My goal for participating in a 30 x 30 challenge was to identify summer wardrobe holes and identify style/dressing habits.

I am achieving some success. Part of that success stems from reaching into my closet and not finding what I think I need. Part results from an assessment of the 30 pieces I am choosing not to wear. But most importantly, seeing and reading other participant's posts makes me realize I have fallen into a style rut and need to put more work into my ensembles.

Lesson 1: It is summer. I knew this going into the challenge. I purposely selected three work slacks and four casual slacks. The problem is that two of the bottoms selected for casual (Old Navy Full Length White Jeans and Gap Khakis) are heavy and I don't want to wear them right now. That leaves me with only two bottoms for casual.

I assumed that there were no or few wardrobe holes. I was wrong. I need a much larger variety of wardrobe bottoms for summer months. Jeans and khakis are all wrong for summer. I don't have the depth I need. Shout out to Anchie who is having similar issues. While everyone else is shopping NAS for winter items, I will be scouring sales for lightweight summer bottoms in a variety of different styles.

Lesson 2: I imagine myself as someone that wears items on repeat, but a quick review of my spreadsheet shows that I have spread my wears of bottoms out evenly over the course of the past 12 days. Top wears, on the other hand, are lopsided. I continually reach for the same tops.

I included a lot of tops in my challenge (10 with 2 empty slots). I had work in mind when I selected my tops. About half of the tops have yet to be worn. This is because I haven't been in the office as much as I thought. Two to three days per week. And, unlike Joy, I am not quite ready to wear my nicer tops for casual wear.

Lesson 3: The other 30 x 30 participants really make an effort. They think about things. They plan things. They coordinate things.

All this planning results in lovely variety. I would guess that their coworkers and family might not even know they were doing a 30 x 30 challenge because they are doing it masterfully. They make it look easy. In contrast, my outfits are not characterized by as much variety or interest.

What I am learning is that I need to try harder. Although I am not opposed to style uniforms, my casual dressing these past few days feels very much like a rut. Just because I am not going into the office and/or it is summer is not an excuse to give up. I have the clothes, wear them.

My goal next week is NOT to repeat .... even once. My goal next week is also to add interest.

Lesson 4: There are always side effects to a challenge. In this case, it was enhanced self care (makeup; pedicure and manicure; hair cut and color). I'm going to Sephora today to look at new foundations/blushes.