Day 57: I'm exhausted and so is my wardrobe

Fifty-seven solid days without repeating an outfit at work. Truly amazing.

Today marks day 57 of My Wardrobe Challenge as well as the last working day of 2010 for me. With the year coming to an end, it seems like the perfect time to bring my challenge to an end as well. Actually, the bigger reason for bringing the challenge to an end is the fact that I've run out of things to wear. There might be a few articles left hanging in the closet that weren't lucky enough to make an appearance over the last three months, but in all honesty, they aren't worthy of the challenge and would be better served on the rack at the local Salvation Army or as part of a horrible Halloween costume. There are some pieces of clothing that I just won't wear no matter what.

I'm pretty excited for the New Year and ready to start repeating some of my outfits. There are a few really cute items that have had to take a back seat while they wait for their turn again in the rotation.

For today, I'm wearing a pair of my gray slacks paired with a gray, white and yellow striped 3/4-sleeve top. I'm wearing a cute pair of gray flannel flats that I hardly ever wear (they were ecstatic to come out of the closet) and a warm gray cardigan since it's cold here in Kansas. The slacks and cardigan are both from Gordman's and the top and flats both came from Target.

Overall, this challenge was a HUGE success! Fifty-seven days?!? I thought this was impossible! Now I know better! And, I know that I have absolutely no reason to buy clothes for awhile. Not quite sure if that is good or bad news....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

$0.42 for a sweater dress? Why yes, I think I will!

I just have to share my most recent super score. I know that part of this challenge was to not buy anymore clothing but since $0.42 rounds down to zero, I consider this purchase free :)

As a Kohl's charge card holder, I receive coupons in the mail on a regular basis. Sometimes the coupons rock, other times they suck and are nothing more than an evil ploy to get you in the store and buy crap you don't need. However, on this occasion, the coupon was actually for 30% off a purchase, which I consider to be pretty darn good. I knew there was a sweater dress I wanted - in fact, I'd been eyeing the same dress for weeks wondering when/how I would make the purchase - so when this coupon came in the mail I knew I had my answer. I paired the coupon with a gift card I'd been holding onto for months and as a result I walked away with an absolutely adorable sweater dress! SCORE!!

This is one of my favorite sale stories to tell and people are truly amazed. What can I say? I take sale shopping, coupon-ing (yes, I created another verb) and saving money very seriously. Well, at least now I do. Ask me what a sale or a coupon was 10 years ago and I would've looked at you with a look of sheer confusion and been appalled that anyone would have to use a coupon or shop the sale rack. Does this mean I'm getting old???

Here's to savvy shopping!

Day 46: I have amazed myself...

December 8, 2010 marks Day 46 of My Wardrobe Challenge. Unbelievable. I had no idea when I started this endeavor that I would make it this far. At this point, I feel that if I wear something that I've already worn I am defeated. I hope to make it another 10 days but at this point, it's slim-pickins' in my closet. I have had to become very crafty and have resorted to the archives on more than one occasion. Lucky for me, I rarely get rid of clothing (unless I can absolutely 100% convince myself that I will NEVER need/wear it again). Today, I appreciate my tendancy to hoard more than ever, and also for the fact that my boyfriend doesn't require much closet space.

The outfit I am wearing today consists of a burnt orange cropped wrap sweater that I picked up off the JCPenney sale rack ($3) back in 2006 or 2007 (?) with an embellished tank (cream color) by A.N.A ($12, purchased at the same time). These two pieces have been in my wardrobe for years, literally, and today I'm so glad they exist. I paired these with a pair of my brown slacks and my wonderful Madden brown wedges. I am so glad that I purchased these wedges because they have proved themselves time and time again. Prior to the foot surgery I had back in late February 2010, I wasn't sure if these shoes would ever be worn again. But, thanks to Dr. Galliano and his expertise, my foot is better than ever and I have no problem wearing any of my shoes!

Overall, the outfit really looks good, especially when I put on the NEW coat my wonderful, fabulous, loving little sister got me for my birthday. It is a plaid pea-coat she purchased from Victoria's Secret and it ADORABLE! So classy and the fit is perfect. Thanks Corinne!

Unfortunately, no picture since I don't have a camera with me :(

Here's to another day and another outfit! I wonder if I can make it all the way through the month of December???

I can't believe I've made it this far!

Today is November 17th and believe it or not, I'm still going strong on My Wardrobe Challenge - I'm on day 37! That's 37 days of work w/out repeating an outfit. Amazing! Selecting outfits is starting to get more difficult with each passing day and I'm finding myself digging into the archives more often. It's also becoming more difficult to remember if I've worn certain pieces already. I should've kept taking pictures so I'd have them to reference :) My new goal is to see this adventure at least through day 45. That's eight more outfits and I think that I can do it!

The attached picture has absolutely nothing to do with my Wardrobe Challenge but boy did I ever get a good laugh. Hopefully you do too!

Halloween/Freaker's Ball 2010

One thing I really like about my boyfriend is his taste in music. I've always had a pretty open mind for music and will generally listen to anything at least once. My boyfriend is a rocker and over the past few years has introduced me to many rock bands of which I have become a huge fan. Case in point: Five Finger Death Punch. I friggin' love these guys! On October 23rd, Kansas City was lucky enough to have 5FDP in town to headline the annual Freaker's Ball (a rock concert/costume contest). Along with 5FDP were also bands like 10 Years, Drowning Pool and Sevendust. All of these bands pretty much rock, at least in my book, so I was quick to cop two tickets (the event sold out in about 10 hours). Patrick and I decided to go with a theme this year: 5FDP. He dressed up as their "mascot," if you will, and I was his hottie. Overall, the costumes were a HUGE success and we felt like instant celebrities. We were in tons of pictures and I'm sure are all over random Facebook pages everywhere. My costume was hot enough to earn me a spot in the Top 10 for the costume contest although I wasn't a winner. I did suffer from a near panic attack when I realized that I had to parade across stage in front of nearly 4000 fans. Whoa! Now that was something I've never experienced before! It was fun and my 60 seconds of fame got me lots of "Congratulations" and "we voted for you" and even a free bottle of water to boot. After the show, we turned into groupies and hung out near the tour bus for awhile. We did get to meet Ivan Moody (lead singer, 5FDP), get some autographs (I had him sign my costume :) and a picture. When he asked Patrick if "this was your lady" and his response was an emphatic YES, Ivan responded with "You're a lucky man." Aw thanks Ivan! Patrick thinks so too... :) I can't wait for next year and you better believe I'll be coming up with an awesome costume. I've got a reputation to live up to now! Enjoy the pics!

Day 20... I made it!

Top: Banana Republic Factory Store
Pants: Banana Republic Factory Store
Shoes: Madden Girl (Gordmans)
Necklace: gift

Well, I made it Day 20 (although I'm a week and half late on posting) and all I can say is, thank goodness this is over! One thing I learned about myself over the past month is that I hate blogging. Having to keep up with daily blogs and updates is tiresome and just doesn't take priority in my life. Blogging is apparently not for me. Lesson learned. However, I have enjoyed the outfit challenge and have continued to challenge myself each day with finding something I've have yet to wear. Technically, I'm now on Day 27 and I've yet to repeat! I wouldn't be surprised if I make it past 40 days. Since the season has changed on me I can now wear more long-sleeved shirts and sweaters which leads to many more options. VIP tours at the workplace have allowed me to utilize dresses and skirts that I normally wouldn't wear too. Overall, this experience was pleasant and has given me a new appreciation for my wardrobe (yes!). I've even received compliments from coworkers about my wardrobe and how "cute" and "put-together" I always look. Thank you ladies and I do appreciate the compliments!! I suppose I will keep this blog up-and-running and post every now-and-then just because.... Thank you to all who at least pretended to care :)

I did it again...

Shirt: Banana Republic Factory Store
Skirt: Tommy Hilfiger (hand-me-down)
Boots: Gordmans

I have to admit that one of my best qualities is my ability to laugh at myself. And, that's exactly what I do when I look at this ridiculous Wonder Woman pose I'm showing off today.

Day two of the VIPs and I managed to pull off this adorable Tommy skirt my little sister gave me a few years back. It's only been worn one other time, and that was to my MBA graduation where I wore a gown throughout the entire ceremony. I could've worn a wife-beater and Chuck Taylors and no one would've been the wiser. I've always wondered why more people don't just go naked underneath their gowns...

Anyway, more compliments came my way today and I'm kind of getting used to the attention. I might just try to dress up more often :)

It has been confirmed: I own something other than pants.

Day 18
Dress: Gordmans
Boots: Gordmans
Pattern Tights: JCPenneys

I'll never understand why people are so amazed when I wear a dress. Today is the perfect example of this phenomenon and everyone had something to say. I received word on Monday that some Company VIPs would be on-site for a business meeting Tuesday - Wednesday of this week. Rule of thumb is that when the big-wigs are on-site, you best look good. I figured what better time to wear this cute little dress that I've owned for 3 years and worn twice. Compliments were a plenty and I do appreciate a compliment :) It's nice to be reminded that I'm still cute. I am on the cusp of 31 afterall...

Day 17: What was I thinking??

I wore an awesome outfit today but no one will ever get to see it because I had a mental slip and forgot to take a picture. Oops! After arriving home from work I immediately went for the sweats and obligatory KU t-shirt and only hours later did I realize that I didn't take a picture for my blog. I could have attempted to re-create the look but by this time the clothes were at the bottom of my laundry hamper and in a state of severe wrinkledom. So, using your ever-so-imaginative imaginations you will just have to picture the outfit in your head :)

I wore a pair of H&M black slacks w/ button details on the side pockets. I paired this with a floral print top I acquired from the Buckle waaay back in the day. I topped off the look with my black wedges.

Now I would like to take a moment and vent. WHY ISN'T THERE A H&M STORE WITHIN 200 MILES OF MY HOME???? Good grief, H&M, get with the friggin' program already and open up a store in the Kansas City area! Shopping options in my hometown are pathetic. Not that I have a keen fashion sense or any idea of what's "in" at the moment, but I do appreciate having OPTIONS which is something that this city doesn't offer. 

Day 16: Uh oh... NO picture!

Day 16 was a day for the record books. I haven't been in such a foul mood in a long time and let's just say it was one of those days... My outfit was so hideous that I couldn't bring myself to be photographed. It was "Cowboy Day" at work so I used that as an excuse to wear jeans (although there was absolutely nothing cowboy about my outfit). I tossed on a t-shirt (a Breast Cancer Awareness tee), jeans and sneakers and headed to work. My day was actually so bad that my boss encouraged me to leave early and stated that he "couldn't deal with my negative energy today." Like I said, it was one of those days. Hopefully Monday is a much better day :)

Day 15

Day 15

A fall outfit for a beautiful fall day... Brown slacks are from Gordmans; top came from Banana Republic Factory Store and the half-sweater was a $7 score from the Dillard's sale rack. Side note: I had to make a conscious effort NOT put my hand on my hip when I was having my picture taken. It was harder than I thought...

Day 14 - It's been two weeks and I'm still going strong!

You're probably thinking "Wow, this girl likes to wear black and gray." If so, you're right! For some reason I always lean more towards blacks/grays/browns and overall neutral colors.

Today was "Stomp Out Breast Cancer" day at work and we celebrated by having a group photo taken and enjoying a brisk lunchtime walk around our facility. Tennis shoes were a must for today so I wore my black Pumas with the cute lil' pink ribbon laces I received for participating in the walk today. I had to go with a more casual look today since I was wearing my tennies. I went with the standard gray slacks paired with a black burnout tee (LOVE burnout tees!) with a black tank underneath. Both items came from Gordmans (imagine that) and the Pumas go back to at least 2006. They sat in my closet for four years until April 2010 when I started wearing them as a result of having had foot surgery. TG for those shoes! Plus, on lazy days when I'm not feeling the "dress" shoes I can get away with wearing the Pumas and not looking too casual since they're all black.

Day 13 - Dressed up for the Russian

Day 13

At my job I am fortunate to participate in the almost-weekly tours that come to visit our site. Today we had the new GM of our Russian business come through for a tour so I thought I would make an attempt at looking somewhat put together. I opted for the only button-up shirt I own ($8 from Kohls) and a pair of black slacks from Gordmans. I paired the outfit with my Target wedges and voila! Better than my usual uber-casual look. Note to self: get more button-up shirts...

On Day 12 I summoned my inner Charlie Brown...

Day 12

It's hard to tell from the photograph but these pants are actually brown. When I pair the pants with the mustard yellow top I've been told that I look like Charlie Brown. I seem to remember Charlie Brown wearing yellow and black, but, hey, whatever... The outfit for today was all purchased at Gordmans (both slacks and shirt) and cost about $25 for both pieces. I really like this shirt as it fits super and has a very flattering neckline.

I've been slackin'... Days 9-11

So I decided that I would take Tuesday (the offical Day Nine) off from work. I've been in desperate need of a 'mental health day' for weeks (maybe even months) and Tuesday felt like the right day. I spent 8 hours cleaning the house and having some 'me' time and it felt great! I did not, however, use the time to update my blog and have fallen behind by three days now. My bad ;) So with that, here are the three outfits I rocked for days 9 through 11.

My paranoia has made it difficult for me to take my pictures at work during the day (the only time when I have plenty of people to play photographer), and the fact that the BF wasn't home to take my picture meant I had to get creative. Since my camera seems to lack a self-timer option (or else I'm too stupid to be able to figure it out) I figured out that I could just hang my outfit on a hanger and then snap a pic. Not quite the same effect but, hey, it works!

Day Nine

For Day Nine I went with a pair of really dark blue (almost black) chinos from Target ($20), a gray shirt from H&M ($15) and a really soft and comfortable sweater cardigan I got at Charlotte Russe. I love the necklace I wore with the outfit. It's a vintage-style Nine West necklace I picked up at Gordmans for less than $10. On a side note, I really, really, really like H&M and would really, really, really appreciate it if someone in their 'we make the decisions on where we are going to put new stores' department would see the light and open a store in Kansas City (preferably on the Kansas side). I don't know what the hold-up is and why there isn't one (or more) already in the KC metro area. There are plenty of young women (and men too) in the area that would jump for joy if H&M opened a store in KC. I'm just puttin' that out there... that's all :)



Day Ten

Nothing too showy for Day Ten. Both the pants and shirt came from Kohl's and together cost less than $40.
 

Day Eleven

No, I haven't been institutionalized, but I do think that white cinderblock wall makes a great backdrop, lol! On this wonderful Day 11 of my challenge I was faced with a dilemma: another day where I'm supposed to wear pink! All Fridays in the month of October have been designated 'Wear Pink Day' in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Lucky for me, my sister gave me this boutique necklace a few years back. It's been collecting dust but was brought out of hiding as a result of my recent cleaning frenzy. One of the projects I tackled on my 'mental health day' was to organize all of my jewelry and as a result this necklace was found :) Thanks Corinne! As for the rest of the outfit I am wearing a pair of gray slacks (Gordmans) and a white tee from Kohl's ($3!).

Now it's the weekend and I need to spend some serious time working on my closet and my plan of attack for the next 9 days. Have a great weekend folks!

Day Seven & Eight: The magical powers of black...and brown.

Day Seven

Today was "Wear Pink Day" at work in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Since I'd already worn my only work-appropriate pink shirt I was left with only some hot-pink accessories (leftovers from Halloween 2009). I think they worked quite well and added some spice to my all black outfit. The pants I wore on this day are from Kohls and are made of that material that never fades :) My shirt is a bargain buy from the Banana Republic Factory Store and the sandals are my Payless special. What I love most about this outfit is the fact that just by putting on the all black get-up I magicly lost 10 pounds! Yay for the slimming properties of black!

Day Eight

On Day Eight, I went with a brown theme. I pulled a shirt (ca. 2002) from the archives and a pair of brown slacks I bought at Gordmans. I got the shirt from Buckle during a time when I actually enjoyed shopping there. While the shirt is cute, it's from the era when for some reason all shirts were too short. In order to help combat that issue, I layer a tank underneath. But even with the help of the tank top, I was fussing with and pulling the shirt down all day long. My Madden Girl brown wedges finished out the look.

What I love about this little game I'm playing is that it makes me wear things I would've never worn again. For example, I pretty much hate the shirt from today (day eight). The fact that I have to pull it down constantly is beyond annoying, and I'm sure I will never wear this shirt again! It's days as an active member of my closet are over. Goodwill get ready.

Tomorrow is another day and another outfit. I've got two laundry baskets of clothes to put away and at least 12 more outfits to go. I think I've got this... ;)

Day Six: Another day, another outfit

Day Six

On this glorious day six, I took some advice from my lil' sis and wore some color. I love this shirt (Kohls) and it's definitely one of my favorites. My pants are from Gordmans and I'm rocking my new shoes from Target (see day 4). I think I look pretty good if I don't say so myself :) Thanks to Amber for taking a mighty fine photo!

Day five and the panic begins to set in...



Day Five

 So I'm only on day five and I'm already wondering what the heck I've gotten myself into. The challenge is quickly turning into a high-pressure situation where I now look at my closet and begin to panic. What if I can't make it 20 days? What if I wear something too soon and can't wear it when I really need to (like yesterday's pink shirt)? Do I really have to wear that? But hey, I signed up for this and I'm going to finish!

Today's outfit consists of a pair of khaki pin-striped trousers from the BR Factory Store ($25), a sleeveless white blouse from Kohls ($17) and a pair of Madden Girl brown wedges I picked up at Gordmans. I'm pretty sure they cost me about $30 which is a pretty good price for anything from Steve Madden.

Looking at today's picture I'm thinking I need to start taking these pictures first thing in the morning so I'm not all wrinkled up from sitting at my desk. Wrinkles sure do add some class, don't they? Lol! And, I'm also thinking that makeup might have to become part of my daily routine. People never seem to notice whether I have makeup on or not so I don't know why I waste 20-30 minutes of my day in the mirror, but sometimes a girl just needs some makeup!

Day Four & I cheated...sort of :)

Day Four

Day four of the challenge and I had to buy a new pair of shoes. I know that one of the main points of this challenge was to STOP buying clothes but having new shoes became a necessity as of yesterday. You know those uncomfortable shoes I wore for Day Three? Well they suck so bad that I was forced to replace them. Lucky for me I found a pair of black wedges at Target for $19.99! Anyhoo, today's outfit is a pair of black slacks from Target (Merona brand I think...) and the shirt is a sale item from Kohl's. I also pulled out a necklace in an effort to spice things up a bit today. One negative: this is the only "nice" pink shirt I have and I just remembered that this upcoming Friday (Oct. 1st) is Breast Cancer Awareness day here at work and we're all supposed to wear pink! What am I going to do now... ???

Day Three.

Day Three

Nothing too exciting for Day Three. I'm not happy w/ today's outfit but as the temperature is dropping I have to get these sleeveless tops out of the way. It was too chilly this morning to wear my favorite sandals so I pulled out some black, one-inch Mudd wedges (Mary Jane-esque w/ a strap across the front of the foot). They are old, scuffed and hurt my feet so I think it's time to update. You know what this means? Time to check out the Target shoe aisle! My pants are actually black, or at least used to be black, and I bought them at JCPenney's awhile ago. Don't you love when you buy something black and after a few washes it could pass for gray? So annoying...

My shirt today is one from the local Banana Republic Factory Store and, as I mentioned before, the pants came from JCPenney's. The shoes came from some outlet shoe store in Austin, TX. I have no idea what I paid for any of these items but, knowing me, nothing was more than $25 a piece. In fact, I think the pants were about $14. BUT, you get what you pay for and, like I said, these pants USED to be black.

And, on a side note, I need to accessorize more (talk about a drab outfit w/ no shine or sparkle) and should start wearing makeup. It's really a huge step for me to be putting pictures of me sans-makeup on the Internet!

Day One/Two

Thursday, Sept. 23rd, marked the first day of My Wardrobe Challenge. I'm on Day Two and so far so good! Picking out outfits each day has now taken on a whole new meaning.

Day one

On Thursday I opted for a pair of gray slacks (Gordmans, $17), red tube top (Gordmans $8), a white cardigan (Dillards, $8) and a pair of sandals I picked up at Payless for around $12.  Total cost of for this outfit was about $45. 

Day Two

The pants I'm wearing today, Friday, are not one of my favorites so I wanted to get them out of the way sooner rather than later. They are from New York & Company and are a hand-me-down from a friend (thanks Jonna!). They are super comfortable and could double as pj's, but I feel fat when I wear them. I'm not big on the wide-leg pants and tend to favor straight-legged or boot-cut. The black shirt is from the Banana Republic Outlet and probably cost about $10. If you don't have a BR outlet near you, find one. I refuse to buy (actually I can't afford to buy) clothing from the real Banana Republic so I go to the outlet instead. Similar clothes, same BR quality (which I have found to be excellent!) but for a much lower price. If you look online you can usually find a coupon for additional discounts and, when paired with in-store savings (like when they put the entire store on sale for 40% off), you end of saving quite a bit. I did wear the same sandals as yesterday making the total of today's outfit just over $20.

Now, it's the weekend, and it's weird to say, but I can't wait until Monday!

My Wardrobe Challenge...

Quite simply, I love clothes, but, what girl doesn't? I'm not a slave to brand names or fancy designers and I refuse to pay full price for anything I buy. I hunt sale racks and frequent shops like the Banana Republic Outlet, TJMaxx and Gordmans for good deals. I haven't always been such a frugal shopper... Back in college (before I grew up, got a "real job," bought a house, and started living an "adult" life) I'd drop $100 on a pair of jeans and not think twice! Wow, how things have changed...

Hence, the beginning of My Wardrobe Challenge! As the Recession continues (I don't care what the "experts" say, I'm still feeling it!) I've decided to put a halt to my shopping and instead see just how far I can stretch my current wardrobe. If anyone were to look in my closet (er, two closets) they'd find what they would believe to be a vast assortment of suitable "work" attire. However, when I look at the same closets I see a bunch of crap that I don't want to wear anymore. Some of my clothing is old, some new, but don't we all desire what we don't already have?? In an effort to remind myself that I actually do have enough clothing to get by, and because I enjoy a good challenge, I've decided to see just how long I can go without repeating any of the same "work" outfits. I work in a business casual enviroment (no jeans, t-shirts, etc) but can dress it up some if I so choose. I'm not including my weekend attire as part of the challenge because, quite frankly, I spend so much of my time at work (and money to buy the work clothes) that my casual wardrobe is not nearly as vast. My goal is to make it at least 20 working days without repeating outfits but I'm optimistic that I can go for much longer.

Check back often for my daily updates (complete with pictures) and thanks for following My Wardrobe Challenge!