ONLY Five Items in 2025!! My Low-Buy Year Plans & Guidelines

2025 is here, and so is the latest report that the planet can't handle how much we shop. This year I'm taking the #5itemschallenge pledge and only allowing myself to buy 5 brand new items for my wardrobe.
In today's video I'm discussing the 8 benefits of only buying 5 new items, as well as how we can best stick to our goal, and what we cna do instead of buying new.
Let me know, will you take the #5itemschallenge pledge?
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[@despoinamousiou]

I will try to do a 15 only items purchasing this year (clothing, shoes and accessories) trying to reduce the number of my purchased items from last year' s 29 that I ended up getting. I don' t mind if they are new or second hand (besides most of my clothes are second hand during the last three years). I will try to stick to my wishlist, that I have already formed and consists of my absolutely indispensable gaps in my wardrobe (a new white t-shirt, white tank top, flat sandals etc). I love your channel and your content and you inspire me to continue my efforts for less and more sustainable purchases. In general I am very satisfied by my wardrobe and I love it that I don' t struggle to get dressed every day. On the other hand I love clothes and fashion and I know how tempting it can get to buy new things every now and then. I' m trying to tackle that. Thanks for your inspiration.

[@TheNicoliyah]

I love that approach, I bought 36 items and plan to half the money that I spent last year whilst sticking in the main part to my wish list. Feel like my wardrobe is pretty well stocked and am using a tracking app which has helped to illustrate how much clothing I have and how much value I’m getting from my clothes

[@gemmaamclean]

@@despoinamousiou great plan! Having a wishlist is super helpful to stay on track, no matter how much you but you know it’s been intentional. Thank you so much lovely ♥️♥️

[@gemmaamclean]

@@TheNicoliyah tracking is so helpful! I’m going to do my best to track consistently this year; I’ve never been consistent with it before but I’d love to be more aware of what I actually wear versus “think I wear” but don’t xx

[@TheNicoliyah]

@@gemmaamclean I have been using an app called Indyx. It’s quite simple to use and just the act of cataloging my outfits is making mix it up a bit more than I normally would. Can’t decide whether to get the paid option or not thou once the free trial ends 🙄😂

[@luluandmeow]

One thing i want to do this year is to "make do" and be less than a perfectionist. This might even lead to more original outfits. For example, I would love a pair of short ankle boots in suede, but I have a pair of navy ones that are almost black and they will do, your outfit does not need to be perfect. But something I must do to look better in clothes is to lose the 4-5lbs I put on recently, now that is going to make clothes hang better, won't cost me anything and will elevate my style more than buying something new.

[@gemmaamclean]

@@luluandmeow this is a realisation I had today while searching for the “perfect” pair of knee high boots on Vinted.. I actually already have knee high boots but they’re fabric rather than leather/leather effect, but like you said it doesn’t have to be perfect all the time. What I have is good enough 😊 x

[@lajupeinstyle]

I try to keep myself buying only 5 things new and the rest secondhand but still keeping my low buy budget (monthly 100 €+ sales from Vinted - I can roll it ) and adding only 12 items in the year. Tracking is a great idea 💡 - you made me to realize that I have not updated my closet app for a while… (huge mistake 😅). I also want to go through items by items and reflect on each piece in my wardrobe…

[@gemmaamclean]

@@lajupeinstyle that sounds like a really great plan!! Oh nooo haha not my intention 🫣 I could do with going through my closet one by one too and really thinking about how much joy I get from each pieces xx

[@wendys243]

Thanks for the motivation Gemma! I am going to try to keep the purchases to 5 and I am already strategizing…🤔😉 Your channel is awesome, here’s to a great 2025. 👍🙏🏼

[@gemmaamclean]

@@wendys243 thank you so much Wendy ♥️ keep me posted on your progress xx

[@stylemethrift997]

I like buying second hand clothes and making them into what I want. Whether that is shortening or taking in, adding embellishments or upcoming into something new.

[@gemmaamclean]

@@stylemethrift997 So much fun! 😊

[@pixiethistle]

I love this idea, Gemma! I am going to try to only buy 5 items (new or used) this year. I have already bought 3 of my 5 items second-hand on ThredUp (technically purchased in 2024 but not delivered yet). In 2024, I bought some fabric from a local art store that only sells used or donated items to make a dress (wish me luck) so I will count that as my 4th item. I would be very interested to see what items go on your wishlistand a tour of the clothes you have made. You have become my fashion inspiration. Thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful content! The planet needs more creators like you!

[@gemmaamclean]

@@pixiethistle that is so dedicated of you to include those in your 2025 5 items.. I would definitely have gas-lighted myself into not including them for this year. I’ll definitely share any pieces I make and try to incorporate them into my videos and wardrobe as I would any other item. Thank you so much, that’s so kind ❤️ xx

[@katrinajohnson9622]

Oooh I’m excited!!!!!! I’ve been listening to other people’s low buy plans/reflections from other years, and thinking about your channel and how you’re probably cooking up something on the topic yourself! 🤩

[@gemmaamclean]

@@katrinajohnson9622 I’ve been watching other peoples videos too for ideas; I think it’s best I set some guidelines for myself, something I saw from Signe Hanson. She had a great too to not include items you need due to body changes and I think that’s a great rule to not feel guilty if our bodies change and we need a couple of bits to fit us nicely xx

[@lauravterrazas]

I started tracking my wardrobe last year and I just tallied up the number of items I bought in 2024 and I'm shocked +embarrassed at the #. I should definitely take your video into consideration. 5 is probably not realistic for me but I'm definitely up for a similar challenge.

[@TheNicoliyah]

I tracked my purchases last year and have started tracking my wears per item this year. And it is a real eye opener 😮

[@lauravterrazas]

@TheNicoliyah Indeed!! it's all too easy to fall into the habit of continuously purchasing items with the expectation that they'll be worn frequently. However, the reality often proves otherwise. 😩

[@TheNicoliyah]

@@lauravterrazas I have some items with an insanely high cost per wear price and others that are super low. I have to say just the act of tracking what I wear is making me wear some of my less frequently worn items more regularly

[@gemmaamclean]

@@lauravterrazas even just having that awareness makes all the difference. Try not judge last years numbers and just use them as a lesson learned 😊 we all have to start somewhere, 5 is extremely low so it will be hard for a lot of people, myself included! I’m not even sure if I’ll achieve it but we’ll see how it goes! Best of luck with yours xx

[@stylemethrift997]

I like to put my winter/summer wardrobe away. When I get it back out it feels new because I haven't been staring at it all year

[@gemmaamclean]

I love that too!! 😁

[@mhtammi]

I have lots of material and sewing notions so I’m hoping to add to my wardrobe that way, as well as work on my sewing skills. I’m also going to try and create up cycled items from what I already have. I will buy underwear, because that’s beyond my skill level. 😊

[@gemmaamclean]

@@mhtammi that sounds like a great plan!! 😊 I actually worked as a seamstress for a lingerie company for a little while when I first moved to London, so I feel as though I should try my hand at that again and actually make some underwear.. although it was pretty difficult!! 😅

[@luluandmeow]

5 items of clothing is not realistic for me (I've already bought 4 in January, 2 quality basics and 2 Massimo Dutti jackets, one velvet and one wool in gorgeous browns) but I'm definitely planning a low-buy year because I already have a beautiful big wardrobe and I don't need any more. The only exceptions would be those pieces (grey jacket, navy coat, brown herringbone blazer, new trench coat) that I've wanted for years but haven't found yet, at least not in the flattering design/length that would suit my petite frame. Other than that, I have enough shoes, underwear/tights, basic t-shirts, knitwear, jeans, cords, scarves and accessories, etc. I love them all. I'm 58 years young and I'm definitely buying more quality pieces and hardly any fast fashion. My problem is that I'm petite and to be honest I'd rather not have things altered because I worry about alterations not being done perfectly and it's also expensive. I also find it really hard to find something that 1) I love; 2) it's reasonably priced; and 3) suits me perfectly, so I buy it when I see it, not necessarily when I need it. Strictly speaking, I don't need anything, I could easily get by with what I have already, and I think most of us are in the same situation, we have more than enough to wear. I've only ever bought modern classic pieces that literally last me for decades, not just years. I am aware of trends but rarely follow them, especially if they're everywhere - I like to be different. So for example this year I stayed away from animal prints and I never did oversize apart from a single pair of inexpensive wide leg jeans. I have more clothes and shoes and accessories than I've ever had in my life and I bought most of them in the past few years, especially last year, because I saw quite a few pieces that I loved. I am not crazy about the 2025 trends and I'm almost relieved as my wardrobe is pretty full and I don't want to feel overwhelmed. It's rare that I buy any summer clothes because summers are short in London and I don't go away on holiday. I struggle to buy 2nd hand to be honest because charity shops here are expensive and mainly selling fast fashion. However I bought a gorgeous midnight blue Zadig & Voltaire blazer from an online charity site and it was just £30, practically new and the retail price would have been around £500 so I'm hugely pleased with that.

[@gemmaamclean]

@@luluandmeow you sound like you’ve curated a really amazing wardrobe! I totally agree with picking up those pieces you e been on the hunt for for years. It’s great that you haven’t settled for something less than what you want too. That’s so true, summers are so short here, Luckily for me I’m quite happy with my summer wardrobe now, I look forward to having it out for the short time 😅 I get that with looking for petite styles, depending on your proportions it may take a lot of alterations, not always as simple as shorter leg. I’ve recently discovered Petite Studio and their pieces have made me realise that I’m definitely borderline petite, and having the right length skirt or jacket is actually a much better fit for me. Xx

[@AnnikDoquire]

Excellent idea, thank you! I initially was planning a low-buy year with not buying anything every other month, starting with not buying any clothes/shoes/accessories this January. I also put a limit of 1000 $ for the whole of 2025. Now I will add the rule of 5 items maximum -the fewer the better, going for quality versus quantity- but still allowing for the 1,000 $ max budget. Does this make sense? I do have so many wonderful clothes... Please, help us with more creative shop-your-closet videos. Thanks Gemma!

[@gemmaamclean]

@@AnnikDoquire great idea! How is your no buy January going? A budget is another great way of limiting our shopping. I will try get some more shop-your-closet style videos up soon, thanks lovely xx

[@rubybabiera6407]

I’m doing a no buy year this year so hopefully it works but I will definitely try this 5 item for next year for sure❤️

[@gemmaamclean]

@@rubybabiera6407 sounds like a great plan! Best of luck in your no buy year! How are you getting on so far?x

[@SadiaD]

I’m trying to limit myself to 10 clothes/shoes/bags this year. I bought around 50 last year so it’ll definitely be difficult

[@gemmaamclean]

@@SadiaD amazing!!! Just remember cutting back at all is a huge plus, doing better than we did last year, no matter if we stick to our exact goal or not. Good for you!! 😊❤️

[@cm-nj]

My goal is 25 in 25. It sounds a lot less impressive in light of 5 in 25, lol, but for me it's going to be a challenge.

[@gemmaamclean]

@@cm-nj everyone has to start somewhere! 😊 5 NEW items is my goal, I’m sure there’ll be some second hand items too. Best of luck with it!xx

[@rebeccalouisewillson]

I like this challenge but I’d need to include 2nd hand in the rules too. Do you have a plan for how to incorporate gifted pieces?

[@gemmaamclean]

@@rebeccalouisewillson Yes im going to be limiting my second hand shopping too, don’t want to go overboard. I haven’t fully figured out brand product but I know they’re still new items so I know I need to figure out a plan. First up I’ll be accepting a lot less product and from better brands, and only items I see last in my long term wardrobe.

[@cristinapiano6190]

Six items are ok. That means one item every two months. Completely fine!!!!!!

[@gemmaamclean]

@@cristinapiano6190 6 items is still amazing when compared with what we’re becoming used to, multiple items a week xx