I am not a movie character; hard, but necessary, wardrobe decisions

Boreas, by John William Waterhouse

Somewhere in my imagination, I walk across windswept moors, my long flowing hair sweeping behind  me.  I'm dressed in something graceful and fluid, and  it's all very dramatic and romantic...

And for a long time, I would occasionally buy something for this life...

Reality check?  I wouldn't walk across a windswept moor, I'd stride at about 4 mph.  My hair won't GET long - it won't grow past my shoulders. And even if it would, it would never flow.  It might boing and sproing and ping and pong in it's curly way...

The fluid garments would get snagged on the gorse, and would get all wet and muddy around the hem...

The hardest part of having a focused wardrobe is the part where you have to decide that you are going to surrender all of these wardrobe "dreams" that you have.  I'm not going on a safari.  I can't dress like I'm going to a garden party.  I'm not a gypsy.  I don't live in the 19th century.  I'm not goth. I can't swan around Chicago in a high-necked lace blouse with a cameo brooch at the throat.

Figure out who you are, and dress yourself.  Dreams are lovely, but you can't put money and self-esteem into chasing after alternate personalities...  If you're going to chase a dream, chase something more substantial than a costume.