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?

I would like to be the sort of person who had a strong sense of personal and individual style. If I did, I would be able to work it, because I have no problem confidently wearing something unconventional. But I am too lazy, and it all ends up cargo pants, 'cause, pockets! Woe.

What I'm thinking about now is a sort of pseudo-military, monochromatic, highly structured wardrobe. Sharp clean lines, functional and hard-wearing, modular. But I dunno if I and my body type could pull it off. Definitely my budget can't.