How I Curbed My Tibi Obsession

A Slower and Better Mode for Appreciating Tibi

I have seen many commitments to no/low buys in 2025 - and even some cancellations by now - and I thought it would make sense to share how I managed to put my own endless shopping under control, specifically my Tibi obsession.

I fell in love with Tibi several years ago. Since then, I’ve consumed a lot of their content, purchased countless items, joined the Tibi Fans Facebook group, attended the Tibi fashion show in New York, and met a group of amazing women who are also Tibi fans. As many Tibi fans know, the love for the brand often verges on the brink of addiction - and I strongly believe I experienced that myself. “Tibi obsession” is the perfect term for it. I remember craving pieces that were just variations of items I already owned (and didn’t even like), buying multiple items that were out of my budget, checking Tibi website and the Tibi Fans group daily, and blindly following Amy’s advice whether it worked for me or not. I am quite happy to have a more measured approach to the brand right now.

At the same time, I should add a disclaimer: I still love Tibi and Amy’s teachings. Every piece in their collections features some uniquely twisted detail that makes it interesting. They don’t shy away from bold colors and often present amazing color schemes - especially the earthy tones from Ring 3 of their colorwheel. In a world where many brands embrace black-white-beige minimalism, they continue on the path of unique, interesting, effortless designs.

Secondly, Tibi founder Amy is a marketing genius. Her talents should be studied by businesses everywhere, especially the way she explains every design by starting with “why.” Although the emphasis on style can sometimes feel overblown (style is not that important in the grand scheme of things), her explanations of how and why certain colors or proportions work have been eye-opening for me on many levels, and I’m truly thankful for that.

So how did this obsession become more manageable? Here are a few lessons I’ve learned:

Sold-Out Items Reappear

The primary reason for the urge to buy something at full price or on sale is the fear that it will sell out - leaving me without that unique, amazing piece that will change my life. But if you follow the brand for a while, you learn that even the most coveted, sold-out items reappear.

I remember two pieces that sold out back in the day - the Tibi cape and the Camille Check Liam blazer. It seemed like they would vanish forever, with plenty of ISO posts to prove it. And yet, the cape reappeared several times, and eventually, I saw the Camille Check blazer on resale in Tibi Fans group as well.

The elusive Tibi Cape (left) and the coveted Camille Check Liam blazer (right) - both reappeared on resale multiple times!

For example, when the blazer I absolutely loved sold out before the sale, I was disappointed. But a year and a half later, it popped up in the Tibi Fans group - and I got it. I absolutely love it. The same happened with my Yellow and Purple Calders: they were found and shared on Tibi St. Simons account, and I got them even though I had long abandoned any hope of tracking them down.

The ones that got away - and reappeared again: Compact Stretch Fitted Blazer, Boiled Wool Fitted Blazer, Yellow and Purple Calders.

I’m now taking the same approach with the pieces that got away. Here’s my wishlist that sold out - I’m in no rush to buy them. I’m sure they will reappear, and if the time is right, I’ll purchase them.

The ones that got away - and I am sure will reappear again: Cecil Sweatpant, Stretch Cotton Nylon Square Neck, Gary Print Skirt, and Ostrich Leather Aline Skirt.

I Stopped Liking Nylon

Tibi uses a lot of nylon in their collections, and since my lifestyle is primarily work-from-home and desk-bound, even if the nylon is good, it can become unpleasant to sit in it after a while. Nylon is excellent for travel with kids because it’s hard to stain, but for my casual life, it’s not ideal - I gravitate toward cotton and other natural materials. As a result, a big part of the collection isn’t for me - even those stunning zipper joggers (which are selling out, and I’m sure will reappear!).

I Only Want to Wear What Fits My Body Well

After analyzing my body type, I decided that I only want to wear pieces that truly suit me. For me, that means T-shaped dresses with sleeves, low waist pants, and narrower bottoms that aren’t cropped. Tibi does offer some of that, but there are also many wide-leg Stella pants, curved Sid shapes, and sleeveless styles that leave no room for a bra. I used to try to make those work (I still have two Stellas in my closet), but now I choose only what fits my body well. After struggling to make cropped sporty joggers work (see picture below), I sold them all - and I couldn’t be happier. When I look at the latest collection, I dismiss many items simply because they don’t meet my criteria for body type and the no-nylon preference.

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A post shared by @styleinprocess

I Don’t Need to Wear the Latest Collection

I don’t work in fashion, so there’s no need for me to keep up with the very latest trends. I can wait - even 2-3 years is fine - because many of the clothes are timeless. The trends aren’t so fleeting as to require a constantly updated wardrobe, and I am fully content with this slower pace of consumption.

I Live in Europe and Got Tired of the No-Return Gamble

Finally, living in Europe, I’ve grown tired of the gamble of ordering from the US without the option for returns - or of having to pay an extra 30% through local shops to get that option. I want to buy what fits and not try to force pieces to work. In fact, the items on my wishlist right now are the ones I tried on while in NYC last year; the others are a bit questionable, and I’m still having doubts about them.

These are my lessons on how to slow down my Tibi obsession. As I said, I still love Tibi and believe they continue to do amazing work. At the same time, I’m happy to be in this slower, more measured, and more discerning phase of my shopping journey - let’s see what wardrobe this approach creates.

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