WIW first week of 15/30 challenge

[the CAbi 15 for 30 capsule, my plan]

So this week was the first week of my self-imposed challenge inspired by the CAbi 15 for 30 capsule wardrobe. It...really didn't go that great. But! I remain determined and unbowed! Here's the deets per day (with the scheduled outfit for each day in code in brackets at the beginning, codes are in my previous post).

Monday [J2 T6 B2 S2] (photo 1/2/3)- first day and I'm already cheating, I mean adapting things - original plan called for wearing the brown skirt with this top and sweater, but I chose to swap in the extra pair of jeans I added in place of the fourth jacket, so that each bottom is only worn once this week and the skirt doesn't have to be repeated. I'm not sure that the navy sweater and medium blue jeans work that well together.

Tuesday [T2 B1 J4 S1] (photo 4) - this ended up being a total back up and punt: there was an unplanned meeting with the bank that I needed to dress for, so I was going to go with Wednesday's scheduled outfit so as not to wear jeans, but then it turned out that the top had a spot on it the wash didn't get out. I was in a hurry so I just went for something totally non-plan, black cords and an old BR print knit top with a cream scarf and black flats.

Wednesday [B3 T7 J3 S3] (no photo) - totally missed Wednesday too - most of the day was in my excrcise gear and then I needed something dressier than the planned outfit for an evening meeting.

Thursday [T1 B4 J1 S1] (photo 5/6) - possibly the most boring outfit in the history of the world. I don't even think it's that flattering either; i wanted a longer top with these jeans which are a bit clinging in the midsection. I tried to liven it up with a scarf and jacket when I went out but then it started sprinkling and I had to change my jacket anyway.

Friday (no photo) - wore a 'weekend' outfit so as to save Friday's planned outfit for Saturday and a writers' group meeting. Really, it was an excuse to wear a snuggly sweater and jeans because it was rainy and miserable out.

Saturday [B2 T5 J3 S3] (photo 7) - possibly the second most boring outfit ever? I tried to liven up the cream top and brown jacket and skirt with an olive scarf and tights, but I'm afraid I ended up in Robin Hood Men in Tights territory instead.

Not sure if I can draw any conclusions from this week other than "crap happens" and a capsule wardrobe made out of plain solids is pretty boring, imo. As always, thoughts and constructive criticism are welcome.

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13 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

You are being too hard on yourself! You looked quite good all week and that is the main thing. Have not read your reasons for the challenge, but whatever they are, the important thing is to feel good and look good at the end of the day, right? The proportions on the first outfit look just right to me and the last outfit looks great too. Capsule wardrobe experiments are about learning and you have already learned something!

bj1111

first, the outfits are not bad. just not up to your usual high standards.

second, i'm trying to understand what lessons you wanted to learn from this challenge. aren't challenges like this supposed to account forthe range of occasions/dressiness levels that you would be likely to encounter during the month...including moderately dressy work or dinner events? otherwaise,generalizing this type of dressing to your whole closet isn't going to work.

Suz

I hope it is okay that I am laughing a bit.

This is exactly why I freak out when I have to pack for a trip. Planning so far in advance makes me crazy! Something always comes up....if it's not the weather, it's a change of plans that calls for an outfit switch up. And then the whole thing goes to pot. But when you have to live out of a suitcase, you're outta luck. Unless you can go shopping...

Seriously, though, if you learned nothing else, you learned that you are good at putting together NEW combinations at a moment's notice!

And the exercise of planning the outfits was probably useful even if you don't wear each outfit exactly as planned on the day planned.

Kari

You know what, #7 is my favorite of the group. (And Robin Hood: Men in Tights is one of my favorite movies-but I didn't get that vibe here at all. Now, if you were carrying a bow and arrows, that would be a different story!)

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Shevia, thanks - I was not loving any outfit this week but I'm probably imagining they were worse than they were! Suz, I don't mind you laughing - I was chuckling at myself (when I wasn't cursing). I have a trip to Europe planned for the spring and I am dreading the planning and packing so much... I always end up with tons of black and the most boring outfits on the face of the planet, and somehow uncomfortable (physically or situationationally) sometime during the trip.

BJ, that's an interesting question - I suppose the larger question with these kinds of challenges is to figure out how few clothes one can have and still feel well-dressed. I know that answer is different for everyone but I am trying to figure that out for myself. I feel like I have too many clothes right now, but with a mix and match wardrobe is it truly possible to reduce down to a very small wardrobe, or do you have to already have outfits that you just alternate between?

The point about adaptation to dressier occasions is a good one; in my head this didn't happen that often but once I think about it more I guess it does happen at least once every two weeks or so. But how do you deal with this in a capsule wardrobe? Things that work for meetings with muckety-mucks don't work for doing stuff around the house, at least in my world. I'm already bucking environmental norms by being dressier than many people around me every day...

Kari, I really like the skirt in 7, which I just recently picked up at the thrift store - it'd been altered by its previous owner and fits me perfectly. I got good vibes from the universe with that one. Maybe I should just wear pencil skirts most of the time like you do - it works for you!

Atlantia

Not getting a Robin Hood vibe in #7 at all....in fact I really like what you've done with it. Yes, all solids can be a bit challenging, but you will persevere.

Sara L.

I don't think these outfits are bad, just maybe not quite what you're used to. I guess one thing you've learned is that you don't like a wardrobe of all solids and might want to pack some prints for your upcoming trip.

I loved the last outfit myself. The silhouette is very flattering on you.

I forget if your 15 is supposed to include accessories. If so, it is very challenging indeed. If not, they are often what will push any given outfit towards being more dressed-up or -down.

If you are really that unhappy with the results, then you should probably be choosing a different 15 for your base. The value of the exercise at this point is that you need more prints to be happy, if I'm reading you right.

My copycat challenge got sidelined from the very beginning by the same kind of things. I can really identify.

By the time you pack for your trip, you should have an excellent idea of what works for you. And leave a little empty space in your suitcase. That way you can plug any holes that appear in the obligatory travel shopping (which I usually don't do - so much for obligatory).

I think a few more pencil skirts would be great purchases for you. And if you can get knit ones, they just might take you from doing stuff at home to meeting with muckety-mucks. Not only that, but they will pack brilliantly for your upcoming trip. The silhouette suits you and a nice well structured knit feels great.

catgirl

I really like the first and last outfits. Love the skirt and tights; Robin Hood is not a bad look!

Why did you decide to do this challenge? And what are the reasons for the parameters? The middle outfits don't look like they make you happy, and I don't see why you shouldn't be happy with what you wear every day!

Caro in Oz

Imo any capsule collection has to include some element of an individuals style otherwise it just won't work & it sounds like you aren't happy with what you have come up with here. If I don't bend the classics to suit myself then I never feel good in my clothes. I remember one of your other posts where you wrote about style words of something like cowgirl at the beach on her day off (sorry if I've got it wrong). What would happen if you pulled out the pieces from your favourite outfits, that create this look & tried mixing them together? It really sounds as though you are on the verge of a breakthrough & I can't wait to see where you go (it won't be boring, I'm sure).

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