A #20in2020 Challenge Recap
So here we are just a few days away from the new year. There’s still a few items I’d like to check off my to-do list before properly sending off 2020, and none have hung over my head quite like writing this post.
For those of you new here, this year I took part in the #20in2020 challenge hosted by @dressing_dawn. The challenge was to limit clothing purchases to 20 items in 2020 to curb consumption and develop a better understanding of your personal style and shopping habits. I’ve shared a few posts and a video about my reasoning for joining and my progress throughout the year. This challenge has been eye opening in my ways so today I thought I’d give a full recap of how I did and what I learned.
How Did It Go?
So I’m sure the first thing you want to know is, “Well, what was your final number?”, and without sounding extremely hypocritical I want to say it’s complicated. It’s complicated because after a 180° career change, plans falling through, a cross-country move and generally just trying to survive and navigate the dumpster fire that was 2020, a lot of things fell by the wayside. So I have a few different counts, which I’m hoping are as accurate as possible considering many of my clothes are still in giant vacuum seal bags. The number of items purchased within my challenge criteria is 18. The total number of new items in my wardrobe, both gifted and purchased outside of my challenge criteria is 78 (yikes!).
If you’re wondering what I consider outside of my challenge criteria here’s a list I created using Dawn’s own criteria as a starting point. She also included any “core uniform” replacement items.
Returns
Obligatory purchases (ie: bridesmaid dress, etc.)
Items ‘gifted’ from brands that I work with. I talk more about this in my last challenge check in.
What I learned
Capsule wardrobe enthusiasts always rave about style apps that track new purchases and number of wears, and after this challenge I can see why. There is a lot of power that comes from understanding your own shopping habits and one of the fastest ways to do this is to track every new item that comes in to your wardrobe. Here are a few things I learned about my own shopping habits:
I lacked ‘practical and outdoor-appropriate clothing in my wardrobe so I purchased them more impulsively, as needed.
I had 0 loungewear at the start of the year. This led to panic-buying sweatpants from Target a couple days before an international flight that I ended up cancelling. (Honestly no regrets here but lol at the chaos of that sentence)
Buying outerwear secondhand in the off-season is still a sustainable shopping hack that I swear by.
I’m definitely a shoe girl. Never realized that before…
I tend to buy a lot of repeat items (white shirts, blue jeans, black dresses) and should change up the colors or limit this altogether.
One big accomplishment
The best thing to come out of this challenge, and perhaps the reason I will label it a success in my books, is that it helped me kick my fast fashion habit! The first few pieces I purchases in the early days of January were from Uniqlo, a store I shopped frequently in 2019. But this year I became fully committed to shopping secondhand, ethically and sustainably for my wardrobe. Granted it was a personal goal I was already working towards, after said shopping trip and before I decided to participate in #20in2020, but the challenge really increased my mindfulness around shopping more consciously and sustainably.
Takeaway Lessons
My biggest takeaway from this challenge is that there is a lot of use in tracking your shopping habits. It helps you learn about your personal style and why, when and where you shop. When you have the tools for self-reflection you can use that information to make better shopping decisions going forward. Wait a week or a month before ordering that thing online. Make a list of items you want before you start shopping each season. Ask yourself if you already have a similar item in your closet. I’m taking all of these reminders with me into the new year so that every purchase is a thoughtful one.
Quince Cashmere Sweater | Re/Done Stovepipe Jeans | Ana Luisa Venus Hoops | Missoma Coin Necklace| Ana Luisa Curb Chain | Ana Luisa Jo Chain | Ana Luisa Elina Bracelet
So now I’d LOVE to know your thoughts. Did you participate in the #20in2020 challenge or a similar no-buy or low-buy year? What was your experience? Did you set a personal shopping or style-related goal for the year? And would you consider it going into the new year? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks again to @dressing_dawn for creating this challenge and the wonderful community around it.
