That's a very comprehensive list of words/feelings to guide your wardrobe choices. Congratulations, Jenn! And you can certainly expect that much from your clothes; it may just take a year or two. I look forward to seeing how your real-life wardrobe evolves to match your word guides!

I nodded my head along side your rant! I do think there's quality to be found in clothkng nowadays, but it's sort of a crap shoot. Secondhand shopping is almost easier; you can already see how a piece has held up! Lol I have a handful of true vintage pieces though, and they do seem to come from another world. Especially the vintage wool coats; they're like mini furnaces.

E. has done such a thorough job (I felt the same way about All Creatures Great and Small--those noble, battered, indestructible tweeds!) of responding to your points, I don't have much left to say, but I did want to expand a little on the subject of approachability. Working with small children taught me that clothes can, indeed, be approachable, or not. When I wore dark gray and black, they didn't like it. Scratchy textures upset them, too. They loved soft cashmere (one little girl threw her arms around me and said, "I LOVE you in this sweater!") and happy colors like pink and turquoise. Dressing for them, I noticed that paying attention to the effects of colors and textures made me happier, too, and even strangers were more likely to smile at me. Good luck with your search! It sounds as though you are aware of what you are looking for.

Reminds me of the style featured in Sundance:

http://www.sundancecatalog.com.....do?nType=1

LavenderMoon - Yes! Ines and her daughter were showing up all over my Pinterest feed, so I grabbed her book at the library a few weeks ago. I admire her minimalism and easy, not-trying-too-hard style. She's also a master of mixing masculine/feminine.

Alassë - Thanks!

tulle - Thanks for the observations! Approachability was important to me when I wrote this, but since I just added a more interactive volunteer role to my life, it's even more important now!

Marley - Yup, I like Sundance. It's a little more boho/romantic than I am overall, but good for statement pieces.

All I can add is that items 1 - 4 describe me to a "t", so I will follow your journey with interest. I too have been contemplating how to dress more appropriately for my life, which might mean a shift towards a little more of a gearish look. Good luck!!

torontogirl - I've been thinking on the moniker "outdoorsy bookworm" and think I'm going to experiment with combining some classic outdoorsy looks with some nerdy charm.

On an added note, I was just watching the trailer for the new season of Doctor Who and thinking Clara Oswald is a fantastic style icon. There's a girl whose clothing doesn't keep her from an adventure!

"Outdoorsy Bookworm"--I like that!

Clara Oswald looks very cute, and also like she could jump onto a speeding train -- in style!

Doesn't she, though? I'd have to "grow up" her style a little, being about 15 years older, but I especially like those first two looks with the hi-lo hems and jackets.

Another Who fan here -- although I'm partial to River Song's wardrobe!
I think your aesthetic priorities suit your environment beautifully! I see Ralph Lauren in your mood board, too. His line has a bit of a Luxe Prep vibe that I don't see in your descriptors, but I've always loved the fact that his garments have style integrity 10 years later. What we see in the stores is always watered down -- I like to view his runway looks on Pinterest.

Ok, re farmers wearing tweed: I believe that took place in the 30s and 40s. Wool was what they had. No Carhartt and no Levis.* And although dry cleaning existed, I don't think they used it much.

Anyway, I live in the western high desert, in the sticks, and barely need anything beyond jeans, tees, and fleece. Pretty minimalist and definitely lacking style. Every weekend my husband and I go on birding outings and I need functional clothes for these trips. While I could wear the aforementioned fleece and a windbreaker, I don't want to. Recently I bought a couple of Barbour waxed jackets. I imagined how great they would look with my lovely wool sweaters. I loved their style and quality. It turns out I did not like having to wash my hands after touching them. My husband said, "You know we live in the 21st century and have goretex." Anyway, I returned them both (I was only planning to keep one anyway) and am continuing to look for an attractive functional modern jacket.

* Of course these brands existed, the farmers just didn't have access to them.

Beth Ann - River Song! Now, there's an Urban Warrior Princess, if I ever saw one! I'll have to go check out Ralph Lauren on Pinterest. I always wrote him off as "too preppy for me," but I never really looked.

JAileen - So, what you're saying so diplomatically is... those famers smelled really bad! That's interesting about the waxed canvas. I love the look of it, but I don't know that I've ever felt it.