Top Wardrobe MVPs of 2024
Happy New Year! 🎉 I thought instead of posting my favorite outfits for the year, I’d talk about some of the things I purchased in 2024 that have really earned their keep. Either they have become wardrobe workhorses, or in some way filled a specific need.
Clothing & accessories MVP’s
(Yes, I added a lot of brown in 2024. It’s one of my best neutrals, and one that hasn’t always been widely available, so I’m taking advantage of the color trend.)
My sizes: Jacket – Small, Trousers – 6 Petite
There are 3 MVP’s in this photo, though only two of which were new purchases in 2024. The Madewell “slouchy straight” pants were a great choice for my fall travel wardrobe. They were comfortable, easy to style, and weren’t prone to wrinkles. I’d definitely pack them again for milder season travel.
The wider adjustable bag strap made wearing my crossbody bag so much more comfortable over several hours, and added a fun leopard print to the look.
The Sézane Betty cardigan/jacket was an earlier purchase, but has been an MVP on my last few trips. They can be worn open over another top, or buttoned as a top or mid-layer.
Everything I’m wearing above is an MVP! I love these fleece “Mini Belfast” jackets from Frank & Eileen, and wear this one multiple times per week. (If you are taller or prefer a longer cut, try the original “Belfast” style.)
The sweater is one of the J.Crew “shrunken” cashmere styles, which is a perfect length for Petites or for wearing with fuller-leg pants or skirts. I’ve added a few colors over the year. I think this style runs small, so would suggest sizing up for a less snug fit.
These Ruti classic barrel leg jeans are one of the pairs I wear most often. They’re incredibly comfortable (have some stretch), and the barrel cut isn’t too extreme. The dark wash also helps them look more polished. I think they run small, and went up a size.
And these Vince loafers are good-looking and SO comfortable! I packed these for my last trip and walked all over Paris and London in them. As with most Vince shoes, they tend to run 1/2 size large.
This little down vest from Ruti has also turned out to be one of my 2024 best buys. It travels well, is perfect for fluctuating temperatures, and is washable. Yes, I’ve washed and dried mine in the machine, and it came out looking like new! (Suggest using wool dryer balls.) It runs a little small, and is still available in larger sizes (also in black).
Travel gear, accessories & more…
After road-testing a couple of different “personal item” options for travel, I tried this backpack and it ticked every box!
- Lightweight, not bulky, comfortable to wear ✅
- Padded laptop compartment ✅
- Roomy enough to carry my essentials ✅
- Trolley sleeve keeps it secure on the handle of my spinner luggage ✅
- Lots of organization for small bits & bobs ✅
- Nice looking ✅
I was looking for a lighter and more compact toiletries bag for travel, but still wanted the hanging feature and clear compartments. This one from Bagsmart is a winner! Available in several colors.
Early last year I started experiencing tingling and numbness in my hands and lower arms. My doctor diagnosed carpal tunnel and suggested I wear wrist braces to sleep. These were not only comfortable to sleep in, but after two nights of wearing them my symptoms had vanished! I still wear them nightly, and have not had a recurrence of carpal tunnel symptoms.
Last winter I undertook an extensive redecorating project, and am still thrilled with how it turned out! Though the redecorating was focused on my front room, dining room, and office/studio, I decided to have the entire inside of the house repainted, as some rooms hadn’t been refreshed in over a decade or more. I ended up choosing Benjamin Moore “White Dove” for walls and trim everywhere, and am still amazed at how well it worked in every room. Couldn’t be happier!
What were some of your best purchases in 2024?
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Hi Susan, I always enjoy your content. I too have relished the return of brown as it suits what I believe is my Autumn color palette. I love your choice of decor also. Could you source the rug and throw pillows? Thank you!
I love your Sézanne cardigan jacket the most. And those wrist braces…I wished they had such marvelous things for arthrosis too.
Greetje
Enjoyed looking through your MVP’s . Do you enjoy wearing your striped Rag and Bone striped sweater or prefer a solid color ? Could Winters pull it off ?
I should have been specific it is the viola stripe cream and navy. I love the look though hesitant at cost and wondering how it wears.
Hi Michelle, I like the stripes for adding interest to a simple outfit, but if I were wearing a printed top would opt for a solid color. The base color is close to Stone in the Winter palette, so should work for a Winter.
I remember seeing earlier posts with many of these. I love all your shrunken tops and amazing jackets and sweaters. At five two I find myself searching out those same proportions. Headed to London and Paris in first hand of May so I’m aireasy thinking spring even though we have sux weeks in Mexico coming up first (mostly in the mountains). Always love your looks!
Happy New Year, Susan!
I enjoyed this review of ’24! Being a rather curious person, I often wonder which products are your favorites, so this post answered my question! I purchased the Sezane sweater, which is a great travel and everyday garment. While I usually go for more traditional shapes, I like your Ruti vest and slim barrel jeans: I wear boxy style sweaters and jackets well and find it really hard to find comfortable jeans, so will look at these!
Hi Susan and HNY! Love the Beis backpack idea. I’ve recently discovered backpacks for my personal item as well, and it’s made such a difference in travel. On a future blog post, would love to learn about what you include and how you pack your backpack, especially for international travel. Thanks for your content!!
Happy New Year, Susan! Your style, travels, and home decor inspire me. As a soft autumn, I’m also always on the lookout for beautiful browns. Best wishes for a great 2025!
I’ve been scooping up the brown myself. It disappeared for a few years. I am (so they say) autumn, so I have always like brown.
Hey, I noticed that drinks cart back behind your couch. Have you/will you do a column on that?
Susan that is so interesting about your experience with carpal tunnel. I got it years ago when we were tiling our own floors. It eventually went away but after quite a long time!
Love your MVP. Am wondering if you are able to recommend a hotel near the Luxembourg gardens in Paris? I think you stayed in a hotel near there last trip and my travelling companion is keen to stay in the area after our rather disastrous hotel choice in 2023. Would appreciate any suggestions – we are looking at the last week of August. Thank you
Hi Susan, thanks! You might want to take a look at Hotel Sainte Beuve https://bit.ly/4gEoGJE It’s a smaller hotel on a quiet street, just a couple of blocks from Jardin Luxembourg. Lots of good cafes nearby, too. That’s where I stayed in September.
I read your posts religiously but often buy secondhand to try them out. My MVP’s were the Ruti ultimate barrel jeans, the Madewell pewter kitten heel boots (lo and behold Amazon had them, and offered 50% at the same time), a couple of Eileen Fisher pieces in Aegean (I am a soft summer, prefer blue-greens to clear blues), and a couple more cashmere EF sweaters. The wrist braces are next up! I love your style, but being retired, I don’t have as many reasons to dress up.
This recap was great
Thanks very much, Pamela!
I have to comment on your lovely room in the last picture. For the past year, I’ve been immersed in a major kitchen/living room remodel. Mostly done now, but still need a few things for the living room. So whenever I see pictures of pretty living rooms, I tend to study & analyze them. Is this your main living area? My question is about lighting. You seem to have only the ceiling can lights, and no lamps or reading lights. I see this a lot in magazine pictures and model homes, but it won’t work for me; I feel that each chair/sofa needs a reachable table to place a drink, as well as a source of reading light. Any interior design experts want to chime in? I think maybe “no lights” is a trend, since I had a hard time finding nice lamps to choose from.
Hi Jill, there are two lamps in the front room, neither of which show up in this photo. One is on the console table in the entry area, the other is a floor lamp in the opposite corner, between one of the chairs and the bookshelf. You can see it in this photo: https://unefemme.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/living-room-after-1.jpeg Because it’s an old house, there aren’t a lot of electrical outlets in the original rooms.
I usually read in the other room (studio/den) and have a floor lamp right next to one of the chairs.
Thanks Susan! Love the floor lamp. And I thought you probably had another living area, better set up for reading. I am definitely noticing a trend, though, with rooms that seem to have no lamps! Recently went to a friend’s housewarming for her lovely new build home. It was all very nice, but it was odd to me that the living room seating (large sofa & 2 chairs in a u-shape, facing the fireplace/tv) had no lighting at all. Plus, the coffee table in the middle of the “u” couldn’t be easily reached from any of the seating! ♀️