with solid t-shirts, graphic tees, a simple solid colored sweater or my chambray shirt. Also the long silhouette is probably the most flattering on me.

This long blazer is still available in misses, petite and plus sizes and is marked down considerably.

Chic Cashmere Camel Wrap Cardigan

I love, love, love this cashmere wrap cardigan. It looks simply elegant with just a white t-shirt and jeans. But I’ve also worn it frequently with my black pants and a black tank.

My cashmere wrap cardigan is no longer available in camel, and is only available in the equally beautiful grey in large. I’m wearing a small for reference. But I did find this one at Off 5th that looks comparable.

Long Boyfriend Cardigan in Green

I bought this long green cardigan last spring when it was 50% off at Ann Taylor. I enjoyed wearing it in the spring with jeans and navy. But I also wore it with all black on my anniversary as styled in this post.

Of course my exact sweater is long ago sold out. But recently Ann Taylor came out with this very similar rendition in green, blue and red ochre. I find this sweater is a great piece for its versatility, comfort and beautiful color.

Shoes

ECCO Yucatan Sandals

I absolutely do wear these comfortable ECCO Yucatan Sandals post-hike. But I wear them so much more than that. These are sturdy and comfortable enough for a mild hike, but also pretty enough to wear sight-seeing or running errands. Especially when my feet need a break from less comfortable shoes, these are the ones I reach for in the warmer months. They run true to size.

UGG® Grove Genuine Shearling Trim Slipper

Shame on me for never sharing these on the blog before. At least I don’t think I have, other than maybe in a gift guide. But these UGG® Grove Genuine Shearling Trim Slippers have definitely been one of my best buys this past year. I needed a shoe I could wear during the day while I work from home, with pajamas and also as I take the dog out in the mornings. These fit the bill because they’re very sturdy, but also soft, comfortable and cozy. I wear these slippers daily! I wear a half size, so I sized up as suggested and they work perfectly.

Gala Two Strap Genuine Calf Hair Slide Sandal

Surprisingly, I think these sandals are the one item I bought at full price this year. I had seen them on sale, missed it and regretted it. So I kept watching for them to be marked down again, but they never were. Finally, I decided I would wear them enough to justify the price. And I can tell you that I absolutely did.

I slipped into these leopard print slides almost every day this past summer. And I’m sure I’ll have them on repeat this year, too. They do run a bit large, so maybe size down 1/2 size unless you have a wide foot.

Frye Carly Tall Boots

I’ve wanted a pair of Frye boots for years. And when I saw them go on sale in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale I knew this was the year I’d at least try them. When the Tory Burch boots arrived first and felt wonderful, I decided I probably wouldn’t keep the Fryes, which hadn’t arrived yet. But when these Carly Tall Boots arrived they surpassed my expectations and the Tory Burch boots…hands down.

I have these boots in the extended calf in my regular size 9.5. I find them to be comfortable and easy to walk in. They’re also quite versatile, working well with jeans, cords and skirts.

Handbag

Tory Burch McGraw Leather Hobo

I love my black leather hobo so much I bought one in moose brown, too. It’s still available in black, but not marked down right now. And it’s also available in a beautiful Devon Sand, perfect for spring and summer.

If you like this bag but don’t want to pay full price for it (I certainly didn’t), you can favorite it in the shopping widget below and get a notice when it is marked down.

Honorable “Un”Mentionables

Vanishing Edge Microfiber With Lace High Leg Brief

Good under garments are the foundation of beautiful style. I found these Vanishing Edge Microfiber With Lace High Leg Briefs last spring or so and have accumulated about a dozen pairs now…enough to get me to the next laundry cycle!

These panties really do keep you from having those annoying panty lines and they’re comfortable, too. Buy the same size you wear in pants.

Outerwear

Cole Haan Hooded Down & Feather Jacket

Of course I had to purchase a warm coat upon arrival in Cincinnati. I bought this Cole Haan Hooded Down & Feather Jacket in mushroom, I think it is. Now it’s only available in black, so I guess a lot of people liked this coat.

I went with a large in this coat just so I would have ample room for at least three layers underneath. While I could probably have worn the medium, I’ve not regretted the extra room. I’m definitely layering these days!

There are many other items I’ve purchased this year that I’ve loved wearing and will keep in my closet. But these 19 are definitely at the top of the list, even if I may remember something I left off eventually.

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Blessed for My Day

Are you at odds with anyone? Is there someone who gets on your ever last nerve? Or maybe there is someone that you rarely see now, but the memory of that person and the hurt they caused you still simmers on low heat in the back of your mind all the time.

Let me encourage you to make this the year that you put that relationship right. It may not be easy and right now making amends, even in your own heart, may seem unimaginable. I get it. Really I do. But God instructs us not to harbor bitterness toward another person in our heart. We don’t have to be wrapped up in relationship with them, mind you. But we do need to let go of the resentment and hate and ask God to fill that space with a holy, gracious love…even if we remain physically at a distance.

You could begin the process simply by confessing it to God and asking Him to begin the work of softening your heart.

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. ~ 1 John 4:20-21