THOUGHTS ON MY STYLE CHALLENGE
My style challenge is doing exactly what I hoped it would do. While my daily documenting of outfits has slowed down… it’s too cold to get outside to take photos, I still plan to complete the challenge even if it takes me longer then I hoped. I’m not much of a rule follower so it’s not killing me that things are changing midway. I actually prefer it that way. I have a tendency to grow weary when I’ve been put in a box.
MY HOPES FOR THE CHALLENGE
I wanted to discover myself again. We spent a lot of years in New York just surviving and paying off debt. I rarely shopped and I didn’t really want to think about clothes because I didn’t want to spend money on clothes. By the end of our time in New York, I had basically forgotten what kind of things I liked and I even had a hard time spending money. I was conditioned to save not spend. The one time we did shop for clothes was on our birthdays. I recall many birthdays not knowing what to buy because I didn’t know what I liked. I usually just bought the things I needed.
I wanted to put my clothes to the test. Did I like everything I owned? Did everything fit me well? Was I only keeping things because I had them and not because I liked them? I really wanted to get to a place where I knew exactly what worked best for my body and what I liked most. I didn’t want to spend time guessing.
I wanted to have fun! It had been a long time since I really had a lot of fun with clothes and I wanted to get back to that.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
I definitely feel like I’m finding myself again, even it’s just in the clothes I like. The one thing I absolutely love is seeing each outfit photographed. It has made such a difference seeing everything in photos. I’m able to reflect on whether I like each piece I’m wearing and if those items work well together. I know that my style will continue to change and evolve, but I’m glad that I’m able to figure out what I like again.
My favorite part of the challenge so far has been getting rid of clothes that weren’t working, which is something I really hoped for. When we traveled home for Christmas I took a bunch of clothes home to donate because I either didn’t like the fit or I didn’t like the style. There was no point in me keeping things that I didn’t feel good in.
CHALLENGE UPDATE
My wardrobe has gotten smaller, so my challenge has gotten harder, haha. Because I took items home/donated, I don’t have as many items to work with. Though I have replaced a few things. I’ll include a new list of items below.
It really didn’t make sense for me to include “summer” clothes in this challenge. It has been way too cold and raining.
I definitely won’t be completing this challenge is 100 days. This doesn’t kill me at all. Looking forward I really just want to create 100 outfits regardless. Plus, with our trip to Maui in the Spring I will actually be able to wear my shorts, haha.
UPDATED WARDROBE
Bottoms
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of black leggings
1 pair of joggers (I probably won’t wear until spring, bah!)
Donated bottoms
1 pair of jeans (donated)
1 pair of plum leggings (donated)
Tops
1 long sleeve flannel
6 long sleeve tops (3 of these are new/replaced the items that were donated)
3 Sweaters
3 Sweatshirts
7 short sleeve tops (Hoping to style these more in the Spring)
Donated tops
1 long sleeve flannel (donated)
1 long sleeve (donated)
1 sweatshirt (donated)
Outerwear:
Rain Jacket (Donated then replaced)
Down Jacket
Lightweight utility jacket
Vest
Shoes:
Merrell waterproof leather boots
New Balance Street shoes
Under Armour Running shores
Under Armour Crosstrainers
Leather Sandals
MISCELLANEOUS
2 summer dress (brought back for Maui)
6 pair of shorts
5 pair of workout shorts
3 pair of workout leggings
2 workout tops (took 2 back to the states, looking to replace)
CURRENT COUNT: 45 pieces of clothing (did not count shoes)
CURRENT NUMBER OF OUTFITS STYLED: 35
NUMBER OF ITEMS USED IN CHALLENGE SO FAR: 28
SHOP TODAYS OUTFIT
OVERALL
I enjoy the challenge to style different outfits, but I don’t love a deadline, haha. That’s a classic Samantha move on my part, I really don’t like being told what to do. I’m happy to keep the challenge going regardless of the timeline, because I would love to get 100 outfits. I love getting photos of each outfit, because I love seeing how each outfit looks. I’m really looking forward to warmer weather and changing things up with shorts. I prefer warm weather and wearing shorts anyways, so I’m excited about that. I do plan on replacing and adding a few items. I need to replace a few workout tops and I’ll be picking up a few things specific to our Maui trip…I’m sure I’ll do a post just for the things I find. I’m also sure that I’ll donate more items too. Each time I style a new outfit I think about if like what I’m wearing and how it fits…I’m already thinking about things I’m not 100% in love with. Okay, that’s all for now! xo. Samantha
