There is a fashion blog post out there somewhere in cyber space with a title similar to this, and darned if I can find it to give you a link. So sorry, to you and to the blogger. After reading it, I felt SO much better about my clothes! In fact, I started to feel like my wardrobe is perfectly imperfect as well.

My (mild) winter clothes are at a really good place for my style direction and my life. I've kept my selection pretty small and I still don't feel like I'm having enough opportunity to wear every combination. I've incorporated a few trends, built up my essentials and don't feel a desperate *need* for anything at the moment. I've finally learned what I like and don't like and now I might turn my attention on accessories.

So here's a quick run-down:

Pants
3 pairs of blue jeans (BF, skinny and straight)
1 pair of white skinny jeans
1 pair of black skinny pants

Skirts (pencil)
black
grey
black and tan wide stripe

Pull-over sweaters
navy v-neck
black cowl
grey turtle

Silk blouses (this is a new and exciting category for me)
taupe
black
cream

Button front shirts
white long sleeved BB

Cardigans
leopard
scroll print
sand solid

Blazers
oyster
navy
black

Coats/jackets
charcoal plaid trench
taupe moto
distressed denim jacket

Short sleeved sweater/tops
grey
navy

Striped Ts
grey/sand long sleeved
navy/white short sleeve

(not listed; assorted layering T's and tanks)

Dresses
grey pinstripe
LBD

Also in rotation are about 5 scarves, three handbags, two pairs of pointy flats, two pairs of booties and a pair of driving loafers (orange but about to by dyed tan to get more wear out of them).

For festive-wear, I have a black sequined top, bronze/black snake peep-toe pumps and an evening clutch. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with some good party outfits with these.

Going through the numbers, I can still say that *most* of these items were bought second hand, though not the 90% that I thought. I'm starting to add a few select new pieces for *show dollars".

So looking at my list, it seems 1) really long (I have a bigger wardrobe than I thought!) and 2) like it should be perfect, right? Mostly neutrals, mostly solids, everything should all go together to make, like, a gazillion outfits, right? Wrong. It does make plenty of outfits for me and my mostly stay-at-home lifestyle, but I don't like every piece paired with every other piece. I have my favorite combos.

Also, the pieces themselves are imperfect. My trench is polyester. My moto is pleather. My navy blazer has really tight sleeves and is starting to pill. All three of my winter skirts are unlined, so when I go to wear hose, I'll be fighting with a slip. Monty (my python bag) is great looking, but murder to find anything in. I'm constantly rummaging in it at the check stand, and I never wanted to be a rummager! I think my beloved leopard flats are a touch too big. Now that I have it home, I fear my cool black sequinned top (Savers via F21) is really a dress with an elasticized bottom. A really, really short dress. How will I arrange all of that extra fabric over my jeans?

Side note: At least the sequinned top/dress was a better option than the pleather corset from H&M that I just *had* to try on. It only zipped from the top back down to the waistband, which didn't undo. I couldn't decide if you were supposed to put it over your head or step into it. I finally decided to step into it since my shoulders are technically broader than my hips--and hips are squishier than shoulders. I managed to get into it by jumping up and down in the very small Savers fitting room, whilst banging about the walls. Since the door only covered me from the knees up, I'm sure the lines of people waiting got quite a show. I managed to get it on but I was momentarily worried the staff would have to hack me out of it with a fire ax. I mentally fast forwarded to the same scene being replayed in my closet, with my bloated holiday food induced belly all while DH waited for me to get ready in the car, engine revving. Yeah, no. Somehow I managed to get it back off again unaided and summoned my most dignified and aloof expression as I sedately exited the fitting room.

Where was I? Oh yes. The biggest change for me this year are the silk blouses, all thrifted and all extra long. Long enough to be tucked into low-rise jeans and stay. I'm really liking this silhouette. The fabric collapses back against my body (Angie's phrase) and I feel like it still shows my shape a bit. I'm loving the fabric against my skin, and the way the silk sleeves glide easily under an unlined jacket or even a sweater. The thin fabric makes it easier to layer, and even if it gets quite warm in the afternoon, they are loose and blowy and I don't feel too hot in them. In fact, a loose silk blouse seems both warmer in the cold and cooler in the heat than a body-con black layering T. Go figure. Since they aren't cut tight at the arm hole, they don't cause me to perspire and I find I can wear them multiple times before I hand-launder them. *cue angels singing* I like them tucked into my pencil skirts too, for work.

In fact, I'm becoming quite a tucker-inner. Sometimes with a belt and sometimes not. I'm tired of having to *fake* a longer shirt by leaving my tank hanging out underneath. And most of my mistakes have been with *winter* button front shirts, bought over the summer, than aren't long enough. They look too short to wear out, and they're not long enough to stay tucked in; maddening. They have moved on to greener pastures. Right now, the number one thing I look at on a top is the length. I'm on the fence about what tucking in does to a longer torso (esp. with low-rise jeans). It's almost like an optical illusion. If I tilt my head one way, it seems flattering, but if I look at it from another angle, just zeroing in on leg length maybe, it's not so hot. Oh well.

I think I've bent your ear long enough for one day. I'd love to hear about your own wardrobe and how it's working out for the season!