Have you been saving up for a wardrobe reset? Every first week of May, I perform the New York ritual: shoving winter coats under the bed to make room for sundresses. But this year, the "seasonal rotation" feels different. We’re trading fast-fashion hauls for fewer, better pieces that actually last. With the secondhand market more accessible than ever and fast-fashion fatigue setting in, the conversation around splurging has shifted. It’s less about quantity and more about the pieces that earn their keep. I asked some of the most stylish women I know in the city what they consider truly worth the investment and these are the items they’d happily spend their rent money on.
The Splurge: Khaite Boots
Angela’s style is chic and playful, the kind of look you instantly save to your Pinterest board. Every piece in her closet has to earn its place, which means when she does splurge, it’s for a reason. Her pick is a pair of Khaite Boots. They’re sexy, distinctive, and genuinely comfortable for a heeled boot—which is rarer than it should be.
The Look: Architectural and intentional.
Pro Tip: If $1,200 is out of reach, secondhand options on Vestiaire or TRR run between $200–$500.
The Splurge: Paloma Wool
Polina is a content creator whose feed feels like a high-end mood board for downtown Manhattan. Her style is defined by pieces that feel one-of-a-kind and she knows how to style basic pieces to make them stand out. While she rotates through iconic accessories, her consistent throughline is Paloma Wool. She’d buy almost anything from them, mainly because their pieces are so transformative—you can style them a dozen different ways. If you’re looking for a splurge that doesn’t feel like a "uniform," this is it.
The Look: High Glamour Fashion Student.
The Piece: Look for their unique knits or pieces that can be worn in different ways.
The Splurge: Jimmy Choo Slingbacks
Corinne treats her closet like a curated archive, every accessory is chosen with intention. Her heel collection is a masterclass in shape and color— she is a modern day Carrie Bradshaw. As her roommate, I’m constantly tempted to shop from her shoe rack—unfortunately, we don’t share the same shoe size, which feels like a personal betrayal. Her pick for this spring is a good pair of Vintage Jimmy Choo’s. They’re colorful and elegant, and you have so many options to choose from.
The Look: High-glamour with a sharp edge.
Sourcing: Check The RealReal for vintage Choo pumps to get the look for a fraction of the price.
Ava is a Creative Editor at OOTD. She moved to New York City at 18 to pursue a career in fashion and now covers your favorite fashion figures, events, and trends.
The Splurge: Statement Jewelry & Fendi Baguette
Eden’s style feels like an old European film, her closet is cinematic and bold. Her non-negotiables are a Fendi Baguette and a Statement Emerald Ring. For the Baguette, she suggests skipping the classic monogram in favor of something with personality, like a vintage snakeskin. For jewelry, she believes if you’re building an outfit around one piece, it should have actual weight and a real stone.
The Look: Moody, textured, and archival.
Where to start: Alexis Bittar for jewelry with presence.
The Splurge: Tom Ford Bronson Aviators
Alejandra gives girlboss energy, she consistently chooses 'classy business' over business casual, and she’s the first person you’d go to for the best office gossip. Her recommendation for 2026 is the Tom Ford Bronson Aviators. Oversized frames are dominating the summer forecast; they work on almost every face shape and have the added bonus of covering up the evidence of a long night out.
The Look: Best Dressed in Office
The Investment: High-quality optics that won't go out of style by next year.
The Splurge: Secondhand Designer Bags
A bag pulls an entire look together in a way clothing sometimes can’t. The first thing I always notice about someones outfit is what bag they have on - especially when it’s a good vintage designer one. My personal favorites are the Chloé Paddington and the Balenciaga City. The City bag is a New York staple that has survived two decades of trend cycles, while the Paddington is a heavy-duty piece that feels like carrying a bit of fashion history. Even if it’s only holding my lip gloss and ID, it’s heavy enough that my boyfriend, who inevitably ends up carrying it, always jokes that I’m carrying a bag of bricks.
The Look: Distressed luxury and "lived-in" leather.
Sourcing: Look for niche vintage resellers like @thearcaneangel for better deals than the major platforms.
At the end of the day, a splurge only makes sense if you’re actually going to wear it. The common thread here isn’t the price tag, it’s the understanding that the right piece doesn't go out of fashion just because the season changes. Buy less, buy better, and stop buying things just because they’re on sale. Your spring closet will thank you.
