1. I've been on a pretty successful shopping break. Since Christmas, I've only bought and kept the BR cropped jeans and a basic black short-sleeved, gentle V-neck James Perse tee that I found in TJMaxx, which will replace an old, now-fading black tee. This is not to say I have totally avoided the stores -- I've allowed myself to browse a few times, and I've even had some try-on sessions, but I have been very critical and have been happy to walk away without buying.

2. During this time, I've had some online shopping carts going. I tend to be hot and cold with online shopping -- either I find and pounce, or I let it sit and eventually let it sell out or empty the cart. One of the carts is purely because I have some store credit that needs to be used by this spring. It's probably a sign that I can't remember what is in them now, even though I think I visited them just a few days ago.

2. I've REALLY been enjoying the results of a couple of hours of playing with my neglected jackets. I've only gotten in three days of "jacket wear" so far (yesterday was spent in grungies working on the house we're putting on the market), but I've loved each of those outfits and have found a new focus on really *seeing* what is in my closet and how to work with it. This has also helped me not want to shop so much, because I'm excited to try these new combinations, and I'm seeing old things with fresh eyes. I think this is the true essence of "shopping your closet" and illustrates why it's important to really take unworn things out, try them on, and work on styling them before you either give them up or just skim over them, deciding to let them stay.

3. Even as I've actually enjoyed the shopping break, there are a couple of wants that have started to creep in. The first is a growing desire to invite a little bit of purple back into my closet. It's not an easy color to find right now anyway, but I kind of miss it. I'm quite particular about my purple shades -- nothing too bright or grape candy-ish, and I don't do pale shades of it well, like pastel lavender. But berry tones, plum, eggplant, amethyst, and orchid are all colors I wear pretty well.

4. The other want right now is a signature piece of jewelry -- it's really specific, and something I've looked at for a while. I've been fascinated for a while with Fordite or Detroit agate, which is old automobile paint leftover from factory painting that has hardened into layers and is cut and polished to create cabochons. The one that keeps drawing me back is a ring with cobalt blue, black, white, grey, and a bit of orange. Considering all the not-shopping I've been doing, I may have to treat myself. It's a one-of-a-kind piece, and once it's sold, there won't be another like it.

I've found it very interesting that taking a break from buying can help me identify fewer, more insistent wants/needs in my wardrobe rather than just lusting after every pretty thing that I see. I've been more and more aware that I'm drawn to lots of items that I *like* but I won't necessarily want to *wear.* So I don't have to buy all the things!

Thanks for being a place where I can think about these things "out loud" so to speak. I like organizing my thoughts by noting them, and I would look crazy doing that anywhere else but here! It's a huge bonus if any of my musings and insights help anyone else.

Are you having any shifts or realizations around your style and shopping habits lately?