Landon was looking into getting a handheld vacuum for small messes in the kitchen, car, etc, but all of the reviews of less expensive vacuums landed in the same review territory: “this works maybe a year and then you have to replace it / its battery dies / it stops working,” and we weren’t interested in buying a second pricey vacuum. We ultimately decided to just keep using our big vac, the one we’ve had for over a decade, and deal with the mild inconvenience of having to get it out, plug it in, etc. (Is it really that a big deal?) This made me wonder — what are the things you have bought for life? The items that have lasted and that you have no intention of replacing? There is an entire corner of the Internet dedicated to this sentiment, and they refer to it as “BIFL” (buy it for life). What are these things for you?
A few of the products we’ve purchased that have stood the test of time and that we have no intention of replacing:
Miele C1 Canister Vacuum — super powerful but not insanely noisy; love the extra-long cord (I know people hate cords but with this one, we really only need to unplug/replug 2 or 3 times for the entire first floor); love that it retracts with the touch of the button; settings are smart
Vitamix 5200 — I MEAN this is a workhorse. We use it at least once a day, as we make smoothies every single morning, and Landon uses it heavily for cooking (pureeing, blending, etc). This works just as well as the first day we got it. We still comment on the mild thrill of switching to the high power mode. It’s like — is the entire room going to take flight?! Extremely powerful. Puts every other blender I’ve ever used or seen to shame.
Mauviel Copper Cookware — Just the gold (um, copper?) standard. We find this the most consistent to cook with and it never warps. We’ve actually had some of our heavily-used stainless steel cookware (by All-Clad!) warp. Not all of it, but the fry pans. We still love most of the All Clad pieces we invested in early in our marriage, especially the 4 qt pot, but if I could go back, I would invest in copper cookware slowly over time.
LL Bean Boat and Tote Bags — Still have ones from my teens and 20s. Infinitely useful, forever in style, wonderfully made. This is my go-to gift for graduates heading off to high school or college or beyond.
Tumi Continental Alpha Suitcase — OK, this is not the most aesthetic thing I own, and I often find myself opting for my prettier styles, but I invested in this suitcase in my 20s when I was traveling a lot for work (almost weekly for a stretch there) and damn if she doesn’t still work like a charm. Extremely well made and thoughtfully designed. We’re hanging onto this and will give to our kids! My parents gave me old suitcases when I went off to college and it’s one of those random “thank God they have this and I don’t need to buy it” essentials.
Shun Knives — I don’t anticipate we’ll ever replace these. Sturdy, beautifully balanced. I really like the weight of the grip in my hand. We need to sharpen them routinely but that’s the case with every knife.
Hermes H Heure watch — A luxury for sure but I never intend to buy a new watch! You can replace the straps if they get too…patina-ed. I will then give this to my daughter. Same with my Chanel bag. Icons I’ll have worn at 20, 40, 60, 80, etc! The watch is something to keep an eye out for on The Real Real. You can often find them at a great discount and they are still in excellent condition, especially considering that you can upgrade the strap when you need to / if you’d like.
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet — The only $30 thing I can think of that can be passed down for generations, and only improves with time and use?
Kate Spade wedding china — I keep waiting for the year where I think, “I’m not sure I like that anymore,” but I continue to love the pattern. It’s playful, somehow still kind of contemporary looking, not too stuffy, but the color scheme is elegant and simple. I remember thinking of going with something more traditional and upscale but I love this set! We use it quite a bit!
Guy Degrenne Absolu flatware — Another registry item that we continue to love. It still feels fresh and modern to me on the table, and the weight/quality has meant we don’t have any bent tines or warped handles. I have no plans to upgrade, ever.
HAWS Watering Can — The sturdy standard. Buy once, never have to buy again.
Boos block cutting boards — You must oil them regularly (this is a Landon job), but these are just as good now as they were when we bought them 15 years ago.
Caran D’Ache pen — Landon bought me one of these years ago and it’s my favorite fancy pen. I bring it to important meetings, use it to sign contracts, etc! (You can buy replacement ink.)
Davek Mini Umbrella — We’ve had ours for literally…15 years? Maybe more. Maybe 20. It’s the tiniest, mightiest umbrella. We had an issue with it once, where one of the levers broke or something, and we shipped it back and they repaired it for us! Big fans of this random utility item. It never blows inside out and is tiny! Fits in a pocket!
Barbour Waxed Coat — My FIL bought me one 15 years ago and it’s still in great condition. These are coats meant to be worn in the elements, and they LAST, and they are so warm and practical for facing cold/drizzly/rainy weather. I recently wore on a cold, wet birding excursion, and was warm and happy. I’d suggest going with a classic, borrowed-from-the-boys style — slightly oversized, unisex vibe — because I think it will have the longest legs, style-wise. Something like this.
Rosle Metal Implements — These are super expensive relative to most other brands, but once you invest, you’ll never look back. These are heavy duty cooking implements that are designed with care and lifelong intent, and, frankly, kind of chic? We have a pair of tongs, a slotted spoon, and a basting spoon and these will last forever. Super heavy duty, never bend, never warp.
Ralph Lauren Oxfords — I still have ones from HIGH SCHOOL. They still slap 🙂
TKEES Flip Flops — I have a pair I’ve had for 12 years. The style is really minimal-chic so doesn’t ever feel in or out of trend? I don’t wear them super heavily, but I mean…they’ve lasted season after season and they still look great, modern, etc!
Mason Pearson Brush — OK, I know we’re all having a love affair with the Yves Durif, and I personally prefer my YD to my MP at this point just based on my own use case (more on that below), but this MP brush is definitely a BIFL item. It’s incredibly high quality. It redistributes oil and detangles wonderfully — I still reach for it when I need a big, thorough brush out after, say, going skiing or being in a windy area. But it also DOES brush out any curl / style / gives a little “flouf”/volume, which is not what I’m after right now on a daily basis (I’m going long, straight). These are difficult to find right now but I found them on eBay.
Chanel Flats — Big spend but these are forever in style, and you can have them resoled to last.
I have others, but these are our top BIFL items that we’ve owned for a decade plus.
Items we’ve purchased recently with a BIFL mentality (but that we’ve had for only a few years, so caveating that these continue to work well now but haven’t passed the decade test yet):
HESTRA HELI GLOVES (BUT AFTER TWO SEASONS OF USE, I WISH I’D GONE WITH THE MITTEN FOR WARMTH, FWIW)
CELINE 48MM SUNGLASSES (CLASSIC SHAPE; THEY JUST FIT MY FACE PERFECTLY! — THEY’RE REALLY THE ONLY ONES I WEAR…DON’T EVEN CONSIDER WEARING MY CHEAPER ONES!)
NO. 6 CLOG BOOTS — STILL PULL THESE OUT EVERY SEASON; I GOT THEM AROUND 8 YEARS AGO SO WE’RE CLOSING IN ON THE DECADE TEST. EXTREMELY WARM, EXTREMELY WELL MADE
AGOLDE RILEYS — I HAVE A PAIR THAT HAVE SUSTAINED MULTIPLE-TIMES-A-WEEK WEAR (IN SEASON) FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW…THE CLASSIC STYLE, THE LIVED-IN FEEL OF THEM!
POLARN O PYRET KIDS BASE LAYERS — SADLY, GOING OUT OF BUSINESS IN US BUT THESE ARE LIKE THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS LEVEL UTILITY…WE HAVE SETS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH SIX SETS OF COUSINS
BOGNER SKI PANTS — I EVEN WENT WITH BLACK SO I COULD GET MAX USE OUT OF THEM FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, NO MATTER THE JACKET/BASE LAYER/SKI/ETC!
ANN MASHBURN SHIRTDRESSES — HIGHLY ANTICIPATE I’LL WEAR THESE NOW AND IN 10, 20, 30 YEARS
OK, your turn! What are your top BIFL recs? And, adjacent question, what items are you currently researching with the hopes of BIFL?
Post-Scripts.
+I’d also contemplate nominating several of the items in this “my most worn clothing” collection to this conversation. These are pieces that I find I reach for constantly — great fit, great quality, just what I want to wear.
+One of my girlfriends has lobbied that Ann Mashburn cashmere is the only cashmere she’s hung onto for years and years and will wear every single season. This has made me reflect on investing in this brand’s knitwear. (Some of it currently on sale!)
+What are the happy corners in your neighborhood?
+Book releases we’re looking forward to in 2026.
+Updated my Shopbop hearts here.
+Things I’ve ordered recently.
+Things you’ve ordered recently (top sellers the past two days).
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