Selective Shopping

I usually look forward to buying some new clothing at the start of each academic year.  Since our move was pretty expensive and I haven't yet received a full paycheck as a faculty member, I haven't made very many new purchases for this academic year.  However, a couple of weeks ago I went shopping at TJ Maxx with a new friend and fellow colleague.  I picked up a couple of much-needed tops, a pair of ankle boots, and this belt.¹

 1. Dress - Shabby Apple (remixed), Belt - De Lonti (TJ Maxx), Shoes - r2 (DSW and remixed)

While I have contemplated going on a shopping ban again, I think it's smarter for me right now to establish a shopping plan and a monthly clothing and accessories budget.  There are some wardrobe gaps in my closet that have become especially apparent to me now that I'm teaching four days a week and will frequently have to attend faculty and committee meetings a fifth.  I could use a couple of pairs of better fitting slacks, for instance.  In a couple of months, I will need new snow boots.  While some of my dresses, like the one I'm wearing in this post, have held up really well or are relatively new, others that I relied on in my teaching wardrobe for the past couple of years are looking rather worse for the wear. 

As Shakespeare's Feminine Ending mentioned in her post last week, I am all about the carrot method of motivating myself to work.  It worked really well for me in the past when I needed to produce dissertation chapters, conference papers, etc.  So I have decided to allow myself $50 a month to spend on clothing and accessories.  Whenever I meet one of my five monthly writing goals, I'll add another $20 to my shopping budget.    

Do you have a shopping plan or a monthly budget?  Do you approach clothes shopping with a plan or do you let the spirit move you?  What gaps do you currently see in your wardrobe?