Closet Challenge: Day 20-24

By going through this project I am noticing that I really need to start making an attempt to purchase a larger variety of colors.  Almost half of my wardrobe is shades of green!  It is my favorite color but I've noticed it really limits my choices, which may be why I'm so bad about repeating the same items and neglecting so many others.  Does anyone had a predominant color in their closet? 

Wednesday I wore this basic v-neck sweater from JCrew.  I paired in with a pair of pants that I like but it turns out that they don't go very well together, hence the picture of the shirt on the hanger.  I'm sometimes guilty of assuming that just because I like two items a lot that they will go well together.  I should have looked in the mirror before I left for work that morning. 

Thursday I wore this pale green sweater from Anthropologie with my dark green AG Stevie pants.  I love the detail of this sweater. 

Friday was another green sweater day.  This one is from Anthropologie as well.  I've actually kept this one around for several years as it's one of my favorites.  I especially like the back.

Saturday I had book club and then hung out with friends so I wore this Anthropologie shirt and my AG Stevie pants in wine.  I grew up right outside of Louisville and love everything about the city's culture which of course means I love the Derby.  Therefore,if it has a horse on it, I will buy it. I especially like this one because the pattern is only on the back.



I didn't go anywhere today but friends came over so I did get dressed.  This is from Anthropologie as well.  I like this shirt so much that I have it in gray as well. I'm really liking the high-low trend right now. 



Closet Challenge: 17-19

I thought you all might be a little tired of seeing my pitiful attempts at modeling clothes so I took the pictures for this post with the shirts on the hangers.  Saturday, I traveled to Louisville to get my hair done (one of my favorite things with one of my favorite ladies).  I didn't do any shopping for clothing but I went along with my mommy to all the places she wanted to stop at which was a nice change.  Typically she runs around doing her stuff during my appointment then we hit all the places I want to go afterwards.  Since I'm still sickly I wore this striped shirt from Anthro.  I've decided that I'm going to resign this shirt to the lounge wear drawer.  It's comfortable but it doesn't really look great on me. 



Sunday was a no dress day and I was off of work Monday so all I did was go on a movie date with John to see my other boyfriend, Ryan Gosling.  I threw on this sweater for the occasion.  I have no idea what brand it is but I do remember that I grabbed it at Dillard's one day because it looked like a good piece to have when I didn't want to make an effort. 

Today, I wore this red JCrew sweater with dress pants.  It was freezing here today so I'm glad I've saved back some of my thicker sweaters.  I got this last year and actually wore it on my first day at my current job.  I especially like the button detail on the bottom left side. 

Also, I broke my rule again.  I purchased two dresses from Mod Cloth.  I wouldn't have but someone who shall remain anonymous (starts with an R, ends with achael my coworker) just HAD to tell me that they were having 70% off. Original price would have been $129 and I only spent $38 dollars, a savings of  $91, so I can't beat myself up too much.  A good sale on cute dresses doesn't come around often and I LOVE dresses.  I'm pretty sure my coworkers thought I didn't even own pants for the first few months as I'm especially found of them in warm weather.  I might allow these dresses to slip into the rotation early to break up the monotony of shirts and sweaters.

Closet Challenge: Day 16

It's Friday!  I continued the comfortable theme and wore this red sweater from Anthro with 7 For All Mankind jeans and JCrew slippers.  I'm starting to feel the crunch for picking out clothes.  As much as I've tried  to spread them out, almost all of my favorites are now off limits so I'm starting get a little more frustrated each morning.  Soon I'll have to start planning out the week just to cut down on the indecision in the mornings.

 

I really like the detail on this sweater so I tried to show it in pictures.

 

 

Closet Challenge: Day 12-15

Hello people!  I didn't quit the challenge, I've just been slow on posting this week because what I believed to be a lingering cold was actually bronchitis! This is the first day that I've not wanted to curl up into a ball on the sofa right after work so I'm catching up now.

I didn't go to work Monday because I woke up as a wheezing mess so I didn't get dressed that day.  I did though, break a rule. :-( I was miserable, the lowest of the low, and JCrew Factory was having 60% off sale items with an additional 20% at checkout.  How can a weakened soul resist that?! Therefore, I am making an amendment to that rule. I cannot wear what I just bought or anything that anyone buys me (because I WILL NOT slip again) until the very end.  I must sorrowfully hang my new purchases in the back until everything else has been worn.  This is torturous for the girl who used to insist on wearing her new shoes out of the store when she was a child.

Below are my outfits for the rest of the week so far.  Comfort was the theme as I'm still feeling pretty sick.  Today I actually planned my outfit so that it wouldn't be obscene if I had to take my bra off during the day. I'm glad for that because I definitely lost the bra around 1:30 this afternoon.  If you've had bronchitis, you know that your rib cage and chest can hurt something fierce and a bra does not help you breathe.



This was a complete JCrew outfit.  Even the shoes are from the outlet. The sweater is super soft. 

I went to bed at 9:30 am the night before and slept as late as possible.  This shirt (Anthropologie) doesn't wrinkle despite how much you wad it up so it was an obvious choice since I was running later than usual. The pants are AG Stevie in wine.

 This was my no-bra outfit.  The sweater is Anthro and the jeans are AG Stevie in dark green.  This brand makes the softest jeans.  I have three pair. 

Closet Challenge: Day 10 and 11

Yesterday all I did was get a massage during the day which didn't warrant anything other than sweats so I didn't actually get dressed until the evening.  My girl Lyndsey and I ventured up to Indy for the Grace Potter & The Nocturnals concert so I wore this Anthropologie corduroy shift dress and Frye boots.  You'll have to excuse the messy hair as I took this picture after we had been shaking our booties all night. 

If you haven't heard of Grace Potter I highly recommend you give her a listen.  She's a great singer and gives 110% during her concerts.  The first video is her popular song "Paris."  The second is her new single "Stars."

Today, my only venture out of the house was to go eat breakfast with John so I just wore this hoodie from Anthro.  I immediately changed into my PJs after we got back and remained in them since.  I have to save up my energy for the Golden Globes tonight (which I've talked John into watching with me).  I hope everyone else had a great weekend!



Jackson is hanging out in his hoodie today, too.



Closet Challenge: Day 9

I have discovered my first item for the discard pile.  I got this shirt from Anthropologie last year and have only worn it a couple of times because no matter what I pair it with, it just doesn't look right.  My mother always warns me about these types of shirts and I never listen to her. I can always hear her saying "You could never wear that stuff when you were little and I dressed you..." as I walk out of a dressing room disgruntled (usually because she is with me during these failed shopping escapades).  See, I have a longer torso and my natural waistline is low so shirts or dresses that have an empire waistline are hard for me to pull off.  Combined with the thin material, this shirt just hits wrong.  It makes me appear to have the dreaded "back fat" and I feel self-conscious when I wear it.  This will be added to the Goodwill/good friends pile.

 

 

Since the above that I wore to work is a discard, I changed my shirt to hang out with friends.  This is a shirt that my mom got me from JCrew (the outlet) and I feel much better in it.  I saw this online when it first came out and I debated too long so it was sold out in my size by the time I made a decision.  I considered getting the look-a-like that Old Navy made but I'm glad I didn't because my mother is always somehow able to find clothes that are sold out.  I'm a lucky girl. :)

 



Closet Challenge: Day 8

I've come to the realization that I am pretty much a walking mannequin for Anthropologie.  Today I wore both a sweater and skirt from there.  I can't help it!  I just adore their clothing so much.  They put one in Louisville recently which made my year since before that I had to make special trips to Indy just to visit their store. 

I got both this blue sweater and green skirt last year.  This is the only skirt I own because it is so hard to find one that fits my body type correctly.  Most of them look awkward on me but this one is heavy enough that it stays down where it needs to be instead of creeping up to my ribs.  Oh, the woes of having a booty... The sweater is one that I like in theory but it doesn't go well with a lot of my pants because its a little too short.  It shows my stomach when I raise my arms and I'd prefer to keep that covered.  The detail on the top is so cute though that I keep it around.

Closet Challenge: Day 7

I've made it a whole week! It actually hasn't been that hard and I'm definitely enjoying it.  I counted all my shirts the other day though, and it will take about 3 months to complete this so I'm not going to get too overjoyed yet.

Today I wore a military style black shirt with sash and gold buttons from Anthropologie.  I've had this shirt for about four years and kept it around because its a basic that can go with so many things.  You can't see from the pictures but the shoulders actually are braided and the buttons have military-style crests.  Sorry the picture is blurry today.  My heels were killing my feet and I was hungry so I was in hurry to get the picture and change.

 

I got to sit in along with two of my managers for interviews with potential contractors today so I wanted to wear something that would make me feel like I was in charge (when actually I'm very much still a newbie).  The red Winnie pants from JCrew gave me an extra boost of confidence.  If I'm brave enough to wear bright red on the biggest part of my body then I can handle anything!  :)

Closet Challenge: Day 6

Today's top got to be paired with some of my favorite dress pants.  If you have never tried the JCrew Minnie (Winnie at the outlet store) you are truly missing out on a great dress pant.  They have a super flattering cut for all shapes, have stretch, and are a great alternative to regular boot cut dress pants.  Needless to say, I have them in three colors. 

This sweater was a recent find during my trip to Easton for Black Friday shopping with Mom.  I walked into Madewell, spotted it on the mannequin and immediately ran to find it in my size.  Mom also spotted it first thing when she came in behind me so it was definitely coming home with me. 

When I was at Starbucks today, a girl made an effort to stop me to ask where I had purchased the sweater and to let me know how much she liked it.  It was a great little pick-me-up for the rest of my day.  I need to make an effort to do that for other people more often as I rarely go out of my way to tell someone I like something of theirs.  It's just not like me to approach a stranger. I'm a little better with my friends but I still don't do it as often as I should.  Tomorrow I will be sure to highlight someones day the way that girl did mine.

Closet Challenge: Day 5

Today was a two outfit day!  I'm still sick but it felt good to get dressed and feel like I didn't look as bad as I felt.  I wore this gray sweater dress from Anthropologie to work with JCrew leggings and Jessica Simpson boots (I can't stomach her as a celebrity but she makes darn comfortable shoes). 

After work, I changed to hang out with friends while watching the IU game.  I bought this JCrew painter's shirt on a whim because 1.) it was dirt cheap and 2.) I thought I might wear it tailgating.  The stripes are definitely not flattering.  This is an example of an impulse buy that turned out to be a mistake.  I shouldn't have given into what seems like American society's tendency to buy things just because they are a bargain.  I'll probably run into more of these throughout the challenge, which is disappointing to think about.  I'll look at this as a chance to learn that just because it's on sale doesn't mean I need it. 

Closet Challenge: Day 3 and 4

Since I've been afflicted with a disgustingly irritating cough and cold, I decide to make this Saturday and Sunday "no dress days."  I didn't take more than two steps past the front door so I have remained in my PJ's for the entire weekend.  The dog has been quite pleased that his mommy/favorite pillow has been home with him all day.

Honestly, had I not been sick I still would have made at least one day a "no dress day."  I've been taking these little mental vacations since I was a teenager.  I call them "no dress days" because my mother used to walk by my residence on the sofa and say, "Are you getting dressed today?" When I answered no, she would just smile and go about her business because she gets it.  I can perfectly mimic the huff she makes when she realizes that she needs to run out and get something.  She's frustrated not because she has to make a trip to town, but because she has to get ready to go to town. 

I think that these types of days are essential for all women and their well-being.  Men will never fully understand this necessity because getting ready just doesn't consist of the same amount of stress that it does for us.  Ladies, think about all the steps you take to get ready to leave the house any given day.  Now, think of all the steps within each of those steps, such as make-up application where there are at least 4 steps within that step.  Finally, think of the mental planning and preparation you put into those steps and how each one affects the other.  Which hairstyle are going to do today?  Which eyeshadow are you going to wear? You've got your pink bra on but are you going to need to change it if you want to wear that cream top?  It's exhausting once you actually take it off auto-pilot. 

Now, think about what the men in your life do to get ready.  John changes his shirt and pants, runs a hand through his hair applying water where needed, and he is ready to go.  My father changes his shirt and pants, runs a wet comb through his hair exactly four times, and runs down the stairs ready to leave. Dad has learned that he will be sitting in that recliner for a while before Mom or I join him, but John still gets irritated that I can't be ready as quickly as he can.  Trust me boys, I wish society would change its rules on appearance too but I don't see that happening anytime in the near future. And no, I'm not one to rebel against these rules, as much as I'd like to run around without make-up and a bra.  Being judged by the lady in front of me at Kroger is not high on my list of likes. 

Therefore, a day where you can remain clean-faced, bra-less (my personal favorite part), with a ponytail that looks like a six-year-old's handiwork and not care that you're on your seventh episode of Roseanne or that you haven't/will not change out of the PJ's you woke up in is the very cleanse that we need. 

Closet Challenge: Day 2

Today I chose a sweater that I actually got for Christmas last year but didn't get to wear more than twice because we didn't really have a winter.  This might be one of my favorite sweaters.  It came from Anthroplogie and the jeans are J Brand.  I love the detail and the color so I tried to show it in some pictures but I'm still working on the photography.  At least this time the bed and the dog didn't make it into the background.  Maybe if I can get John to take the pictures they will be better but right now he "wants no part in this."  :) 

The best part of this outfit may have been the earrings (Anthropologie).  Thank goodness accessories don't count because I want to wear these outstanding pieces of gold and sparkles every single day.  

Closet Challenge: Day 1

Since this was the first day of the challenge I decided that I wanted to feel as put-together as possible. That may not happen towards the end.  This outfit went over pretty well with my coworkers so I'm a little sad that I won't be able to wear it again for quite some time, 100 years with 6 outfit changes a day if my Dad's "calculations" are correct. :)  The shirt  (navy blue) and belt are both J.Crew and the pants (chocolate) are Banana Republic.  You'll see J.Crew mentioned quite a bit as it and Anthropologie are my two favorite stores.  I accessorized it with a necklace from Stella & Dot, a gift from John, and my Timex watch from Piperlime.

I've also discovered that there is not a single bare wall in this house for me to use as a backdrop.  Therefore the picture isn't that great.  I'll try to work on that for future posts but I was so sick today that I wanted to get my pajamas on as quickly as possible and curl up on the sofa for the rest of the night. 

My Closet Challege: The Rules

After coming home from Christmas and hanging up all my new apparel goodies I had a revelation.  I have been blessed with a great closet full of clothing (big thanks Mom and Dad) but I only wear about a third of it.  I constantly reach for favorites, old comfortables, or highly praised items while letting others fall to the wayside as I get new things each season.  While sorting through, trying to make room for new sweaters, I realized that I haven't been wearing a lot of things that I actually really like and hanging on to items that I'm not so fond of wearing. 

As of today, that it going to change.  I am going to go through my closet and wear every single item in it this season.  I will not repeat a single outfit until every piece of material has seen a little love. I will document every day to help myself keep on track (this may take a while so I might forget that I've already worn something) as well as make myself accountable.  So here are the guidelines:

1.  The no-repeat rule applies to all shirts, blouses, sweaters and dresses that are in season. 

2.  Pants, leggings, and shoes do not count as I am amazingly not overflowing with these.  Also, it would just be cruel to make myself pair a shirt with pants that obviously do not match.  I'm a working professional and have an appearance to maintain with my friends and colleagues. I'd like for them to be willing to be seen out with me in public. 

3.  Formal wear is exempt, obviously.

4.  Layering items such as tanks and cardigans can be repeated if necessary but I must try my best to avoid this.  For example, I can't repeat with one just because I prefer it if another matches as well. 

At the end of this I hope to have saved some money, found some new great outfits, and made a necessary donation to Goodwill after my friends have been able to call dibs on any discards. 

Wish me luck!