My November challenge - YouLookFab Forum

A week or so ago, Laura (rhubarbgirl) posted about interest in a Nov challenge, and that got my wheels turning. I do love a good challenge, however it needs to be suited to me, and what I hope to achieve/learn about. Unfortunately the ones on that thread didn't strike me as "challenging" for me personally, and I'm afraid I don't have enough time or energy these days just to have "fun"

One of the best challenges I've done was a year ago, which was dubbed "the Una challenge". What Una did was challenged herself to wear five different silhouettes over the course of a week. I took this and modified it for myself, to force some variety So this year, I'm going to do the same thing. But different.

Funny, the season has only just changed, and I already feel I'm slipping back into old FFBO habits... which makes no sense given the huge wardrobe upgrade/expansion etc that I did last year. So it's a perfect time to force myself to be a bit more inventive. I wonder if it's got anything to do with the shorter days and that desire to hibernate?

Each week I want to have a day in which I: (and this does include weekends, not just the work week)
1. Wear no black.
2. Wear something new. I have about a half dozen new items from NAS and other minor shopping excursions that I want to make sure get into rotation.
3. Wear a colour that isn't cobalt
4. Wear a dress or skirt
5. Wear something that I hardly wear. This would be an older item... my stylebook app tells me things I've worn the least, I hope to go through the seasonally appropriate "losers" on this list and wear them. Then really think about why they aren't getting worn... is it time to move it on, should I be wearing it, is it needing something to wear with, etc.
6. This one again: Don't go out of the house wearing something I wouldn't wear out of the house. Yes, I've slipped back into doing the odd errand in my Lulu's and a hoodie. Public confession and plea for forgiveness. (Mind you, my Lulu's aren't tight yoga pants, they are the wide legged ones!)
7. Wear something YLF inspired. This can be one of Angie's ensembles, or something inspired by a YLFer. Just something to make me think a little differently, wear or pair things a little differently.

And I am allowed to take care of more than one of these in one outfit.

Is anyone else interested in coming up with their own list of things they want to work on, or of variety they want to inject, and joining me in this?

8 years ago

Alassë

Veteran

Now this is a great challenge! Comprehensive, thorough, fun.... Way to go, Elizabeth!

Elizabeth P

Shameless bump.... busy forum last night!!

And thank you Alasse... I hope it works out as well as last year. I need something to keep me from my work FFBO (sweater and trousers) every day. I seem to do okay for casual dressing, when I can be bothered....

Sara L.

Interesting challenge! I hope you post pictures and progress as the month progresses.

Peri

I think that is a really good challenge. Very practical and tuned to what you need. I am considering making my own too. Mine would say that I couldn't repeat an outfit in a week.

That may seem nuts to most...like why in the world would you??? But my work is such that I see different people every day. It matters much more that I not wear the same outfit on two Thursdays, or too often on Thursdays for example, than whether I repeat something on Thursday that I wore on Monday. If it wasn't for hygiene I could wear the same thing 5 days in a row and no one would ever know.

So, my laziness being what it is, yeah, I do repeat outfits within a week. Not all 5 days, but often 2. If it made me happy one day and I'm in the mood, on it goes a few days later. I should challenge myself to wear something different every day of the week. Silly that my challenge is everyone else's norm!

But I second Sara...I'd love to see pictures!

Beth Ann

Glad you bumped your thread, Elizabeth! I've noticed that items posted at night can tend to drop off the first page pretty quickly, and I'm glad to hear about your challenge.

I just purchased a pair of deep olive pants to give a new, autumnal look to my cobalt sweaters and tops.

And --- when you find yourself in those lulus -- do you have a nice pair of athletic shoes with some street style? Or a great scarf? Sometimes, in a pinch, that will upgrade from "mom running from the gym without a shower" to Athleisure.

Hey Sara and Peri... yes, I definitely will post pics. I've really got out of the habit (although I do take them) and I think not having that accountability is part of the blahness I'm feeling these days. Funny thing, blahness. Where does it come from?

Peri, I totally get that. Sometimes it makes so much more sense to wear something the two or three times it may take to actually bother washing it, than try to remember it's "not quite clean". I definitely wear the same tee day after day in the evenings, as it only gets worn for a couple of very unactive hours. I generally rotate them just for silly reasons (ie if I go out of the house and might see someone... again... ), so end up with a nice little pile of "hurry up and get dirty enough to wash will ya" clothes on a chair in my bedroom.

Beth Ann... yes, I do. And really, they aren't pants that look esp gearish, I'd NEVER go out in the pants that I actually wear for exercise, but _I_ know how lazy I am when I do this. I also know how many great casual items I have that really should be worn, so it's totally silly. That dang blahness again.

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JAileen

It's a very interesting concept. But why are you forcing yourself to not wear your favorite things?

Good question JAileen. I guess the answer is, I'm not, but I can see how it appears that way. I want to make sure I have some variety, and some reason to put some thought or effort into what I'm wearing. I'm falling back into grabbing my favourite pairs of pants, and sweaters... looking perfectly presentable, but not necessarily how I want to dress. And funnily enough, these aren't necessarily my favourites... they are just easy. I can still wear my beloved black six days a week, and cobalt six days a week, and I love some of my dresses...

Hmm, actually, now that you've got me thinking, the real question is why am I NOT reaching for my favourites?

I also want to either rediscover love for my older less worn items, or purge them. Purging is not easy for me, so it does take more effort than it might for some.

Carole

I love a good challenge, Elizabeth...keeps me focused on being creative with what I have instead of thinking I need something new! This is one I could see myself participating in and will try to join in from time to time but will be watching in earnest.

celia

I was thinking about doing a November challenge but didn't reach any conclusion.
Your challenge is very detailed and focused on your needs.
If you are in love with cobalt and black and they love you back at the moment why not go on ? I know I have been wearing my share of burgundy lately with no remorse what so ever.
Looking forward to see pictures.

catgirl

Haha! I forgot about this and it was really a good challenge for me. I do exactly the same thing, defaulting to workhorses that I love but neglecting other items I love more but find not quite as "default-y". I think I will join you with my original challenge, adding that I must wear a different pair of boots or shoes each day in a 5 day workweek. Thank you for motivating me!

Suz

(website)

This was a brilliant challenge! I remember it. I love the idea of doing it again. I am on the road now (so what else is new) but will check in again and read this thread more closely tomorrow I hope.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Great idea, Elizabeth! I admire you for undertaking the challenge. The idea appeals to me, but I'm a bit daunted by the mental energy of ticking the boxes. Maybe I need fewer boxes, like challenge myself to do three items on your list each week. I could try: 1) wear a dress or skirt, 2) wear something YLF inspired (um--this is easy; I think I do it every day anyway, so maybe not really a "challenge"), 3) wear something new.
That's not a commitment, mind you. Just thinking.

Celia, I have no intention of stopping wearing cobalt and black... I just don't want to wear nothing BUT cobalt when I reach for colour. I have quite a bit, so it's easy, but I do like other colours as well!

Una, wearing a different pair of boots each day sounds like a great idea for you. That alone would force variety in what you wear on top, without really thinking about it.

Firecracker, please take this as an idea only, and make up your OWN things you might want to work on or push a bit. And make up your own number of boxes. They aren't actually as daunting as they seem... for example, yesterday I wore a skirt, a sweater that I seldom wear, none of it was black, and none of it was cobalt. So bang, four boxes with one outfit! Actually, the skirt was pretty new too, so I could push that to five if I wanted

Joy

This is such a good list! May I use it for my November challenge? As usual the weather has its wide fluctuations this month and it's own challenges. In the next 10 days we may have a first frost but also highs in the 70-80s.

Of course, Joy! I'd love to see your interpretations of this.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Great challenge. Elizabeth. I look forward to seeing your outfits.

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