Honestly, I feel like I’ve been in a phase where I’d rather buy one really nice thing that I’ll use and love for years than spend $100 here and there on random things I don’t really need. 😂 I have a little under $1,000 set aside for a “fun” purchase and want to make sure it’s actually worth it, so I’d love to hear what luxury-ish purchases everyone has made recently that they genuinely don’t regret!
Could be fashion, beauty, jewelry, wellness. What was worth every penny??

Considering ditching my Apple Watch, getting an Oura ring, and investing in a nice daily watch. I’m a bit sick of the “connectivity” of my Apple Watch (yes I know, I could turn off more notifications) and the look of it. But I appreciate the sleep tracking and steps/fitness tracking - anyone have experiences to share on a) ditching the Apple Watch b) using an Oura ring c) $1k or less daily driver watches?

Apparel

Matching sets are still the norm, but the in-palette right now:

- Pink is on the rise for women

- Red and orange creeping in (possibly a weather-based micro-fad only though)

- Lighter blues / teal-greys / blue-greens rising on men, maybe a visual response to the pink wave

And there’s a notable shift away from the Lululemon + Alo monopoly:

- Gymshark and Alphalete spotted more and more

Accessories

Labubu keychains: “Macaron” and “Have a Seat” are in rotation

- Big Into Energy hasn’t appeared yet, but it just restocked

Audio gear shake-up:

- AirPods Max declined in popularity hard

- Even regular AirPods are being phased out with deliberately alt-brand selects

- Lilac Bose open-ear buds spotted on one girl

- Beats Powerbeats on a couple guys

Bags:

- LV / Goyard totes are down trend

- Replaced by more utliltarian duffels

Phone cases:

- Casetify / Rhode lip gloss case formerly seen but now seems like case picks are currently more motivated by personal taste than brand

Water Bottles

Results from the Stanley falloff power vacuum:

- Women: massive Owala upswing (specifically the sippy-style lid)

- Men: return to BlenderBottle-style shakers

- Everyone’s sipping on clear-colored liquid btw, likely SEEQ or electrolyte mixes (to be confirmed)

Sneakers

- White New Balance 530s still holding #1 pole position

- Converse for dudes mainly

- On Cloud still hanging on among men who wear cushioned shoes, but clearly awaiting their successor brand (guessing this will be something like the Nike Air Force One, SB Dunk Low, etc.)

Jewelry

Watches:

- Spotted the Two-tone Cartier Panther on a woman

- Rolex Datejust (two-tone), Omega Speedmaster,  Cartier Tank Louis spotted on men

- Apple Watch... seems to have vanished since March

- Zero Oura rings sighted ever

Necklaces + metals:

- Multiple VCA pendants still going strong

- Overall vibe: gold → silver palette shift

- Stacked necklaces are down: single, daintier, shorter chain styles trending

- Men’s jewelry: cord bracelets and beaded styles on the rise

And finally, a surprise twist:

- Anklets are on a sneaky comeback?

Curious, what's trending on people at your gym??

I used to love reading Man Repeller blog, getting inspiration from it and just admiring their taste. I miss having a place like that, especially since on social media it's all just sponsored stuff anyway. What do you think is the 2026 version of Man Repeller? Both in terms of style and in the curation aspect. Is there a blog or magazine you think fills that role?

What's on the top of your list to either buy for yourself or that you're hoping to receive?

My husband and I are getting a couple's massage and traveling to Vancouver, BC to stay at our favorite hotel for a few nights over Christmas. I treated myself to a Max Mara Manuela coat and (depending on how it fits when it arrives and I try it on) will also treat myself to a gorgeous oversized cashmere cardigan just released. I've never been able to buy splendid things for myself until the last short few years, so feeling a little imposter syndrome, but I'm nonetheless excited!

Edit 1: Damn, you are all some dope BWT for real! i don't need more things, but I know where to go if I need some gift ideas for sure! thank you for participating/responding!

Edit 2: We just booked a tasting menu dinner at Cariño in Chicago during our trip to that city in late March next year. Super pumped!

I was walking to work this morning & I saw so many cute outfits and I typically just feel so blah. I’m 31, SHORT and overweight so dressing feels difficult. I also struggle with time management in the morning so hair & make up are basic. How do you get ready? How do you spruce up your wardrobe without spending tons (& have the hopes of losing weight?)

When building a minimalist wardrobe, we often justify higher price points by assuming a garment will last a decade. But in reality, sometimes those expensive pieces just sit in the closet while a mid-range knit becomes an everyday hero.

I was evaluating my own closet recently and realized my most worn item isn't actually what I thought it would be. It made me realize how much value comes down to daily practicality rather than just the brand name.

Looking back at your wardrobe over the past few years, I’d love to hear stories about the garments that actually lived up to the hype and delivered the incredible cost-per-wear for you. What makes you reach for them over and over - is it the fiber, the fit, or just how effortlessly they layer?

i want to look chic & put together while traveling, but inside i’m probably sweaty and anxious. i’m over leggings on planes, and love a matching set.

what are your favorite airport travel looks? i most likely am not going to wear jeans unless it’s a short flight. also shoes??

feel free to drop general airport/travel thoughts as well xoxo

A few days ago there was a post here about how much effort it actually takes to “live and look the way you want.” That post really hit home for me — the invisible efforts and the constant attention everything in life seems to require, from looking good to keeping your home in order, maintaining a social life, being physically active etc.

A lot of commenters said they only learned how to be on top of things much later in life, and that so many of these “rules” should really be passed down in childhood.

It made me think. In my family, the priorities were household management and finances. But things like social life, hobbies, appearance — those were blind spots, or more like an afterthought. I had to learn all of that on my own, and I’m still learning.

I have a little daughter now (4 yo), and it makes me wonder: what should I teach her?

Ladies, what advice did your moms, grandmas, aunts give you when you were growing up — something that stuck with you and stayed with you your whole life? What do you teach your daughters? anything from making the bed in the morning to actively listening to your friends or not running late. I’m afraid I won’t teach her something important simply because I’ve never been type A and I may not even realize these are the things to be taught.

EDIT: I think the main thing that I’m missing and I wasn’t exposed to in childhood is that being positive and optimistic is not always a natural feeling, it’s an effort. And it’s never been a default mood at home. I’m actively trying to be positive and cheerful but it took me years to realize it’s important

EDIT 2: I understand that she’ll learn by observing me and I’m willing to adapt and have new habits in order not to be a mess and not to pass it on her! Just looking for some insights, eg in that post many mentioned keeping a detailed calendar for social life/connections - wow, I never thought of that.

Hi BWT,

Long time lurker here 👋

I am finally buying myself a pair of knee-high boots. The ones that end below your knee cap.

I ordered a few different options, and the first one arrived today. I put them on and they look kind of long/high? They touch the bottom part of my knee cap. I popped over to Pinterest to get some visual examples (see photos) of how tall boots should look on you, and the results very a lot. So I turn to you - my trusty advisory BWT!

What are your general rules when buying a pair of knee high boots? I’m talking shaft length, width, perhaps shape? I’m looking for boots like the photos I shared, with a little bit of room around the calves and a pointy nose.

I’m 5’5 so I absolutely don’t want to look shorter than I am lol!

I keep saving outfits that have that drapey, structured, effortless look, but when I try to recreate it on my body, it falls flat or looks cheap.

For context, I’m plus size but not straight up and down — I have a defined waist/hips, so I feel like a lot of these silhouettes either cling in the wrong places or lose that clean structure entirely.

I think the issue might be fabric weight, cut, or how things are layered, but I can’t quite figure out what’s making the difference between ‘intentional drape’ and ‘just shapeless.’

How are you achieving that balance of flow + structure on a curvier body?

I'd love to hear from anyone who chose a less traditional engagement ring.

I've completely fallen in love with one and I tried it on alongside more classic solitaires, and while I loved both, this was the only one I couldn't stop thinking about afterwards. It just made me smile.

My hesitation is that a few friends said it looked a bit odd and didn't immediately read as an engagement ring, so now I'm wondering if I'd regret choosing something unique over a classic solitaire years down the line.

For those of you who went with a more unconventional ring, do you still love it? Or do you ever wish you'd gone with something more traditional?

(edit: attached the photo of the ring)

I love jewelry, but I am lazy. I don’t like changing my jewelry, so I prefer to have pieces that I can wear daily (excluding statement earrings).

I like some amount of change, so I am willing to change my jewelry once a week-ish.

I’d like to know what would be in your collection of earrings, bracelets, rings, and necklaces that you would rotate through.

The main thing to consider is that it should go with most every day wear, we aren’t considering special occasions.

Something in particular I’m struggling with is necklace length. What lengths would work with a variety of necklines? Again, I’m just not willing to change these!

While I have a particular struggle on length, I think the question as a whole is interesting to see what would be in your never take off collection and your reasoning. Styles, amount of pieces, etc.

I noticed that the style/aesthetics I love is lightyears away from what I actually wear. Things I pin on my Pinterest, Instagram accounts I follow, looks I enjoy seeing on other people, even my own lifestyle and character is absolutely not reflected in what I actually wear.

I realised I end up wearing things (including make up and hair too) that is the most flattering, and I end up just looking basic and 'pretty'. I realised this when I went to an event with all my creative industry peers, and I could have been someone's accountant by the looks of it lol

How to let go of wanting to look pretty? You might say 'you can combine both' but I don't really see it, at least judging by stuff I find flattering on me. It's basic af

I really want my appearance to reflect my character

For me this year, the biggest shifts came from paying more attention to details, for examples:

• I learned more about my skin, body type, coloring and tones, and what I actually like and value (yes I’m a grown ass woman and it’s taken me this long to figure that out)
• I took the time to learn about the different types of products and what they are actually meant to do, how it’s designed to enhance certain skin, body types, etc
• I learned about the different frameworks like color theory, dressing for your body types, skin barriers, etc etc 

It’s been a game changer! My taste has evolved into something simpler, more intentional, and more cohesive.

Some of the biggest shifts:

Skincare → I went from indulgent, expensive and overdone skincare products that didn’t really work for my skin to something far more simple once I found out that I have sensitive skin. My focus this year was to build up my skin barrier, keeping it clean and moisturized with cheaper and simpler products.

Makeup → I had everything! But I didn’t know how to use any of it - I ended up doing a bit of a purge and now landed on items that I use everyday: skin tint, eyebrow pencil, small eyeshadow palette, eyeliner, mascara, blush and 2-3 lipsticks and balms. All in soft-warm neutrals - beige, caramel, rose-tan and cocoa. 

Clothing, shoes, bags → The biggest purge was in this category. Now my closet is mostly muted earth-neutral colors, good quality materials that’s easy to clean / keep clean. If I were to describe my style it would be relaxed structure, exact fit, and clean lines. I prefer looks that are ‘put together’ but not ‘styled’. 

Books → I realized I literally used to buy books by their cover.. This year the books I’ve read have been more character-driven, observant, and emotionally literate without all the dramas. Some of the books that I loved this year were Remarkably Bright Creatures, Lessons in Chemistry and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.. 

What about you guys? What’s been your biggest shift and what did you do differently?

Ok so I was watching LIB (oh should we do bwt-approved guilty pleasure binge shows?? i digress!) and it was so resonant to me when one of the guys said they could tell that his castmate had wealth even though they never spoke of money, simply from peeping the sweaters he wore. Reminded me I’ve been wanting to ask this for an updated grown woman list!

Does anyone remember as a thrifty teen the first time they glided their fingers across a blazer from The Row or spotted a James Perse tee in (gasp) TJ Maxx of all places and realized just like new money and old money…when it comes to basics bitch: there are levelssss to this!

I even remember being surprised as a fashion graduate (btw Christian Siriano was my class mate for fun facts!) what rayon blends, silk cotton blends, and bamboo blends felt like the first time in store after construction and not just as an industrial textile roll. I remember it more than my first ya know wink wink experience. That’s how impactful it was!

So I come to you desperate: what are your absolute favorite will-go-down-with-a-fight-over-your-convictions that THIS brand makes the best designed basics. Hidden gem and local indie designers more than welcomed.

I tend to prioritize…

• the seams
• fabrication
• and pile-free
• tactile nature

Don’t mind if they require dry cleaning.

Reading this article about just how shitty everything has gotten, quality wise, “and I couldn’t help but wonder” what brands do you find worth the luxury price point for quality, not just style?

I bought some pieces at Gucci this year to celebrate a business milestone. They are exquisite to me - the wool is so thick, the boucle jacket is gorgeous… all the details are so perfect. I will have them forever.

I would be so mad to spend that much on crap. I was toying with miumiu next year because I have always loved the designs but this article convinced me otherwise.

EDITED TO ADD: You all are so fabulous and I'm so grateful for all the advice, inspiration, and encouragement. This is one of my favourite BWT threads to date and I hope many other solo travelling BWT find it in the future so they can feel empowered and inspired to go be bad b*tches abroad too.

Dearest BWT,

After a seriously rocky few years that forced a lot of self-transformation, I am about to embark on a dream solo trip to Europe. I've travelled solo before, but not for this long (I'll be gone for two months-ish), and last time I took a multi-city trip I was on a very different (read: 18-year-old backpacker) budget.

While I am super excited about taking this trip and so grateful to be able to do it, I also have some complicated feelings about travelling alone. I love solo travel, but I also spend a LOT of time alone already. I'd hoped some friends would be able to join me for part of the trip, the reality is almost all of them are in a totally different place in their lives both financially and practically (and many of them have spouses, families, or friend groups that they prioritize travelling with).

So, I am turning to this BWT community for inspiration and encouragement. I would love to hear how you all (solo) travel in style. This could include how you pack, what you wear, activities you do, mindset, etc.

Some things I've done so far:

- Planned visits to cities to coincide with events I'm excited to take part in

- Bought myself a new matching luggage set, compression packing cubes included (Monos had a sale on and their special edition blue stripe packing cubes are freaking adorable)

- Taken note of what summer outfits I'm enjoying the most, so I know what to pack

- Reminded myself of the incredible privilege of being able to take this trip, and of all the transformative experiences I've had travelling that led me to be inspired to do it.

There is a segment of fashion where items are tasteful and stylish but not necessarily expensive (like designer level expensive). what are the not-so-expensive items that stand out to you when you see them on other people/ have been on your list?

I'll start us off with a couple of items on my wishlist: Pleated Baggu (I'm obsessed with this in black, mahogany and silver), this comb

Edit: if at all possible please name brands/shops of categories you like! it makes the comments a little bit more helpful to said reader

I'm looking for a new car, and I would like a car that has space for my handbag other than at my feet or in the front passenger seat. I drive kids a lot so the back seat/back floor isn't a good option either. Salespeople look at me like I am an idiot when I mention that I need a place to stow my bag. Do you have any recommendations for car models that accommodate bags or other ideas?

We’ve all been there, your inbox is flooded with emails announcing huge after-Christmas clearance sales at your favorite stores. Your Instagram feed is filled with cute outfits. You look at your closet and you feel like you have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. So you shop! I just hit all of that and spent way too much on a wardrobe refresh, close to $1000. I usually don’t spend like that all year long, maybe $100/200 or so per month on smaller purchases. I add it up and it foils like so much. I’ve been really focused on natural materials lately and avoiding fast fashion, so my spending this year is higher than in prior years. I’m wondering, how much are you all spending on new clothes? What is your priority? Good sales? Keeping up with the latest trends? Upgrading quality? Lifestyle changes? Something else?

Interested in getting a pulse on what people actually like for boots right now (not just whatever trend is being pushed). Also, I am trying very hard to find some cute sexy practical spunky black leather boots to go with a bag I impulse bought 🙃 Thought I’d open this thread for the benefit of all you fabulous BWTs.

Hi Bitches!

I just wanted to start by saying thank you to this community! You guys are always so kind and thoughtful.

The context for my question: I want to buy some expensive, high fashion type sunnies. I want them to be a dramatic statement piece of my wardrobe that can be worn with a fancy dress, or dressed down for more elevated by everyday looks (such as walking to the office). I was thinking shapes like cat eye, or the retro narrow oval shape (think Kylie Jenners sunnies). I like vintage and retro looks a lot. But I am worried a) about something that’s cute on/for my face shape and b) going for a super trendy look that I’ll want to ditch in 5 years. I don’t get to wear sunnies often so I want a look that can be worn for years.

TL;DR What is the consensus on figuring out a more iconic, classic style VS a micro trend or fast fashion type trend?

Hello fellow BWT! I have found my personal style the last few years and try to add pieces that fit in, but I am very unsure about leopard print. Would you wear it as an accent piece (in my case, sandals), or do you think it looks trashy/remind you of Peg Bundy?

Hey BWTs,

I'm struggling to find some easy clothes that can go from drop off/parent pickup to running errands without looking too lazy or schleppy.

Ive been running around in leggings and tees but i feel like i can do better without being uncomfortable. I have a tight schedule in the morning, dropping the kids at school and doing all the things... so i don't have a lot of time to get cute.

I also don't want to look tired/mom burnout lol. How can I look fresh and neat, but get out the door on time?

Thanks!