As I’ve closed out my twenties, I’ve spent a fair amount of time rethinking my approach to shopping. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized the importance of investing in fewer, but better quality pieces over unintentional purchases and fast-fashion. I’m asking myself questions like, “What pieces do I actually want to invest in?”. “What is my actual personal style?”. “Will I want to wear this in 5 years?”.

So often there’s a constant pressure to buy, without much thought. Being cognizant of that, and spending a fair amount of time figuring out what my sense of style really is, has changed my approach to shopping drastically. Our wardrobes are such a personal representation of ourselves, and wrapping ourselves in pieces that feel like the best outward representation of us can make a huge difference in our mood and happiness. I feel so much better wearing something I’ve intentionally considered rather than a quick purchase.

But how do you figure out what your personal style is? First, I love using Pinterest to find outfit inspiration. Having a visual on hand of what kinds of looks stand out to me is incredibly useful when you’re in a store and don’t know where to turn. Second, sticking to a color palette might be the most helpful tool to focus in on what one should actually buy. I stick to whites, neutrals, blues and greens. Purchasing items that all work within the same color palette makes your wardrobe feel so much more complete and cohesive. And third, go through your entire wardrobe, try everything on and take note on what works for you, what doesn’t, and where you need to fill any gaps. Being aware of what you truly love wearing is a game changer because it will help you sharply focus in on what you should actually be adding!

Now, I don’t bring anything home that I don’t love completely or that I feel is 100% reflective of my own sense of style, and while that’s a high bar some days, it results in only filling my closet with pieces I truly love, and a lot less waste. With all that said, I’ve rounded up my favorite fashion finds of the year below. Fair warning, while many are on sale, some sizes have sold out. Either way, I hope these tips help you as we ring in another year.