After a Year of Living Out of Suitcases, Here's Everything I'm Buying Now

Bettina Looney is a Who What Wear editor in residence, stylist, tastemaker, entrepreneur, and creative consultant recognized for her curated eye and cross-industry influence. Spanning fashion, interiors, and beauty, she translates style into substance through private styling at The Bettina Looney Edit.

Moving between continents, putting most of my wardrobe into storage, and adjusting to life in Miami (where it feels like permanent summer) was not the wardrobe refresh I had planned. But it turned out to be an effective one.

For most of the past year, I've been getting dressed from a rotating lineup of the same pieces while juggling a house renovation, a completely new routine, and the general logistics of life. When half your wardrobe is packed away in a warehouse like a distant memory, you become very honest about what you actually enjoy wearing and a bit more strategic about what you buy.

Here are the things I've stopped buying and what I keep adding to my basket instead.

Out: Blister-Prone Shoes // In: Comfortable, Chic Footwear

I used to tolerate shoes that were beautiful but impractical. Now, I simply run from the thought. If I cannot walk several blocks and survive a full day of chasing after two little lives without thinking about my feet, they're not worth the investment or the space in my wardrobe. Miami has pushed me into sleek flats, minimalist sandals, and easy low heels I can throw on. It is actually quite liberating.

These Alaïa heels are, by far, the most comfortable heels I've ever worn.

Shop My Go-To Miami Shoes

Out: Relying On Outerwear // In: Stand-Alone Pieces and Easy Basics

Miami weather has completely changed how I think about getting dressed. When it's warm, most of the time, there's no outer layer to rely on to pull a look together. Pieces need to stand on their own, which has made me far more focused on clean silhouettes and outfits that work without much styling.

One of my biggest "ins" has been good everyday basics. I went through a phase of only buying very one-of-a-kind pieces and then realized I had nothing to wear when I just wanted to feel comfortable. Lately, I've been buying simple tops from Aritzia, almost like I'm collecting them. They're well-cut and reasonably priced, and I wear them constantly. In a climate that's essentially a permanent summer, a reliable basic starts to feel more useful than a statement piece you can't reach for every day.

A chic Aritzia basic.

Shop My Aritzia and Zara Basics Picks

In: Efficient Co-ords

Two-piece sets have become my solution to mornings when time is not exactly on my side. They make it look like you planned an outfit although you definitely did not. Skirt-and-top combinations from Posse, Aligne, Leset, and Eaves have been doing most of the work for me lately. It has become a very efficient way of getting dressed, especially when life feels busy.

White co-ords always feel so crisp and clean, and I love the look and feel of this Eaves set.

Shop My Co-ord Picks

In: Activewear

Miami has turned me into someone who wears workout trousers far more often than I ever expected. Styled with an oversize anorak and proper trainers, they feel easy but still pulled-together. I have been living in my Salomons and New Balances. They're comfortable and practical and still feel current enough to wear all day.

Shop Some of My Favorite Activewear

In: An Interior-Obsessed Phase

At the moment, I spend more time browsing for things for the house than anything else. Renovating while living in it means I'm constantly sourcing something—lighting, tableware, and sculptural objects to fill spaces and make rooms feel more resolved.

I've found myself drawn to alabaster details, travertine pieces, and darker wood or metal accents that feel beautifully sculptural. Zara Home and Crate & Barrel have become my virtual best friends. There is something very satisfying about watching a space you have worked so hard on slowly come together.

I stuffed 20 of these alabaster lights in a suitcase from a market in Egypt, but Zara Home has great options too.

The Pottery Barn pots we have in our home are linked below.

Shop My Home Décor Picks

In: Skin-First Beauty

Permanent sunshine has made skincare feel less optional. Broad-spectrum SPF is now essential, and I've found myself leaning into formulas that focus more on repair and hydration. Purcell peptide products, Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Cream, Numbuzin NAD+, and Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Cream have all become part of my routine.

Shop the New Staples in My Skincare Routine

In: Cute Miami Cafés

Exploring Miami café by café has also been one of the easiest ways to feel settled after so much moving around. Frankie and Wally's for a proper latte, Grove Grocer in Coconut Grove on a Sunday, and Bigface in the Design District have been some of my favorites.

Grove Grocer in Coconut Grove.

Frankie and Wally's in Coral Gables.