30 for 30 Outfit Challenge Week 4 and Lessons

Here are:
Week 3, Week 2, Week 1, The Mostly 30 Pieces and the Background

Here we are at the end of Week 4.  This past week, I was feeling discouraged and painfully insecure about the outfits I picked.  

I'm still finding it hard to match head coverings with outfits.  When I got to Israel in November, I will look for solid coloured scarves, although I'm not sure if the lack of pattern will help matters.  I feel that I am adding too much extra colour or pattern with a scarf on my head and somehow it takes away from the outfit.  I don't really look very good in berets and I don't want to start living in 3-4 hats all the time either.

I'm open to ideas...should I just stick to a certain set of colours in my wardrobe? I've received feedback that certain colours definitely look better on me (earth tones, warmer colours, a few of the cooler colours too but definitely in what would be considered neutral/safe tones).

I feel overall, I look best in the tighter fitting skirts.  The jean skirt and the brown corduroy skirt has been less of a favourite of mine and also of some readers (please keep in mind I was using what I had in my closet too, so be gentle on me :) ).  I'd like to have a basic denim skirt, so I am on the look out for something better.  I do have a denim-y pencil that wasn't part of the challenge, but it tends to look dressier which is why I opted for the more casual one.

The green chiffon blouse...sigh, I think that is one I'll have to give up, I think I've given it a bunch of tries and it's one of those, looked great on the mannequin, should have left it in the store.  I love all the other blouses (3 recently purchased) used for the challenge (chambray, blue, white, purple/black).

By far, this outfit was one of my favourites.  I don't know why, I just really liked the combination of casual with fancy.  My black pencil style skirt from Old Navy was also a favourite piece, I guess it's just really versatile.  If you've been following along, you know by now I love black and white stripe skirts, and I really like mine and I am looking forward to wearing my newly acquired one (more pencil like style).

I'm glad I gave my sheath style dress some new life by wearing them with blouses (rather than only shells).

Here are the pictures for Week 4.  One outfit is missing, striped skirt with dark red t-shirt/white shell.  It looked bleh, but I was feeling pretty bleh that day and I didn't care.  One of those days.

I was rushing to get my son ready so I  missed the top buttons on the sweater.  They got done up later one.  

Taking Sprout out for a little wagon ride

for sure not my favourite, but i needed something for that day and too much was in the laundry (or previously worn combinations)!

 

I know it all looks dark, but I was in fact wearing burgundy tights.  I happened to try on black mary jane heels in a store and it really looked much better than my black ballet flats.  This beige sweater thing is a hand me down from a friend, I feel mixed about it.  I kind of like the idea of it, I'm just not sure it suits me, what do you think?

I didn't mind either of these outfits (worn during Yom Tov, thrown back on for picturing purposes).  Quite honestly, I think a lot of these outfits would look far better on me if I had on a little eyeliner and concealer.  

and for Day 30....

A big lesson after all of this...with the right pieces you really can have a closet with only 30 items (crazy i know!) and wear 30 different outfits over a month.  I think there are still a few more combinations I could have made if some of my pieces were a bit different.  

Thank you for following along!  Have you ever done a 30 for 30 outfit challenge?

(what 30 day challenge should i do next???)

I appreciate all comments. Please don't be shy and share your thoughts! 

30 for 30 Outfit Challenge - Week 3

Has it been 3 weeks already?  It seems to be going by fast.

Week 2, Week 1, The Mostly 30 Pieces and the Background

This week included outfits for Yom Tom (Holy days), some of which were just casual meals out.  The outfits are out of order, (sorry), but you get the idea.  Jean skirt got featured a lot this week.  Usually I might be out for maybe an hour or so, and then change back into yoga pants for hanging out at home.  The one thing I didn't really like is how the button and the fly kind of show through whatever I am wearing on top of the skirt.  I don't like how things look tucked into this particular skirt, so maybe it's a sign I might need something different?

I apologize for the quality of the pictures.  Oh well.


I appreciate all comments. Please don't be shy and share your thoughts!

I kind of liked my retro tichel with this outfit.  

Blurrrry.  Oops.  

I'm wearing a sinar (apron) tichel with this outfit.  I was mostly happy with the ensemble.  

See what I mean?  Bumpy.  What do people do about that?  

I have to admit, this outfit makes me happy.  

Meh. 

Comfy and casual

30 for 30 Outfit Challenge Week 2

You can view Week 1, The Mostly 30 Pieces, and a bit of a Background on my doing this.

Week 2 and we're almost half way there.  I find the one thing that's challenging is that I'll find a combination I like, then I can't wear it again for the rest of the month.  Doh!  I'll probably do a post at the end of the outfits that I liked the best/least.

So here are the outfits from this week.  I apologize for the clothing mess for Yom Kippur's outfit, it's horribly wrinkled, and I had an AMAZING head wrap with two scarves only I haven't been able to recreate it. Doh.  I was also home all day one day this week, so I didn't do the challenge and stayed in comfy clothes.  Maybe that's cheating?

I have been focused on necklaces as a statement, and patterns in general.  I realized I can use my head scarves as my statement piece and just use an slightly understated necklace too.

I realize I've been wearing my new brown shoes lately too.  I guess they just worked well with my outfits I chose.  My legs are also painfully white.  Sorry.  I don't tan.  The weather is starting to be cool enough for tights, so at least those will get hidden a bit more.

Thanks for reading!  

30 for 30 Outfit Challenge Week 1

I am in the first week of a 30 day Outfit challenge.  In case you are just joining in, the rules are I can only wear some combination of a few of the 30 items each day and I can't wear the same outfit twice during the month.  These are the 30 pieces ( 27 actually) that I chose for the challenge.  I am still deciding whether shells should be included in the 30, which would make up the last 3 pieces (black, beige and white shells).

I think it might get a little annoying to post daily, so I decided to do a few days at a time.

I'm still having a lot of trouble with head ware, which is why I threw on black hats over the holidays.  I guess if I am wearing something casual, I have enough scarves, I feel when I am dressed a bit more fancy, the scarves take away from the outfit.  I am hoping to find scarves that will work better.

Inspiration for this outfit

Head covering from Leelach.com

I think I would have liked something a bit bigger for the necklace, what do you think?

I've linked up to Sunday Style!

30 for 30 Outfit Challenge - The mostly 30 Pieces

It took a few weeks to decide but I finally picked out my items for the 30 day challenge.  I choose to dress modestly, which means knees are mostly covered (appropriate length skirts are hard to find, I make do with what is available), elbows are covered and most of my collar bone (so shirts are probably not quite that, I am ok with that).  I also cover my hair.

Accessories and shoes are not included on the list.

So my items are:

1. grey dress 
2. grey skirt from Value Village (I love it)
3. black/white diagonal skirt from H&M (You may recall how much I wanted a striped skirt)
4. Brown corduroy skirt from Smart Set
5. beige straight skirt from Reitmans
6. Jean skirt from Value Village
7. Chevron maxi skirt from Old Navy 
8. Black Pencil skirt from Old Navy (they have since shortened the hemline...doh!)
9. Basic black skirt
10. Basic white blouse from Value Village
11. Basic blue blouse from Value Village
12. Chambray blouse from Old Navy
13. Green Blouse I am determined to make work
14. Red long sleeve top
15. Purple/black gasp PATTERN blouse from Sears.
16. Burgundy Corduroy Jacket
17. Grey military jacket from Le Chateau
18. Beige sweater thing - hand me down
19. Yellow v-neck sweater
20. grey button down sweater from The Gap 
21. Blue sweater (Lord and Taylor from The Bay, CRAZY sale price.  As similar as I could find here)
22. Burgundy T-shirt - Walmart
23. Turquoise (what is that colour exactly?) T-shirt - Walmart
24. Grey T-shirt - Suzy Shier
25. Striped long sleeve shirt (which shockingly meets all the requirements and doesn't need a shell!) from Value Village
26. Mustard long sleeve from Joe (Loblaws) (I like this colour and I want to experiment)
27. Brown cross top

...the question is, do I add shells to the 30 (one white, one beige and one black) or pick 3 other things?

Toes!

30 for 30 Outfit Challenge: Statement Necklaces

I think most of the necklaces I own are really more "comment" and much less "statement".

I really like the bubble necklaces.  

from http://lauraunrefined.blogspot.ca/2012/11/bubble-necklaces-yes-please.html

I also ike the idea of making my own, and I found two relatively easy ones on Pinterest.  The upcycled tie and the washer/ribbon necklace.  The Pin also suggested using nail polish to jazz up the washers.  I'm not sure if either would qualify as statement, but I think they will make a nice addition to my very limited collection.  I just haven't found any I like in the stores here (yet).  

There is also organizing right now they are all jumbled in a box, and they obviously get tangled.  I really like this idea (also found on Pinterest).  

Do you have any statement jewelry?

30 for 30 Outfit Challenge - Celebrity Style

I have been reading a lot about trying to figure out your own fashion style.  One of the recommendations to take a look at celebrities and see who and what you like.

I am finding the exercise challenging since most of them are tall and skinny, the outfits I might like are outfits not likely to be worn by me.  I have picked a few celebrities that I have liked:

• Angelina Jolie - she wears it like she means it. 
• Courteney Cox - She has this quiet confidence about her.  
• Ivanka Trump - Her outfits on the Celebrity Apprentice always seem elegant and professional.  
• Sandra Bullock has a few outfits where she seems professional yet relaxed and down to earth.  
• Sarah Jessica Parker dresses with awesome flair.  I'm not sure I'd wear anything she does, but she does have great style (and hair).  

You can check out my Pinterest board for the Celebrity Styles for some of my favourites.   I definitely like the tighter fitting skirt and the professional look of my picks.  As a stay at home mom, I obviously don't need to dress so fancy, but I think a pencil skirt doesn't have to be dressed up, and can be casual too.  

Which celebrity styles do you like and why?  

30 for 30 Outfit Challenge - What I am learning

I am having fun with this new hobby of mine, playing in my closet.  I am learning a bit about my own personal style and here are some random things:

• I don't think I look good in emerald green or orange.  It could be I haven't found the right items.
• I think I would describe my preferences in clothing as tailored, modern, maybe dramatic edgy some times. My current wardrobe may not be totally along this description, and I am finding that the pieces I bought that originally looked good in the store, may not have been my number one choice.  
• I love belts.  Why have I waited this long??
• I love pencil skirts.  I wish they came a smidge longer.  I may have to find a nice seamstress to add a bit of length to anything I buy because I really don't want to buy a layering dress.  
• Matching up hair covering will be the biggest challenge for me.
• I still have a hard time with patterns.  I think I'm drawn to simpler geometric patterns, stripes maybe dots, but flowery...just doesn't do it for me.  I like some animal print pieces, I've seen some nice outfits, I'm just not sure I could pull it off.  Plaid...I have a plaid shirt I love (doesn't fit anymore boo) and I think what I like about it, is the cut, it is more tailored.  
• I have been recreating outfit ideas that I've Pinned.  I need to learn to figure out on my own too!
• I need more accessories.  I've been living pretty much minimally, figuring what's the point?  I've noticed that when I put together an outfit including an accessory or two, I feel good and I feel put together.  I feel like it is worth it.  
• I am loving yellow this season.  
• I think doing the challenge will definitely help me figure out what will stay in my closet, what will need to be retired and what I would like to own in the future.  

Just over a week to go...starting to feel the pressure!  

30 for 30 Outfit Challenge - The BackGround

The 30 days of preparing for Elul posts is interrupted by a new challenge....

I am inspired by posts of lovely ladies using 15-30 items in their wardrobe, some including shoes and accessories, and building up a month worth of outfits, never wearing the same one twice.  As a stay at home mom and a Jewish woman who chooses to dress modestly, I end up wearing mostly t-shirts with shells underneath, a simple skirt and a hair covering.  Very little thought goes into any my outfits.

The truth is, most of the time I feel frumpy.  Every Shabbat I go through this crazy process of trying on a bunch of things in my closet and end up unhappy with the way I look.

I lack vision.  My best friend has it.  She can walk through a store, pick out a few things and put together an amazing set of outfits.  I want this vision.

I always made excuses basically repeating, I lack vision and creativity.  This (Jewish) year, that will hopefully change.

I need practice, and what better way to practice than to do a 30 for 30 outfits challenge.  (Wow, this will be the second 30 day adventure, I wonder what else I will do??).

I have gone through my closet and surfed Pinterest Pins that made use of similar pieces.  Feel free to check out my Building my Wardrobe board.  I am also adding some other inspiring outfits for future purchases.

Since I'm not meaning for my blog to become a fashion blog (Oh G-d, for whoever thinks THAT is a good idea!!) I will likely only post a week's worth of outfits at a time.

My goal during the challenge is to not wear  any outfit twice (which means I guess I better do a good job keeping track).  Since I am rebuilding my wardrobe, I can't promise I won't buy anything new (but it won't get used during the challenge).  There are a few things I would like to get, like black boots, brown boots, and I need accessories of various kinds.  Value Village is awesome (and cheap) and Ardene has a ton of accessories for super cheap.

My goals for taking on this challenge is to learn to jazz up my wardrobe and figure out my personal style (do I have any??).  I have been practicing wearing long lost items in my closet.  Some items were hand me downs (free is good), some items I bought because hey, it looked cool in the store.  I have learned that,  as much as I like orange, it may not be a good colour for me.  I am liking the use of belts on outfits, something I never thought I would ever do.

Since the weather is still warm, it is a bit challenging for me to pick the right 30 items, but I am practicing with a few pieces in my closet.  (Which is why I am aiming for the official start date to be September 1).

My 30 items will include shells, even though they  are a basic requirement as pretty much everything in stores doesn't cover what needs to be covered (elbows and collar bones).  You will notice that my bottoms are only skirts, which is part of the modest "uniform" (I will say I have chosen, as there are many observant women who wear pants and still dress modestly).

I just bought this super cute dress for the High Holidays.  I guess it's something like an a-line shape.  I LOVED it in the store and convinced myself to splurge.  When I put it on today, definitely had the "what was I thinking"moment.  I didn't feel comfortable in it.  I'm not sure if it's the wrong size, or the shape of the dress or the fact that it can't be belted.  Sadly, it's going to get returned.  Bonus, I will use the money to buy something else!  

September is filled with Jewish holidays and Shabbat days, which means 10 days of synagogue worthy outfits.  It will be a challenge to pick items (that I currently own) that can go casual or business formal.  

If you are looking for some inspiration, these ladies are the ones who inspired me:

• Ally at Modestly Fashioned
• MK's Outfit Posts
• Audrey's Putting me Together
• The creator of the 30 for 30 challenge, Kendi

There you have it, a bit of background on my sad wardrobe.  I have 12 more days to pick my 30 items, and acquire some missing elements.

image from http://www.tanvii.com/2010/11/my-picks-30-for-30.html#.UhQYfDnYkUV

14 Elul: Starting

Remember not the first events, and do not meditate over early ones.  Behold I am making a new thing, now it will sprout, now you shall know it; yea I will make a road in the desert, rivers in the wasteland. - Yishayahu Chapter 43

And the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you. - Genesis Chapter 12

This writing prompt is one from Ima on the Bima's Blog Elul prompts

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I didn't feel like Rosh Hashanah is really a new time of year.  That being said, it is a time to reset and restart.

Interestingly enough, I have started to think about my outside appearance (funny how I also mentioned changes in wardrobe in yesterday's post too).  I have chosen to dress modestly, I can't really say when I started, but here I am wearing only skirts, long sleeves and I started covering my hair a few months ago.

As a stay at home mom, my daily wardrobe consists almost entirely of t-shirts over shells and a skirt and some kind of hair covering.  I spend Shabbat mornings agonizing over the contents of my closet.  I have many pieces I owned before dressing modestly, and while I could throw a shell underneath many of them, I felt a little blah overall with any of my choices.

A while back, in my Pinterest wanderings, I came across travelling for two weeks using nothing but a carry on.  I then somehow discovered this site that describes ways to jazz up the wardrobe you already own.   I noticed there is very little out there relating to modest dress however.  After much searching I found Ally's website and more ideas.

I've started to apply these concepts and I feel like I've opened a whole new world of modest dress.   The last couple of days I didn't wear my t-shirt/shell combo and I felt...different.  Maybe because I dressed more like a grown up, maybe because I focused on making things a little prettier on the outside, the inside felt a bit prettier too.

I have also decided that in September I will attempt some form of 30 for 30 outfit challenge.  This of course closely coincides with Rosh Hashanah (which starts September 4th).

I originally had been trying to find some new outfits for the High Holidays.  I found one pretty dress that I fell in love with (rare) and I decided it would be my splurge (70$ at 50% off).  The rest of my outfits will come from my own closet, wearing them in ways inspired by the links above.  (As someone who didn't grow up with any kind of fashion sense, this is a major step for me).

I guess this year, I will work on the outside as well as on the inside.