Stop optimising your wardrobe

A non-exhaustive list of clothes we might not need but that make us happy

The other day I caught myself constructing that perfect wishlist for 2025* - basically consisting of everything I now already wish I would have bought in 2024. Unsurprisingly I can say it entails roughly one coat, two trousers, shoes (miss buying shoes so much!) and a bag. Probably all in darker colors, possibly matching everything I already own. And one thing is clear: this feels very basic. Safe. And therefore somewhat boring.

Lately I’ve noticed once again, with unstable world politics (a euphemism, really) or on a smaller scale, with stressful schedules, we feel an increasing desire to control exactly this: our desires, impulses and wishlists. To control anything at all. But what about a deepened sense of humour instead? What if in fashion we can make mistakes? Such as stupidly bought yellow fluffy Prada bags (I wish that was me) that feel very Sesame Street the day after. But maybe equally great? Can we allow ourselves to not fit in, not complete anything with that perfectest new …