Why I won’t be doing a 30x30 - YouLookFab Forum

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Why I won’t be doing a 30x30

Janet

(website)

Veteran

The forum is full of 30x30 posts right now, and I admire the discipline and goals many of you have for taking on one of these challenges.

Little did I know, when I was packing for a 3-week trip, that I was actually creating a 21x21 challenge. I have to say that even though it’s worked pretty well — it’s mix and match and I’ve had all occasions and weather eventualities covered — I have zero desire to do this kind of thing unless it’s necessitated by travel or some kind of limiting circumstances. The bottom line? I’m so bored working with a fraction of my wardrobe! I brought simple versatile dark pants, a variety of black footwear, and solid color tops, with patterned scarves and a collection of jewelry to help mix things up.

Still, that variety in scarves and jewelry aren’t enough to keep this capsule interesting for me. I need more pattern and texture and silhouette variety in my day-to-day dressing, and I miss my more interesting jackets, bags, and boots. So I suppose I’ve confirmed something I already suspected. I will never be a good wardrobe minimalist

I wish luck to all of you taking on a wardrobe challenge, and I hope you gain insight from it!

Dressing

43 replies

Latest reply was from Sara L.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Totally Janet. I'm with you! Last winter I was so bored after my 6-day winter Conference capsule which was mix-and- match. I think more in outfits I suspect.

Dianna

Veteran

I am like you, Janet, in that I need variety. I am in the last two days of a three week holiday period at my parents home. Needless to say I am already bored with my limited options.

rachylou

Veteran

Lol, Janet. I can do a 14x14... but every two weeks I have to change it up.

Traveling, tho, I’m really an ultra minimalist... I can do 10 items 21 days. I hate luggage!

Anonymous

I'm with you. I think the challenge is neat and I like gleaning bits of helpful info from others' endeavors but I'd go bonkers trying it.

-Totally off topic but I am so obsessed with your Crab claw ring.
In part because my SO is a total crab and I call him the Crab Nebula but also because it is so unique and funky and pearls!

Style Fan

Veteran

That is very interesting Janet. You have a beautiful wardrobe and I have always admired the way you dress. Your jewellery collection is TDF. I have come to realize that I am a minimalist which I never thought I was. More on that later.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Jlpp—I’m glad you like my new ring! I’m so excited about it too. I kind of can’t wait to wear it at home with some fresh outfits!

Rachy, I’m not wild about carting around heavy luggage, but I have to say I’m pretty happy with the amount of stuff I brought. There is nothing extraneous except for the pair of long johns I brought (they would have been more appropriate at home, where it’s been super-cold!), and maybe a couple of pieces of jewelry, but nothing that added significant weight to my baggage. I’ve gotten better at this packing thing!

Anonymous

I understand completely!! That is why the Forum is so full of fascinating people. We are all so different. I know for a fact I learn and adapt from other's examples.

I used to think I was a minimalist!!! Certainly, I proudly announced it to everyone I knew!!! During the last challenge, I discovered (to my shock), I am definitely not a minimalist. I need change and variety. Who knew?

Travel safely and I hope your capsule of 21 items serves you until you can return home to your full wardrobe.

cindysmith

Veteran

I'm in awe of the ladies with the discipline to do a 30x30 challenge, too. I just can't do it because of space and laundry limitations: I have so little clothes storage space that I have no place to put a dedicated 30 pieces, and laundry is kind of a nightmare when it's this cold and I have no place to line dry my clothes.

Also? I'd probably run out of garments, because my lifestyle and my job chew up my clothes.

Staysfit

Veteran

I also don’t think I could do a 30x30. I don’t like to repeat outfits frequently. I get bored with what I’m wearing quickly.

kkards

Veteran

janet...i'm not participating for the same reasons you are...especailly during the winter when temps are changing from -15F (with windchill) to 50F

Murph11

Veteran

I could do a 30x30 with my smallish wardrobe and lifestyle, but regardless of what I read here, the “why” is never compelling enough for me. I hope we get to see pics from your adventures, Janet!

Christina F.

Veteran

I’m with you, Janet. I get bored easily too. This need for variety is a challenge in the winter because I keep gravitating to the same few pairs of pants and jeans. But even then, I have a lot of tops to compensate.

I probably could have done the challenge this month, as I’ve spent some time working at home in sweats due to the snow and cold. But it doesn’t call out to me.

I love seeing the posts, though, as they help me think about maximizing my use for each item,

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Interesting thoughts. I hope all our posts aren’t driving you a little crazy.

A couple responses: I also like to change sillouhettes and patterns and textures, and have chosen pieces that I hope will allow me that. That means not everything can go together. We will see if I make it through the 30 days. Also, we’ve each chosen our own challenge. Katerina is trying to wear everything in her closet, so does not want to repeat an item the entire month. So far she’s posted some amazing outfits with very cool pieces. But to each their own, and I hear you on getting sick of a completely mix and match wardrobe. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

The Cat

Veteran

Thank you for writing this post. I was wondering if was the only one who didn't find this kind of challenges appealing and if I should take a month's break from this forum.

I feel very much the same way as you have explained in the first part of your paragraph 2. I have learned a lot from making countless travel capsules, but I would feel unneccessarily restricted if I had to live that way when I'm at home. Would be unhappy if for one month I was not "allowed" to wear gorgeous clothes that I see in my closet every day. I have several roles in a month, experience many kinds of weather, need variety and love being able to choose from several different colours, textures, etc.

The different views on this matter may have to do with how long each of us have come on our personal style journey.

My style and my wardrobe have evolved and been fine-tuned during many years. At this stage in my life, I know myself, my body, my needs and my preferences pretty well--though I'm still open to new ideas and make adjustments from time to time. At least 4 times a year, I check all items in my closet and get rid of those which no longer earn a place there. I aim to keep only items I really like, and love being able to use these whenever I want to.

Anonymous

Travel wardrobes are their own special kind of weirdness. I find after just a week away and wearing the same things a few times , it's months before I wear any of those clothes again for work ....which makes it sound like I have a ton of clothes, and I don't. A formal 30 x 30 holds no appeal for me either although it does "force" one to come up with new ways to wear things . I operate on this method most of the time anyways but I prefer it to come organically.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

That's so interesting, Janet! I'm impressed by how cohesive your wardrobe seems, despite that preference for color and silhouette variety. Across it all, you always manage to look like you.

My reasons for not doing the 30x30 were closer to Lisa's than yours. It's just not that fundamentally different from my normal way of dressing, so I didn't see a lot of lessons to be learned for me.

JAileen

Veteran

I'm not doing the 30x30 because I want to be able to choose from all of my clothes. I'm actually not doing it though, because unlike the Eastern US, we're unseasonably warm and dry here.

Re travel wardrobes: I remember going on a trip to Boston in early December years ago. It was colder than expected, and I was forced to wear a particular pullover sweater every day. I was sick of it. After we got back, I never wore it again.

Toban

Veteran

Fair enough, and very insightful for your style journey. It's important to recognize why something does/does not resonant. Like others above, I think my 30x30 has a lot of versatility and different silhouettes (but not variations of a given silhouette), though many of those items haven't come out in the first week because it's too cold for skirts and dresses. Next week should be above freezing and I'll mix up my silhouettes more.

Gail

Veteran

I'm totally in agreement , I like to have my selection ready and waiting for me at all times. No 30x30 for me.

Bonnie

Veteran

I'm doing the 30x30 because I want to focus on shopping my closet instead of stores/internet for awhile. It was also good timing for me as January is not a good shopping month with leftover winter items and it being too soon to see summer things in the stores.

This is going to be a month of experimentation, and hopefully I'll gain insights so when I resume shopping, it will be more mindfully. I'm thinking I have accumulated enough essentials and I'm going to need to add some wild cards which is what I really love to shop for. Another thing I have noticed is that I have strayed from what is flattering to what is trendy and those items are not good capsule items.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Janet. YES, you're doing your own 21x21 challenge - the same way I pack my travel capsules.

The 30x30 challenge is not for me either. I LOVE having the freedom and creativity to wear what I want daily from my entire wardrobe - which is edited, organized, cohesive and makes me happy. I'm a lucky fish.

But I absolutely get the challenge appeals to others, especially in the dead of January - (although they need to to be careful with their conclusions as I suggested in a separate thread). I'm cheering from the sidelines with gusto, and hope everyone has fun.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I love having that freedom and creativity too, Angie! It’s been interesting to see what people get from their challenges. I could see doing a challenge of *some* type when I get home (wear all my scarves, or sweaters, for example), but mine would perhaps be focused on getting the most out of the breadth of my wardrobe, rather than arbitrarily narrowing it down for a period of time. Making myself wear problematic pieces to help me figure out their fate would be a more useful exercise for me. So perhaps I’ll do an experiment that forces me to give some attention to closet orphans.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES, Janet. High five. That would be more "our type of challenge". In fact, I'm trying NOT to wear blue jeans at all for a while as a challenge, and I'm loving it. Lots of dresses, white jeans and pants. You should set yourself a personal challenge when you get back - just for fun.

As always, horses for courses. What appeals to us, does not appeal to others - and vice versa. It's eye-opening, we learn from each other, practice acceptance, keep an open mind, as well as sharpen our own needs.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I'd love to see you do that challenge, Janet!

I have four such "problem children" in my 30, and both of the pieces I've worn so far have surprised me in some basic way, which shows how long it's been since I looked at them.

Angie, does having such a restricted wardrobe when you travel bring back some of the fun of shopping for yourself? (I'm going on the assumption that when shopping is part of your job, it may lose some of its sparkle sometimes, just like anything we commit to doing long-term)

Joyce B

Veteran

I agree with you, Janet. I always found the 30 x 30 interesting but never actually joined. I realized it was not for me. I do not need to restrict what I already own although I can restrict what I purchase. I also want to make sure I wear what I have and minimize orphans. Your challenge suggestion for wearing orphans would be useful for me too.

anchie

Veteran

I agree with you, I am also not participating for similar reasons.I did participate last time but it was pure coincidence - at the time of the challenge I was on the road for 4 weeks and have packed around 30 items. I also prefer challenge that wil force me to wear more of my clothes, not less. For example, I haven’t worn skirt in ages and I am thinking of challenge of wearing all my winter appropriate skirts at least once and to try to figure out why I don’t reach for them.

Windchime

Veteran

I am doing the challenge, Janet, but I already know that by Week 3 I'll be so ready to wear things outside of my 30 items! It seems every time I travel, I'm bored with what I brought before it's time to go home, no matter how carefully I pack. So, even though this 30 x 30 is helpful to me for other reasons, I can definitely see it from both sides.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I also enjoy variety and choosing from my whole (huge) wardrobe.

However... when I did the numbers, I figure I'll be wearing 10-12 tops, so that's only repeating them 3 times over 30 days. I'm doing this as a work capsule, 4 days per week, over 8ish weeks. Plus a casual capsule, also 4 days a week for 8ish weeks. I'm forming my "deep winter" capsule, so if these things don't get worn now, they won't get worn, period. When I look at it this way, repeating something 3 times in 2 months seems totally practical to me. If wearing something three times a year is restrictive, then I have a problem! I'm hoping this challenge will help me pick my favourite, most versatile items, which will help me with doing some purging.

At least that is the theory. If I blow it, I blow it. But it should force some good decisions.

Kate

Veteran

I’m with you too, Janet, and for exactly your reasons. Thanks for posting. I felt I was alone in feeling this way. I need the variety. Traveling for weeks at a time also has it challenges. We are frequent travelers, most often to cold/wintry destinations, and I find I crave more variety traveling than I do at home. Probably because I’m limited to what I packed. I need a bigger suitcase! In summer I can manage with a 21” carry-on. In F/W, no way. I’ve decided a bigger suitcase is indeed a necessary purchase for me.

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