Thanks, shedev!
Beth Ann, you still have time. It's definitely harder with a tight budget. I was able to squeeze a bit more out of my essentials category this season, because of some lucky sales, but I did buy quite a few things at the top of my budget. I'm hoping that will at least help me out in the future with some longevity.
Vix, you are too sweet! I definitely found some pieces that feel that extra bit special, but things like the t-shirts and olive pants fall into a more purely practical category. That's okay, You need some of each.