STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I think you should return everything that you don't think you'll use.  Just return it.  Take the money, put it away for now, and then put it towards things you love, little by little.  I don't ever go on a ban completely- but i'm always careful.  The thing that helps me most is to post something before I buy it.  That buys me some time to think about whether I really want something, and then I can get everyones opinions.  I only act quickly when I KNOW something will be gone.  Also, its fun to spend an afternoon just looking through your closet at all the things you forgot about and make new combos.  Then instead of going on a ban- you can give yourself a weekly budget or something, and let everything that you don't spend one week carry over into the next week.

Yes, I can afford it. This is one of the reasons I had the binge. I worked very hard all summer in a language immersion school, away from family, friends and usual distractions, and shopping for fall was one of the things I was looking forward to. But now I just feel guilty. The problem with my summer lifestyle in the school is that it is very different from my usual lifestyle - there are a lot of dress up events, and all the faculty appears super-polished; and most of the faculty (no, what am I saying? all of the faculty!) are older than me, and are more formal/dressy. During the school year I live in NorCal. My style is funky/casual. There are no dress-up events except some grad student parties, and alas, almost all of my fellow grad students are casual dresses (in an oversized tee and jeans kind of fashion).  I could probably use some new going-out clothes, but this one silk top I bought (which is very nice) is more my summer/formal style than my year-round style. Yes, I can return it, but it was only 9.5$. This is another thing: I shop vintage/second hand most of all, and yes, I snatch things when I see them - next day  they would be gone. I am also an accessories girl. I should return the shearling scarf, only I cut the tags off, so that would not be possible. I hope I will wear it, I like it a lot (and if not, that was a 15$ mistake, oh well). I can return three things at this point:

the corset belt (19.99$ from Urban, and it should go back, only I can't find the receipt!!).

the going-out top (its black with gray paisleys and very pretty sleeves) - I can use it but won't wear it as much - 9.5$

the Johnny Was top that I bought for 30$ - it looks a lot like this top, only it's brown, has big red roses embroidered on the sleeves, and a rodeo embroidery on the chest. Its lovely and flattering, but its brown and I have a lot of brown. I bought it new with 120$ tags still attached... I should keep it, I think.... it''s very much my style.. but what to color bottom to wear it with??