This makes a lot of sense and the way I have been buying for the last few years. I'm well on my way but still have a few things left to collect. Here's my list, with the things I already bought notated.

BAGS: Hermes Kelly (just bought, see avatar)
Chanel Med. Flap in Caviar with silver HW
Bottega Veneta black Veneta Hobo
Chanel Wallet

Shoes:
Black Manolo Carolynes (Own)
Jimmy Choo Momo Flats (own)
Chanel Ballet flats

Wardrobe:
Good collection of well made jeans (own)
Missoni sweater coat
Anne Fontaine white, fitted 3/4 length sleeve bouse

Jewelry:
Tiffany Victoria Diamond Tennis Bracelet (own)
Tiffany Victoria diamond flower and 1/2 carat brilliant pendant (own)
Van Cleef and Arpels Alhambra vintage line piece
Van Cleef and Arpels Pave Cosmos flower ring (drool)
Hermes H-Our Gents size watch with double-tour band

Accessories:
Hermes Bolduc scarf (own)
Hermes Heart Charm (own)
Hermes green plisse scarf
Hermes Pointu Scarf
Chanel Camelia flower pin

It's been so much fun reading all the replies.

I have been very severe in cutting down my wardrobe and it feels fantastic!

I very much enjoyed hearing some of your wish list pieces - there are definitely some common themes (involving Chanel and Hermes in particular).

Greentea - I adore all your selections, esp obsure items like the "Anne Fontaine white, fitted 3/4 length sleeve blouse" - divine. And I have always just loved the Victoria collection since my first visit to Tiffany ... it's heavenly! You must be sooo smitten with those pieces.

Jelly Bebe -
"1) Chanel suit.
2) The Birkin and Chanel Jumbo Classic flap
3) a few pairs of Manolos and I really want silver Christian Louboutins
4) Burberry trench
5) more Hermes scarves (in equestrian prints)
6) Chanel ballerina flats"

Sounds like a perfect micro wardrobe ... which is what I am trying to achieve. I would love to fit ALL my clothes in three metres of hanging space! That's the next challenge ....

Deelove82- that choc kelly will be amazing. A very tempting dreamy piece for sure ...

Thanks for the encouragement Chopin, I like to get positive feedback! I think that once you decide on something, the rest will just happen. I am becoming obsessed, which is a sign of genius, right??

My mantra - perfection requires discipline. Perfection requires discipline .... repeat repeat repeat.

Shani - "It doesn't work that way for me. My tastes just keep improving/changing, so my "dream" clothing today will be old news sooner or later." This is an interesting and compelling point. I guess I'm trying to buy things that take me five years to get sick of rather than five weeks. I expect that I'll get that Cartier watch, and then in a few years I'll be lusting after a Breguet .... obviously there's always room for improvement. However my dream is to be like Jackie O, always faithful to her Tank Louis Cartier and not needing the latest and greatest .... I feel that there's something incredibly refined about that. I guess this kind of commitment requires that you feel you have "seen it all" - which I'd be arrogant to think I had! But i'm getting close LOL!

Thanks for all the beautiful and inspiring replies, Anna xx

Haha, it works in a sense that we will keep buying till we get what we want and end up spending more, but NOT the other way around. If we buy the item of our dreams first, we will come up with a new dream item. Nope, since our ideals are always changing, this will not work for me.

i LOVE the idea

right of the top of my head

---Bottega Veneta Montaigne Bag( only 33 was avaliable in US)
--pink dior ltd (own)
--simply D watch with white strap by dior
--Chole dresses
--Dior extreme sandal
--CL nude maryjanes

Love all the responses too.

I see what you mean AB about Hermes and Chanel pattern here. What more could we ask for...the ultimate in luxury

Greentea! Your Kelly is a beauty! Congrats on striking it off your list. Wonderful list btw.

I completely agree this the saying :The poor man buys twice. It happened to me all the time, that I wanted to save money and bought a cheaper version of the thing I wanted. As I was not satisfied, I was getting another cheaper version and another... and ended up buying the real thing in the end.
Now my shopping motto is Quality over quantity, I prefer to save money and to buy 1 gourgeous piece that will serve me a few years than tens of simpler pieces.
Don't you think, by the way, that it's the same with food? If you have, let's say, a craving for chocolate and try to eat an apple, or banana, then something else etc, then finish my eating chocolate at the end and then consume much more calories than you would do just simply eat chocolate in the first place.

WOW!

It's great to write a follow up to my initial post!
Amazing how I have been able to inspire myself to style greatness. I've come a long way since I started this post.

I have purchased a pair of beige Manolo slingbacks in Lizard skin! They are divine. Also: THREE pairs of Chanel shoes. I have always wanted Chanel shoes because they are so neutral and classic. Two pairs are beige and black two tone mule pumps, and a pair of ballet slippers. Divine! I'm so lucky.

I've listed FIVE bags on eBay, which is half my collection! Two Ferragamo, a Gucci, and Fendi and a Chanel. I'm trading them in to contribute to a Chanel Caviar 2.55 Medium in Beige - my mum has one and that bag is sensational with everything! And it is soooo strong, unlike my delicate bags - it looks like you could throw it in the pool and it would come out immaculate! I would also like a larger Chanel in caviar in the same colour for every day - the Paris 88 Medalion tote perhaps! I have decided to get a Black Kelly 32cm in Chevre ... so chic. I love the way Victoria Beckham wears hers ...

How did I go with my ebay trading assistant? I received some money for the stuff she sold for me, not THAT much but it all helps. More of a relief really to cut some of the clutter. I gave her another big box today of shoes and clothes ... this time the stuff was marginal as I would have liked to have kept the stuff if I had a 400 sqf walk in robe, but that is not part of my vision! I want a small wardrobe where everything works. I'll just see what sells, and keep what doesn't. It'll work itself out! And the proceeds ... going towards bigger and better acquisitions! Like Hermes ...

As for the gold watch I wanted ... I have found one in a vintage watch dealer that is unworn and pristine at an amazing price that is absolutely perfect ... I'll let you know if I take the plunge! It's a big expense for me, would rather put the money into an investment fund like I usually do, i'm not sure I can justify it. But then when it's bought it's bought. I could have bought so much hermes with the money I have spent on less important things ...

Currently looking for the perfect Chanel beige suit...

I can't believe the progress I have made! So exciting.

THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Your encouragement has helped make this possible.

I hope this inspires people to cut their wardrobe down to stuff that you REALLY love and adore and to take the plunge to get those key classic items that can transform your style - like the Chanel, Hermes and Chopard that you've been lusting after for years ....

Here's a shot of me trying on the object of my affection at Hermes ... hope you like.

I think if you knew how to put pieces together and only kept core pieces if would be helpful. I would consult a fashion expert who can do this to get your wardrode linked together. Saks and other places do this. I would not give out all my expensive clothes. I think that is what women have the most problem with is mixing and matching. When I'm bored I go shopping in my closet instead of the mall and I try to put outfits together. I also look at magazines to help me do that.

Originally Posted by kcf68

I think if you knew how to put pieces together and only kept core pieces if would be helpful. I would consult a fashion expert who can do this to get your wardrode linked together. Saks and other places do this. I would not give out all my expensive clothes. I think that is what women have the most problem with is mixing and matching. When I'm bored I go shopping in my closet instead of the mall and I try to put outfits together. I also look at magazines to help me do that.

Yes, that's interesting ... the idea of shopping in your own wardrobe. I love doing this - trying things on and putting them all together again ... I actually hate clothes shopping so I do the same thing.

I agree with what you say completely. but somehow things can get really boring and don't make you feel good anymore, no matter how classic. I'm seeking simplicity. Often the mistakes are made when you buy things that are $100 reduced from $1500 on sale - incredible bargains that seem like the deal of the century, but then they never really work out ...

Parting with my babies is hard, but my vision for the fashion future makes it worth it.

that is a perfectly lovely dress!!!! you look amazing!

Originally Posted by Anna Bella

Here's a shot of me trying on the object of my affection at Hermes ... hope you like.

This is a great idea!

I just did a colour workshop, so now I know which colours work best for me and which I should avoid. Combined with a wardrobe purge and a very small wishlist this will help me make look and feel fantastic.

Wish list so far:
- diamond earrings
- black leather bag (gerard darel 24?)
- red or purple cardigan
- black skirt
- scarves in bright colours
- black leather pumps

I don't care about the brands, as long as the clothes are perfect.

yep, I changed my concept to this: although i just went the other day and bought a couple of pieces from H&M, Zara, Mango and COS (but all more or less downmarked, so ...ehm ehm. I just love the thrill of shopping.)

ok but now seriously, a BV hobo, tote or sloane is my current target of a great every day bag. can't say hermes is right now my goal - maybe in the future.

the perfect black pumps - although that may be an impossible target - preferably MB, maybe the Carolyn.

watch: either classic rolex in rose-gold, or for up a notch Philippe patek twenty-four, maybe in white gold, although I would feel funny about diamonds on my watch at the mo....

jewellery: I guess again white gold, maybe with diamonds something - a ring I mean. I have a half eternity as a wedding band, maybe upgrade that. oh, and I would love a simple classic gold bangle as a bracelet. (hope my hubby reads this... haha).

clothing-wise: I refrain from buying seasonal clothes on the expensive side: i'd rather buy classic investment pieces. maybe get the perfect cashmere coat and a really nice shirt-dress.

Anna Bella, you look great in that pic. I know what you mean, I have started to do the same thing. and recently I revived my mum's love for the classics (she introduced me to hermes scarves) and since she got a burberry, a black HErmes kelly and a brilliant cream chanel skirt suit And chanel peep toes. been pushing her... I guess... haha. anyway, I understand your shopping philosophy, it makes sense. thinking to let all my M by MJ and MJ stuff go... we'll see.

YES!! I wish I had the discipline to do this. I tried very hard at the beignning of spring season: I wrote down everything I bought in an attempt to curb my buying habits and make me more conscious of where my money goes. Unfortunately, I bought and bought and bought and lost track.

Sometimes it is tempting to just run into H&M and throw down $50 for a cute top to wear on a night out. However, those cute tops accumulate in my closet and those dollars add up -- all for nothing! I never wear them ever again! It's really a pity.

The only area I'm fairly good about "buying once" is with handbags... although I suppose you could argue that owning 7 Chanel bags may demonstrate otherwise. But after I bought my first classic Chanel tote, I used it for three years as my everyday bag.

The items I SHOULD hold out for are:
- Tweed Chanel jacket, in a pink and light grey weave... can throw this on over a little black dress or jeans.
- Cartier tank watch
- Diamond tennis bracelet
- Beige CL Pigalles
- The perfect shift dress from Narcisco Rodriguez

I totally agree! My dad gave me the best fashion advice ever when he told me when we were shopping once: "don't just buy something--make sure you have at least one outfit for it to go with that you know you will wear." When I go shopping now I've stopped buying things just because they were on sale, but instead I've been buying things because I love them and know that I will enjoy them for a very long time.

My wants:
--a Chanel suit
--a DvF wrap dress (which I may buy today...)
--a BV bag, but not sure which one
--The only jewelry I can think of that I want now is a ring that belonged to my great-grandmother.
I already found my perfect shoes--black glitter round-toe mary-janes by Miu Miu.

Now whenever I buy something new (except handbags and some suits) I get rid of something of the same type in my closet. That really cuts down on buying.