Apparently I’ve Been Wearing the Same Things Every Spring for 10 Years

I looked back through ten years of spring outfits and discovered the pieces I’ve been wearing on repeat all along.

Every spring, the internet tells us the ten pieces we “need” in our closets. Apparently, no one asked our closets what they think.

The 10 items you need to look current.
The 5 pieces that will elevate your style.
The 3 secrets to looking younger, richer, cooler…

You know the drill.

And to be fair, I’m not mad about it. Retailers need to sell clothes. Social media needs content. Influencers need engagement. It’s a business, and frankly, I enjoy following along from time to time.

But somewhere between the “you need this now” videos and the endless scroll of trend reports, I started thinking about something.

Who exactly decided what my 10 must-haves are?

Because last time I checked…
My style belongs to me.

The Conversation That Started It

This whole train of thought started during a conversation with a friend and fellow style blogger. We were laughing about how confidently someone on the internet can declare:

“These are the ten items every woman needs in her closet this spring”

Every woman?

Really?

It got me thinking about my own closet—and the many outfits that have appeared on this blog over the years. So I decided to run a little experiment.

A Little Style Experiment

I went back through ten years of blog archives and pulled six spring outfits from each year, 2016 through 2025. I looked at what I was wearing, what was happening in the world at the time, and how those moments shaped my style.

And something interesting happened.

Despite changing trends, silhouettes, and a decade of fashion noise… my core style barely changed.

When you look at what you actually wore—not what you think you wore—a pattern starts to appear.

You might try this yourself. Scroll back through old photos on your phone or Instagram. Chances are, a few favorite pieces show up again and again.

I certainly found mine.

So let’s take a little trip through the archives.

Below are six spring outfits from each year. Some make me smile, a few make me wonder what I was thinking—but together they tell a pretty clear story.

Ready for a little time travel?

A Decade of Spring (only) Outfits

After more than a decade of documenting my outfits here on the blog, my closet has left a pretty reliable trail.

2016

Spring 2016 meant distressed boyfriend jeans, cold-shoulder tops, fringe, knit maxis, lace-up stacked heels (remember those?), and an embarrassing number of hours at Anthropologie and Nordstrom Rack.

2017

Part Anthropologie, part classic, a dash of California chic—and way too many shoes taking over my closet.

2018

I tried swapping, thrifting, and consignment, which was great for the planet—but my wardrobe still ended up with a little too much “icing.”

2019

Looking to experiment; but not add to my closet, I kept my core pieces but added flair by renting bolder prints and new silhouettes from Rent the Runway for the season.

2020

2020 happened, comfort ruled, but I drew the line at pajamas—kimonos and sarongs over wide-leg pants and tanks became my work-from-home uniform, complete with headbands to hide my roots. My collection of heels? Except for a few, they were stored away… and eventually donated.

After ten years of outfits, one thing became clear: my style didn’t change nearly as much as the trends around it.

Suzanne Bell

2021

My wild kimonos and fancy slippers were fun at home, but when I had to leave the house, I gravitated toward quality basics—sprinkled with a pop of bold print to lift my spirits during a challenging spring.

2022

Fun was back—bold, artsy outfits, grounded by denim and all the accessories… though most felt a little too costumey for me.

2023

I ran out of steam, took a blogging break, and built a simple capsule of sneakers, favorite jeans, tanks, skirts, and a palette of black, denim, olive, camel, white, and animal print—one less thing to think about while the world found a new normal.

2024

Bored with the capsule idea, I mindfully added print and fun back into my favorite pieces—shopping less, styling more, and editing my closet into something simpler and a bit more chic.

2025

After a big closet audit, I felt clearer about my style than ever—my wardrobe finally matched my lifestyle, and I shopped less for gaps and more for pieces that made outfits I already loved even better.

Spring 2026

What Ten Years of Outfits Revealed

Looking back at these outfits year by year, a pattern appeared almost immediately. A decade later, the trends have changed dozens of times, but the core pieces in my closet are still the same. Every spring some version of these shows up in my regular rotation: fitted thru the hip, mid-wash jeans (the leg opening or distressing may change), a midi length slip dress, black, navy and off-white tanks, a relaxed, but bold midi skirt, a drapey travel skirt, a comfy wide-leg pull on pant, a denim shirt and jacket, something orange, tan, gold, brown sandals, a silver shoe, white sneakers, a woven tote, animal print, a statement necklace, something crochet, oversized sunglasses, and my trusty – 10+ old – Eric Javits sun hats. The exact versions evolve—jeans go from flare to barrel to wide-leg, my trusty black blazer – jackets evolve—but the bones of my style stay remarkably consistent.

Final Thoughts

Looking back over ten years of outfits was a good reminder that style doesn’t need to be reinvented every season. More often, it quietly evolves around the pieces you’ve loved all along.

So before adding ten new “must-haves” to your cart this spring, take a look at what you’re already wearing on repeat.

Your personal style might already be hanging in your closet.

Turns out the real style secret isn’t the next trend—it’s paying attention to what you already love to wear.