Here I go again, prevailing on patience! There's more after this, too -- a few tops also snuck into that Zara shopping cart.
I have decided to wear (or at least bring) my vintage black kimono to the gala if I wear the sheath. So there is no need to buy any of these items.
However, I think there is room in the budget for one or two of them, should they seem like good additions to the wardrobe.
1-4: Blue Chinoiserie jacket. With my True Religions (and that ridiculously expensive Club Monaco shell that I clearly had a need for and am keeping) plus some leopard; with a tube skirt and top (blues might not be good here -- just experimenting); with my slouchy skinnies; and with my J. Crew linen shirt for some pattern mixing. I have about a million options for this one; works with pretty much everything in the closet.
5-9: Blue silk kimono. With tube skirt and white shell; with a column of white; with a few denim options. My concern with this one is whether it overwhelms. The sleeves feel a bit on the long side. It only comes in one size.
11-15: Cream poly kimono. This one is obviously less expensive than the silk. Showing with a few obvious options; I think it could work with quite a bit more due to the colour mix. This one does not feel oversized because it comes in my size -- so the bottoms of the lapel area (not sure what to call it) seems to fall right at my hip, etc. In other words, when I am wearing it, I don't feel like I'm wearing a bathrobe. Which I do to a tiny but not deal-breaking extent with the silk.
Again, I do not have to keep a single one of these. And I don't want to keep any if they are not genuinely useful additions to my wardrobe. Would love your thoughts! And thank you!!