How to Actually Change Your Shopping Habits in 2026
By Audrey Treon
The first few weeks of a new year are filled with a buzzing optimism — the resolutions are fresh, the air is crisp, and collectively, people have a real willingness to change. But life tends to get in the way, a tale as old as time. By March, those same goals are more of an annoying, pestering reminder of New-Year-Naivety rather than a productive push to better oneself. But who’s to say this year can’t be different? You gotta start somewhere with resolutions, so let me take the reins on this one and help you to actually change your shopping habits in 2026.
Let’s talk game plan.
Courtesy of Steve Madden
What is Your “Why?”
First and arguably most important, what is your why? What is pushing you to be a better consumer this year? Want to lower your fashion waste? Invest in higher-quality pieces? Avoid fast fashion? Improve your confidence and personal style? All of the above? Identifying the clear motivation(s) behind this change will be greatly beneficial to the process. Once you have your “why,” look further into it. For me, I want to prioritize ethical consumption and worthwhile pieces. So, I am making it a priority to only shop secondhand this year — exploring vintage and thrift shops, utilizing resources like TheRealReal, Depop, and Vinted, and taking stock of what I already own. In terms of worthwhile pieces, I had to start by defining that term as it fits in my life and closet. Because my own style is so dynamic, no one day is ever the same, I prioritize quality over particular aesthetics. Buying natural fibers like cottons and linens, wools and cashmeres, leathers and silks not only feels the best on my body, but feels the best in my closet and life.
Courtesy of L.E.I.
Delete the Apps (Or at Least Some of Them)
Online shopping is a slippery slope. Afterall, you have the mall at your fingertips. A clean break is not always helpful or beneficial, but I have found that removing shopping apps from my phone makes me less inclined to shop online. I still have TheRealReal and Depop on my phone because I’m not quitting cold turkey — just making improvements. And, as mentioned above, shopping for vintage Banana Republic pieces on Depop rather than firsthand on the BR app itself is a better alternative for me and my specific goals.
Create Benchmarks
The word “benchmark” can instill visceral fear if you’ve gone through the school system, but I promise a benchmark can be a good thing, too, not just a scary test. What is a reasonable check-in for yourself? How has your life changed since embarking on this “challenge”? These changes don’t have to be drastic by any means — maybe you have saved more money, feel more confident in your fashion choices, have found new vintage stores in your town, and connected with new people — whatever the case, a simple check in every few months will keep you on track and steady with your goals.
Courtesy of Versus
Figure Out What You Like And Why
Due to the sheer mass of clothing in the world and the influence of the industry, it can be hard to decipher what you actually like in clothing. Figuring out your tastes is somewhat of a paradox because, as humans, our tastes will never be fully “figured out,” and that is something to lean into. The process of “figuring it out” is not an overnight success, nor is it stagnant — it is dynamic and ever-evolving. Leaning into those fluid aspects can further inform you as a consumer on what you like, going beyond what is marketed to you. As I mentioned above, my fashion sense is new every day; I don’t subscribe to a singular aesthetic. So, when shopping, I look for designers whose work I relate to and care about, fabrics that will stand the test of time and are good for the Earth, and pieces that speak to me, for whatever reason.
Consuming fashion is not a victimless act, but improving doesn’t have to be so scary. Actionable, small steps in addition to making shopping and participating in fashion a fun activity will help you, an imperfect consumer, become not perfect, but better. And we should all strive to be better consumers.
