<p>I don’t know- the Forbes suggestions make sense but it all sounds sort of boring to me. I think the solution (given access to $$$) is to buy all the fun, impulsive things AND have the boring “few basic classic pieces”. 
I don’t want all my things to work together! Maybe for a trip or something, but to me it’s fun to have different looks that aren’t at all meant to work together.</p>
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I’m not an impulsive shopper, but because of this thread I bought:
Not your daughter’s jeans - one pair they look fabulous.
Gray 3/4 sleeve jacket - it’s too hot to wear now most of the time, but I may wear it at the next zoning board presentation I have to go to. Otherwise I anticipate using it in the fall.
One black and white dress - I needed something to wear to a graduation in Houston. And some upcoming parties. I’ve worn it three times already.</p>
<p>I’m not into bags, but one of these threads did cause me to tell my dh to get me a bag at the Heathrow airport last summer. It’s a tailored leather bag with a shoulder strap with a computer pocket. It’s big enough to hold a notebook, tape measures and flashlight and a smaller purse, but not so big it drives me crazy. It looks like it will last forever and is so classic in cut I don’t think it will ever be in or out of style. I love it! (My husband was appalled at the price - around 200 Euros - but I think that’s probably peanuts to the fashionistas on this thread!)</p>
<p>Yesterday I had a wondeful trip to Nordstom’s Rack with my 16 yr old. I did the unusual. When we walked in I began looking for me, not for her. I tried on some tops that were out of my usual comfort zone. I also tried on some designer jeans at my D’s request. One pair that I think were Citizen’s for Humanity. D loved them. I said they are way to low for me. She told me that I should buy them and that I where my jeans wayyyy to high wasted. Mind you I don’t wear my pants at my waist but several inches below my belly button. I didn’t buy them! I couldn’t see pulling up my pant waist at my back each time I sat down. I didn’t care for any of the tops. I did walk out with a belt to wear with my jeans that are getting slightly big. A pair of sunglasses. My D on the other hand had to make some choices. She of course found a ton of stuff she wanted.
I would have bought some hipper, younger jeans if I had found some that fit. They had a large selection if you wore a 25 or 26 or a 31 or 32. In some brands I needed a 29 and other brands a 30. All due to my exercising more and eating less.
I resisted the handbags.</p>
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<p>Me too. Wore them for the first time last Saturday on a date with DH and he couldn’t stop complimenting how great they looked on me! Can’t remember when that last happened.</p>
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<p>A pair of fancy shoes, 60% off, yet still very pricey, but I was in love with them. They are somewhere on a FedEx truck slowly moving towards WA. :)</p>
<p>Do any of you do this? I"ll decide that I like a “look”, and then buy the “look” in different colors. Now I have several “looks” in my closet and think, “I need to stop doing this!”. I don’t really spend alot of money on these so I can kind of justify it. Example: local dept. store had $20.00 silk shirts in every color. I wore them with jeans and have 5 now. Then vineyard vines had these great tees so I bought about 5…(at the outlet)…Then last summer it was Lacoste shirts and THAT was expensive but they were on sale…have seven. Now I"m liking these great $19.99 cardigans at Target…have two, want more.</p>
<p>^^dke, it sounds to me as if you have developed a classic style and have lots of items you can mix and match for a long time. One doesn’t need to be trendy to look great.</p>
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<p>Yes. Lots of times. If I find something that fits well, is flattering and fits my style and budget.</p>
<p>dke - more often I wish I <em>had</em> done it…</p>
<p>Any Pucci fans here ?</p>
<p>I can’t go that wild, but Google Faux Fuchsia, and you will find a riotously funny Australian blogger who loves Pucci, and shows photos of her outfits.</p>
<p>^I am normally a plain Jane type of dresser but I think I am in love with a watch with a Pucci designed strap. Very bold and colorful but since it is only a watch strap, I thought it looked ok. The watch is one of those Franck Muller inspired styles, bold with a horizontal face. </p>
<p>Off to look at the blog…</p>
<p>Wow, I had to look this Pucci up. Those darn Italian labels all sound the same: Gucci, Pucci, Prada… oh, wait. Prada does sound a bit different :D</p>
<p>This weekend, I scored a pair of awesome casual wedges - they look somewhat like the ones I had in HS. With so many new pairs of shoes in my closet, I think I will have change my name to Imelda ;)</p>
<p>dke, there was just an episode of What Not to Wear on wherein the fashion victim was told very sternly “No more multiples.” Since I had just purchased two new button down shirts - one in green stripes and one in pink, I sat up in my chair and took note.</p>
<p>I’m with alumother - more times than I wish I had than I hadn’t gotten more than one of something. However, when I do buy multiples it’s usually for basics, the wardrobe staple type things that don’t stand out. For example, I got those J. Crew cropped pants in white, gray and tan. The same thing with simple V necked t shirts or sweaters. I also have the same simple pumps in black and beige. I’m not so sure it’s the fashion kiss of death even for something much more noticeable, unless you are talking about wearing the same things to work or something like that (then it would be). But most people have different social and business groups and sometimes owning an article of clothing that fits just right , but in another color or pattern could come in handy.</p>
<p>munchkin - D had a very pretty Pucci inspired dress a few years ago. I would wear something like that in a scarf or a silk top.</p>
<p>I also have the JCrew cropped pants (actually, I think I have chinos AND some sort of stretchy nice work cropped pants) in several colors. JCrew seems to lend itself to multiples…</p>
<p>I’m taking a college tour today with Son - it’s a rainy day and I have no summer closed toe shoes!</p>
<p>^^^ I think you should wear bulky white athletic shoes with socks.</p>
<p>But I don’t own a track suit, so I can’t complete the look!</p>
<p>How about socks with your sandals? After all, you ARE a tourist (sort of).</p>