All the small things

So...this week I'm coming off of a bit of an online shopping bender.  I grabbed all the stuff in my last post plus a cashmere sweater, two pairs of tights, chino pants, and a blazer...yikes.  Needless to say I'm going on a shopping ban of sorts.  When I got home from work today I sat down with my closet and had a heart to heart.  What big things am I holding out for?  What gaps to I see?  I saw no gaps, but saw a few things I had my eye on for awhile, had the money for, and somehow along the way all the small things added up and took place of the big things I have looked at for a long time.  My new shopping question "will I want to pass this on to my granddaughter?"  One of the greatest things about being close with my grandmother was getting to borrow and eventually inherit all of her cool stuff.  I have some vintage Liberty of London scarves, some great tweed blazers with elbow patches and leather buttons, and fur-trimmed coats for special occasions.  When I look in my closet what can I pass along to my grandkids?  The personal-style-defining pieces are what will matter most as my life moves on, and instead of focusing on the little things that I need for a big meeting tomorrow.  All the stylists say "focus on classic pieces" but what are classic pieces?  I've put together a list of resources I used to define my personal style.  These books helped me reflect on my closet in terms of what I have and what I can find where.
Nina Garcia - The Little Black Book of Style 
Nina Garcia - The 100: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own
Nina Wildorf - City Chic: An Urban Girl's Guide to Livin' Large for Less 
Claire B. Schaeffer - Couture Sewing Techniques 
Amanda Brooks - I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style
Kate Spade - The Guide to Living Colorfully

On a rainy day, or when I don't know what to wear, I browse these books for inspiration.  They are a great resource for beefing up your closet, or guiding you away from trends and toward classic pieces.  When shopping it's always important to think of how a piece will find a place in your wardrobe, what function it will serve, and how long will it still be active in your closet.

Define your style, don't let style define you!

Happy October! 
xxoo