The Five Things I Was Glad I Owned in 2025

Let’s talk about work horses. The pieces, items, products, and things that you’re just glad you own. You use them almost every day. You’re disappointed when they’re in the wash, in a different purse, out in the car, or just unavailable for your use. And if they were lost or broken? Ugh. You’d replace them instantly.

Here are the five things I was glad I owned in 2025 that I’m still loving and planning to use frequently in 2026.

A Cool Winter Coat. Layer on a great coat to jazz up any outfit with ease.  Varley sweats for morning drop-off are instantly cooler with a chic coat.  A simple work dress looks dressier on your commute with a cool coat.  Jeans and a tee get a real boost standing at the playground when the topper is chic.

This J.Crew Toscana Stadium Coat is my current favorite.  It’s on deep sale right now, and it’s a great time to buy.  I have the olive, but I am contemplating the ivory.  

My Noise Cancelling Headphones. Three years in and I still use my Bose headphones almost every day. I love them. They are my gateway to calming the environment around me and taking a breath. Whether I need to turn on the green noise and dial in or I want to listen to a podcast in peace, these are some of the best money that I have ever spent.

My husband prefers the earbuds that allow him to also listen to ambient noise in his workspace. But Bose just makes the best headphones. Full stop.

If you keep the headphones on your desk, do yourself a favor, and invest the $15 in a stand to keep them tidy on your desktop.

The Best Pants. These Faherty pants saved my life.  At least, my sanity.  Being in perimenopause, it feels like my body changes weekly.  I struggle to get dressed almost every day.  These pants gave me a safe place, where I could be comfortable in a chic pair of pants that could be dressed up and down.  I own them in three colors.  They’re perfect for casual offices, casual Fridays, and weekends.  They’re even comfortable enough to wear on the plane.  

The Coziest Pajamas. These J.Crew Pajamas are a gift I give myself every night.  I put them on, I take a deep breath, I relax.  They are the best.  There are no others.  

My Stupidly Expensive Shirt. I’m going to admit something shameful: I impulse bought a $450 satin blouse.  I was on a business trip.  A big meeting landed on my calendar unexpectedly.  I had nothing to wear to that meeting.  So I rush purchased a suit and a $450 satin shirt to wear under it, a la Kerri Russel in The Diplomat .  I have no regrets.

I wear this Vince shirt for every important Zoom call.  I wear it under navy suits, black suits, ivory suits.  I wear it with sequin skirts to holiday parties.  I’ve worn it weekly for a year.  It still looks new.  Was it “worth” $450?  Ish.  It’s held up well.  I feel good when I wear it.  I haven’t found a less expensive option that rivals it for quality or fit.  But $450 for a shirt is still a lot.  

Looking for a cheaper option?  Nordstrom Rack occasionally has Vince shirts for 1/2 price.  Unless you’re size 3X and then it’s $16.  Some women will tell you the Quince shirt is just as good, I did not find that.  The closest “dupe” under-$100 is from Spanx.  The material is heavier and the drape is good.

So what were you “glad you owned” in 2025 that you’re carrying into 2026?  I’m no longer interested in cheap, temporary thrills, I want sticking power.

{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}