The 30x30 experience, and what I learned...

YLF challenges have always been about having fun with fashion. I joined the 30x30 challenge with fun in mind, and as a test of my loose adherence to "The Vivienne Files" 4x4 wardrobe. Along the way I learned from the thoughtful posts from people who took the time to look and comment, from the experiences of fellow participants, and from my notes and musings over the course of the challenge.

The brief: outfits for work, a week of vacation, a holiday weekend, a bit of travel. The expectation that cool early summer would eventually give way to (hot and humid) summer. Test the vesatility of my wardrobe and identify wardrobe holes.

The plan: start with a core of 4 black items (my cool weather neutral) a core of 4 white items, and an expansion 4 of - 2 blush (my spring 2017 experiment), 1 grey, one Jean item. As the weather warmed up expand with blue items (my warm weather neutral). Add red as a nod to Canada Day , and keep it in the rotation. Mix and match items trying not to repeat work outfits.

Items and number of wears:

Black Zara bomber - 4
Black skirt - lace detail - 1
Black cotton tank dress - 1
Black cutoff jeans - 3
White cotton sweater - 6
White shorts - 3
White jeans - 3
White jean jacket - 3
Blush lace tank - 3
Blush chinos - 5
Grey t-shirt - 7
Jean jacket - 4
French blue shirt dress - 2
Windowpane tunic - 2
Blue and white t-shirt dress - 2
Blue and white patterned tank top - 2
Red crops - 2
Blue and white striped t - 2
Maple leaf t-shirt - 4
Blue cut-off jeans - 5
Jean shorts - 4
Ikat jean jacket - 1
Dark wash jeans - 1

23 items total, all worn at least once and representing about 1/3 of my closet! At the end of the challenge the black tank dress and the maple leaf t are deemed too shabby to wear again, and this will be the last summer for the white jean jacket and the jean shorts. No repeats on work days with the exception of the blue and white dress worn with the white jean jacket (see below) earlier this month, and again today.

Lessons learned:
1. regardless of how hot and muggy the weather became, I,needed a topper for A/C at work and on the train commute home every day. I wore every topper I own except for a brown tweed jacket!

2. The 4x4 way of building a wardrobe works well for creating a mix and match capsule. I came up with 16 different combinations for work, and could probably squeeze out a few more. When I do a seasonal shop I will keep to the idea of an expansion 4 rather than random 1-off items.

3. Colour and pattern make me happy - so why is it so under represented in my closet? I could have worn the red crops every day - and the old Ikat jacket still sparks joy. When I do the next seasonal shop I need to look for red or another bright colour and some prints that have colour that will mix and match with my neutrals.

4. Keep abreast of trends. I haven't shopped much, and am leaning heavily on casual classics. I'm just not invested into my work wardrobe anymore. However, retirement isn't all about jeans and t-shirts. I need to keep abreast of trends and incorporate some more current items each season, along with colour and pattern'

5. I need high summer non-work clothes like shorts, non-t-shirt tops, and sundresses. I will be retired next summer and 2 pairs of shorts won't be enough.

Plan: Next year I need to get a jump on my summer wardrobe, and make an investment in garments suitable for high summer. Colour, pattern, and a little bit of trendiness - shorts, non-t-shirt tops, and sundresses. And, while I wait for fall trend reports and A/W items to hit the shops, I'm trying to wrap my head around what I should add to my closet for next season. I'm contemplating colour and pattern by way of dark florals, and some new toppers in styles other than jean jackets. I tried on a silky tuxedo,jacket with a tropical print on navy today, that got me thinking....

Observations, advice, opinions, all welcomed!

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8 years ago

Anonymous

I need to really study and try the 4x4 capsule. Years ago I used to do more of that and should get back to it. I have done pretty well with black and a dressy version in EF bone, but need to understand better how to do the expansions. For your retirement, you will need several smart casual outfits a week for a dinner out, book club meeting, etc. You may want experiment with work jackets and tops worn with jeans or tees with trousers and a blazer, etc.
it will help to identify the types of prints you like best and stick to those. Some of my biggest mistakes have been to buy a print just because the colors work well with other pieces and ignore feelings about the print. Be picky. If you like stripes or geometrics better than florals, stick to them.
Congratulations on your retirement.

lozz_oz

Veteran

Looks like this challenge was a great experience + that you've been able to pinpoint areas to tweak. Well done!

Joyce B

I had not heard about the 4x4. Adding to the wardrobe thinking about 4s is such a good idea, I will keep that in mind. Will you miss your white leather jacket if you remove it from your wardrobe? Could it be useful for next year when you retire?
It looks like you did really well with the challenge and your review was very interesting.

Emily K

(website)

You know, it didn't occur to me that you'd used the 4X4 wardrobe method. Even in retrospect, I remember quite a few items of different colors--the blue and the red, for sure, as well and the black, white, and blush. I think it was a really successful experiment for you. I've followed your outfits and been amazed by how many different looks you created. In comparison, I made outfits easily, but much of it was based on three short sleeve tee shirts (the same make/model but different colors) and a long sleeve tee--not a lot of fun or variety in that.

Carla

Joy, I really appreciate your comments and advice. What you wrote earlier, about jeans not being the be-all and end-all of a retirement wardrobe struck a cord, and your advice about prints is valuable. i loved the fit and feel of the Zara jacket, but the tropical print wasn't 'me' so it stayed in the store. Now if it had been bouquets of English roses....

Joyce, the white jacket is cotton with some stretch (not leather). 4-5 years old Sears/Jessica. It has been a wardrobe workhorse, but is showing its age and doesn't come out of the wash as white as I would like it. I'm looking for a replacement. There will always be a place for a fab white jacket in my closet.

My adherence to 4x4 is kind of loose. When I do a seasonal shop, I pick a colour and try to collect 4 items in that colour to give it a real opportunity over the course of the season. I'm not always successful at collecting 4 though, ending up with 3 and then chasing the elusive 4th item over the course of the season!

Style Fan

Our summer has been very cool and rainy. I am often wearing long sleeves. This is unheard of in July!
I found it very difficult to plan my wardrobe for retirement until I retired. I ended up doing different activities than what I thought I would be doing. That may be me though!
The white jean jacket and blue dress is a great outfit. I can see repeating that many times. White jean jackets are in the stores now. I have been hunting for one for a few years.

WOW. Your lessons are fascinating. I need to go back through everyone's posts and cull the lessons learned that will most benefit me going forward. Here are the lessons I learned from you:

I need to get a jump on my summer wardrobe, and make an investment in garments suitable for high summer.
Colour, pattern, and a little bit of trendiness.

Bijou

I found your insights very useful too. I also love to wear red, yet it is not a large component of my wardrobe. I am looking at getting a red bag as a fun pop of colour. I love the white jeans jacket and blue dress, this is such a lovely and fresh colour combination and suits your colouring.

cheryl

This was a great read. I love your outfits and your thought process. Thanks for sharing. I'm also a fan of The Vivienne Files and like reading about you putting the 4x4's into action.

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