Why I’m (Still) Obsessed With Tibi--And Recs From Tibi Fans
and what I’m doing to keep it from taking over my life
Scroll down for great recommendations from Tibi fans! TLDR:
Calder sweatpants (3 mentions)
Stella pants (2 mentions)
Liam Blazer (2 mentions)
Pleated skirts (2 mentions)
The Tibi sale is upon us again, which means some of us are quietly obsessing over our carts. Adding and removing pieces. Adding duplicates just to test how much stock is left. Running the numbers like we’re prepping for a fashion apocalypse.
Mine? It’s sitting at US$12,000 (excluding repeats). I won’t buy all of it. Probably not even half! But the fact that I could even find this many items I want—this fantasy edit, this pretend-new-life wardrobe—says a lot about the hold this brand still has on me.
Like many, I fell into the Tibi rabbit hole during Covid. The world felt small and chaotic, and suddenly there was
on Instagram Live each week, and almost daily in my Stories, explaining the architecture of a well-balanced outfit like she was drawing blueprints for a calmer, chicer life.It wasn’t just styling—it was philosophy. A system. Clarity in a time when I was reaching for anything that felt intentional.
And to be fair, the clothes deliver! My Tibi pieces are genuine MVPs. I reach for them for work, for play, for big events when I want to feel both grounded and elevated. They never scream, but they’re never forgettable. Chill, modern, classic—indeed! It’s a tagline, but it’s also… kinda true?!
But what keeps me in the orbit isn’t just the products. It’s the whole universe they’ve shrewdly built. The weekly IG Lives that people actually schedule their day around. The stylists who respond to DMs like your chatty stylish BFF. The fan groups where new releases are studied like sacred texts. (Do NOT join the tibi fans Facebook group unless you’re OK being deeply influenced!) It’s parasocial intimacy that sometimes turns into real connections. My partner is mildly alarmed that I’m in a WhatsApp group with strangers just to talk about one brand… It’s fashion as community, education, and, at times, shared obsession.
And to give credit where it’s due: Amy is a marketing and business genius. Tibi isn’t not just selling pants, they’re selling why. Amy’s book (which I paid a stupid amount for and annotated like it was required reading) explains “creative pragmatism” with the clarity of a manifesto. The framework really does help make better, more thoughtful purchases. Until, of course, you want everything that fits it.
Inventory strategy? Also genius. Small batches. Tight edits. Everything sells out fast, which adds to the panic. They say it’s about a small business managing sustainability—and it is—but it’s also brilliant scarcity marketing. It creates urgency. It creates FOMO.And it works. You blink, and the good stuff is gone. So the next time, you hit check out more quickly.
Which is when I usually spiral. I need the nylon pant. That sculpted blazer. That icky-but-right skirt.
But here’s where I try to pause.
But here’s where I try to breathe. I remind myself that it’s okay to pause. That not every drop is a must-have. That some pieces just aren’t going to work—and that’s fine.
So this is where this post diverges. First, some real talk if you too need to snap out of your Tibi addiction. Next, if you are interested, some recommendations from rabid and not-so-rabid Tibi fans to help you figure out what’s worth getting!
Snapping out of Tibi addiction
So much of it comes back. Resale platforms like The RealReal and Cleowave are full of incredible finds—so is Outnet in smaller sizes. (I’m selling some items here!) Often the pieces you missed pop up there, sometimes with tags (you’re benefitting from rabid fans’ impulse purchases!), always better-priced. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt, but it’s part of the fun. The cult pieces circulate, like artifacts passed between devotees.
The fit is sometimes a little hard to pull off. Amy and the team make it all look effortlessly cool. But the oversized proportions are tricky, especially if you prefer a more defined waist. On me, a few things just… flopped. (Shoutout to my dad who asked if I actually paid extra for the top with intentionally “broken” buttons. I did. It didn’t work.) I actually love looking for the pieces on TRR and Shopbop. Oftentimes, styled differently (or badly), they just look plain… weird.
A lot of it is nylon and synthetics. I personally like it because of how they wear and drape, and I think well-made synthetics have a place in our wardrobe. But if you’re someone who only does cotton or wool, you won’t find much here!
It’s very expensive. Real talk: Do you need to pay US$700+ for a blazer? No. Some of my favorite Zara blazers cost $50 and have held up for years. Obviously, there is a difference in cut and construction, but not always in proportion to the price.
At some point, I have to remind myself: it’s just clothes. Really. My life won’t collapse if I don’t get the cocoon skirt in black. My selfhood won’t be compromised if I skip the “it” trouser of the season. Most of us have enough. More than enough. We’re not chasing outfits. We’re chasing a feeling. A story. A sense of composure.
Falling deeper into the hole of the cult of Tibi
If you’re still happily in the thick of it, no judgment. I am too (just trying to be more conscious about it). Here are some ideas!
Firstly,
, and have great posts to help you make the most of the upcoming Tibi sale: Zero gatekeeping!
And if you’re curious what’s actually worth buying, I’ve pulled together some honest recs from fellow fans—rabid and not-so-rabid—on what’s stood the test of time. Because sure, Tibi can be a little bit of a cult. But at least it’s one with great pants.
I’ll start:
: Stella in an icky fabric
I’m almost embarrassed to share how many Stellas I owe in different colors and fabrics. This is one of their most popular designs because it truly works. Classic enough in the silhouette, but made cool by the weird icky fabrics. It ends up working great for work and play—no bifurcated closets here!
I personally get the most wear out of the blacks and navys because they translate better to a corporate environment. I have some of the cargo pants versions because my workplace isn’t THAT fussy, but stick to the classic pants if not. I’m a size 4 (and typically UK size 10, US size 8). I also love the Wilt jogger in an icky fabric and this one is available on TRR!
: Calder, vest, midi skirt
Laura made time to reply while traveling for work at Bogotá Fashion Week and her recommendations were short and sweet
A Calder sweatpant—you have to check out her ode to sweatpants without feeling defeated!
An oversized vest but not the nylon material—Oversized Double Breasted Vest or Liam Vest
The wool midi skirt: Mine is from 2019-2018 and i got it on sale and it is amazing. I wear it a lot. — Laura seriously knows how to rock a pencil skirt!
: Pleated skirt, Charlie shirt, Triple Pleat
Asta is my generous BFF for all things Tibi!!! Check out her SS if you want ideas of how to make Tibi your own
You can’t ask a mother to pick her favorite child! But if you must, here are my CURRENT faves.
I can say with a lot of confidence that NO ONE makes pleated skirts like Tibi does. You could find a pre-loved like this old featherweight pleated skirt I love or the newer sunray skirts/nylon pleated skirts. They are all EXCELLENT! All their pleated skirts have a beautiful silhouette, no bunching on the tummy area, and they are truly skirts made for pant wearers, or like a Tibi fan said to me, “feminine skirts for girls who grew up as tomboys”.
My second favorite is the Charlie shirt, or the seasonal variations of that same cut. It’s a perfect shape, not oversized, not skintight. And somehow doesn’t gape on my D-cups (an achievement in itself).
Last, it’s this new triple pleat shape. I struggled to pick a favorite since it comes in so many fabrications but I went with the jeans because while I’m not a jeans wearer usually, this one got me! The shape is excellent; it doesn’t feel too casual (why I don’t love wearing jeans), but it’s also not formal. It has snaps on the side so you can make them into culottes or adjust the hem to your preference. I love doing the snaps up on the outside of the pant legs only to get this cutie flippy “I dream of Jeannie” shape.
(IG): Slip skirts
Usha, my internet friend!!! She has the most stylish and joyous outfits. Affiliate links marked with a *.
Tibi pieces just have that extra something whether in shape or in colour (Hello, Ring 3!). I'm always down for an outfit that's a little left field and I love how Tibi regularly works in fun architectural details. Like, a little cut-out here, a strategic slit there, or a hem that just curves in a cool way. This is why I adore the Giselle open-back tank*, and this older ultra-stretch knit dress*. They may look unassuming from the front but it’s a “Vegas New Year Extravaganza” at the back. Drama aside, anything Tibi makes with a cocoon back also has me in a chokehold.
If we're talking true love, my heart belongs to Tibi’s slip skirts. They drape like a dream – and while I prefer natural over synthetic fibres, I would never have thought acetate could feel this luxurious. And that perfectly placed, and longer-than-most back slit gives a hint of sensuality without being too much. I'm only slightly obsessed – I've got these skirts in Tibi’s trademark red*, a gold/champagne*, and a deep grey pine*. Plus, I'm eagerly waiting for Summer 2025’s pink in an updated maxi length to arrive. It’s pretty rare for me to buy the same thing more than once, but Tibi has officially made me break my "no multiples" rule.
: Calders
My cool fashion-loving mom friend who you can always count on to be the voice of reason! When she gets on a trend, you know it’s a great one with longeveity.
I view Tibi as a fashion movement, not just a fashion brand. Of course Amy's designs are so clever and the way she puts things together is beyond inspiring. But the universe she's created is FAR more compelling in my POV - it transcends the clothes and offers everyone ideas on how to get dressed--whether you own Tibi or not.
Personally I am drawn to her Fundamentals range more so than anything else, because I see the long-term value of these wardrobe staples.
I am gaga over my Calders - I own them in both black & white and I love styling them up and down. I know some might think white sweatpants are insane but I promise they are so handy - something so fresh and easy about them, esp in the summertime.
I love these sweats so much that I finally bit the bullet and also bought the Winslows and I'm (not so patiently) awaiting their arrival. I'm a big pants girl, but I'm also big on comfort & practicality...and her sweatpants deliver both! Amy's ideal of creating a non-bifurcated wardrobe is always front & center for me, so the idea that I can wear sweatpants with heels and flip flops alike is a major win in my book toward that goal.
The stylist that introduced me to Substack! Effortlessly cool but also so pragmatic in shopping. Her recommendations are always spot on.
1) Liam blazer in tropical wool (navy)
3) Pleated skirt: I don’t own this because I have similar ones already, but such a versatile piece
These three pieces are foundational to my wardrobe and, when worn together, form the go-to, no-brainer silhouette I turn to when I want to feel comfortable and put together. They're endlessly versatile when building outfits of all levels of formality as evidenced by the countless number of outfits I’ve made with them.
Even though they work for me, I wouldn’t unilaterally recommend them for everyone. In particular, I think the Liam works best when it’s TTS because you'll still get a good fall through the back when crossing the button over — a key feature of the blazer. For some people TTS will feel too oversized, and if you’re below 5’3, it might feel too long. The Calder, even in the Long, may be too short if you’re taller: More here!
Also you can just search ‘Liam” in my newsletter and it’ll pop up everywhere. Navy is my go-to colour in all three because it’s the easiest to “match” other neutrals and colours. It blends easier than black, which sometimes can feel too severe.
: Stella, Wilt Jogger, Liam Blazer—all in nylon
Ewelina is the master at finding preowned Tibi! I seriously need to learn from her. She has the best finds:
I keep coming back to Tibi’s nylon pieces. It started with the khaki green Stella pants—wide-leg, a bit slouchy, a bit shiny—and somehow it grew from there.
There’s the white jogger version, and most recently, the navy nylon Liam blazer, which feels like a discovery even though I saw it coming.
I love them for the ease: no ironing, ever, and they always feel intentional, even when I’m not. But I also use them for friction—literally, in the texture of the fabric, and in how that slight sheen breaks up an otherwise matte look. They’re also feather-light, which means they travel well, and they always come with me, even when I think I’m packing light.
I hope you found this helpful! If you’re eyeing anything from the sale, 10/10 would recommend joining the Tibi Fans FB group to see how the piece looks on others.
Ultimately, I love Tibi. I’ll probably always love it—even if this makes me a style lemming.
But I’m trying to remember that wanting something doesn’t mean I need it. That being inspired doesn’t have to turn into constantly buying. And that the coolest thing I can wear is probably already in my closet—I just need to figure out a new way to style it.
I read this and then got pulled away from my phone but believe me when I say that is really stuck with me. I appreciated that you are a Tibi fan while also recognizing the Marketing tactics of their sales. I have a friend who loves, buys and wears a lot of Tibi and I adore it all on her. She manages to look CMC for all occasions and is a walking billboard for why their stuff WORKS.
I loved this Xue! This was a great look into why Tibi has such a strong brand community. Amy is a marketing and styling genius and I agree with Sogole about the ultra-compelling fashion universe that she’s created. I’m going to keep an eye out for Tibi’s pleated and slip skirts on TRR after reading this - thank you Asta and Usha for the intel :)