My (30+30)x30 (long!!) - YouLookFab Forum

(Cuz you have to get the bracket order right)

I thought I would take the rest of the week and the weekend to ponder exactly what I wanted to do and get out of the latest challenge (because I knew I wanted to participate somehow) but reading the threads that have started, and commenting on some, got the thoughts flowing so I think I have my personal challenge figured out.

I have decided to do 30 days of work, plus 30 days of casual, which basically takes me though “deep winter” and will end around the school march break time. Give or take a week. At which point I throw all the clothes in the air, grab some skimpy dresses, and head to Mexico with my youngest DD. But that’s another post…

Work:

For the purposes of this challenge, I work four days a week in an office. No dress code per say, but I like to aim for what I’d consider business casual for the most part. I do work full time, but I get a day off every third week, there is the occasional holiday, snow day, plus my DD’s are very busy with sports so there are several Friday’s I’ll be taking off to travel with them. I also like to take personal days here and there to get caught up on my life.

I am in the position of being able to retire this year… I’m not going to, but the reality is that I CAN. So this means that purchasing clothes for work needs to slow down. It has very much become a habit. I have a HUGE wardrobe, so it’s time to start wearing and enjoying what I have, rather than continuing with the never ending expansion. Any work clothes need to be very carefully considered, need to fill a hole, a need, be a super duper updating piece, etc.

I would also like to start purging things that don’t make me happy. I am not going to purge for the sake of it, as in my mind this is wasteful, and at this point in my life I don’t think that is going to change. But there is no excuse to keep things that aren’t 9’s or 10’s… I will not be naked!

I don’t always dress true to myself for work, for some reason… so I want to take this into account when deciding what items or outfits are “keepers”. I have great work clothes, I just have a tendency to slip into boring mode when I’m tired or busy… posting should help this.

Casual:

I’m also calling this four days a week, because there are the weekend, the days off, plus I hope that at least once a week I need to dress to go out somewhere where I care about how I look… dinner with the family, watching a sporting event, etc. I suspect I won't need as many as 30 items for this, esp as some items overlap with work, but whatever.

ETA: Forgot totally - My casual wardrobe needs for this time of year are actually a bit weird as I'll be spending many days as a spectator at pools, which are HOT. So I need tee's, tanks, even crops.

I do like my casual style. I’d like to incorporate whatever it is that I like, more into my work wardrobe. I know one thing is a bit more edge, but is there more?

Yet… I still struggle to be “dressed” and truly comfortable while doing things around the house. I always want to change into gear/lounge wear the second I come through the door. Not sure if this is really an issue or not… it does save wear and tear on clothes! But something to think about.

My ground rules:

I’m also not counting footwear, accessories etc.

I’m going to build this as I go.

I’m going to do my best to post and discuss every outfit. I may not be able to do this daily, but I am going to get all the outfits.

I need to learn something, or experiment, every day.

Am I going to stick to 30? I don’t know. 30 items gives what I think is a good amount of repeat, but it also means I’ll have things that are unworn… need to reconcile that in my head. Like a said, HUGE wardrobe...

If you read all this… wow. Thank you. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. It’s really about me articulating my own goals for the next couple of months, so don’t feel you need to get into my head too much!

8 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sounds great, Elizabeth. Nice plan to edit your closet at the end of the exercise. Remember that you have a pukka four season climate so you need more than those who don't.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Thanks Angie. And yeah... I actually think I firmly have 6-7 seasons, which tend to be dictated by footwear and quality of sunlight. This is my "deep winter" which is tall, warm or waterproof boots. Maybe even all three. Combined with heavier, cozy sweaters. This is also the time of year I love to wear black and ink, and tend to wear less colour than at other times (she says, while sporting a tomato red sweater and scarf )

But still... HUGE wardrobe!

Bonnie

I think this Challenge will give you insight into what you love to wear and new ways to wear those items. Especially if you stick with 30 items. I like that you are doing it for two 30 periods and look forward to finding out how things are going.

Anonymous

Envying your retirement option What a great position to be in . Enjoy the 30 x 30!

Suz

Nodding along with you re "deep winter." Yup and yup (even down to the red sweaters as an exception to the ink and navy rule...)

This sounds well thought out and it is going to help you with future planning also. Way to go!

Thanks Bonnie, Lisa and Suz.

This is a great plan. I love the diversity of our Challenge Group. So different and yet so alike.

I understand about your dilemma regarding pieces that are used versus unused. I make peace with this issue every time I undertake a challenge like this. It just means that I will have undiscovered pieces in my wardrobe in February and March that are "new" to me!

But I also ask myself exactly why those pieces were not incorporated into the Challenge? Was there a reason (subconscious or otherwise)? Is there something about them I don't really like that much? What is it? Will I be excited to reach for that piece in February???

I personally noticed that as I was building my outfits, I was reaching for tried and true favorite pieces (i.e., solid and reliable). What is it about those pieces that make them part of the challenge? Can it be broken down and duplicated? THAT is my personal goal.

As a side note: During the last challenge, I learned I cannot live with a small, minimalist wardrobe. I want options.

SarahD8

This sounds great, Elizabeth. It sounds like you have really thought through how you spend your time, and the challenges of getting dressed for the different roles in your life.

I wonder if it would help to make some posts with a mix of work and casual outfits? The juxtaposition might stimulate some ideas about what those elusive "you" qualities of your casual wardrobe are, and how they could be incorporated into your work looks.

Sterling, used vs unused is such a struggle for me. Our seasons are so short, I hate to eliminate the chance to wear a piece, because by the time any kind of challenge is over, the weather may have moved on and then it won't be worn for a year. Which of course begs the question... "then do I really need it?". And I don't like the answer. But the reality is, I don't always wear everything in a season regardless... partially because of my numbers, and partly because of variable weather (eg some years have tons of snow so lots of skinny pants tucked into tall boots, other years are dry so can wear more booties with wider leg pants). But this time around I'm going to force myself to do some tough thinking. I had no problem with a large wardrobe when I had room for it all, but things are now getting tight. It's time. It's ridiculous.

SarahD8, what a great idea. I think I will try to pull together a sampling and do just that.

Toban

I really like how you divided the challenge into the two parts of your life, given that they have approximate equal billing and require different clothes. And your goals and rules are very thoughtful. I especially agree with you that there's no reason to keep pieces that don't make your threshold happiness level. You'll not reach for them and they just add clutter to your wardrobe and mask the true gems. I look forward to following you this month.

Thanks Toban. I hope I can stick to my goals... and make some progress through doing this. Time will tell.

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