I happily spent last Sunday afternoon taking inventory of everything in my closet so I could see (and remember) exactly what I already have, think about what types of pieces I want to add (based on the fall trends I like), and brainstorm how to combine different things in new ways. I also purged a few items from my closet, knowing that if I’ve been true to my practical fashionista ethos, the castaway pile should be small. And since much of my wardrobe is seasonless, I mercifully didn’t have a lot of stuff to “put away” till next year.  Jeans, lightweight wool and cashmere cardigans, tank tops, Longchamp bags—I wear all of it all year round.

Auditing your clothes is fun (don’t knock or mock it until you’ve tried it!). And it’s preferable, in my humble opinion, to plunking yourself down at a mall one random day with no idea of what you want. That’s a recipe for impulse purchases and buyer’s remorse. And I pretty much despise having to return items after the fact.

When I was in New York a couple of months ago, I was the model of judiciousness (if I do say so myself) and bought just a couple of new things for fall:

Probably the most expensive sweatshirt I’ll ever own. I had first seen it via the Flipboard iPad app and visited the A.P.C. store in Soho in search of it. I plan on wearing it with everything from jeans to a dressy skirt for contrast.

J.Crew origami miniskirt in damask. Part of its appeal was that I bought it at the J.Crew Collection boutique at 1035 Madison Avenue. I can pair it with a white cotton t-shirt and flats now–and a cropped sweater, tights and heels when the weather cools.

Here’s the rest of my fall shopping list, prioritized in order of importance (I can’t quash my product-manager-ways):

• Sweater with a slightly shrunken, cropped silhouette (I will buy one in a light neutral and one in a bright color.  Heck, I might even buy a third in black.)
• Calfskin loafers in cordovan
• Teal skirt (I will also buy in hot pink if it’s available)
• Colored, textured tights and knee-hi’s
• Polka-dotted top or sweater (lower priority)
• Shift dress (low priority)

Of course, a big part of the thrill of shopping and the joy of fashion is coming across a piece of clothing or an accessory that is “you.” It wasn’t written down on any list and you didn’t even know it existed, but now you have to have it. So I definitely leave some room for blissful serendipity. I’m neurotic by nature but not a total killjoy.

I’ll show you my progress in the coming weeks.

P.S. I finally got my September issue of Vogue! All is right again with the world.

Update on October 1, 2011: I recently wore the J.Crew skirt with my new J.Crew cashmere cable knit sweater in “bright dahlia,” necklace by Fallon, nude slingbacks by Donald J. Pliner, orange watch by Nixon and black ribbed Wolford tights. The occasion? Seeing Tosca at the Kennedy Center with my mom and Andrew.