Barbaraaaaa: Good luck with your job wishes! I've worked in that sector in the past and it's indeed quite conservative. Anyway, I don't think you need more than three suits even in the very conservative environments. You can make your looks more interesting with the tops you wear under the suit or with accessories. A black suit is a black suit. All you need to do is find one that fits really well and then vary it with other pieces in your wardrobe.
Also, about those pieces in your wardrobe that don't go with anything... Maybe you should invest more in very basic neutrals? A pair of nude or black pump with a classic heel goes with almost everything. Or if you buy a bag for example try to buy one in a color that goes well with your basic shoes and different colors in your wardrobe.
Personally, one of the most important processes for me was (and still is) to really learn what my style / my colors should be. I feel it's sooo much easier to buy few pieces when you really define how your wardrobe should look like. There are still tons of things that I see and that I find great, but now it's easier to say no to something when it just doesn't really fit in.
My list: Yesterday I've been rethinking about my spring/summer list. I'm counting no less than 15 items on my list right now...
I think I'll get about half of the items I want even if right now it feels as if I need everything...
I'm sure I'll survive the summer without getting everything this year. Two "special" items I hope to get though are a denim jacket and a skirt. I've seen many skirts in the spring collections that actually could work on me so I think I'll give it a try. And the denim jacket is something I wanted to get for several seasons but somehow it didn't really fit in with what I have. But now that I have been buying more dresses I feel it would work nicely with those.