Janet, this makes perfect sense -- of course you crave a change after living out of a suitcase for several weeks!
For myself, I find a capsule challenge forces me to wear things I wouldn't otherwise, and I end up with more variety than if I have access to my whole closet. Particularly in the winter, if I don't make a conscious decision to wear my "good" things" it is so, so easy to default to jeans and a flannel, especially since it will be covered up by a big puffy coat for much of the day!
And I think you're better than I am about wearing your cool new things. My goal with my winter capsule is to get myself to wear several new trousers -- they are all more polished than jeans, but if I don't start wearing them now, I will save them and they'll still be new next winter! This is quite similar to Angie's winter goal, I just need to be more restrictive with myself to actually make it happen (and I didn't even wear them the first week of my 30x30! I wore all three of the "casual" options I've given myself due to weather and illness. This week, though -- this week I'll make it happen!).