It occurred to me that I had not posted this week. This week has been busy and exhausting. Although I successfully dressed using my 30 items, it is abundantly clear that some items are no longer suitable given the change in temperatures/humidity.
During my last post, I indicated that I would focus on not repeating during the week. That absolutely did not happen. If anything, I resorted to increased repeats. It was hot and humid. Although I included three work slacks and four casual slacks, two of the casual bottoms (Old Navy Full Length White Jeans and Gap Khakis) were too heavy and I didn't want to wear them. That left me with only two bottoms for casual. So there were a lot of repeats. Mentally, I just gave up and wore the same thing (different tee shirt) every single day.
Elizabeth P suggested that I switch out the heavy casual bottoms for other better suited bottoms. Much to my chagrin, I discovered I didn't own any bottoms to make the switch.
The two workout leggings (Nike and Capezio) that I included in my capsule are all wrong for deep summer workouts. They are hot. They don't breath. They are uncomfortably hot even in the air conditioning of the gym. I can feel the sweat forming and being trapped against my skin. I can't wait to get them off at the end of the work out. I made a note that I need lighter weight, more airy garments for my deep summer workouts. I am wondering if in previous years, I just skipped workouts because it was too hot for me (otherwise this would not have been new news).
The most important lesson learned this past week is that I do not have a "deep" closet. When the weather turned hot and humid, I was forced to wear a very small subset of my 30 items. Substitutions were not an option because I didn't own the items I needed in the first place. I didn't even realize that this was a problem until this very week.
I bought two pairs of additional pants. They arrived yesterday. I hope both of them work for me. If so, they will replace the Old Navy Full Length Jeans and Gap Khakis. I looked around me at the gym yesterday. Every single woman was wearing leggings. They had to have been feeling the same exact thing I was. Perhaps we just wear the leggings and change out of them as soon as possible? I am going to continue to think about this gap. I was wondering if something like the Athleta pants wouldn't work better?
Shopping is continuing. But the important thing is I am shopping for identified gaps that make my wardrobe very much less workable. Continued shopping in no way negates the success of my first Seasonal Shop. It just highlights the fact that Seasonal Shops must be done in the context of climate and life style. The 30 x 30 challenge highlighted this in laser sharp resolution. My newest plan is to do four-ish Seasonal Shops per year. This takes a lot of pressure off me and should make the system more enjoyable.
