The Challenge Wrap-up

Well May is over and I was (mostly) successful in wearing all the items from The Challenge. The only thing I did not wear was item #5. When I started the challenge, I did not realize it would become blazing hot on the East Coast. Once the blaze of summer began, the thought of putting on the long sleeve shirt was out of the question. At least with the jacket, I could take it off!

So, not bad if you ask me. And the verdict on the items? Lets see them in review, shall we?

(Loved these dresses! Will wear them often this summer and fall)

 (Shirt on the left did not make the cut)

 

 (I didn't wear the shirt on the left but I did wear the jacket twice!)

 

(Still on the fence about the the blue skirt but the other two are definite keepers!)

 

 

 I had a lot of fun doing this (self-imposed) challenge. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the shear amount of clothes I own that it was nice the narrow down the morning (or sometimes afternoon) search for an outfit. I am really thinking about doing another one of these dealing with accessories!

An Easy Ending

Shorts (challenge item #7) Thrifted:: Top/ Old Navy:: Scarf/Gift from J:: Sandals/Kohls:: Bangles/Target. F21

This is my last outfit from the challenge. I actually wore these short a few times undocumented. I can't believe how much I ended up loving them!

This is one of my favorite scarves. I feel a little bad saying this because when you have so many scarves that it hard to say this is really your favorite. But it is. J is the best gift-giver and he gave me this beautiful scarf for my birthday last year. This should automatically make me bias toward this scarf but I have other reasons, too. This scarf has all of my favorite colors strategically arranged making this scarf combine perfectly with just about every piece in my wardrobe. It is also very light weight, making it a great multi-seasonal piece. And for the girl who would wear scarfs all year round, this makes it a big winner.

The bangles. They're back in a big way. For whatever reason, I equate bangles with summer, which seems slightly odd seeing how, depending on the bangle can feel bulky. But I don't care. Love me some bangles. I would also like to note that I was not lying about the sparkly shorts. 

Well, that wraps up The Challenge outfits. A recap is coming up!

Nationals and Generals

Skirt (Challenge item #9)/Old Navy:: Tank top, necklace, bangles/Target:: Sandals/Kohls

This outfit was a surprising hit with the husband (Surprising, because I thought the skirt bordered on "Old LadyAttire"). Which is good because upon wearing this skirt, I discovered that it is probably the most comfortable skirt in the world.

This outfit, with my trusty jean jacket, went with me and J on an unexpected trip to the local bar to watch the Nationals game. I picked J up from work and off we went to drink beer, eat crab (seasoned) chips and watch the Nationals play a sad game against the Phillies. We blamed the pitcher (you know, because we could clearly do better than his attempts to get the ball over the base in strike formation) but our pitchers of beer kept us happy despite the poor showing by the Nationals. 

When the chips were no longer sufficient, the bartender suggested we order chinese. So we did. General Tso's and Curry Chicken arrived to the us, bellied up to the bar. It was glorious. Beer, chinese food and TV (we don't have one at home). We were even provided plates and utensils (our food came with none. Not even a pair of chopsticks!) by our friend behind the bar. And there we sat making all the patrons green with envy. 

A pretty good night, if you ask me. 

Sunday Best

Dress: (Challenge item # 2) and belt/Target:: Heeled Loafers/DSW

Wore this to church on Sunday. Actually, I wore this to church two Sundays ago. This Sunday was spent at the office with J. He had a project to finish and instead of staying home, I just hopped on the metro and went in with him. I love going in to work with J. I love being in his office and watching him work away on his two computer screens. I was definitely not as productive as he was. While he was typing up a report, I took a nap, wrote some blog posts and ate snacks. If you are now imagining "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" you would have an accurate image of the day. I was about three minutes away from doodling pictures and running around the halls playing hide and seek in the empty offices. 

I have fond memories of this "holiday". My dad took me to work several times when I was little. He worked at a bank in downtown Chicago. I loved riding the Metra with him and being in the Big City. One year, the bank put on an actual event for the kiddos. My memory is a bit fuzzy but I'm pretty sure they had the kids learn about occupations like interior design, you know, something really practical. (It is no wonder that kids who grew up in the 90's believe that they could do anything...Interior Design? Really?) After that visit, my dollhouse was never the same. It became my "work" because, of course, after hearing a lady talk about interior design for half an hour, I believed I was destined to be an interior designer. I had it in my head that if I could practice designing my dollhouse, I would soon be discovered and my career would take off at the ripe old age of 13. 

Obviously, this dream did not pan out. If you saw the last three places I've lived, you would know why. I actually have little to no ability to design spaces. And keeping those spaces clean and organized is a whole other matter. 

A Simple Fix

 Top (Challenge item# 4) Thrifted (Charlotte Russe Brand):: Necklace/Swapped:: Rockstar Jeggings/ Old Navy:: Wedge Sandals:: Moto Sweater/Target

I liked this outfit. Although not the most practical outfit in the world, it was fun to wear an unexpected piece for an average day of “facilitating”. I’m pretty Charlotte Russe would consider this item of theirs a dress but, on me, it is definitely a top. I think this item was also meant for someone with a flat chest as the elastic band where they considered the waist to be was a little too close to the ladies. 

It was an easy fix. I simply removed the elastic gathering at the “waist” to have more control over where the waist should be. Normally, I would belt this top (it came with one) but on this particular day, I didn’t feel like have anything clinging to my body. So I let it go. (Sorry Stacey and Clinton!) 

I quite liked it this way, as it allowed the top to feel more casual for a day of running errands and teaching prep (lots of reading) for the fall. 

The major problem I had with this top was how much it made me perspire. But now that I know it is easy to layer, I might hold off and wear it more in the cooler months. I might give it a whirl with shorts next week. Since I don’t have many tops in this challenge, I will probably have to wear it again.

What do you think? With shorts? As just a top with a skirt? 

Summer of Arms

Dress (Challenge item #1), belt/Target:: Necklace/Swapped:: Sandals/DSW

I have declared this summer the “Summer of Arms”. No, I will not be taking up arms but, rather, embracing the exposure of my arms to the world. If there were one area of my body I would gladly cover with clothing all the time it would be my arms. 

From shoulder to wrist, I find my arms to bit of a problem. They flub, they blub and thanks to a lovely condition called Rosacea they are red and blotchy most of the time. My love for the colder months is very practical. Colder months = layers and that means covered arms. So it no surprise to those who are close to me that I dread the warmer months because of their forced removal of my protective sartorial layers.

Since J and I have moved to the east coast, an area known for some seriously oppressive summer weather, I decided that I have no choice but to embrace the inevitable and bear a little arm. And since no place in DC is without AC I can still bring that security-blanket/cardigan to cover up when out of the heat zone.

This dress is my declaration of the “Summer of Arms”. Right off the bat, I received a boost of confidence when J told me how nice I looked and how much he liked the dress. Boost of confidence from my love? I’ll take it!

This dress was purchased last fall (on super sale). After some minor fixes (taking out the unnecessary elastic waistband and taking in the area under the arms, I can say with confidence that I will be wearing this dress for many days to come. It is so comfortable, almost like wearing pajamas as a dress and is the perfect blanket pallet to remix accessories with. 

Sticking with it

Jacket (Challenge item #6):: Top/Old Navy:: Jeans, Necklace/Thrifted:: Sandals/Kohls:: Purse/H&M

The jacket scores again! I completely loved this outfit. I met J for drinks after work on Friday before hanging out with friends. I felt completely comfortable (no body temp panics) and totally put together downtown with a sea of suits, slacks and swagger. This top is so breezy and the coral color gives pop without being obnoxious. Coupled with my favorite bird cage necklace, I think safe to say that this has been one my favorite outfits as of late.

 

I don’t show many outfits photos with purses for one pretty simple reason. This is pretty much the only purse I ever use. Ever. It doesn’t matter if it goes with what I’m wearing or not (although it usually does). I have never been much a purse girl so when I find one I like, I stick with it.

 Lately, I have been on the hunt for a clutch. But my hunt seems a bit fruitless. Where am I going to find a clutch that fits all my essentials?(oversized wallet, makeup bag that I barely use but want to keep with me, small notebook, snacks, brush, 1,294 pens, change, gum, mints, smart trip card, lotion, sunglasses, receipts, keys oh and my laptop and charger oh and sometimes J’s items, too) If I may say, that would be one clutch clutch. 

Try it. Trade it

Top (Challenge item #4):: Tank top/Target:: Jeans, necklace/Thrifted:: Sandals/DSW

Ugh, this top. There is a reason I have avoided wearing this shirt. Let me start by saying that I bought it with good intentions. As I have mentioned before, the mantra of “defined waistline” follows me through out the day. I’m not sure if it is brought on my an irrational fear of running into Stacey and Clinton and them putting me directly in the 360 mirror but in case it is with me like white on rice. So when I find shirts that provide that defined waist while also being ideal for warm weather months, I get pretty excited. This top fit that description and was on super sale, so I tried it on, imagined it's wearability with pants, skirts, shorts and happily bought it confident of (or, at least envisioning) the many wears it would get in the spring/summer months.

And then wear-reality sets in with its awkward drape and the strange v-shaped, billowy “sleeve”. And even my go-to solution of “just add a layer” doesn’t work because when you throw a cardigan over this top, the drapey sleeve being even more awkward under the sweater. Even tucked in, this top still makes me feel even more awkward than I already am.

So this top is definitely going in the consignment pile. I did my duty. I wore the top. And now I can safely say I will never be wearing it again.

In light of this, I am adding a rule to my challenge:

4. Once I’ve worn an item, and it has proven not worthy of continued possession, I am allowed to trade out that item for recently purchased item. Seems fair, right? (See, it works because the new item has also not seen any wear, so it can still be considered an unworn item. Ha! I’m so sneaky. But really it’s my challenge and I’ll trade out clothes if I want to..)

I like this new rule. 

The Short of it

"Work horse" blue top, meet white shorts. You two should get along nicely....

Shorts (item #7), Scarf/Thrifted :: Top/Old Navy :: Belt/F21 :: Sandals/ Kohls

This outfit was pretty easy to put together. I wear this top a lot, though I have only managed to document a few outfits with it. That said, it was pretty easy to check off these short from the list with this top. I have no real objections to these shorts. I just don’t really like shorts. I’m not really sure what possessed me to buy white shorts (they actually sparkle. Weird) but here I am, the proud(?) owner of them.

On this day, it was venturing into the quite warm degrees and seemed an appropriate day to give them a go. I have to say, they were not too bad, as shorts go. They are actually lined, which is kindof nice, and necessary as they are practically see-through.

 

But seriously, let’s talk about this top. I love this top. I pretty much dread the summer months (I sweat. A lot. An embarrassing amount, in fact) so my summer shirts have to be able to withstand my constant body temp changes. This shirt is really good at that. It also billows nicely, which means I can wear it belted or undone and it still looks good. I rarely wear it unbelted seeing how I have Stacey and Clinton constantly in my head screaming “WAIST DEFINITION!”

 

I bought this scarf because, as my last few (ok most) posts will attest to, I love scarfs and anything navy. Plus…POLKA DOTS! To be honest, I actually haven’t worn it much. It a big scarf and so I’ve had to find creative ways to tie it up. This was my most successful attempt.  I think my next challenge should be an accessory challenge. I think my scarfs, jewelry and shoes would like that. 

And The Challenge  continues...