6 Sustainable Shopping Habits for 2026

There’s something about coming back from a trip that gives you fresh eyes. Don't you think?

Last year, after 3 weeks in New York with just a suitcase and a handful of remixable outfits, I came home, opened my wardrobe, and had a mixture of feelings.

Joy and excitement to be reunited with some beautiful old friends.

Blended with some frustration and "uggh, what on earth was I thinking?” from other items peeking out and taunting me like a school bully!

Looking at my wardrobe with a post-trip perspective, I could see that while my shopping habits in 2024 had definitely evolved (less panic buying, fewer influencer-led whims), there were still too many "nearly-rights" and maybes sneaking in.

So I did what I often do when I need clarity: I journaled!

You can't change what you don't know, so through journaling, I first teased out and faced my unhelpful patterns and habits.

Then I got to dig into what I actually wanted from my wardrobe. What I needed more of, and what needed to stop adding!

Out of that deep and meaningful chat with the pages of my journal came this commitment list.

Originally written last year, these commitments helped guide my shopping in 2025. But now, at the start of 2026, I’m recommitting to the list with a couple of tweaks.

I don’t do resolutions (they're a waste of my energy!!) But I do believe in small, strategic habit changes to support me in achieving what I want.

And when it comes to shopping and my wardrobe in 2026, what I want for myself is to:

• Spend more intentionally

• Curate a wardrobe that is even more mix-and-match wardrobe

• Make sure every purchase aligns with my F*ck Yeah Style.

Now, I’m sharing them here not because I think you need to do the same, but as something which may (or may not) pose a few questions that get you thinking and perhaps give you the nudge to write your own commitment list, if you think it could be helpful for you.

So grab a brew or a wine and let’s dive in!

1. Shop My Wardrobe as Much as Possible

I will prioritise reimagining and remixing what I already own before buying anything new. Because honestly, most of us don’t have a not-enough-clothes problem. It’s usually:

• Not knowing what we own

• Not feeling confident styling it

• Not feeling inspired

• Feeling a bit disconnected from ourselves and our own tastes

For me, this commitment means:

• Making my wardrobe more visible (out of sight = out of mind)

• Noticing when I default to the "I’ve got nothing to wear" story and really pushing back at the truth of that statement, and then choosing to head to my wardrobe and experiment to create new combos vs immediately heading to Vinted or the charity shop!

2. Prioritising Second-Hand First Where I Can

I did pretty well sourcing things second-hand last year, but I was far from perefect and that's okay. Perfect is never my aim.

There were a few time-sensitive bits I bought new (shoes, winter coat), but overall, I would estimate that about 70% of what I bought was 2nd hand.

The biggest challenge with this commitment is patience. We’re so used to getting everything quickly these days, and second-hand shopping often requires a mindset shift and a bit of time. But there’s something deeply satisfying about finally finding the exact thing you need pre-loved.

So this year, I'm continuing to prioritise thrift stores, vintage shops, and resale platforms before buying anything new. Because most of the time, the thing I want is out there, I just have to be willing to look and be patient.

Side note: I will only be buying things that are brand new with or without tags and in excellent/very good condition. I bought a couple of items last year, which I regret because their condition was a bit too worn, if you get my meaning!

3. Stick to My No-Buy List

I will continue to refer to my No-Buy List (curated from past mistakes or noticing patterns) before purchasing anything to avoid:

• Impulse buys

• Repeat buys of things I already know don’t work for me

• Duplicates of things I already own (and forgot I owned)

This list includes:

• Items I’ve bought before that didn’t work

• Colours or cuts that never get worn, or when I do wear them, they feel off

• Items I've seen on others, have tried, but don’t feel right on me

• Items I already have multiple of, and adding more adds no new options to my outfit options

Because if I don’t track, I’ll keep falling into the cycle of the same

• Same items

• Same mistakes!

Familiarity is seductive even when it doesn’t serve us!

The types of questions I ask when I'm working out if something needs to go on this list are:

• Why did I buy this in the first place?

• What did I think it would add to my wardrobe?

• What was the problem it was supposed to solve?

• And if it didn’t solve it, what would have been a better solution?

4. Strategically Shop to Avoid Buying Problems vs Solutions

If you can relate to this thought, “I’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear.” Definitely take note of this one!

I used to try to fix this without any strategy whatsoever. I’d buy something new based on how much I liked it, hoping it would magically pull everything together.

At best? That gave me one extra outfit.

At worst? I ended up with another item I couldn’t style, which then required me to buy more just to make it work.

Randomly buying more didn’t actually leave me any better off!

My guideline now is simple: If it can’t help me create at least three outfits using what I already own, or if I have to buy 100 other items to make one thing work? It’s a no.

My whole focus now is on adding items that add ease and versatility to my wardrobe, not items that create another styling headache. I want things to feel simple!

5.No Content-Driven Buys.

As I started posting more outfit and styling content, I noticed the subtle pressure to wear new-to-me clothes just for social media. It crept in quietly, but it was there.

After a few months, I called myself out on it. Because:

• It didn’t align with my values around intentional and sustainable shopping

• Even second-hand shopping can become overconsumption if things are worn once (or never) and forgotten

• I want a wardrobe made up of complementary pieces, not a content churn machine!

My focus now is on creative styling with what I already own. I treat style content creation as a gallery for my creativity AND as a way to educate, not a reason to buy!

6. Everything I Buy Goes Through My Fuck Yeah Style Lenses

This is the commitment that underpins all the others.

Everything I buy now goes through my Fuck Yeah Style lenses. These are the markers I use to decide:

• Does this align with what feels like me with the creation of outfits that work?

• Will it support the creation of outfits that help me to express, not impress, and show up how I want to?

• Can I see myself wearing it in multiple ways with other things I own?

• If something will add ease to my daily style, or will it take a lot of work to make it right

• If something is truly right for me,

• If I'm settling because I'm compromising on price, fit, colour, etc

Without clear style markers, it’s easy to keep buying things that are nearly right or not right at all— pieces that technically work, or look good on someone else, but don’t quite land. If it’s a close-but-not-quite, I leave it.

2026 is the year my purchases have to be bang in alignment with my style. I'm not available for a wardrobe full of compromises that annoy me every time I try to wear them! I’m choosing alignment over compromise!

My final thoughts

Overall, 2026 is about raising my standards for what I buy, being intentional with anything I add, and getting more out of what I already own by being more creative.

And here’s the bigger mindset shift I encourage you to lean into in 2026

The truth (is as previously mentioned), most of us don’t need more clothes.

What we usually need is:

• Clarity on what makes an outfit feel like us (your F*ck Yeah Style markers and framework)

• Room to experiment and try unexpected combinations

• To develop and practice our styling skills

• To practice remixing outfits so your wardrobe becomes more versatile

• Strategic tools (like F*ck Yeah Style Lenses and markers) to guide decision-making

• Trust in your own taste and what you’re drawn to!

Ok, that's all for this one.

Let me know if any of these commitments hit home, or if you’re making your own this year. Always here for a good wardrobe chat!

If you want a way to start exploring all of this, grab my 7-Day Style Diary — it’s a simple and practical way to reconnect with your wardrobe and your style.