I view the list as a good starting point, as a list of clothes that can, if properly chosen, be used very flexibly in a number of outfits for a number of different occasions.

Okay, me, I'm going back to sleep to wait for word from my GP or my acupuncturist.

Friend from Lake Charles says all is cool. It scraped by between Beaumont and LC.

I occasionally think I will pare down my closet and concentrate on creating "a look" for myself, but I have so much trouble deciding what that would be. Circle skirts and shirt dresses? A-line skirts, sweet tops and jeans? WHO AM I!?!

I still like the list, but maybe because I'm still on a search for a good standard pair of pants. I own pants, but none of them are just right. So I get that the list seems stupid, but not for those of us who still need help buying stuff!

But the list doesn't help with that -- you know you need pants.

I bet if I read his book I would be less annoyed. But no list with the single item "a skirt" is a good one. I'm saying, it's a list of basic men's essentials poorly translated to women.

Anyhoodle, finally talked to my purported wedding planner. Phew. Also, my toe is doing better, I can kind of walk normally.

it's a list of basic men's essentials poorly translated to women.

Interestingly enough he says he doesn't have a list for men. Or didn't at the time I was reading that particular interview--he said he was going to put one together, though.

Unsurprisingly, I have all these items.

01 Basic Black Dress: Bought for the only funeral I've ever attended.
02 Trench Coat: Aubergine, but more of a faux trench, since it is short. I wear this almost every day.
03 Classic Dress Pants: Numerous--none are all black.
04 Blazer: White, plum, cocoa. I watch WNTW, how could I not have a structured jacket?
05 Skirt: Numerous.
06 Classic White Shirt: Only because my sister gave me one from Anne Fontaine. I never wear it because I fear spillage is sure to ensue if I do.
07 Day Dress: Pinkish lavender print wrap. it took me forever to find a wrap dress that wasn't mostly brown or black.
08 Jeans: 3. I love the curvy Old Navy ones that I think Aimée recommended.
09 Sweatsuit Alternative: Yes.
10 Cashmere Sweater: 4. Three were gifts from my sister.
11 One bonus: Favorite items not on the list? Scarves.

ETA: One day I will remember line breaks.

I occasionally think I will pare down my closet and concentrate on creating "a look" for myself, but I have so much trouble deciding what that would be. Circle skirts and shirt dresses? A-line skirts, sweet tops and jeans? WHO AM I!?!

I've been thinking of creating a look for myself specifically for writerly events, especially if/when I ever become published. Most writers I've met, frankly, look like what we are--people who either work from home in our pajamas or have day jobs we're not that interested in to support our writing habits. So you see a lot of out-of-date, shabby, frumpy, ill-fitting clothes at your average writers conference. At best, you have people wearing appropriate but generic business and business casual looks.

The exceptions really stand out--I've been at two conferences where Diana Gabaldon was one of the keynotes, and she draws the eye, in a good way, wherever she goes. Lots of bright colors and flowing lines, which flatter her coloring and figure. I know that doesn't sound like much, but she was one of the few people in the room who looked like she'd thought about her clothes. And I want to be like that, but I feel like my identity as both a writer and a person are currently in sufficient flux that I can't point at anything and say, "That's what Susan W., the future best-selling author of historical adventure fiction, would wear to a booksigning."

Now that summer is over, I'm renewing my quest to find The Perfect Jacket. My requirements are:

• Light enough to wear in 50-60 degree weather.
• Be long enough that I can wear it with my shirttails out.
• Have enough pockets for gadgets.
• Look cool and not look preppy.

It's amazing how frustrating this is, especially the "not look preppy" part.

I can imagine the not preppy part could be very annoying to seek. Does Nordstoms or their local equivalent have personal shoppers in the men's departments? That might be a way to go.

I have a GP appointment at 1 and acupuncture at 2:45, so that's good. My blackberry is flashing a baleful red light at me though, and I don't want to look.

You can satisfy the "not look preppy" part by making it out of the skin of your enemies.

Do we have a local equivalent to Nord's in NYC?