I have an accessory problem.  It started as shoes when I was very young.  There was a whole semester in high school where I was dared to go everyday without repeating the same pair of shoes.  And I did . . .  I even kept a journal of the shoes I wore on what day.  Kinda wish I knew where that was.  Man, I was crazy.

It grew into jewelry when I started to work for a jewelry store, and then eventually I got into coat and jackets.  Never got into purses, but I am young yet.  I have asked myself on several occasions if I really need to have all that I do.  Lets be honest, there are people out that don’t have shoes . . .   and I have hundreds.  Yes, I just said hundreds.  I actually have a shoe closet.  Don’t judge. 

I ridicule myself when I look through half a dozen pairs of black heals and still feel I don’t have the exact look for my outfit.  Or I look at a pair of black boots that are SOOOO different from anything I have, when I have 14 pairs.  Now . . .  one is patent leather, one are Docs, a pair of cowboy boots, knee-high suede, and then plain leather with a square toe and chunky heal, the biker boots, the ankle boots, the platforms . . . . the point is, they are all so different!!  Not interchangeable at all. 

And then you have to ask, am I justifying my old habits?

The jacket issue, I began to feel was a little ridiculous.  Last year I couldn’t fit into more than like four of them because of the weight I gained on crazy medication.  And I had all these gorgeous coats stuffed in the back of the front closet just sitting there.  How many you ask?  I have no idea. 

The major contributor to the bulk would be the light outerwear, transitional jackets.  I don’t have a lot of winter coats. Just a Pea Coat and a Columbia.  oh,. . . wait  . . .  full length cream wool, and the full length one from grandma . . .   nevermind.  Most are all for fall and spring accessorizing! 

Honestly, shamefully, we are talking dozens of jackets.  Maybe upwards of three dozen.  And even more shamefully, there are more jackets I would like to own.  I do not have a tradition trench.  I would LOVE to have one.  Where do you cut yourself off?

I am a deal hunter.  Many of the coats are second-hand or bought at steals. I am justifying myself again.  Ugh . . .   It really is silly on some levels.  I have  a whole bunch of jackets just for running!!  And I don’t even do that anymore!  I took a good hard look at them the other day asking myself if I could weed through them.  Nope . . .   at least not right now.

I have lost almost all the weight I gained and now fit back into my glorious collection!  So its kinda fun and a big deal right now as I plot my entire ensemble, coat included!!

And then, I have met a woman here at work. One of the residents, who has, it would seem, a similar problem.  I think a much worse problem.  And I do not judge!!!  I think that woman wears a different jacket everyday!  I am constantly complimenting her on her coats!  It is mind boggling the jackets this woman has.  And they have to be EXPENSIVE!! 

She has done two things for me:

1) made me very comfortable with the amount of coats I own.

2) makes me want to go shopping for more!

I can resist the second.  I can’t afford to go shopping at this point in my life.  But I am kind of pleased with the resulting number one conclusion.  I love my outerwear!  And I will wear them happily, guilt free, feeling lovely in them!  Thanks to the woman who has more coats than me!

As for my shoes . . . don’t even think about mentioning it!  I wont think I have a problem until I lose count of them in the thousands and need a custom-built closet.  Like these ladies!