Here it is: the fruits of yesterday's shopping spree. Please be honest; the store has an excellent return policy and is located three blocks from the newsroom, so sending things back will be a snap. These pictures come to you with the much-appreciated help of marianna the Great, as usual.

Note: I didn't plan to wear the pearls in just about every outfit, it just kind of worked out that way.

1. Tweed jacket with new black pants: I am also wearing a fuchsia button-down that I already owned under this, as I'm guessing a pop of colour is in order. Is this the right way to go, and does the jacket look ok on its own? Is there too much action at the neck with the jacket's oversized collar?

http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....kpants.jpg

2. Pencil skirt and new knitwear: I know the top is likely too long for this skirt, I just wor it this way for expediency. Verdicts welcome on both pieces.

http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

3. Is this the length of top/jacket I should be sporting with the skirt? And does the jacket even work with this? Other styling suggestions welcome.

http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

4. Cascading purple cardigan over boot cut jeans, i.e. my hybrid of MOTG formulas 1 and 4. Here they are both with and without my leather moto jacket:

With: http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....amed-1.jpg
Without: http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....nnamed.jpg

5. Purple top with sort of chain detail around the neckline, worn with new grey pants. Again, verdicts welcome on both pieces:

http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....ypants.jpg

6. Black pants worn with new pink cardigan (what shade would you call this, and what else would it go with)? Does it work to put this over an all-black ensemble like this? And does it look ok in its own right?

http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

7. A comfy black tunic worn over my RL straight legs. In an attempt to incorporate Angie's suggestions to liven up a black outfit, I took a first stab at wearing a scarf with an outfit like this, tied in what I hope resembles the Angie knot.
With scarf: http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

Sans scarf: http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1
Does either work look and does the tunic look alright?

Thank you endlessly, as always. Your comments will serve me well all season, but will also help me out tonight as I pack for a visit to my family. They're lovely and fabulous in just about every way, but they've been known to make digs about my size/overall looks and I'm always paranoid about my appearance when I visit.