September - The real challenge begins!

So, I made it successfully through my test run - and I managed to create approximately 15 different outfits using the 30 items or less!  After a holiday weekend reprieve to wear whatever felt like pulling out of my closet - my challenge is back on for the rest of September. 

Tonight, I'm going to be going through my wardrobe and searching the internet for the items for this months challenge and I should be posting my September items list tomorrow.

New Additions to the blog for the Month of September:  

1)  More Pictures! 

I had planned to add more pictures of my final outfits in August but I overestimated how often I would have easy access to my camera.  This month, I'm planning on taking time at least once a week to get pics of the whole outfits (either on me, or laid out on hangers) so that those of you who are reading can get a better idea about what I'm talking about each day.

2)  More consistent time on posts

One of my goals for this month is to have my posts either written in advance or to get up early enough to write them before work in the morning.  So, if things go as I plan, there should be a shiny new post first thing every morning. 


So, as I go off to put together a new month's wardrobe:  any ideas for cute, versatile pieces that I should include this month?

Day 9 - Wednesday Felt Like Monday, but Thursday Feels like Friday!

Today is a super short week for me in the office, because I spent two days out of town and tomorrow I took off a day early to make the most of the 3 day weekend for labor day.  Also, today is the last work day of this challenge!    Starting tomorrow, I'll work to put together a new list of items and new outfit ideas for September!  Wish me luck!

Today's Outfit:

B, I, M, 1, 6, 7, 9, 13, 15

I'm pairing my white pants with my black tank top and throwing my coral cardigan over it for a pop of color, and to keep my outfit work appropriate.  Tonight, I'm going to be hanging out with friends and doing some work around the house.  So, I'll keep most of the outfit the same, but I'll replace the cardigan with my blue button down and I'll replace the black heels with blue flats. 

I'm excited to get to wear the most out of my white pants before the season changes.  Summer and fall are my favorites seasons - so many colors and such beautiful weather! 

This weekend though, I will begin the transition from summer to winter clothes, digging out sweaters and putting away mini skirts and flowy dresses until next year.  How do you plan to transition your wardrobe from warm weather to cold? 

Day 8 - This Wednesday Feels Like Monday

Today, it's back to the office.  Trying to find motivation to make it through my midweek slump, I decided to add a bit of color to my outfit today, in hopes that it will help wake me up and make my day go by quicker!

Wednesday Color Therapy:

D, H, G, 2, 6, 7, 13, 15

Once again, my orange skirt brings a pop of color into my outfit.  Pairing it with a white button down and brown heels keeps the outfit clean and simple.

With this outfit, I'm practicing a bit of color therapy.  What is color therapy, you ask?  

Color therapy is the use of brighter, happier colors to help change your mood.  When you are down or depressed or tired - what colors do you feel like wearing?  Blues?  Blacks? Greys?  Well, instead, pull out a bright yellow sweater, or a fuschia dress, or - in my case - a light orange skirt.  The color alone will help put you in a better mood and help energize you.  People associate different colors with different things - for instance, when was the last time you wore red to a funeral?   Or an all black outfit to go to see a comedy movie with friends?

We frequently use color to reflect how we're feeling.  Color therapy does the opposite by using the colors to make us feel a different way. 

Have you ever changed your outfit to help put you in a better mood?  What did you wear?  Do you have any favorite colors to wear when you're tired or feeling down? 

Day 7 - How to Impress a Bunch of Lawyers with your Impeccable Fashion Sense

Hello!  Today I'm going to a business meeting with almost two dozen attorneys.  More than that, this meeting is being held at a law firm in downtown Chicago.  So I need to really step up my business attire so that I look appropriate and worthy of respect. 

As a young professional (especially one that looks several years younger than her real age), I really need to make myself look prepared and put together when I go to meetings, as well as actually being prepared when I go.  By showing up at a meeting or a program looking professional, first, it makes me look a little bit older so I look like the law school graduate that I am instead of looking like I might be a high school student who got lost on her way to the model U.N. meeting, and second, it makes me look like I take my job seriously.  By giving my acquaintances the impression that I'm serious about my work, they will take me and the project we are working on together seriously too.

 

Professional and Stylish:

A, H, I, J, 3, 5, 7 13

I kept this outfit very simple.  A basic black suit with a white button down shirt and a black undershirt for contrast.  However, I add a bit of my own style by putting it with leopard print heels, and my black beaded chain.  Not only do they add a little bit of a flair, but the leopard print heels allow me to have something in the outfit that ties together with my brown purse. 

In this outfit, I look put together, professional, but with a clear, intentional style.

Finally, I can make a few slight tweaks to this outfit after the meeting, and I'll have a comfortable and easy outfit to go back home in.

 

The Long Road Home:

A, E, I, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14

I leave my black pants on, but I roll the cuffs for a different look.  I ditch the blazer and the white shirt but I throw on my denim shirt, and I belt it so that I still have a waist.  Tie in my blue shoes and tie my hair back with the blue scarf, and I'm comfy, casual, cute, and ready for a long train trip!

Are you a young professional?  How do you ensure that your coworkers, bosses, and others you work with take you seriously and treat you with respect? 

I get told almost once a week that I look like I'm twelve.  Do you have any tips on how to get people to stop treating me like Doogie Howser and more like the professional I am? 

Please share your tips and thoughts in the comments!

Day 6 - Chi-city, and other adventures!

Today is Monday.  And, as my dad used to say - time to go make the donuts.  But, this week is a bit different because I'm traveling to Chicago this morning for a business meeting tomorrow and I'm going to be going to dinner tonight with a co-worker.  So, I need something more than just a business casual outfit, I need something professional for the office, but confortable for travel, and appropriate for dinner out.  Here's what I came up with today:

Travel, work & play:

D, G, K, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15

I love the pop of color I get when I wear this orange skirt.  Plus, by pairing it with a simple white shirt and blue scarf, I get to have some fun with colorblocking, which is super trendy right now.  Also, since I'm going to be going through changing temperatures on the train and outside, and I'm going to be walking several blocks between the train station, my company's Chicago office and my hotel, I love that I can pull in my jacket and flats while keeping with a simply color scheme.   

Finally, since this outfit uses a fun and knee-length skirt, it keeps it more feminine and dressy for when I go out to dinner later, and it makes it a little more professional while I'm working at the office.

Have you tried the colorblocking trend?  What colors combinations are your favorites and why?

Day 5 - How Not to Wake the Dead (Or, How to be fashionable at a funeral)

Today is Sunday.  Lately, I've been starting my Sunday's off with a religious study group, then this afternoon I need to go to a funeral for a friend's grandmother.  So I need an outfit that is slightly dressy and then I need to transition into something more formal.  Here's today's outfits:

Casual Sunday Chic:

N, K, 2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 15

Wearing my blue jean jacket over this dress makes it a little bit more casual and covers my bare shoulders for the study group.  And because I'm going to be around a completely different group of people from Friday night, I'm not worried about wearing the dress two times so close together.

Formal Funeral Attire:

G, O, L, 2, 6, 7, 9, 14, 13

This dress is navy but it's dark and has a more formal look to it.  But I dress it down and make it look less like I'm going to the office by layering it over the white shirt and leaving it partially unbuttoned, then putting the brown sweater over it.  The belt adds the final touch.

Here's a case where I used almost none of the same pieces for these two outfits.  Something that I don't like to do very often.  How do you make it work for you when you have different things to go to that require very different ensembles?  Do you make entirely new outfits?  Have you aquired better transition pieces?

Day 4 - Roadtrip!

Today, I plan to go on a short roadtrip to meet my brother at college.  It's his birthday so we're leaving early so that we can take him out for breakfast before he has to be at a campus event at noon.  Then I am coming back home and going back to the BBQ festival to meet up with other friends.  I won't have time to go home and change in between so I want to put together an outfit that's going to be cute, comfortable and suitable for both breakfast with family and a day out with friends.  Here's my outfit today:

Today's Outfit:

B, G, 2, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15

This outfit seems a little unusual at first.  A pair of white pants with a white t-shirt?  Might be a bit of white overload.  But, I add a little bit of style to the outfit by rolling up the pants into capris - giving them a bit of a different look, and making them more casual. 

Also, by adding the blue scarf and hat, I give an otherwise monochrome outfit some style and bit of color.  Threw on some cute heels and I'm ready to go!!  Now, if only I can manage to make it through the festival without getting BBQ sauce on my white outfit!

Do you ever wear monochrome?  How do you pull it off and make it stylish?

Day 3 - TGIF & BBQ

TGIF!  Today is my last work day I have this week, and after work I'm going to a Blues and BBQ festival.  As always, I need to look clean cut and professional for work.  But I want to look cute and put together for the festival.  Here's today's outfits:

For work: 

A, F, 1, 5, 7, 13, 15

I did laundry last night, so my black pants are clean and ready to wear again.  But I want to change up the outfit enough that it's not noticable.  By wearing a completely different style of top, different shoes, and making the print top the focus of this outfit, the black pants aren't really even noticable anymore.  Plus, the shirt is flowy and confortable, perfect for a lazy Friday when I'm counting down hours until it's time to leave!

For the Festival:

N, 2, 7, 9, 13, 15

Being only 5'3", I don't wear long dresses very often. Unless they're cut right or I have the outfit put together just right, they just tend to make me look shorter. But I love this print and it's long flowing lines.

Plus, the weather right now is still warm enough that I can get away with a sleeveless outfit, even at night.

How do you feel about maxi dresses? Do you own any?

Day 2 - Another Day Another Dollar (But my house is cleaner!)

Today is Thursday and once again it's a work day.   After work, I plan to clean up around my house and get all of my housework done so that I can enjoy the weekend.  I need a business casual outfit for day, and a comfortable outfit that I don't mind getting dirty in for after work.   So, here's today's outfits:

For Work:

A, J, L, 2, 5, 7, 13

This outfit works because I start with a black base and add brown accents throughout.  By tying the brown sweater with the shoes and purse, the outfit looks more intentional and cohesive.   

After work:

C, J, E, 4, 8, 12, 15

In this outfit, I keep the tank top because it's comfortable, loose and easy to wash.  But I change the rest of the items to casual things and I lose most of my jewelry because it will get in the way when I'm cleaning.  I use my blue scarf as a headband to keep my hair out of my eyes while I'm working and my sunglasses for when I'm working outside on my patio and yard, and I throw my denim shirt over the top so that I don't feel like I'm showing off too much skin in a stappy tank and shorts but I leave it unbuttoned and tie it at my waist to make it more my style.  Plus it adds that pop of blue color that ties with the scarf and the shoes. 

Do you ever use a base color and an accent color to build an outfit?  How do you tie the outfit together?

Day 1 - Clothes for Work & A Playdate at the Park

Today is Wednesday and I have work today and plans to go play in the park after work.  So I need a business casual outfit and a casual casual outfit.  Here's what I came up with today:

*Note:  I will be adding pictures of the complete outfits (either on hangers, or pics of me wearing them, but I'm still working on getting some of them uploaded!)

For Work:

Items Used: 

O, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15

My Navy shirt dress makes a super simple work outfit.  I added my leather wrap bracelet, leather heeled shoes and a light blue scarf for a bit of complimentary color.  Simple, but pretty and professional for the office. 

For Play:

Items Used:

O, K, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15

By adding a jean jacket, flats, and a hat, and ditching my scarf and heels, I plan to take this outfit from business chic to casual and cute. 

What do you think - did I pull it off?

August's Items

So, here we go!  (Please note:  I'm in the process of getting actual pictures of all of the items - but I've included as many as I have for now.  I will be updating this page with all the pictures over the next few days.  If you have any questions about where I got an item - please feel free to ask in the comments!)

 

**Note on Accessories 6 & 7:  These items are like good luck charms for me, so I wear them with everything (even if they don't match.)  But, so that I don't cheat - I'm including them in this list.


Total Items:  30

The Trial Run - August

The Challenge:

Make a month's worth of fashionable outfits using 30 items or less - including accessories. 

What does this really mean?

It means that I'm going to go shopping in my own closet (and maybe a little bit in the stores) to create more than 30 cute, fashionable, different outfits but that I'm only going to use a few items.  Two pairs of pants, two dresses, four shirts, a sweater, four or five necklaces, three pairs of shoes, etc.

The total items:  No more than thirty.

At the beginning of the month, I will post a list and pictures of all thirty items.  Then every day after that, I will post a picture of the outfit (or outfits) I created, which items I used, and where I'm going to wear the item (i.e. work, business meeting, drinks with friends). 

The Inspiration:

In college, I was an Asian Studies major.  Why am I telling you this?  

Because it means that I spent hours and hours surrounded by nerdy anime enthusiasts and foreign exchange students.  But as much as I'm sure that Dragonball Z and it's 17 seasons (or however many it's up to now) is awesome...  I was never really into any of that.  I was into fashion.  So, I took the opportunity to get and read fashion magazines from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and China. 

Over time, I noticed something different about the types of articles in those magazines from American fashion magazines.  In every issue, there would be an article on how to make yourself look cute and fashionable by repurposing a couple items in your wardrobe and making them look like entirely different pieces.  I began to look forward to these articles every month because they gave me cool ideas for how to redesign my wardrobe without spending a fortune.

Fast forward five years:  I'm working my first professional job; I just moved into a new apartment and I had to spend way too much furnishing it to make it livable.  The money is starting to come in, but I'm old enough now to know I should be financially responsible (i.e. not spending every extra cent on new shoes...) and I definitely have a lot more bills than I did in college.

So, I asked myself:  how can I look cute and fashionable every day without breaking the bank?  Suddenly I remembered those articles from those magazines in college, and I thought to myself - "I could do that!  How hard can it be?" 

So, armed with a small wardrobe of business and casual clothes, some accessories, and cute shoes.  I'm on a mission to make myself a new line of fashionable outfits each month using 30 items or less.

The rest of August is my test run.  If I can do this for 10 days, then I can totally do it for 30. 

The Rules:

• First and most obviously:  No more than 30 items total, and no cheating by saying things like "sunglasses generally" so that I could replace them with different sunglasses to match some other outfit better.
• Second:  No repeats.  I can use the same items in different ways, but no wearing the same exact outfit twice.
• Third:  At least two thirds of my items have to come out of my own closet.  I can't afford to rebuy every month.  So I have to make do with what I have for the most part. 

So, now you know my challenge, my story, and the rules of the game.  Wish me "Ganbatte" (as they say in Japan)!