I am still learning and by no means am I perfectly green in my shopping habits, but one thing I want to say is that being more eco-conscious as a consumer doesn’t necessarily mean we have to shell out all our money for a new closet filled with ethical, sustainable brands.

I know that can be expensive, and not everyone is in a place to pay $200 for a top. Especially with the holidays coming up, I think we can focus on shopping less overall—getting as much wear out of the pieces we already have and not falling into the trap of mistaking a want for a need, even if that “must-have” piece is 50% off. This could mean unsubscribing from a listserv (even “sustainable” brands unfortunately employ the same predatory email marketing schemes as fast fashion brands) or making a list of what we are going to buy during Black Friday and sticking to it— whatever small steps we can take to curb impulse buying. Your wallet will thank you too!

Here is my shopping list for this holiday season:

pullover

A warm, cozy pullover that I can wear in and out of the home while still feeling put-together. I’ve been eyeing:

Top Coat

At least 80% wool in a color that is versatile to wear with the most casual (I’m thinking a sweater and sweatpants) to the fanciest of outfits (like a black tie wedding). After a ton of research I have whittled down the candidates to the following.

Weatherproof Boots

I finally retired the snow boots I’ve had since my freshman year of college and have been in the market for a new pair. I live in Philadelphia, so I am looking for something that can handle snow but doesn’t look too clunky to wear around on cold days with no snow.

Winter Wedding Guest Dress

I have several winter weddings coming up (Is it just me or are more and more people choosing to get married in the winter?), so I wanted to invest in a long-sleeve, midi to ankle-length dress that would be appropriate for a wide range of dress codes, even a black tie affair. I’ll be choosing among the following: