Pix-Elated

Ingunn's recent reflections about the extent of her purchasing this year set me into action yesterday. Instead of just wondering and worrying about how much I'd bought and how much I'd spent, I decided to do some actual counting. 

And I learned something quite interesting. 

Despite the (what seems to me) extraordinary amount of shopping and trying on I've done this autumn, I've actually purchased and kept relatively little -- especially when compared to what I retired, donated, and consigned. In other words, if you're going on the one-in-one-out principle (and using girl math) -- there's lots of room for more buying here. ;) 

Without going into the dollar figures, here, so far, are the stats: 

I'm leaving out a few items bought during the fall, but primarily for transitional and/ or summer wear, such as my striped VC tube skirt and the Kamalikulture dresses. These all got a fair bit of wear already but I won't be wearing them in the colder weather and have put them away for the season. 

I'm also leaving out items that I purged at the end of last winter. In other words, I got rid of even more -- I just can't remember it all now. Whatever I got rid of in the spring would have been truly worn out or unusable for some other reason. 

Also not mentioned are items I bought but returned either immediately (for the NAS - some I tried on and eliminated in the change room) or later (several NAS items like one of the Halogen skirts, the Pleione crossover top, etc., and some Zara items and BR items that I've tried but sent back.) So if you're thinking, "Wait a minute...she had more than that!!" -- keep in mind that I did send some of it back. ;)

The question marks represent a few items I'm still undecided about. A dress that may go back to Nordstrom's (I'll post about it separately), the Lanai, the BR tux jacket, the BR plaid pants -- none of which I'm absolutely sure of. 

In looking at the pieces I've eliminated, I'm happy to say that only two represented what I would call "shopping mistakes," and even those two got wear. I used them four or five times each last F/W or spring, and then donated to someone who would get more value from them. (The Leith pants went to Mo, the teal tunic went to my stepdaughter.)

Of the other items, almost everything else was worn out. Some items had actual wear spots!  Others had been worn steadily for two or three seasons (or in the case of some poor quality sweaters, one) and were well past their prime.

One or two things that went to my stepdaughter were not worn out, but I'd worn them "to death" -- e.g. my H&M fuchsia cropped jacket. I just couldn't wear it any more. She also got the BR denim shirt that I wore all the time last year but never loved.  

The jackets that I've purged  (except for the H&M) were lovely wool jackets bought on consignment. They weren't worn out, exactly; they were such high quality they'll probably never wear out! But the styles felt even more dated than when purchased 3 seasons ago, and Angie spoke, I listened. ;) 

So. That's my summary of where I'm at. I still think that purchasing 20 items for one season is a lot -- and I know myself too well to think I'm absolutely done my buying.

But I do feel good about what I've bought and kept. And even on a $$ basis, it has not been unreasonable. The price of two pairs of boots ensures that it hasn't been a cheap F/W -- but nor has it been wildly extravagant. And I am calling the boots my birthday present from my mother, who always gives me a bit of cash to buy something . 

Some reflections (and please feel free to stop reading at any time!!)

The skirt (a plum Halogen seamed skirt) is a great addition to my city/ travel capsule. I had wanted a coloured skirt for some time. 

The dress I know I'm keeping (the blue David Meister) is a fantastic core LBD purchased on substantial sale. 

The bag is a practical size in a good for me neutral. And was purchased at Winner's at about 60% off the retail price. 

The footwear was required: two fall/ winter tall boots that are weatherproof, one dressy and one casual/ dressy; two booties, one in navy and one in cranberry (I had no coloured booties); one pointy toed shootie for dressier occasions. (I had no dressy alternatives for pants.) The booties I got at the NAS so the prices were reduced. 

The sweaters have all already seen a ton of wear. I have realized that in my work-at-home winter capsule, knitwear is my friend, and purchasing five to eight sweaters a year (depending on the wear on the ones I have and how many I need to update) is not at all extravagant or foolish, given a CPW calculation. I like and need some variety in this capsule or I go mad with boredom. And knitwear requires frequent updating -- there's no way around it. It just looks tired a lot faster. 

In fact, I've also discovered, to my astonishment, that I might even want some interesting cardigans in this capsule! I am so not a cardigan girl when I'm out in the world -- I love my jackets!! But at home, some interesting and/ or avant guard cardigans could be super useful to me. 

The shirts that I bought are not crisp button downs but more casual options -- a new chambray shirt and a knit shirt. Again, this is smarter for transitional work-at-home wear for me. I don't wear crisp wovens at home in winter. I like them better in spring and summer, or when out and about in winter. 

The jacket I know I'm keeping (the Zara jacquard) has already got a ton of wear. Super purchase for me -- has earned its keep already. 

Okay. That's it for now. If you've read this whole saga, you're a saint. But -- how about you? 

• How much have you actually kept (compared to what you've tried out)?
• And how do you feel about your purchases?