OK, here's a different route. I can relate to your comment about "yearning for less and a penchant for more" since that seemed to more or less reflect how I felt about my closet earlier this year. Closet purging and then buying "to fill the gaps" seemed too close to an eating disorder for my liking.
My response was to limit myself to purchasing only 12 items this year (giving myself a pass for replacement of necessities such as worn-out underwear). Each of the 12 items has to add value to my current wardrobe; buying something because it attracted my attention on a website, was on sale, or someone said it looked good on me was not a enough of a reason to add it to my closet. It shocks me when I think of the number of things that I've passed over once I've asked myself "is this worthy of being one of my 12 chosen items for this year" and answered in the negative. Last year, there was a good chance that most of those would have taken up residence in my closet.
Since January, I've purchased four items and spent approximately $600. Most of that money went to an insanely gorgeous French cashmere sweater that I fell in love with when I was in Paris early this year. My other purchases have been an inexpensive spring trench in a color that puts a smile on face whenever I wear it, a pair of classic espadrilles for summer, and a vintage man's watch that I found for $5 in a flea market which I have worn everyday since its purchase. Oddly enough, I find this more disciplined approach to adding to my wardrobe has made me realize I do have a definite personal style, even if I can't articulate it in words. I also love wearing every single one of these items over and over again.
Since the year is almost half over, I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to find 8 more items that can give me as much pleasure as my first four.
