I think I mentioned (somewhere?!) that while I'm back to thrifting, I want to essentially follow 1 in/1 out for things I buy (vs clothes I make, which will have a free pass, in an effort to encourage myself to make more). I'd like the clothes to be from similar 'categories' too. And I'm going to use the forum to hold me accountable, because otherwise it's far too easy to just overlook something here and there or 'forget' to remove an item. Last night, I went ahead and balanced out my January clothes, which made me so happy I ended up pulling several other pieces that I don't love 100% out of the rotation. A little part of me thought 'save them! you'll need them for future 1 in/1 out!,' but then I saw how silly I was being. Really, I have an abundance in almost every aspect of my closet (my only true hole at the moment is a pair of dressy trousers; come next winter, when I've moved up north, I might have a few more), which is what I want to keep in mind at the thrift stores. If something isn't a big improvement over what I have, why bring it home? The only categories excepted are jumpers/pullovers, because I wear them frequently in cooler weather and don't have that many, so I'm allowed a couple more wool and cotton/other warmer weather blend and colourful skirts, which I'm also 'lacking'. With any luck, these guidelines will allow me to keep looking for wardrobe HEWIs without succumbing as much to the temptation of lovely things!

In January, I went thrifting twice and came home with 5 items (! that'd be 60 new pieces for the year if I keep that up) for $31 plus tax (I had $10 in Christmas present money to add to my usual budget). In addition to the Trench of Contention, which I forgot to photograph as it lives in the coat closet, I added:

a light coloured, pattern cotton dress because

• I think it will work as both a sundress and layer well in the fall and spring (even winter here in Texas but perhaps not in upstate NY)
• it has a high, square neckline (once I take up the straps a bit), which flatters me, and is knee length
• I love the raspberry family of pinks and don't have anything like that in my entire (not insubstantial) closet
• the little pintucks/mini pleats at the waist were adorable
• it's lined in acetate, which feels fine to me, unlike polyester (which I find very itchy as a lining)

and it's displacing a different (darker) patterned cotton dress, which hasn't been worn at all in at least a year, perhaps two, because the bodice is lined in polyester (itchy!), and the silhouette, while flattering to my body, is too retro/50s for me to feel entirely comfortable in, and the quality just isn't up to my current standards (I got this dress before I was really into thrifting, so I've had it for probably 6 years & wore it a lot when I was younger);

a navy cotton cardigan with ribbon detailing because

• it fits beautifully buttoned up, so can easily be worn as a jumper/pullover (I have no full sleeve cotton jumpers at the moment)
• it's a crewneck, my favourite kind of cardigan
• I loved the ribbon detailing (actually a kind of twill bias tape, I believe, so it has an earthier feel to it than real ribbon would)
• navy is one of 'my' neutrals
• the quality is excellent: it looks like it's never been worn and is a lovely, substantial cotton (you'll have to take my word for it, since my poor camera couldn't cope with the white closet door and dark navy colour so the details were lost)

and it's displacing a thin cotton jumper/pullover, which is really past its prime, and I prefer full length sleeves anyway, and thicker fabric;

a linen striped blouse because

• I've become much more interested in linen lately, as it seems like a fascinating fiber, and I'd like to add some to my wardrobe
• the stripes are perfect for me, with a muted blues and pinks, and the vertical placement is such fun
• I love curved yokes, especially with round necklines (when worn, the little cut out in the middle isn't as dramatic a v)
• it made me feel like a 1920s bathing beauty, and I found it 2 days before my seashore trip, so it felt like fate

and it's displacing another striped short sleeve top, which was too long for me, and just not quite right.

Now careful counters will notice I'm missing my fifth piece! It's a pair of trousers that I wore yesterday, but I'd like some input on them before I decide whether to keep them and thus choose a sacrificial victim to make room on the shelf. So you'll see them in my next wiw.

Oh! I almost forgot! I actually bought a 6th item, a grey cashmere sweater, for my loungewear/pj capsule. It's truly delicious cashmere and a lovely colour, so now I'm tempted to see if I can somehow alter the too low/big armcyse (spelling?) and put it in my normal closet. If that happens, you'll see it in February's round up!

I have no clue if this will be helpful to anyone to read, but it was definitely helpful for me to write. If it turns out not to be helpful, I'll keep future accounts more brief! But I suspect the idea of forum eyes on my new purchases will help give me a bit of extra will power while thrifting. Seeing the photos side by side, I think it's clear that all of the left hand (new) pieces seem to belong in the same closet. And that they're all an upgrade in quality. I hope so anyway!