Going On Quest and Wish List with Bullets

It's here. It's That Time of Year. There is almost a hard-wired, instinctual quality to my desire to go On Quest when fall arrives. It's elemental. I raise my snoot to the wind coming from the Big City, and sniff the air for the faint spoor of delivery trucks bringing Fall/Winter 2013 items into the shops. My pulse picks up and the blood rushes a little quicker in anticipation of the hunt.  Predatory stalking analogies for my enthusiasm are only a slight exaggeration.

On a more realistic level, this is more about another kind of human satisfaction, so perhaps it's better to say that I'm officially On Quest. I've gone from just thinking about and longing for fall and winter items, and now I'm actively looking for specific things to freshen up what I've drug from the back of my closet from last winter.  This is a favorite activity.

The Quest is deeply thematic in our Western culture and is pan-cultural in all its forms. It's been analyzed and defined, and tales of our heroes on quest are immediately recognizable to every child who has ever heard a fairy tale or read about Harry Potter. Some of the elements present in every good Quest tale are not limited to but include;

• Tasks and processes that requires lots of effort from hero
• Obstacles, forces, creatures or nemeses that try to prevent the Hero from her quest
• Travel of some distance
• Distracting and seductive, exotic or romantic elements
• The search for a hidden or difficult to obtain object of extreme meaning, love, spiritual fulfillment, or magical power

Does that or does that not perfectly describe trying to find some particular new item for your fall wardrobe on a weekend trip to the stores, shops or Mall? It does from my perspective, but I'm up for it anyway.

Real life Quest Elements include;

• Parking, or lack of it
• Other people's screaming children (bless their dear little hearts...)
• Fellow shoppers unconscious of others while in mobile phone conversations (especially those that I don't want to hear) 
• Nonexistent or difficult sales staff 
• Lack of selection and/or sizes
• Finances are always a force to be reckoned with
• Travel: everything I want is at least 40 miles away
• Distracting or seductive elements: it's the magpie in me that causes me to gravitate to "that shiny object over there" instead of the task at hand. (The good thing about it is that I've obtained some of my most beloved clothes and accessories that way.)
• Certainly, my wardrobe has meaning for me, if not exactly spiritual fulfillment. And I know for a fact that some clothes are simply magical.

I'm not a window shopper. I don't usually browse unless I'm looking for a particular item, and since I only have three or four total hours available per week for this sometimes problematic activity, I tend to get organized in planning the process and can exhibit a serious "singleness of purpose" when I'm about it.

Like all heroes, I'm armed with my special weapons or virtues. In this case, that's my seasonal Wish List. I began work on it a month or so ago, when I began reviewing last winter's wardrobe. Happily, after they've been a few months in storage, I can look at each item and make a quick decision whether to rejoice and welcome it back into rotation, cull it completely or put it on hold. It's the keeper items that send me On Quest. This year, I'm extra pleased to report that I'm good on a lot of basics due to paying closer attention to what I was doing last fall!

After review, I begin adding items to the list. Some of the items I'm looking for this fall are;

• Chain necklaces in various metals 
• A bright handbag or two to pair with neutrals ... and I'm looking for a lot of neutrals
• Replacement Breton tees and crew neck pullovers and tights, perhaps textured stockings
• Looser silhouette pants ( It's past time to figure out what Boyfriend Jeans actually are and how I might try to wear them ... sigh....)
• Mid-heel pumps (yummmm ... )
• Select colors in above the ankle booties (already have plenty of black, need cordovan or oxblood!)
• That elusive Navy blazer I've wanted for two seasons now
• An additional interesting A-Line or fuller skirt or two

Within the list are some general conceptual maxims and caveats;

• Don't panic or get too caught up and buy a bunch of stuff ... do what you can and really shop your closet for silhouettes.
• Simple outfits will take great accessories ... not many, but good ones.
• Minimal thinking ... you haz it! All will be silhouette and textures.

But the really big caveat that I've repeated like a mantra is this:

Hold out for True Love. Don't buy it if it just appeals. All purchases must be True Love or nothing.

We'll see how I do with all that. Stay tuned.

At last we had a cool day where a jacket was needed! This is a recent bargain from DKNY. The top part is knit, with a wide, peplum-esque finish on the bottom. Dan loves this outfit ... he's a fan of Breton Stripes, deep wine colors and the fact that I was wearing Chloé.

These Bandolino pumps are a recent Wish List acquistion: oxblood or burgundy pumps.   (Check-mark!)

(Much closer than the color shown in my photo, and you can see a little of the tiny, reptile print of the shoe fabric. )

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It's  Visible Monday at  Bird of Paradise Patti's Not Dead Yet Style party!  Great women doing great things.  Check it out for lots of inspiration!