Summer Wardrobe Planning, Part 2: My Wishlist

Here is Part 2 of my series on summer wardrobe planning. Check out Part 1 here. I am continuing to follow Un-Fancy's wardrobe planner to guide me in figuring out my style as well as what I should add to my closet this summer.

Step 9: Make a list of stores, brands, and designers you love that work for your style, body, and budget.

J.Crew - everything (but since the brand is going downhill, I'd like to find other brands that work for me)

J.Crew Factory - casual dresses, tees, pajamas

Nordstrom - everything

Amazon - everything

Madewell - denim, shoes, bags, accessories

Everlane - tops, tees, shoes

REI - activewear

Step 10: Create your color scheme. Include patterns and color from all aspects of your wardrobe, including shoes and accessories.

Major colors: white/ivory, denim, blue

Minor colors: stripes, heather grey

Accents: blush, black

Some outfits I love with those color schemes:

Step 11: Make a list of your go-to pieces. These could be pieces you already own or pieces you want to buy.

• stripe tee
• flowy scoopneck tanks (black, white, heather grey)
• linen button-down
• denim jacket
• destroyed denim shorts
• medium blue jeans
• white shorts
• maxi skirt
• casual skirt
• casual striped tee dress
• sleeveless casual dress
• flat sandals
• straw boater
• crossbody bag in either white, ivory, or blush

Step 12: Create 3-4 outfit formulas using your go-to pieces.

• casual dress + sandals or flats + hat
• tank or tee + jeans or shorts + sandals or flats
• button-down + tank or tee + skirt + sandals

Step 13: Make your shopping list. Include a list of pieces you want to add to your wardrobe, where you might buy it from, as well as your budget. 

I already ordered and even kept a few items (which I'll review in my monthly budget post) since I made my list in advance, so I'm going to break this part down into three categories:

A. What I am keeping (and how much I spent):

• scoopneck tank in heather grey ($25) - go with your normal size for a flowy fit, size down if you want a close fit
• destroyed denim shorts ($40) - true to size, do not size up as you might normally for denim shorts
• casual knit dress in heather navy ($34) - go with your normal size for a slightly bodycon fit, size up for a more casual fit, does not emphasize stomach UPDATE: I am returning this dress. Even though it's flattering in the front, it's actually somewhat sheer in the back. I didn't notice this until I wore it outside for the first time. I could see the color of my underwear, even though the dress is dark, as well as the dreaded visible panty line. Also, the hem has a tendency to ride up as you walk around or sit down, which is annoying when the dress is already plenty short. Anyway, the situation was so bad/embarrassing that I had to go home to change during lunch. So I cannot recommend this dress after all. What a shame when the front is so flattering.

B. What I ordered to try (and how much I spent):

• scoopneck tank in black and white ($25 x 2) - I love the heather grey one so much that I ordered the other colors too
• destroyed white denim shorts ($26) 
• leather crossbody bag in blush ($50)

C. What I'm still thinking about or looking for (and how much I've budgeted):

• linen button-down from J.Crew (~$35)
• straw boater hat (~$50)
• flat sandals from ??? (~$80) 
• casual shift dress from ??? (~$80)
• casual knit dress from ??? (~$50)
• stripe tee from ??? (~$25)
• maxi dress?

Do you have a color palette for your wardrobe, and if so, what is it? What are your go-to summer uniforms? And what's on your summer wishlist?

Summer Wardrobe Planning, Part 1

To tell you the truth, summer is my least favorite season for getting dressed, because it's always boiling hot outside and freezing cold inside, making it impossible to be comfortably dressed for both ends of the temperature spectrum. So far my solution has been to wear shorts and a t-shirt most days so that I don't melt the instant I go outside. I also always have a jacket or cardigan on hand in case I get too cold. This formula doesn't make for very interesting outfits though, and it doesn't help that I feel very uninspired by my current summer wardrobe. I would like to buy a few new pieces for summer to "refresh" my look and also better tie together the pieces I already own. I wasn't sure exactly where to start, but thanks to the power of Google, I found this wardrobe planning worksheet from Un-Fancy (does anyone else love her style too?). It's supposed to help you figure out your style and pinpoint missing pieces in your wardrobe. Since the planner is pretty long, I decided to break up this post into two parts. Part 1 covers what I like and don't like about clothes I already own, my lifestyle needs, and my personal style.

Step 1: Identify pieces I already own and love to wear. I tried to include a few pieces from each category: tops, bottoms, shoes, and dresses, along with reasons for why I like each item.

Favorites from left to right: a) black cotton tank; b) denim jacket and navy shorts; c) striped maxi skirt and sandals; d) striped tee, jacket, and sandals; e) linen shirt, jeans, and sandals

Tops:

• black flowy cotton tank (old, similar): love the scoopneck, longer length, doesn't emphasize stomach, super soft, wish I had more tank tops
• classic denim jacket (new version): classic wash, cropped fit
• skinny stripe tee: classic color combo, close fit is good for tucking into skirts
• white linen button-down: thicker linen, not too sheer for white, flowy fit, not tight in shoulders/chest (I also loved my blue striped version, pictured above, which sadly ripped earlier this week)

Bottoms:

• navy 3" chino short (similar): no muffin top, I especially like the way it looks now that the color is faded to be kind of navy/grey
• navy/grey striped maxi skirt (old): really comfortable, classic color scheme, warm enough for A/C, I always get complimented on it
• white skinny jeans: crisp clean look, no muffin top

Shoes:

• ivory thong sandals: minimalistic, goes with everything, reasonably comfortable

Dresses:

• navy/white striped dress (not pictured, similar): one of the few casual dresses I own, loose fit, simple

Step 2: Look for common themes from Step 1. What I like to wear during summer:

Fabrics:  cotton, linen, denim

Brands:  J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, Everlane

Colors:  white, blue, navy, heather grey, stripes

Fit:  doesn't emphasize stomach, comfortable, flowy, not tight

Miscellaneous:  scoopneck, tank tops, neutrals, would like more casual dresses, simple/basic

Step 3: Identify pieces I own and never wear. There are very few pieces that I never wear, because I got rid of those when I moved, so instead I picked pieces I only wear sometimes and/or wear only when I run out of better options

Tops:

• silk ruffle blouse (old): afraid of stains, too shiny, too frou-frou/twee
• ivory scallop cami: double-layer polyester too hot, too tight in the stomach (maybe need size up?), need to wear strapless bra
• tie-back blouse: polyester too hot, itchy around the neck, need to wear strapless bra

Bottoms:

• black ripped jeans (old): love for fall, but looks too dark for summer
• short skirts in general: they look nice, but too cold to wear in A/C, self-conscious about sitting/bending over

Shoes:

• nude low heel sandal: love the look but rubs foot, can't walk for very long in even low heels
• black Vans: love for fall/winter but too dark for summer

Dresses:

• printed cami dress (old, similar): top fits well but waistband too tight
• wish I had more casual dresses, I mostly own semi-formal dresses for weddings

Step 4: Look for common themes from Step 3. What I don't like to wear during summer:

Fabrics:  polyester

Colors:  black

Fit:  too tight, too short, need to wear strapless bra

Miscellaneous:  semi-formal dresses, uncomfortable shoes, heels, frou-frou

Step 5: How do I usually spend my time?

50% working at school

20% being active (gym, climbing gym, outdoors)

15% lounging at home

5% daytime out and about (mostly lumped into active, also not really a morning person)

10% evening out and about

Step 6: Upcoming special events and travel

No confirmed travel plans yet, maybe just a few short weekend trips

Need more sunwear for outdoors: sun (UPF) shirt, sun (UPF) leggings, wide-brim hat

Step 7: Identify the weather where you live.

June: low 80s to low 90s (feels hotter due to humidity), mostly sunny, occasional rain, humid

July: high 80s to high 90s (feels hotter due to humidity), mostly sunny, occasional rain, very humid

August: high 80s to high 90s (feels hotter due to humidity), mostly sunny, occasional rain, very humid

Step 8: Write a list of words or phrases that you associate with your style. Identify your favorite 3-6 words.

My style now: classic, simple, neutrals, stripes, casual, comfortable

What I want my style to be (the worksheet doesn't ask this): effortless, feminine tomboy (like Alterations Needed or Un-Fancy), Parisian chic

Favorite words: neutrals, comfortable, feminine tomboy, Parisian chic

I will post Part 2 soon, which covers brands that fit my style, my summer color palette, some uniform ideas, and a wardrobe shopping list.

Have you ever tried wardrobe planning? How would you describe your personal style?

Closet Inventory 2018

This week I'm lusting after this thin gold chain (I'm really into delicate jewelry at the moment) and this pretty blush crossbody bag for 50% off plus 15% off ebates (I ordered this to try, because I want a light-colored bag for summer). 

By the way, if you haven't signed up for ebates yet, I highly recommend it. You get $10 the first time you sign up, and you get cash back on purchases from partner stores. Right now ebates is 15% off at a number of places, including Madewell, Boden, and Michael Kors. This post isn't sponsored by them, although I do get a bonus if you sign up using my link. I've just been using the service for years and have gotten a bunch of cashback checks from them. Since it's stuff I would have bought anyway, I don't see any downside. It's nice to get a little money back, especially on items that rarely go on sale.

-----

The last time I did a closet inventory was over 2 years ago. My living situation back then was very different. I lived with my (now ex-)fiancé in a two-bedroom apartment, which had 5 large closets. I had plenty of space to indulge my acquisitiveness, and as a result I accumulated a ton of clothes. Now I live with my boyfriend in a tiny one-bedroom condo. It only has one regular closet (plus a linen closet, which doesn't count) and a dresser that we share. Before I moved in with him, I purged most of my belongings Konmari style, including a large fraction of my wardrobe. It was hard to let go of some pieces, but I felt lighter afterwards, freed from my material possessions. Because I didn't have the time or patience to sell things individually, I bagged up the nicer clothes and sent them to Thredup. I donated everything else to Goodwill. There are a few items I regret giving up, but honestly I never thought about most of it again.

I thought it'd be interesting to do another closet inventory to see how much I own now. I was actually a little surprised by the results. Some categories definitely shrank, but there are a few that grew too. Also, for consistency, I didn't count the activewear that I've since accumulated. In 2016, I was only just starting to think about personal fitness, so I didn't really own any activewear. Now I live a much more active lifestyle, which naturally means I have clothes that I wear for those specific activities. That includes workout tops, leggings, rain jacket, skiing stuff, cycling stuff, fleeces, etc. I own a decent number of items in those categories, and obviously they take up space in my closet too, but I'm okay with said purchases since they're enabling me to live a healthier lifestyle.

So here's the breakdown of what's in my closet today. The number in parentheses indicates how many I had in 2016 (after a similar Konmari purge).

Outerwear

Coats: 3 (6)

Jackets: 4 (7)

Blazers: 3 (5)

Vests: 1 (2)

Total: 11 (20)

Tops

Sweaters: 6 (7)

Sweatshirts: 0 (3)

Cardigans: 4 (8) 

Button-downs: 7 (13)

Blouses: 7 (11)

Tees: 19 (15)

Tanks: 8 (6)

Total: 51 (63)

Bottoms

Jeans: 7 (9)

Casual pants: 2 (3)

Dress pants: 1 (2)

Skirts: 7 (4)

Shorts: 3 (4)

Total: 20 (22)

One-piece

Dresses: 10 (10)

Suit: 1 (0)

Total: 11 (10)

Shoes

Boots: 3 (5)

Sneakers: 1 (3)

Flats: 5 (14)

Sandals: 3 (5)

Flip-flops: 0 (2)

Total: 12 (29)

Bags

Totes: 1 (3)

Crossbody/shoulder bags: 4 (8)

Clutches/wallets: 3 (6)

Total: 8 (17)

Accessories

Hats: 0 (3)

Belts: 1 (10)

Scarves: 3 (12)

Total: 4 (25)

GRAND TOTAL: 117 (186)

So now I own 62.9% of what I owned in 2016. The most purged categories were belts, scarves, and shoes. I rarely wear belts, and I only wear scarves during the winter, so it made sense for me to get rid of them. I also got rid of the uncomfortable shoes I never wore even though they were pretty. Lesson learned (hopefully). 

The hardest categories to purge were outerwear and bags. I love outerwear. Love love love. Nothing makes me feel more put-together than a beautiful jacket or coat. Unfortunately, they're also pretty bulky, so out they went. Same with bags. I have such a weak spot for both of them though. Need to be careful going forward.

The only categories that expanded were tanks/tees and skirts. I wear tanks or tees almost every day, because they're just so easy, and my grad student life allows me to dress super casually. Also that number is a bit misleading, because there are a few I am getting ready to retire. Skirts I have been intentionally buying. I feel pretty wearing them, and my boyfriend always compliments me when I wear one, so win-win.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed seeing the state of my closet! Have you ever Konmari-ed your wardrobe? What's your biggest clothing category? What are your weaknesses in terms of clothes you love to buy but just don't wear that often?

Closet Inventory

A few weeks ago I attempted a KonMari-style clean-out of my closet (despite not having actually read the book). It's something I've been interested in doing for a while, but I could never seem to find the time. One weekend I finally decided to sit down and purge everything. My main reason for the clean-out was to reduce the amount of clutter in my closet, so I can actually see the things I want to wear, instead of only the things that I never wear.

The first thing I did was pull everything out of my closet and pile it all onto my bed. Here's a picture of the resulting chaos. Coats and shoes weren't included, because those were part of my hall closet purge. Also, I apologize for the poor image quality, but the lighting in my apartment is really bad!

After emptying the closet, I picked up each item, thought about how I felt in it, and then decided to either put it back into the closet, add it to the donate pile, or try to sell it. About a quarter went to the sell pile, a quarter to the donate pile, and everything else went back into the closet. It was difficult to let some pieces go, especially when they were new with tags (ack) or in like new condition. I kept feeling bad about how much money I had wasted, but ultimately I decided that it was better to let those pieces go rather than hold onto things that I never wore and even worse, made me feel guilty. I did keep a few iffy items though. They're currently on probation, so if I don't wear them enough in the next few months, I'll get rid of them.

Here's a picture of my newly clean closet (minus whatever was in the laundry at the time)! There's also a cat. ;)

My experiment was such a success that I went on to purge the hall closet and my fiancé's closet! I think it really helped to take out everything and then decide what to put back. In the past when I've cleaned out my closet, I left everything inside initially and only removed items. In the first scenario, you choose what to keep, whereas in the second one, you choose what to discard. By  keeping only the best pieces, I was able to get rid of even more of the mediocre stuff.

So what was I left with at the end of the day? Loving numbers, I decided to tally it all up.

Outerwear

Coats: 6

Jackets: 7

Blazers: 5

Vests: 2

Total: 20

Tops

Sweaters: 7

Sweatshirts: 3

Cardigans: 8 

Button-downs: 13

Blouses: 11

Tees: 15

Tanks: 6

Total: 63

Bottoms

Jeans: 9

Casual pants: 3

Dress pants: 2

Skirts: 4

Shorts: 4

Total: 22

One-piece

Dresses: 10

Shoes

Boots: 5

Sneakers: 3

Flats: 14

Sandals: 5

Flip-flops: 2

Total: 29

Bags

Totes: 3

Crossbody/shoulder bags: 8

Clutches/wallets: 6

Total: 17

Accessories

Hats: 3

Belts: 10

Scarves: 12

Total: 25

GRAND TOTAL: 186!

That's still a pretty large number, but I know it's significantly less than what I had before. To prevent another huge closet purge in the future, I'll try to be even more thoughtful about what I add to my wardrobe. I would also try the take-everything-out approach again in the future!

Have you tried the take-everything-out approach for cleaning your closet?

Closet Inventory Series: Boots

SALE ALERT: Get 25% off all shoes and boots at Piperlime with code FANCYFEET, now through 11/04/2014! I love these quilted over-the-knee boots, even though they're waaay out of my price range.

In an attempt to curb my spending, I thought it would be interesting over the next few months to take stock of what's currently in my closet and see if I can pinpoint any wardrobe holes. Check out the other posts in this series here.

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween weekend! We had a very chilly one here. It's like someone flipped a switch, and all of a sudden we're in winter mode. Luckily our Halloween costumes were seasonally appropriate (and mostly used pieces from our existing wardrobes). This year Engineer W and I dressed up as a couple of Harrison Fords. He went as Indiana Jones, complete with leather jacket and fedora. I went as Han Solo, wearing my black Pour La Victoire boots, an oatmeal J.Crew thermal, dark Madewell jeans, and my black Patagonia vest (used black tape to cover up the logo). Sadly I didn't get any good pictures of us, so you'll have to take my word that we looked pretty awesome. On Saturday, we followed our time-honored tradition of buying post-Halloween candy on sale at our local Target. Mmmm discounted Butterfingers...

Now that Halloween is over and we're officially in November, I can finally break out my coats and boots. Today I wanted to analyze my existing boot collection and see if there's anything missing.

Here's the lineup:

(from left to right)

Pour La Victoire Loryn Riding Boot (old, similar, steal, splurge)

Michael Kors Tatum Riding Boot (old, similar, steal, splurge)

Sam Edelman Petty Ankle Boot in Putty Suede (now 25% off!)

Sam Edelman Petty Ankle Boot in Black Suede (now 25% off!)

Zara Combination Wellies (old, similar, similar, splurge)

Boot Observations
Looking at the boots I already own, I'm noticing certain trends. There are definitely specific types of boots that I'm perpetually attracted to. For example:
- I seem to love black boots. Since I usually wear dark jeans, black boots visually make my legs look much longer than they are. Also, unlike brown, I don't need to worry about matching other shades in my wardrobe since black always matches black.
- I love boots with an almond-shaped toe. They seem to be the most flattering, especially for ladies with small feet. Very lengthening for the legs and makes the feet look narrow. Not too pointy and not too round seems to be the sweet spot.
- My favorite tall boot style is the timeless equestrian. Since boots are generally expensive, it's important to get a style that can be reworn year after year.
- I only wear flat and low-heeled boots. It's hard enough walking on snow and/or ice without worrying about slipping in high heels.

Boot Buying Advice
Since I'm philosophically opposed to buying things at full-price, all of my boots were purchased on deep sale (with the exception of the Zara wellies). I picked up the PLV boots for 67% off, the Michael Kors for over 50% off, the taupe Sam Edelman booties for 45% off, and the black Sam Edelmans for 70% off.

I was able to score these prices by shopping at places like Amazon, Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls. They usually have a large selection of boots, and as long as I was patient and kept an open mind about the brand/model, I usually found something I liked at the price I wanted. Also, another tip is to shop off-season. The PLV boots were so deeply discounted on Amazon, because they were still around in February. I found the black Sam Edelman Petty at a Nordstrom Rack in March. If you're lucky and plan ahead, you can score boots in late winter that you can wear through early spring and then save to wear again next year.

Personal Conclusion
Overall I'm really happy with my boot collection. The only style I would consider adding at this point is a leather over-the-knee pair to wear with dresses and skirts. My ideal color is, you guessed it... black. I'm in no rush to look for any though. If I happen to find the perfect pair at a deep discount, then I would consider picking them up.

What do you look for in a boot? What's your favorite place to buy boots?

Closet Inventory Series: Blazers

In an attempt to curb my spending, I thought it would be interesting over the next few weeks to take stock of what's currently in my closet and see if I can pinpoint any wardrobe holes.

Last week I talked about my outerwear obsession. This time I wanted to take a closer look at the blazers in my closet.

Here's the lineup:

(from top left to bottom right)

J.Crew Classic Schoolboy Blazer in Navy (old, this year's version)

J.Crew Hacking Jacket in Double-Serge Wool (old, similar)

J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Black Watch Plaid (old, similar)

J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Black (new)

J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Linen (new)

J.Crew Fanfare Jacket (old)

J.Crew Lady Jacket in Double-Serge Wool (old)

Blazer Analytics
- Unsurprisingly all of my blazers are from J.Crew. In general J.Crew blazers fit me impeccably whereas some of their other clothing is hit or miss. I like that they're (mostly) made of natural fibers, and the classic silhouettes are reinvented every season in different colors and patterns.
- Over the years I have spent $513.80 on this collection of blazers, which comes out to an average price of $73.40 per blazer. If I remove the outlier (the black watch schoolboy) from my data set, the average price plummets to $58.65. Not too shabby considering blazers are generally expensive items and J.Crew blazers especially so. I was able to score these at rock bottom prices by taking advantage of seasonal clearance sales (the best time for snagging amazing deals) and stacking my student discount on top.
- My most expensive blazer is the black watch schoolboy, which I purchased last December for $161.92. My least expensive blazer is the fanfare jacket (also my first J.Crew blazer), which I bought for only $36.71 during the spring clearance sale a few years ago. The rest range from $55 to $76.
- My most worn blazer is the ever popular navy schoolboy, which seems to go with absolutely everything except dark jeans in that exact shade of navy. My least worn blazer is the white linen schoolboy, which I bought in the middle of summer when it was sweltering outside and the last thing on my mind was to layer. Maybe I'll have more opportunities to wear it now that the weather is cooler.

Blazer Regrets
I don't really regret any of my purchases. I was initially annoyed by the mint hacking and the black watch schoolboy, because they don't fit under certain coats (tight in the shoulders), and I was worried that I wouldn't get my money's worth in terms of cost per wear. My new solution is to simply wear them as light coats, which I can get away here because the winters are relatively mild.

Essential Blazer Recommendation
If you could only buy one blazer, I would recommend getting a classic navy wool one. There's a reason navy is the preferred color of choice for a gentleman's first suit. It's universally flattering, not too severe, and goes with everything. If you hate navy, then choose grey followed by black. It should have a classic silhouette, nothing too trendy, or it'll look dated in a few years. Here are a few options.

Blazer Advice
Make sure you choose a blazer that doesn't look like it's part of a suit. It should be formal enough to throw over a dress, wear with slacks, and pair with a pencil skirt, yet casual enough that you can also wear it with jeans. It should be made of as good quality material as you can afford and of an appropriate weight for three seasons. My last piece of advice is to not spend too much on the "fun" blazers. You probably won't get much wear out of them, because they're not as versatile as the classics.

Personal Conclusion
I've been looking for a grey tweed blazer for years, so that's my #1 priority. I would also consider adding a classic camel blazer, like this one.

What's on your essential blazer list?

Closet Inventory Series: Outerwear

Today is the first official day of fall! Fall is hands-down my favorite season. I love fall spices, the changing of the leaves, that crisp chill in the air, and of course fall fashion. The start of this season means new sweaters, new boots, and of course new coats. In an attempt to curb my spending, I thought it would be interesting over the next few weeks to take stock of what's currently in my closet and see if I can pinpoint any wardrobe holes. Then I plan to focus on only buying the items that I need, instead of running around like a kid in a toy store and buying all of the things.

I thought I would kick off this series with a look at the vests, jackets, and coats in my closet. I have to confess, I am a coat addict. Some girls love shoes, others love bags, and I love coats. Right now I have an outer layer for every single conceivable temperature and then some. Even my unobservant guy friends have commented on how frequently I change up my outerwear.

Here's the lineup:

(clockwise from far left)

J.Crew Stadium-Cloth Cocoon Coat (old, this year's version)

J.Crew Stadium-Cloth Captain Coat (old, similar)

J.Crew Double-Cloth Lady Day Coat with Thinsulate (old)

J.Crew Double-Cloth Metro Coat (old)

H&M Mustard Duffle Coat (old, similar in camel)

J.Crew Collection Icon Trench (new, similar, splurge)

Patagonia Down Sweater Vest (new)

American Eagle Denim Jacket (very old, similar)

Andrew Marc New York Leather Jacket (very old, similar)

J.Crew Downtown Field Jacket (old)

Madewell Outbound Jacket (new-ish)

J.Crew Factory Herringbone Vest (new)

(not pictured) Calvin Klein three-quarter length down puffer coat (very old, similar)

Outerwear Analytics
- I have spent a grand total of $1572.72 on this collection of outerwear over the years. Yowza!
- My most expensive piece is the J.Crew stadium-cloth cocoon coat, which I purchased last year for $248.70. My least expensive piece is a denim jacket that I found on the ground in college (but I washed it first).
- I have owned my denim and leather jackets since before 2012. In 2012 I purchased 2 coats. In 2013 I purchased 3 coats and 1 jacket. So far in 2014 I have purchased 2 jackets and 2 vests. Some of these purchases were replacements or upgrades.
- My most worn coat is the double-cloth metro coat. The deep violet color is absolutely stunning, and it's a good weight for my neck of the woods. My second most worn layer was a black Gap Outlet puffer vest, which is being replaced by the Patagonia vest.
- My favorite coat is the cocoon coat. It's the warmest layer I own that still looks cute. My actual warmest coat is a bulky Calvin Klein puffer that I reserve for visiting family in the Midwest during the winter. The least warm are the downtown field jacket and my leather jacket, both of which are more aesthetic than functional.

Outerwear Regrets
My least worn items are my denim and leather jackets. Since the denim jacket was free, I'll give it a pass. I don't wear it very often, because I wear jeans almost every day, and I want to avoid a possible denim jumpsuit look. Also, the version I own is quite stiff. To achieve a similar look, I tend to reach for my soft chambray shirts instead. As for my black leather jacket, I feel that the material is a little too delicate, and the fit is a tiny bit off. Furthermore I frequently wear my favorite black vintage Coach bag, and they look too matchy-matchy together.

I also somewhat regret buying the lady day coat. It should theoretically serve as an intermediate layer in a bright color. However, I already have two other coats that fill similar roles. When I want to wear something fun, I reach for the metro coat. When I want to wear something warm, I reach for the navy pea coat. And so the red one goes unloved.

Essential Outerwear Recommendations
If I had to rebuild my outerwear collection from scratch, I would buy the following (in descending order of warmth):
1. Long warm down puffer coat, preferably from a sportswear brand (North Face, Columbia, Patagonia, etc.)
2. Heavy wool coat in a classic color (navy, grey, or black)
3. Light wool coat in a color that makes you smile
4. Trench coat in a shade of beige
5. Black puffer vest
6. Military jacket in a shade of olive

Personal Conclusion
I don't need any more coats or jackets, because I already own too many. I am hereby banned from buying any more this year. Caveat: if I am completely in love with the style and the price is low enough, then I might make an exception on a case-by-case basis, pending approval from Engineer W who promised to be strict. ;)

What's on your essential outerwear list? And how many coats do you think is too many?