Real Life Buyer's Guide

Five basic items I have actually purchased and wear frequently.

This has been a unique year for me. After the fires in LA, I lived out of a suitcase for a few months and started to rebuild my wardrobe. I had always dreamed of rebuilding my closet, but because most of my stuff was in limbo (and there were other financial considerations), I couldn’t do the gut-reno closet-rework of my dreams. I did, however, learn what items I really missed and those I wanted to re-buy.

Not having a lot of clothes is liberating in some ways. You realize that you need fewer things than you might think. Having limited choices or a few favorite garments makes life easier for obvious reasons. Looking back on the year, I wanted to reflect on a few of my favorite items that are seeing a higher-than-normal usage rate than before 2025. These are the everyday basics I need, but are often overlooked. (Especially by the so-called Substack style experts like me!) Ok, let’s get into it.

AYR TEE SHIRT

Ayr is making good clothes and is a brand that should be on your radar. It’s making good basics with classic silhouettes without overcooking things. There’s a bit of fashion mixed in, too, if you want to wear the trending shapes of the moment (Though I imagine you want to stick to the classics like I do).

I have written about the Ayr jeans before, but I also love the T-shirts. T-shirts aren’t rocket science, but it’s hard to find a good combination of fit and quality cloth. Of course, everyone is different, and what I think is a good fit might not be great for you. The Ayr shirts, in my opinion, will fit most people well. They are also made from a nice material that looks good even after some washing. Sometimes I find T-shirts are just too short, but the Ayr shirts are a good medium length, and they don’t seem to shrink upwards, which is more important than most people think.