That said, I have to say that I derive the most inspiration (especially lately) for my wardrobe from various films and television shows. Only recently have my husband and I gotten into Weeds, but I have to say that I love the casual-chic clothes Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) wears season in and out, and the fact that the costumers stick to a pretty neutral palette for her–lots of black, with some white, beige, pale pink and other colors thrown in from time to time to spice things up (and the black-heavy wardrobe is a nice nod to the notion of widows weeds, or the clothes women would wear while deep in mourning). While it’s not the most inspired track, I always try to avoid co-opting an exact look and instead ry to infuse the spirit of the original look, with an effort to avoid the most obvious touches that could make you look silly (and that will vary by wearer, to be honest), which is why I take any style cues from Gossip Girl (for example) with a very firm pinch of salt.

And as JD Regent mentioned above, jewelry is a great way of refreshing a look without making massive investments, and as someone who loves to make jewelry, this can turn into a very fun project (especially when you’re able to disassemble your old project to turn it into something new). It’s one of the few areas where I will attempt pretty blatant DIY projects, but because a.) I’m not selling them and b.) the original parts are so different, it’s a fun way for me to think creatively in the design process.