Nikol stopped buying uncomfortable clothing, sale items, 'one-hit-wonder' statement pieces, physical magazines, physical books, anything outside her color palette, and excess skincare products. Each change was about creating more physical and mental space by being intentional with purchases.
Key takeaways
- Nikol stopped buying uncomfortable clothing because feeling restricted keeps her from feeling like her best self.
- She avoids browsing sale sections online because it leads to buying things she doesn't need just because they're a deal.
- She no longer buys 'one hit wonder' statement pieces that are too memorable or dramatic to wear more than once.
- She switched from physical magazines and books to digital subscriptions and a library app to cut down on clutter.
- She only shops within her known color palette for clothes, nails, and makeup instead of chasing trends.
- She keeps her skincare routine to three or four products and gives them time to work before adding anything new.
Why did Nikol stop buying uncomfortable clothes?
Nikol shops her closet from consignment and found she'd end up with pieces that didn't fit quite right or felt restrictive—like worrying a silk top might rip if she moved her arms a certain way. She realized feeling uncomfortable doesn't match feeling like your best self.
Now, if something doesn't feel good on, she sells it or donates it right away instead of forcing herself to wear it.
Why doesn't Nikol shop sales anymore?
Nikol explains that browsing sale categories online is a slippery slope—you end up buying things because they're a good deal, not because you actually need or want them. That's how closets fill up with items that never get worn.
Instead, she keeps a running list of items she wants to replace or add as closet staples. If one of those happens to go on sale, great, but she's not scrolling sale pages looking for impulse buys.
What is a 'one hit wonder' and why did Nikol stop buying them?
A one hit wonder is a piece so distinctive or dramatic that once people see you in it, you can't really wear it again without it being recognized. Nikol describes a dramatic polka-dot dress she wore once for a photo and later sold, as a perfect example.
She still keeps one standout outfit as what she calls a 'museum piece' in her closet, but she's stopped purchasing new one-hit-wonder pieces because they aren't functional—she'd rather invest in clothing she can mix, match, and rewear.
Why did Nikol give up magazines and books?
Nikol used to collect stacks of cooking magazines, organizing recipes into binders. When she and her husband moved, the sheer weight and volume made her realize how much physical clutter she'd built up. Rather than trying to resell such a heavy collection, she picked out a few favorites to keep and let go of the rest.
Now she reads everything through a digital subscription instead of buying physical magazines. The same goes for books: she only buys a physical book for the beach, where she doesn't want screen glare or phone distractions. Otherwise she borrows e-books through a free library app that automatically expires after a set borrowing period, which keeps her shelves and her mind clutter-free.
How does knowing your color palette simplify shopping?
Nikol has learned over several years of trial and error exactly which colors work for her—mainly black, white, blue, and coral, with yellow as a shade she loves to push even though it's not always considered 'typical' for silver hair. She's learned to ignore outside rules and trust what she knows looks best on her.
She shared that she was once given an outfit for a photo shoot in a color that didn't suit her fair skin and silver hair at all, which reinforced how important it is to know your own palette. Her advice: if you're ever unsure about a color when shopping, don't buy it—sticking to your palette makes getting dressed and shopping far simpler.
Why does Nikol keep her skincare routine so simple?
Nikol likes to keep her skincare collection to just three or four products at a time. When she finishes one, she either repurchases it or picks something new to try—but she avoids piling on extra products just because they're trending.
She recommends giving a routine at least six weeks, or until a product is finished, before judging whether it's working. Overloading your skin with too many new products at once, she says, just leads to overwhelmed, reactive skin instead of real results.
Shop the look
Explore the face collection for more of the pro-aging makeup she created for women over 40.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'one hit wonder' in Nikol's closet philosophy?
It's a clothing piece so distinctive or dramatic that it's too memorable to wear more than once, which Nikol says isn't functional for a closet you want to use again and again.
Why did Nikol stop buying physical magazines?
She found her magazine collection became heavy clutter she rarely revisited, so she switched to reading everything through a digital subscription instead.
Does Nikol still buy physical books?
Only for the beach, where she prefers an actual book over a screen; otherwise she borrows ebooks through a free library app.
How did Nikol figure out her color palette?
Through years of trial and error, she learned which colors—mainly black, white, blue, and coral, plus yellow as an accent—actually enhance her hair, eyes, and skin.
How many skincare products does Nikol use at once?
She keeps her routine to about three or four products and gives them time to work, usually at least six weeks, before adding anything new.
