When I look in my closet it is replete with the beautiful items that I have chosen over the past two years. I have defined a clear style identity for myself. It may be eclectic, and difficult for others to pinpoint, but I understand and recognize it when I see it. I have identified key words to help guide my choices, Serene Elegance; Genuine Composed; Soft, Calm, Fresh, Classic, Polished, Light. My style has some humor and fun, a funky side and playfulness that reflects my inner child and my work with children and adolescents. I delight in the use of color and have a well developed color palette that makes me happy whenever I see it. In fact, everything started with the color palette. When I analyze my closet/wardrobe, there are primarily solids, and there is more consistency in silhouettes among my clothes than my shoes and accessories. It's the shoes and accessories that add the fun and variety in my closet. I have a wide variety of accessories. In fact anything goes. I do not stick to any formula or style rules with my shoes or accessories. I get whatever I like.

I have built a tremendous working closet, I can build outfits of all sorts. I can creat a myriad of work appropriate outfits, outfits for dates, for going out with my fiends, for exercise, for special occassions, for lounging and for exercise. My wardrobe spans four seasons. The only gap I see at the moment, maybe, is a good travel capsule. I am not saying I cannot put together a capsule for travel. I certainly can do that. I am saying that it would be nice to have a set of lightweight, easy to keep clean, easy to pack and carry clothing dedicated for travel. Why now? I need them. My DH is a college professor and travels all over the world. In the past three years he has been to Australia, Switzerland, China, England, Sweden, Finland, and Within the USA he's been to Montana, Utah, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington DC, etc. Now that both my children are out of the house, I am free to travel with him. Who wouldn't want to go to China or Australia, etc. In any case, re-creating a travel capsule every time I travel is not what I want to do. My mother is a seasoned world traveler, and she has a dedicated travel capsule of lightweight clothes that she layers. They all fit in a carry on bag. She can wash them and they dry overnight. They aren't gorgeous, they are practical. I plan to work on building a practical travel wardrobe also.

The only other imbalance I see in my wardrobe is still a larger number of jeans compared to blouses and toppers. Its hard for me to find blouses I love. The same is true with toppers. I have added a fair number of dresses to my wardrobe, and I love wearing them. I have added some toppers. I am not a fan of trousers and rarely if ever wear them. I am not a fan or wider leg trousers or jeans and my solution is to wear more dresses. They seem to fit me well with few tailoring alterations.

I have stopped making lots of purchases. I recently added a formal gown to my wardrobe. I mean a truly formal long gown. It's style is avant garde and should be good for a long time. I didn't have anything truly formal, but definitely have some formal occassions. I also added a very warm, long down puffer to replace an old one that is leaking feathers like a sieve and I am still considering the emerald green wool coat.

When I peruse online stores, I am finding that I already have items in my closet that serve the purpose of the things I am attracted to. I am therefore not adding anything I see to my cart. My plan going forward is to start slowly working on a travel capsule. I am also going to continue developing my accessories capsule. Shoes, scarves, handbags and jewelry - I can always use them to freshen my wardrobe. I will certainly add something new if I think it is in keeping with my style, or if I fall in love, but I am otherwise not going to add something unless it really brings something special and different to my wardrobe. I also plan to keep up my wardrobe by freshening dated items and replacing worn items but that is a given.

I am very content with the progress I have made in the past two years. I feel like I am on a good path now, and I have arrived someplace. If you can arrive someplace with a wardrobe! I am grateful to Angie, and to everyone here for all your help! Thanks! I couldn't have done this without you!