I can relate as only yesterday I found myself trying on another sleeveless top that I don't need, just because it was on sale and in my size!
It was a waste of time, and yet, some of my best purchases have been found when I wasn't actually looking for them.
Sometimes it pays to shop when you don't really have needs or wardrobe holes to fill!

This topic sure in inspiring some fascinating discussion!

Suz I have to ask you why my comment cracked you up..:-) Laughing with empathy perhaps?

I totally agree that a couple of not-so-great purchases a year are totally ok. No one is perfect. I think I'm making a lot of mistakes right now because I'm in transition but I'm getting pretty good at recognizing them in time to return them. And yes I do agree that only solution is more shopping...sounds kinda funny but it's true. YAY...MORE SHOPPING..**claps hands**.

The journey continues...yesterday we visited friends in the city (Boston) and went to lunch and a concert, and I was ok with what I wore but only ok. No great crisis but came home wishing I had worn something different, something I can't really name but is definitely more "smart casual" than what I did wear.

Good that you returned the sunglasses and watch if you don't like them.

And yes you are so right about life changes and wardrobe changes...that totally resonates with me.

Collete thanks so much for the kinds words. Wow, 5 bags of shoes!!! I bet that's how many I have total of the ones I want to keep Love the idea of tank top emergencies. You should start hanging out at food trucks that sell a lot of tomato sauced foods and eat them in a very messy manner; that would take care of your surplus of tank tops! Your comments about YLF so true!

DonnaF yes a topper would work but not in the middle of summer. I've been tracking what I wear and I have not needed or worn a topper since the middle of June. Ah...two more addiction for you...but wardrobe addictions are among the best ones to have IMHO. They might hurt your wallet but they will never hurt YOU.

Jazzy Dance I am with you. It gets to be an endless loop that's hard to break out of.

Runcarla...very interesting maybe I'll start up a new topic on this.

Thanks Astrid...yes you get it too.

Lyn D agree that sometimes you find the best stuff when you're not looking for it.

Totally laughing in empathy, Chris. Evolving a style is hard work!! We so often fall back on the old boring standards.

I used to be even harder to fit, so if something fits and looks relatively good on me I can get sidetracked and buy it, even if it is just meh. So I relate.

The fact that so many of us have experienced the same difficulty holding out for interesting "smart casual" tops should make it clear that the problem is not so much with us and our hard-to-change patterns, as with the available offerings! Let's face it: that amazing, perfect-fitting, problem-solving top in a flattering color, fabric and silhouette--preferably with something a little extra in the design to make it stand out--is as rare as a unicorn. We end up buying the consolation piece out of frustration, not certain that the thing we're looking for really exists.