The best and worst things I bought in 2022
another year of spending money in an attempt to feel something
I started the original version of this newsletter over three years ago to track my spending with the goal of becoming a more thoughtful and responsible shopper. Then the pandemic happened and I went insane. The beginning of the end, I think, was allowing myself to spend many hundreds of dollars making my bed the comfiest place on earth, which in retrospect was totally worth it. I was so fucking comfy. I adored my luxe duvet cover from Brooklinen and my down alternative mattress topper from Parachute.
When I really started spiraling, though, was with tattoos. Over the last three years I must have spent thousands of dollars on them. And it almost always felt good, because I was giving cash directly to artists I admired, some of whom became my friends, and in exchange I got ever closer to achieving body and gender euphoria. I’ve still got some blank spots on my arm that drive me crazy, because I didn’t plan out placement very well, but I’m not allowing myself to get any new work until I’ve paid down my credit card debt.
I’ve been thinking a lot about my relationship with stuff, with material things, after having to sell so many of my precious belongings a couple months ago pre-move: the furniture and art and textiles that I’d spent countless hours sourcing on Craigslist and AptDeco for the first apartment I’d ever lived in alone. As happy as I am to be decorating my new home with Lynette right now, I’m also feeling pretty burnt out by it all, having lovingly built and then razed so many other temporary homes before. But hopefully this is the one that lasts.
Onto the lists!
Best buys
Clothes/accessories
A pair of Marcello Velho pajama pants in “novelty” that I just wear as both lounge and regular pants, on sale for $33
Vagabond square toe loafer boots, a splurge at $165
Aplomb standard waist two-piece swimsuit in cobalt from YouSwim, $139
YouSwim makes these absolutely fabulous suits in a single size that will stretch, they say, to fit anyone from a US size 2 to 14. I’m a 14 on top, 16/18 in bottoms, so I was a little worried, but I had no problems fitting into all the suits from them I tried; I ordered a few different styles. I’m normally a high waist girl, but found that the standard waist was high enough to tuck in my pooch and give me plenty of coverage in back, making it the most flattering fit overall. It’s the most comfortable swimsuit I’ve ever owned. And I love the cobalt, it’s so gorgeous. I want more styles and colors!!
Brown leather ankle boots from the charity shop, £6
Vintage lime green blazer from Portobello road in London, which luckily I liked because I had to buy it after spilling red wine on it (we got it out), £25
My wedding dress, the romance novel gown from Selkie, on sale for $224
My 30th birthday dress, the organza water baby mini puff dress, also from Selkie, on sale for $220
Thank god for Selkie, who make big, romantic princess dresses in sizes up to 6X.
Selva Negra zazie one shoulder top, $48. I’ve got one in blue, one in black, and they’re my most worn tops of the summer. I can get get away with going braless. Praying the white comes back in stock someday.
Feathered strap top from my favorite plus size vintage shop in Brooklyn, Berriez, which also carries straight sizes and accessories from small brands and artists. The jewelry is soooo good.
Another favorite Brooklyn-based indie for plus size is Wray, where my favorite pieces purchased this year include the Libra top in Rosebud, $57, the Drew jean in Ecru, $136, and the Ana skirt in strawberry, $37.
And my third go-to is my girl Samantha Pleet, from whom this year I bought this turtle bodysuit in gemstone, $75. I feel so happy whenever I wear her clothes.
Skincare/wellness
I’ve started getting back into skincare and makeup after over a year of doing absolutely nothing to my face.
DHC oil cleanser, my old tried and true, $25
Millie’s moss gel, £25. I haven’t really had this long enough to say whether it’s doing anything for me, but I enjoy taking a couple spoonfuls of this weird tasteless gel every day to at least feel like I’m helping with decongestion and lung buildup from smoking ouid. It also makes a really great face mask mixed with turmeric and honey.
Nars lipstick in schiap, a cool-toned dark fuschia, $22. After a decade of feeling ambivalent-to-bad about myself in red lipstick, I’ve embraced hot pink and will never go back :)
Home
This list is mostly Ikea, sorry. ily, Ikea!!
Unscented block candle, set of 5, Ikea, $9.99. I pick up a few packs every couple months; an essential for English winter
Pink mini hot glue gun, 5 pounds
Ikea 365 goblets, £1.50 pounds each. These stackable glasses, which I use for wine and desserts, are such a good deal and REALLY beautiful.
Ikea Kyree stool in birch, £15.00
Ikea palm leaf table mats, £2.50 each
Ikea chilifrukt vase/watering can, £12
Abstract oil painting via AptDeco, $75
Worst buys
Clothes/accessories
Miu Miu D’Orsay pumps from the RealReal, $75, which I was considering for my wedding. I couldn’t even stand in them.
Acne Studios Leather Loafers, from the RealReal, $175
Thank god I sold these soon afterward for nearly what I paid for them. They’re SO fun — the sparkly pink!!! — but very sadly just were not comfortable, and I’m no longer at a point in my life where I will wear something that hurts.
Skincare/wellness
Fingersuit press on nails, $35. I am too lazy and messy to ever use these correctly.
Vegamour advanced growth serum, $74. This was a silly pre-wedding purchase. I noticed no real difference in my hair and it’s so expensive??
Solarwave advanced red light therapy wand, $127. Another stupid pre-wedding purchase. I barely ever remembered to use this thing before losing it at my grandma’s house.
Saltyface self tanner, the everything set, $118. Oh, what’s this, more wedding bullshit!! I used the body and face oils twice, to test them before our reception, and the results were… not very natural. I do like the freckle stick, though.
I could keep going, but this letter is already too long to fit in your inbox.
Tonight Lynette and I are going to see our friend Sarah sing in her cover band at one of the local pubs, then we’re all going to a wine bar afterward for dinner. I am going to be attempting a wet, slicked-back look with my new bob; please pray for me.
I know this holiday isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I tend to get pretty into it. Since I was born in early January, a new year does truly feel like a new year to me. Next weekend Lynette and I are taking a little holiday to Hebden Bridge, a tiny artsy village and the lesbian capital of the UK, for my 31st birthday. Can’t wait to report back.
I am so, so grateful to each and every one of you for welcoming me into your inboxes every week. Please let me know if there’s anything at all you’d like to see me cover in 2023!
Happy New Year. I love you.
xxSK