The 13 Best Things I Bought, Tried, and Tested in 2025

Friends! Welcome to the last Self Checkout of the year. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time we all power down and get to hibernating, am I right? But first, it’s time to reflect.

I’d like to share some of my top purchases of 2025, plus a handful of the best things I tried and tested. I love this exercise: It really makes me slow down and take stock of what was worth the money (or time and effort it took to try the item), versus what’s worth skipping. It’s all in service of making better shopping decisions in the future. Let’s get started!

The barrel-leg trend reached a fever pitch in 2025. But as you guys know, I’m not new to this, I’m true to this. I’ve been wearing this style since 2019, and in 2025, I added the Nili Lotan Shon Jean into the mix. It quickly became a go-to that worked in every single season of the year. I styled it with knits, tank tops, boots, sandals, heels and more. I also found myself wearing them on planes quite often, as they’re light enough for travel. Hard pants that feel soft. What’s not to love?

Earlier this year, Nike introduced a new suite of running shoes including the Structure 26, the Vomero Plus, Pegasus Premium, and Vomero Premium. I logged mile after mile in all of them (more than 300 miles to be exact) and have some thoughts. The Vomero Plus is my absolute favorite for my usual recovery road runs. The cushioning reduces the impact on my legs, but there’s not so much cushioning that I feel like I could roll my ankle if I take a step the wrong way.

In 2026, I really hope Nike does some more marketing around the Structure because it’s the perfect all-around shoe. If you’re a minimalist and only want to run and lift in one style, this is it. I wouldn’t log a ton of miles in them (the cushion isn’t thick enough for me), but they’re ideal for a walking session on the treadmill and then hitting the weights.

While on a girls' trip in Puerto Rico, my friend introduced me to Danessa Myricks’ Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder. It’s hands down the best addition I’ve made to my makeup bag in years. It goes on like a powder, provides enough coverage to make a difference, and is the best on days when I want to feel made-up but not overly done.

Two more beauty buys that I fell in love with in 2025 were the Sofie Pavitt Face Clean Clean Cleanser and the Micellar Makeup Removing Cleansing Pads. The gel-to-foam formulation removed all of my makeup without leaving my face stripped and dry. And when I didn’t have it in me to wash my face at night, the wipes proved to be a quick and easy alternative.

A luxury purse has to be truly amazing to move me to actually purchase it. (I’d rather spend my money on jewelry!) I finally got the small Prada buckle when I spotted a pre-loved version in the color I wanted, and I’m so glad I did. I love the supple leather and inside dividers, and the long strap is super easy to wear.

I fell hard for the brown suede trend at the top of 2025 and thankfully ended the year feeling the exact same. Each of these styles are classic and elegant, but not boring—which is what I tend to look for in footwear I can wear season after season.

It should come as no surprise Sézane Clyde trench coat has made the list. I mean, how many more ways can I profess my love for it? The Marie Claire editor-favorite saw me through Paris fashion week in the early spring and again this past fall when I went to Bath on a work trip.

Last but not least, I’ve got a healthy collection of sweaters and sweatshirts in my closet, but the one that gets top billing is this heather gray option from Polo Ralph Lauren. So much so, I bought the matching pants during a Black Friday sale and have worn the set multiple times since then. If you’re going couch rot, you’ve got to look good while doing it!

Reading List

First time reading Self Checkout? Catch up on the past few weeks.