Sunday, August 31, 2014

30X30 choices

I've decided to do a 30x30 challenge during the month of September, strictly just for myself. I've always been a bit resistant to these challenges because I've never wanted to restrict myself in my choices. I find them boring too.  However, I'm at a point where I'm tired of staring at the closet and stressing over outfits so this will hopefully give me break and make the daily routine a little easier. I've already mixed and matched my thirty pieces into outfits and plugged them into a calender. If I need to switch up things based on daily activities then I will.

I've chosen some fall pieces since fall is coming, at least on the calendar. I've also chosen pieces that didn't get their fair share of wear last season but can still be worn while the temps are warm to hot. I also had to consider that I will have two business casual days during September for training and a few more days off for personal family issues than I normally would during a month. Usually, my months would require more work clothing than casual, but I had to really think about this for this particular month. It has made it a little more challenging.

Here are my thirty pieces:

Tops (9)


1- Mustard cowl top
2-black and white stripe top
3-bird print top (it's mauve/burgundy but you can't tell in these pics)
4-cobalt sweater
5-olive button up
6-leopard print button up
7-blue stripe button down
8- print flutter sleeve top
9-bow sweater (not pictured, it was in the washing machine when I took pics)

Bottoms-(11)

 
10- camel dress slacks
11-black dress slacks
12-grey slacks
13-burgundy stretch skinny pants
14-blue skinny jeans
15- white straight leg jeans
16-black shorts
17- red shorts
18- black midi skirt
19- orange pencil skirt
20-grey pencil skirt

Jackets, etc (5)

 

21- red blazer
22- black blazer
23-grey blazer
24-stripe cardigan
25- utility vest

Shoes- (5)



26-wedge sandals
27-brown bow flats
28-black pumps
29-leopard pumps
30- black booties

I really didn't like limiting myself to five pairs of shoes. I use shoes as an accessory and believe that just changing shoes can change the vibe of an outfit, but I'm trying to stay true to the challenge. It was difficult to have enough work clothes and clothes for the weekends. I feel like I need two different wardrobes but I am learning to buy pieces that can be worn for both work and play.

My rules:

Accessories don't count in my thirty pieces- the more, the better! Accessories are what change things up and keep outfits from being boring.

I'm not banning myself from shopping. I'd hate to miss a good sale, and if I see the need to amp up some accessories to get through this, then they will be purchased.

If I need to wear a second outfit in a day, I may pull it from pieces not in my thirty. I'll try to use the thirty, but I do have thirty outfits from the thirty pieces already.

I hope you will follow along with my challenge and see my daily outfits.  If you find this kind of thing boring and want to check out, I'll understand. But I think you'll find that I've chosen some interesting pieces and have a couple of wild cards in there. Most people play it too safe for a 30x30 challenge and choose too many neutrals or blacks. Not me, gotta have my colors.


 linking up with Fall Capsule Series with InResidence and justjacq

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Popover glam




 
Blouse- JCrew Factory on sale
skirt- Limited  similar   option  option
necklace- Sears  option  option 
shoes- Banana Republic  option
Worn August 26, 2014
 
The JCrew Popover is on super sale right now so go grab yourself one. I've worn mine so many ways from casual to this more "glam" version. It's the heels and necklace that glam it up a bit.  I've had a version of this outfit pinned forever and finally got around to wearing it to work this week. I love the contrast of the green against the black. The skirt is suprisingly versatile too, so if your on the fence about getting a bright skirt, the Labor Day weekend sales would be a great time to go for it.
 
Surprised to see me today? I meant to post this yesterday but didn't make it. I just wanted to make sure I shared this outfit now because I loved it so much. I've got a couple of others I'm putting on hold because I'm going to start a 30x30 challenge September first. September has thirty days so it will work out nice and even. Anyone else done one or game for this year? I'm so sick of staring at my closet trying to decide what to wear or how to mix something in a way I haven't before, so I thought this would be good for me. Check back tomorrow and see what I've chosen for my thirty pieces.

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Thursday, August 28, 2014

Floral front tee



 
 
 
 
Tshirt- thrifted option    option
boyfriend jeans-Loft
shoes- Target

I picked up this shirt at our local thrift store at the beginning of the summer when I was on a desperate search for florals. I never did find any other floral blouse that I thought would work with my wardrobe, but this has been a fun piece to have. I've worn it before but this is the first time it has made it to the blog. I also got a lime green silk maxi skirt from another thrift store the same day but haven't worn it yet. So many clothes...so little time. That darn job and its conservative dress code takes up five good outfit days...lol.

Shop floral tees:


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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

More white





 
Cardigan- Target option option
blouse- old option option
shoes- Amazon    option option option
Worn August 24, 2014
 
I told you yesterday that I have been wearing white as much as possible lately. I'm sad that this may be the only time this season I wear this skirt. It's a new purchase that I got recently at a great deal. I've been wanting to add a white skirt to my wardrobe for quite some time, and finally did it. Even though it's late in the season, it will still be good for next year.
 
 I've also been wanting some single strap hot pink sandals, but it took me a while to come up with enough ways that I'd wear them to justify the purchase. It also took some time to find a pair that I thought I'd actually wear the most. I think this type is beautiful, but I wouldn't get the most wear out of a pair of four inch dressy heels. I can't wear them to work, so they would be weekend only. This lower heel will work much better for me.  Thanks to Shanna for linking them up in one of her posts.

Linking up here:



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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Red, white and blue



 
Blazer- Belk's option option option
Worn August 20, 2014
 
Another blogger pointed out yesterday that this is technically the last week to wear white. Um...I'm not ready for that. I know a lot of you are looking forward to fall and even experiencing it, but we had temps over 100 last week so I still have summer on the brain. And I still have summer dresses and outfits to wear. I can't seem to get around to them all because I can only wear some of them to church due to the restrictive conservative work dress code I'm required to follow. 
 
So... I'm not sure I'll follow the rules outside of work. I may keep wearing white even after next week.
 
I based this off this outfit that I pinned. I'd love to go with shirt tail out like the inspiration photo, but that might be frowned upon at work.
 
Linking here:
 





Monday, August 25, 2014

One blazer- three ways




 
Blazer- sears option
Blouse- Limited option
pants- JCPenney similar option
shoes- TJMaxx similar
earrings- gift option option
 
I bought this blazer on clearance for $7. The problem is I bought it when I didn't give much thought to purchases other than 1) it's cute and 2) it's cheap. I now try to think of at least three ways I can wear something to justify it's purchase, no matter the cost. I was beginning to think that maybe this piece should be donated or sold and then this outfit inspired me to wear it with this blush blouse (blouse worn here before.)
 
Below are two other ways I've worn it. I think there's a fourth way but it didn't make it to photos. The next challenge will be to branch outside the same color family.
 
 
 
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Friday, August 22, 2014

The last of the tired week



 
Blazer/ pants - Gap blazer option
blouse- Loft option option
necklace- thrifted option
bracelets- gifts option option
Worn August 13, 2014

I try not to complain much here, but I titled this post the way I did because I had such a hard week last week when I wore this outfit. I hope I don't have a week like that again anytime soon.

I am growing tired of my wardrobe but I know there are many combinations left in it. When this block hits, I turn to mixing basics. I've worn this top a couple of ways already, but saw an ad that made me think I need to try it with my black and navy suits. I picked the black one first. I think it will look better with navy. It's hard to tell what color it is. Due to lighting it looks more blue here, but other times it looks grey.

Have a great weekend!

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