In 2025, I'm letting my inner Knowing guide my personal style

Not a no-buy, not a free-for-all

My feed over the last week has been flooded with folks talking through their No-Buy rules for 2025.

My first instinct was to jump on the bandwagon: buying less is inherently a good thing for the planet, and probably puts less into the pockets of billionaires.

And also, I know that implementing a no-buy in 2025 would not be service of the goals I have for myself this year: to keep building lasting self-trust that I am capable of shopping responsibly, without heavy rules or restriction. That I can create long-lasting habits that promote a relationship to shopping that makes space for just enough.

There are some specific pieces of clothing that I would like to purchase and wear in 2025, the majority of which are replacements for things I loved and wore over the last few years and ultimately bit the dust in 2024. If I were to implement a no-buy in 2025, I would have to stop myself from buying things I genuinely need.

Perhaps most importantly, I wonder what setting a no-buy would tell my psyche. On the surface, a no-buy could simply mean “I have enough.” But, I also hear an undercurrent of “if I didn’t set heavy restrictions, I can’t trust myself to shop responsibly.”

A more generous read could be, “I can shop responsibly, and heavy restriction will help me achieve my goals.” Ultimately, I know that this type of restriction will not serve me right now. In fact, my main goal for 2025 is to seek evidence of my goodness. Generally inclined towards anxiety, I have an easier time spotting my faults, my room for growth. In the coming year, I will be keeping track of what I get right. How I show up for myself and loved ones. As relates to clothing, my goal is to keep shopping intuitively, to listen to the inner Knowing that tells me what I do and don’t need.

Through my Project 333 exploration last year, I learned to listen and trust myself. I was not perfect. You could argue I broke every rule there was. I bought plenty of things during the 3 months. And yet, my self-trust has never been higher. I learned to decipher between my wants and needs. I prioritized shopping for my needs and practiced self-compassion when my “want” purchases ended up not working out the way I intended. I removed everything from my closet that was “only for someone else” - items I was keeping for fear of it going to landfill, or because someone complimented me on it. Or clothing that worked with my color analysis results, but didn’t speak to my soul.

YouTuber Rachel Margaret posted an incredible video last month that beautifully articulates the experience I went through:

She starts the video with a compelling insight:

“In the past I wouldn’t have said that I was very self-critical or that I didn’t trust myself. But, I have had a closet full of other people’s opinions and preferences that proves otherwise.”

Reducing down my wardrobe at the end of last year was a practice of discernment. I listened to my intuition, I “chose my choice.”

yes I am aware that Charlotte’s choice in this episode was actually to listen to society’s expectations of her. But it’s a funny scene, so I’m leaving it in

If I did a no-buy in 2025, it would be to suit other people’s expectations of me.

And so instead, I am going to build self-trust in 2025 by continuing my Project 333 experiment.

I’ll continue a one-in, one-out type approach. I’ll buy the two pairs of linen pants to wear all summer. I’ll listen to the gut feeling that tells me when something new is a good or bad purchase. I’ll ruthlessly return things that don’t feel right. I’ll give myself permission to buy the things I need, when I need them.

Will you join me?

Maureen

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