A Season for Everything. Even Shopping.

I am not one of those people who will "shop for the sake of shopping." I don't like spending money unnecessarily, and I loathe trying to find clothing that fits. As I've mentioned several times, trying to fit a very tall and moderately curvy frame is impossible without tailoring, which makes trying on clothes in fitting rooms an unpleasant ordeal. That said, I'm still trying to flesh out my wardrobe after replacing everything in my closet and dresser a year ago this month. (Trust me, when you lose 45 pounds without meaning to, there is no way to force underwear to stay up. Safety pins are helpless against too-big-to-be-stretchy-elastic-waistbands.)

Luckily, after taking a rough inventory of my closet, there aren't many things I need outside of the hosiery department. The way that I wrote up my shopping list amuses me, though, and seems worth preserving.

Clothing and Accessories: Purchase or Repair Needed

Shoes

• R Red wedge heels (re-soled for city walking)
• R Black patent leather heels (toe finish repaired, new heel tips applied)
• R Black heeled boots (new heel tips applied, soles reinforce
• P Brown walking flats (to replace worn out Mary Janes)
  (Timberland Pinkham Notch Mary Jane in brown leather, $85 at Zappos)
• P Purple low-top converse All-Stars ($45 from Zappos)

Accessories

• P Cinch belt, for the dress that never seems to fit properly, and winter tunics
  (Custom-made to order by Contrived to Charm, $79)
• P Chainmaille choker, commissioned from Mom (pester her for a quote)
• DON'T YOU DARE buy anything resembling a scarf, silk or otherwise

Clothing

• P Fall coat, preferably a trench
  (Inquiry sent to Peterman regarding a classic in scarlet)
• Melissa Ann Lee, you are NEVER allowed to purchase another acrylic sweater. Buy quality wool and knit one for yourself. You have the skills, dammit! And, come to think of it, the yarn.

On the sweater front, I found knitting patterns for yarn currently in my stash. This winter, I'll be making the Francis, Revisited Pullover in pale celery (which will look fabulous with slim trousers and the belt I linked to above), the Newport Beach Pullover from a fabulous striping yarn in smoky roses, teals, and grays (Sunday brunch, anyone?), and the Silky Wool Vest (third photo down -- the bodice seam is closed with tiny buttons!) in dusty, vintage rose (for layering under my brown suit). (Ravelry ladies, you were totally right about the stash -- it didn't matter that I purchased yarn for particular patterns -- now that I have it, I've selected at least 8 different patterns per yarn that I'd rather make!)

With these items, I might finally not have to worry, ever, about what to wear. Or not. And *that* makes me happier than I can possibly imagine.

First published at expetesso.com