Welcome to our fourth annual Top 25 list! Every year, my mind is blown a bit by the scale and influence of the business Em has built. In 2023, we tracked millions of clicks; hundreds of thousands of items were sold; and today, I’m here to lift the curtain – below, you’ll find a wide variety of the clothing, furniture, decor, and more that our readers purchased en masse over the past 12 months. But wait, it gets better: this year’s list featured three repeat bestsellers for the first time (hooray!) – will you recognize them? Let’s kick it off with a personal favorite of mine…
Spoiler: If you feel like J. Crew really upped their game in 2023, you’re not alone. This year, they were our reader’s go-to destination for modern, classic, wear-everyday basics. Case in point: this timeless, easy-to-layer barn jacket in a fresh and cheery olive hue – it’s simple but special, don’t you think? (PS. It’s also currently 50% off, if you’re in need of a high-quality, lightweight coat! It comes in a few other colors, too.)
This year, you eschewed your skinny jeans in favor of a fuller, more updated silhouette. (Will we go full wide-leg in 2024? Time will tell.)
She’s an internet icon. She adds a bit of vintage-inspired soul to every room she enters. She’s the Gleaming Primrose Mirror from Anthropologie! Earlier this year, we partnered with Anthro to extend a massive 40% discount (!!!) on these mirrors, and I’m thrilled that so many of you were able to take advantage of the savings. (Literally – it’s why I bought the entire team mini mirror ornaments for our holiday gift exchange!)
I cannot tell you where I last placed my driver’s license (I’ve been using a fortuitous mix of CLEAR and my passport to fly for the last 2 months!), but I can tell you the brief history of this sweater! This cardigan shot straight into our Top 25 back in November after it appeared on Brian’s gift guide, but it’s actually the second time it’s appeared on this list – it was our eighteenth bestselling item last year after we documented Brian’s mall trip and in-store try-on! Gotta love a fan favorite. 🙂
BRB, shedding a happy tear! I’m so proud of this rug line for so many reasons – it was designed by Jess and Em, two of my favorite people; we got to work with the incredible, innovative, smart team at Rugs USA; and more than anything, we were able to make an awesome product at a really fair price point (this 10’x14′ wool rug for under $900? YES, PLEASE!). It’s been a total joy supporting the team through the release of our first-ever line – can’t wait for you all to see what else we’ve been working on 🙂
These low bookcases have a secret: they’re the perfect height to work as a sofa table, as seen in Em’s family room. They’re a functional, practical, on-trend storage solution (and did we mention that they’re modular?! They’re a part of the Pacific collection, which includes a variety of shelving, desk, and closed storage components – you can build your dream living room or office setup in minutes by mixing and matching corresponding pieces!).
Another J. Crew winner – I love seeing how these classic staples have been reimagined! Like, you could totally imagine Bunny MacDougal (SATC throwback!) wearing this sweater jacket, but it also looks SO CUTE on Mal (our resident fashion expert). If you’re also interested in the “looks luxe, but won’t break the bank” style of dressing, be sure to check out this post for a few more under-$150 suggestions.
These wide-leg crops are DEFINITIVELY my favorite purchase of 2023. For the last 10 years, I’ve exclusively purchased my hard pants (read: anything with a zipper) from Madewell, and I felt like I’d never be able to fit into any other retailer’s pants. Reader, I WAS SO WRONG. I grabbed these in my normal size and I was blown away. I have wider hips and large thighs and thought they’d cling or gap…but guys, they look like they do on the model. There’s a reason Anthro makes these in every fabric, pattern, and weight under the sun – they’re THAT GOOD for every season. Emphatically recommend.
We shared a lot of great footwear options this summer – a bunch of Tevas! Em’s favorite Reef sandals! – but nothing can hold a candle to the waterproof Arizonas from Birkenstock. They’re just under $50, they last for years (I’m still getting near-daily wear out of 2 of my pairs from 2016!), and they come in a variety of neutral AND punchy hues. What else can you ask for?
If you’re sitting there and thinking, “holy crap, how did a vanity end up in the top 25 bestsellers?,” let me surprise you even further: THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW that this plug-and-play option has landed at #16 on our list. (Pro tip: swap out the hardware and faucet for an even more custom look, like Priscilla Frost did in this affordable basement bathroom makeover!)
The comfortable cotton jumpsuit is the most underrated piece of clothing in the world, IMO. This one is perfect for chores or laundry day (you can bend over without fear of showing any plumber’s crack), but it’s also a great pick for bridesmaids (it’s easy to remove without messing up any hair or makeup, and far preferable to posing for photos in a too-small robe!).
Em had this to say: “I’ve had this Andie swimsuit for a year and it’s what I want to wear most swimsuit days because it doubles as a tank top – meaning you don’t feel super exposed and can easily pair it with jean shorts or my favorite nylon shorts that I swim in. In my opinion, it looks cool, the buttons come low (so it can be sexy), it has a support shelf (I literally don’t understand one pieces that don’t), and has a double compression layer (so it hides the small bumps). I burn easily so I like that it’s more coverage without it needing to be a full rash guard Two of my friends have it too – all different body types. I’m sure if you are smaller up top this might not be your go-to but for those of us who don’t mind showing off some cleave, without putting it all out there (and covering our armpit areas), this is one to check out.“
You saw Em wear it in Real Simple, and in the living room reveal, and, well…everywhere! (We actually got more DMs about this romper than anything else in 2023, which is saying something.) “This is a splurge (#ipaidforthis), but it’s the best short jumper I’ve tried,” Em wrote. “This is flattering on any day and I always feel pulled together. It’s the perfect cut.”
The Somerset dress took on a life of its own in 2023 – Anthropologie now makes it in an endless variety of lengths (this is the midi!), fabrics (everything from poplin to velvet), and patterns. Em had this to say: “Here she is ready to attend literally any daytime event that includes champagne, ladies, Jesus, or tea (it’s also the perfect wedding guest dress). I felt GREAT in this dress – she’s pretty and pulled together.”
This tote bag was the standout piece from Em’s 2023 gift guide – it’s sturdy, perfectly sized for schlepping laptops and other daily essentials, and simple enough to complement every outfit in your closet. (I got this bag in 2016 and it’s still going strong despite some severe travel abuse, so I wholeheartedly co-sign this recommendation!)
OMG. GUYS. It makes me so happy to see pieces from our Black Friday roundup on this list! Those posts take so much work (like, so much) and so it means a lot when I see evidence that they were actually helpful in navigating such a massive, overwhelming shopping day. ANYWAY. This is a no-fail bar cart – you can imagine it holding court in a traditional home against a Persian rug, or it could bring a little sparkle to a minimal, glam, deco-inspired space. (No wonder it’s a bestseller!)
WELCOME BACK, OLD FRIEND. What a joy it’s been to see flared denim return to the mainstream! Take it from Em: “I tried on over 30 pair of jeans the other day. THIRTY. It was not fun. The styles out there right now… I just don’t feel good in! I know that skinny is out, but that’s what works on my body and that’s what makes me feel good. But I found these fit and flares from Madewell and once paired with a heel I felt so GOOD. They are extremely flattering – hugging the hips butt and thighs in a good way (the shading of the denim and the seam placement makes it really flattering). Then it pops out at the bottom, balancing out the hips and it looks SO GOOD. They make me want to go out, they make me feel young and frankly just more “hot” than a “mom”. Sometimes we all need that y’all. Thank you, Jeans. I’m BACK!“
This blanket made its blog debut in a 2019 Portland Project reveal and it’s been a fan favorite ever since. (For good reason, too!) We love the graphic, reversible design – you can take your room from winter to spring by simply flipping over your coverlet. It doesn’t get much easier than that! 🙂
Long live the long lumbar pillow. Sofa and bed styling have never been easier – just throw a good bolster on there and you’re good to go! I love how this muted, neutral buffalo check lended a more casual, homespun feel to the velvet sofas in Em’s living room.
“I wore this dress three times last week because it’s just so good and I feel so great wearing it. I bought it last spring (or the spring before, it’s all a blur) but it’s always available as a staple (and yes a gold-plated staple, she is expensive). It’s a perfectly cut, perfectly distressed layerable piece that can span all four seasons and handles all my fluctuations,” said Em.
This bestselling sconce comes from our top-trafficked basement makeover! That transformation was our #5 most viewed reveal of the year (!!!) and I love that these plug-in sconces were a standout piece. They’re beautiful and stylish, but I’m so glad that our photographer Kaitlin will also be able to move them around her home as her needs change over the years! (And for the record, they come in a ton of different colors – and in a wired version, too – so you’re guaranteed to find sconces that are perfect for your space.)
What do polished nickel, satin brass, chrome, and matte black all have in common? They’re all finish options for the Poetto pull-down faucet!
We owe this placement to Google – turns out that a lot of people have been searching for a not-ugly, king-sized sleeper sofa for a long time! We usually don’t see instant sales from furniture roundups – it takes people a minute to save up for their key investment pieces! – but I was BLOWN AWAY by the immediate response to this sofa. (If you’re in the market for something a little smaller, I have 21 other great sofa bed recommendations here!)
I said it at the start of the summer, and I’ll say it again: this is the only swimsuit I’ve ever found that makes me feel EXCITED to be in a swimsuit. I keep one in my car for swim emergencies (which is a thing in LA – you never know when you’re going to end up in a hot tub or in the ocean!)…but to that end, do you know how confident a swimsuit has to make you feel so that you’re ready to change into one at a moment’s notice?! The folks at TA3 are doing the lord’s work with these shaping suits, I swear. They’re worth EVERY DARN PENNY.
LADIES AND GENTS, WE HAVE A THREE-PEAT! Em introduced this sauna blanket to the blog in November of 2021 and it’s been topping the charts ever since (seriously – it was our #2 bestselling item in 2021 and our #1 item in 2022). That’s what happens when you’re one of the top Google results for “sauna blanket review,” I guess! (But seriously – who knew that so many people enjoyed relaxing in a hot bag?!)
And with that, I bid you adieu! I’ve had so much fun this year and I feel so lucky that I get to spend my days doing work that’s genuinely enjoyable. Thank you for all of your support of our business – I wouldn’t have a job without you! See you in the new year. xx
THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED HERE.
