I’m sad that Planning Week is coming to an end, but I am so excited to write this post. Even though I am a minimalist, I definitely love shopping. I try to curb that urge as much as possible by have a definitive idea of what I’m seeking when I got into a store.

Things I buy need to meet four criteria:

1. I have to LOVE them.

2. They have to fit very well or only need minor alterations.

3. They have to be the right color.

4. I have to be able to wear them three ways.

One change that I see with my shopping habits in the past year or so is that I am absolutely ok leaving a store without buying anything or going shopping for a few hours and only buying one or two things. Being selective means that I love what’s in my closet and most of my 33 pieces are versatile.

Ultimately I have less clothes but a high functioning wardrobe. Epic win!

Also I used to buy things because they were inexpensive. Now I realize how short-sighted that is. The items that are in my closet are going to get worn a lot, and they need to be able to take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’. So I try to buy well-made pieces, and sometimes those cost more money than what I used to spend on clothes. Rather than buying a lot of $15 shoes, for example, last fall I bought a $15o pair of leather boots. I wore them constantly last fall and winter, and I cannot wait to bust them out again when the weather cools off. They are still in great condition, and I can get the heels re-soled as they wear out.

One of the ways I keep my costs down when I am acquiring these awesome, well-made pieces is to shop thrift stores. I find so many name-brand items for a percentage of what they cost new. Again, you have to be selective and put some time into the search. But for me, the savings has made it worth the effort.

Part of a successful thrift store trip is knowing what you’re looking for, which brings me back to the original point of this post:

Here are the pieces I want to add to my fall wardrobe.

1. Casual safari-style jacket

I have a winter coat, two rain jackets, and a few blazers, but I don’t have anything casual to wear on the weekends. This is a key piece that I want to find for the fall. I may be willing to buy a decent casual safari jacket even if it’s from a normal retail store because I’m not sure that I will find one at a thrift shop. I want it that badly.

Part of the appeal for me is the jacket’s versatility. I could wear it with jeans, a dress or a skirt. It will be perfect for layering as the weather cools, especially for chilly fall evenings. I am so excited to hunt down the perfect jacket!

2. Mustard- and orange-colored things

Again, these are some colors from my color palette, but I don’t actually have a lot of them. I think this will be a fun challenge. I don’t know for sure exactly what I want in these colors, but initially I might start with some accessories like a necklace, scarf, or tights. (Although, isn’t that shirt above super cute??)

I do love a mustard-color purse though, and I am thinking about trying to find a sexy pair of fall heels in these colors. Who knows! I’m keeping my eyes and my options open.

3. Bib necklace

Maybe I’m behind the trend here, but I absolutely love these statement necklaces. I want to try one out and see if I would wear it as much as I think I will. But I have lots of basics, especially shirts and dresses with v-necks, and I anticipate that I would wear a necklace like this lots and lots. Plus hopefully I can find one cheap. We’ll see!

4. Pair of shoes

I buy one new pair of shoes each season, so I need to decide what I want for the fall. As I mentioned above, I may try to find a fun pair of heels or flats in a bright color, probably orange or mustard. We’ll see! Since I only buy one pair per season, it always feels like a special purchase.

5. Preppy belt

I noticed this belt popping up in my style binder. I think it will be an item that I can get pretty easily at a thrift shop; I just never thought it was my style. If I can find one for under $5, it would be a fun accessory to try out.

6. Evening skirt

This item makes me hesitate. My idea is that it would be good to have a skirt for holiday parties. But I already have a few fancy dresses, so a skirt may be redundant. Alternately, I have a couple of fancy tops, so maybe a skirt would add more possibilities. I’m going to keep an eye out, but I am not 100% committed to acquiring this item.

So there you have it! I look forward to some serious shopping, and I will definitely share when I acquire these items. (Wow, did I just turn my life into a video game???)

Do you go shopping with a plan? What kinds of things are you adding to your wardrobe this fall? Hit me up, as the kids say.