I have lived in fairly remote areas for the past five years, so I have usually shopped online instead on in-store. My in-laws want a wishlist for every holiday as well, so I have started one online. I can grab things from different websites, categorize them, and then send the link to my family or print it out.

Sometimes this comes in handy for remembering the things I come across online, and I can compare prices across websites fairly easily. However, I don't get to try things on and I don't get the chance to see something in person before buying it.

I have a fairly detailed and elaborate way of keeping wish lists, so please don't laugh :)

I write them in a little journal dedicated to my clothes maintainance, where I also write down packing lists for trips, list for stuff to be taken to the tailor, favorite outfits combos, interesting things to try and so on.

I have two lists for every season; one is for stuff I'd like to find (e.g. I want a purple 32" long boyfriend cardigan) and the other one is for actual items I have seen in stores or online that I'm coveting. Of course the more the two overlap, the better.

Within every list I categorize stuff on couple of different criteria. One is how much I need/like something. For example, I really need a new umbrella, while I'd love to have a brown leather jacket but since I already have a black one I can do without the brown till I find "the one". The second criterion is how much
I'm willing to spend on something. Here stuff get divided into low- up to $50 ( e.g. a basic layering jersey turtleneck), mid ( $50-$100) and high (>$100) range, such as designer jeans . These is usually closely correlated with the trendiness of the item, the really trendy stuff ( such as ombre full skirt I got this summer) go into the lower, the in-between stuff ( a grey cowlneck sweater I got last winter, grey and cowl were very in, but the item is wearable later too) goes into the middle range, while only more timeless pieces (such as outerwear, boots, jeans, cashmere sweaters) get allowed to fit in the high cost range. Of course items are also divided by groups, such as tops, bottoms, shoes, accessories and so on.

This sounds like a lot of work, but a allows for a quick decision on whether I should buy something at that moment or not. It also helps me keep track of stuff; for example, on my current wish list there are four (!) purple items to be worn over skinnies; the first list has a long purple boyfriend cardigan and a LS purple shirtdress; the second list has a purple Sweat Pea mesh tunic and a Boden long purple vest. Of course, it would be silly to get all the four, I'll get one, two at most, depending on what I find and current prices :)

The list gets constantly edited, as I find/buy stuff or decide I do not need something after all.

Wow, Tanya...you're so organized about your clothes purchases! Impressive. I just go through my closet and look to see where my gaps are (this blouse would be great with some new pants, I need a jacket to go with these, etc) and make a list of those items. Then as I hear about or see new things, I write those down too. I also watch what others are wearing and decide which trends are truly worth my time and add items to my list as well. I'm just beginning my fashion exploration so I keep an open mind about things and my process may change along the way as needed.

I try to write things down (I'm so impressed Tanya), I wish I were better at it. I guess I sort of keep a mental "master" list (ie--things that I am always on the hunt for whenever I go shopping). From time to time I decide I want to get a specific thing and go out and look for it (white skinny jeans, red shoes, a white watch, etc.) And then I have a "super" wish list (ie--investment pieces that I am saving up to purchase). I try very hard not to make impulse buys, because I used to be very bad about that and ended up with a closet full of things that either I didn't love, didn't fit me right, or were just plain orphans. Even now if I make an "impulse" buy, I ask myself if I have something similar (I tend to want to buy anything that has ruffles on it, so I end up with lots of ruffly shirts), and if it will go with what I currently have, or if I would have to buy more clothes to make an outfit out of it. If I have to buy more clothes, I usually take a pass, because it could easily become an orphan in my closet.

As far as prioritizing, I usually try to choose things that will go with lots of stuff I already have first. Either that, or items that are seasonal (white skinny jeans), that might not be available again until next year if I wait too long.

I have to add, too, that I have gotten better about impulse buys since coming to this forum (and am getting better every day), because I'm around/seeing clothing a lot more now. The more clothing I see the more I sort of think, "There's always going to be more clothing, and I will probably always be able to find something fabulous." That sort of mind set has really helped me hold out and wait (and save, if I have to) for the things I really really love, instead of buying lots of stuff I end up never wearing (which is what I used to do). The only time I make a true impulse buy now is if something is extremely unique (KILLER) or on super sale (and even then it has to go with stuff I have). Either of those situations happen very rarely.