Cooking up outfits, I am discovering, can be a kind of creative fun once the basic ingredients are in the pantry/closet. But it can lead me down a different acquisitive rabbit hole, the if onlys. If only I had a cobalt top, I could do this...coral shoes...turtlenecks in olive and black, I could make that outfit. I could probably come up with justifications to build 200 outfits or more with stuff on my want list. Just like buying specialty ingredients for that new recipe I will make only once, it can quickly spiral into another way to buy to excess for my fantasy life of free time. I need four capsules:

-mud and manure uniform (7 days a week, 50 weeks a year)
-lounge (1-2 days a week when I get chores done with energy to change, more often in winter, less in summer)
-real but casual clothes (~50 outfits a year, no longer than 7-10 days in a row in the city, usually a just weekend or most often a casual dinner at someone's house nearby, equally split for winter and summer)
-serious seasonless clothes (funeral, wedding, cocktail, max 5x per year)

It's not that I buy clothes that are inappropriate for the city capsule, it's that I've been buying color duplicates than end up unworn. Either I'm not sure which I prefer so I avoid deciding by getting both, or there's a deep discount on the second item that seems like too good of a deal. But I always seem to prefer one and the other languishes.

I need to be realistic about how many outfits I really wear and how often, esp in a four season climate. Two 7 day, tightly edited capsules (fall/winter and spring/summer) is plenty. Maybe a couple extra layering tops. If some items cross over into the lounge category, that helps the CPW or makes a little larger city wardrobe seem reasonable. But I don't need silk blouses in six colors, even if they would all build spectacular outfits with what I have. The plus side of being disciplined on quantity, I'm discovering, is that a luxury-to-me cashmere turtleneck seems like a reasonable purchase this year if I'm only getting one item in that category. Like Mo started us with, it's staying focused.

Linking to boots I want, are in one of my core neutrals, would add to at least half my winter city outfits, but am not going to buy because I bought the black Aquatalias during NAS and that is enough.

Janet, and Fuzzy, I never shopped in outfits. Maybe that's part of the bargain hunting nature? Seems I've always cobbled stuff together piece by piece, a little at a time. I did narrow my color palette a few years ago and that's been so freeing. I thought it would limit me but surprised to find I can do more when I get in there and get pairing things up. I think deep down inside I know limiting my number of options further will only make things easier but I'm scared to take another step towards limiting myself.

Kiwigal - that's just it. Do we need to replace the item itself or more accurately it's role in the wardrobe? Tan sandal vs airy, light, walkable summer shoe. Hunting down replacements of old tired workhorses can not only be time consuming and a let down compared to its original, I'm thinking it's also holding me (us) back in our style journey.

Mo, I love what you're saying about item acquisition vs. outfit construction. I am in full agreement with your present focus. As part of my 34-day capsule test, I have been noting what's NOT getting worn as much as what is. And then I actually write down my thoughts in my Mac Notes. It is helping me understand my color preferences, my silhouette preferences, and lifestyle needs with a clarity previously absent.

I am becoming so analytical about this LOL! Next thing you know I'll be joining team spreadsheet, team track your wears and team CPW.

Mo, this is a great thread - especially for us outfit challenged shoppers. I've gotten better. Example: I "thought" I needed cognac shoes for fall to go with my cognac handbag or cognac belt and bookend some of the tones in my hair - but on a whim I ordered the same shoes in navy. At first I thought I'd keep both to wear with different outfits because they were so comfortable and relatively cute. But you know what? After playing in the closet on several different days I realized the navy shoes were really going to be the winning workhorse and the cognac shoes would likely just sit there. Why? Because I prefer a neutral or mostly neutral color palette and cognac shoes (for me) are sort of "bright". I already have deep cognac booties for fall/winter. I don't have space to just store another pair. So back they go.

I also thought for the past 2 years I had to find the "perfect" chambray shirt. I don't know why, but I just wanted it. I tried at least six, several of those I kept but shouldn't have. I recently found myself trying one last time the NAS sale tencel denim shirt. And immediately upon touching it I knew it wouldn't work because it was too heavy for my climate. The funny thing is that I don't "need" a chambray shirt. I wear a lot of denim and would never wear the two together (personal pref there). I don't even think I look particularly great in a manly sort of shirt which many chambrays seem to project. And the best one (for me) I kept and like enough is fine to wear with the olive or black pants I occasionally wear. So what was I thinking? I'm not sure I was but I have officially ended that hunt.

I did a similar hunt for a long time for the perfect olive jacket only to learn after a full season wearing one that olive is no longer a great color up near my face. Duh. Now I have a perfectly fine *navy* utility style jacket (bought for next to nothing) that suits me and goes with those navy shoes just as well as the navy knit moto I bought last year on Angie's picks.

So sticking with my navy, denim, off white, charcoal and black core colors is serving me better. I still buy some other colors of course - and I love using light tan accents (shoes, belts) to go with my hair. But a simple color scheme and VERY careful shopping is in my future too.

Well, the thing is, man plans and god laughs. Mo - I've been living in the faux leather overalls you found for me. It's been sooo cold this summer. Winter is packed up. The overalls are *it* for Saturdays.

This has been a great thread and so interesting. I normally shop by piece and not by outfit. I have a very large, very casual wardrobe so usually everything I buy works with something I own. Jeans are my favorite and I have different silhouettes so I can usually find a pair of jeans to go with any top that I buy.

I have been considering buying a couple of complete outfits though. I would love an olive top and bottom and a navy top and bottom and think I should probably buy it as a set so I know for sure the colors match.

I find analyzing why an item is being purged to be very, very helpful for me not to make the same mistakes again. And I also try to recognize why something becomes worn out. Pinpointing these features has made my shopping much easier. So has focusing on less colors and thinking of how I will remix the item with pieces I already own as opposed to what additional pieces I need to purchase from the store.