To start to build a professional wardrobe and to head more for the semi formal/dress casual look, leaving my nerdy tshirt days behind.

Clean out my closet and organize my wardrobe. I am leaving tomorrow to go back to NE for 3 weeks and just now beginning to pack. There is a specific pair of jeans that I want to take with me and I can't find them. Absolutely. Drives. Me. Crazy.

Nanabear, sounds exciting you are so lucky to have YLF to guide you on this exciting journey.
Marley I hear you - mine is so small now that doesn't happen any more - such a relief. Have a great trip.

I would really like to get the hang of personalizing and adding interest to my casual/smart casual looks.

I have the tendency to be a minimalist/tomboy, but I have trouble buying and wearing the little pieces and touches that make more casual looks look deliberate, especially with my rustic leanings. Things like belts, good shoes, a watch, jewelery, scarves and layers/jackets that add a little interest.

I pick things out, but I often have a hard time finding pieces I could see myself wearing without feeling overdone and fussy or like I am posing. Unfortunately tees and jeans with no interesting accessories usually reads either "teen" or "bum" (unprofessional), or "frumpy and older than my age" (unattractive).

My goals involve picking up a few pieces that say "me" and to make outfits (not just clothes) and then actually wearing them and experimenting with different looks.

I want to focus on bringing out my assets and interests and personality so you see "me" and not just awkwardness or under or overstyled clothes.

I have been trying to invest in quality over quantity. I continue to be interested in buying American made or thrifted/consigned items. The latter seeks to incorporate values - support for domestic production and trying to live reduce/reuse/recycle.

Fascinating! I have been away from the Forum for a while and coming back to read and have time to comment a bit is getting me thinking more conscientiously about style. Caro, that quote is helpful.
My goal for 2013 is to step up casual looks with more accessories and somehow merge my classic/prepster side with boho side. I am not sure that is possible. Sometimes I feel like I have a split personality and there must be a happy medium.

Ooooo . . . . and to go ahead and purge my closet . . . . heck, my whole house!

Elly, I love tomboy style. I agree accessories & experimentation are an important part of developing a style. My niece really likes this blogger:
http://www.puttingmetogether.c.....eries.html
I like the visuals.

Alecia I buy local when I can but we need better labelling (in Australia) before we can make informed decisions about new clothes.

christieanne Love the sound of prepster boho. There is a boho/American classic woman in The Lucky Style Guide - she says her basics are blazers floaty tunics & riding boots - would they work for you? Glad you like the quote too.

No problem Elly what are you doing after lunch?

Suz - that certainly makes more sense re. PPP (!!)

Makes me think of Mary Poppins: Practically perfect!

Ooh, good question!

I want to seriously try to SYC until Spring, get one good Spring refresher piece, one good Summer piece, and then possibly wait for a big blowout at the next YLF Shoptoberfest. Not sure if I can really do it... I've vowed SYC before and failed miserably, but what are resolutions for...?

You might be in a better place with your clothes now rae. SYC must get easier the closer you are to your goal, no?

I am aiming to cut this years spend by at least half- now that I have recognised and filled lots of gaps with the help of YLF.
It will be a one-in-one-out exercise, with the emphasis on quality rather than quality.

I do not think I have a specific style. I like various styles at least on others and on myself too, although I have never yet worn some of them. For example I like casual, I like Desigual looks and I like many of the styles Angie wears. So maybe I am all over the place? One thing is certain, I like to be confortable, especially shoes as my feet are very fussy.

(1) One in, one out (except for sweaters and accessories) - my closet is full.
(2) Buy fewer, nicer things - this should be easy, or at least easier, now that I have more decent clothes.
(3) Figure out what colors suit me.
(4) The perfect white jeans, the perfect black bag.

Stick to replacing items versus purchasing random new one's. My closet is finally down to a more manageable size and I want to stick to one in and one out with my purchases. Also to try only one new "trendy" item a season to keep my wardrobe fresh. Last year I purchased a green blazer in the spring and a green jean in the summer and both single purchases really gave my wardrobe some "life" for the season. Being picky about what new item I select will keep my wardrobe small and force me to focus on the fit, colors, and fabrics of a new item and less impulse trend purchasing where I ignore these criteria for the sake of something "new."

I'd like to nail a good summer style (my dominant season) that makes me feel fab even when it's 90-100 degrees outside. Last year via YLF I "discovered" boyfriend shorts (longer length, rolled up for me) and that went a long way to help me. Belts as a fashion accessory have also been a new again thing for me. It's the tops, shoes and general "style" that I feel is lacking in the heat. It's also very windy where I live and I am pretty active outdoors, so dresses/skirts are not the best option.

A fun read! I like your goals, Caro. And I look forward to seeing them unfold.

Everyone here, and that includes me, should definitely look back on this thread 6 months from now and compare their actions to your original goals. I look forward to seeing your styles evolve.

I don't make style goals, or any resolutions, at the beginning of the year. I make them throughout the year as they come up and are necessary. As disciplined as I am, to box myself into a pattern for the entire year would make me very unhappy.

I continue to strive for a crisp, clean, simple and bold style that incorporates by beloved classics with fun new trends and a big dose of MODERN. A little preppy, a little punk, a little retro, and equal parts of tomboy and ladylike style. Always polished, and always picky, patient and practical about my purchases. And most importantly, always having fun along the way.

1. Be brutal about purging things that don't make me feel fab
2. Shop when I need something, not when I'm bored
3. Visit some local consignment shops and see if I can sell some things
4. Find a better way to store my scarves

Thanks for sharing your goals everyone & Angie's idea of checking back in six months is brilliant. I've put it in my diary.
Texstyle - summer style is another biggie for me. Boots, jeans & leather jackets are easy but 100* plus weather makes it difficult to look stylish - I've tried dresses & they just aren't me, so I'm still working on this too.