The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 11

It rained most of the day here, but I didn't really take that into account when getting ready this morning. I just felt like wearing these fun colors today! Is anyone craving sherbet yet? 

Why I kept it:

I actually picked up this blouse on clearance at Impressions over the weekend. I knew it was a piece I loved, which is very important if I'm going to add something to my closet during the experiment, and that I would be able to wear it into fall. The green skinnies were an Old Navy clearance find from January. I kept them because of their yummy color.

Why I stopped wearing it:

Not an issue here.

How I styled it:

I have been wanting a long tassel necklace since last fall. The ones I saw in my price range (which is minimal for "play" jewelry) always had something I didn't like about them. But when I saw this beauty at Mint Sugar Boutique, I knew it was the one. I love that you can tie it any way you want. 

The verdict:

Loving all of these pieces! But the necklace may be my absolute favorite.

Photobomb by Crowder. Had to share.

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 10

Teacher in-service continues this week, with returning faculty joining the newbies today! We are still getting great information, I just wish I had a month to process it all. 

Why I kept it:

This dress is beyond comfortable. Hello, pockets! I think it's 4-5 years old, but I still love it. 

Why I stopped wearing it:

As I've said before, I don't wear dresses very often. But this one fits everything I want in a school-appropriate dress. 

How I styled it:

I couldn't wait to wear this cardigan! I got it this weekend at Impressions in Fayetteville. It was my first time to visit their store in person, after much online admiring, and I absolutely loved it! I wear a cardigan in the classroom almost everyday because I'm so cold natured, so this will get a lot of wear. I added my monogram necklace and tassel earrings from Mint Sugar Boutique. 

How I felt:

Perfect work outfit! 

The verdict:

The dress is a keeper. 

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 9

This is what I wore to church today. The dress code at my school just changed, and no one will be allowed to wear sleeveless shirts. Of course I can always add a cardigan, but I thought I might want to get a little more wear out of my sleeveless shirts on the weekends. 

Why I kept it:

Both the top and white jeans are from an H&M in Budapest. There are 4 H&M's in Budapest...FOUR. And Arkansas can't get one? Anyway, they bring back good memories of living in Hungary last summer.

Why I stopped wearing it:

Not really applicable here, but the top is so loud that I don't wear it extremely often. The bright colors and prints are definitely a trend, but both are still going strong enough for this top to be current a year later. I wear the pants quite a bit.

How I styled it:

I started with a white version of this necklace, but it wasn't right. I was glad I had the gray because it added a good punch.

How I felt:

This is a fun and comfortable outfit. It was a good way to celebrate my one year anniversary (a few days late) of coming back to the United States!

The verdict:

Staying.

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 8

I chose this comfortable t-shirt for some running around today. I bought fresh basil at the farmer's market, and I wish I could have snapped some pictures there. But I was by myself, so more pictures in my backyard! Yay. Seriously, y'all, taking pictures of yourself is just weird. And boring. Are all fashion bloggers married to photographers? And do they also have modeling backgrounds? Good thing I'm not trying to be a fashion blogger over here in my yard! Just a girl cleaning out her closet. And that's enough pressure for me.

Why I kept it:

Raise your hand if you're surprised that I kept a comfortable t-shirt that isn't actually a t-shirt. Anyone? Good. And green is my favorite color.

Why I stopped wearing it:

I never totally stopped wearing it, but it's not something I grab as a favorite. This shirt is probably about 3 years old.

How I styled it:

I tucked it in (two days in a row?!) and got to show off this leopard print belt, one of my favorite prints ever. And I love this longer necklace, which I've also had for a few years.

How I felt:

I was comfortable and happy while doing my shopping today. 

The verdict:

I want to keep this shirt, but to be honest it's seen better days. There are small pills all over the fabric, and maybe I should retire it. I'll have to think on this one.

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 7

I wish this was what I wore today. 

This is what I actually wore. I wanted to wear red, our school color, for an introduction video we filmed today, and this is the only one I have that isn't long sleeved or a t-shirt. But once I put on my red top and jeans, I lost the ability to think. Then it was time to leave. And I was stuck wearing this all day. When I got home, I didn't even want to take pictures for day 7. I thought about pretending today's clothes never happened, but then I challenged myself to march back into the closet and find a way to make this a little less boring.

Why I kept it:

I enjoy wearing red, but I don't have as much of it in my closet as I'd like. The color is probably the only reason why I kept this shirt. It's also somewhat slimming.

Why I stopped wearing it:

I'm not a huge fan of the sleeve shape.

How I styled it:

On my second attempt, I started by tucking in the top and adding a belt. I'm not sure when I last tucked in a shirt for a casual outfit, but it's been a while. I tried a different scarf and some necklaces before choosing this scarf. I also switched up the earrings and shoes.

How I felt:

I ended up really liking this outfit after taking some time to style it.

The verdict:

If I find another red top I like, I will probably donate this one. But I'm going to keep it for now because it's a good school spirit shirt.

The Wardrobe Challenge: Day 6

 I began new teacher in service today. Lots of sitting. Lots of notes. Lots of information overload. The key takeaway: we must teach the students of today, not the students of yesterday! Students are changing more quickly than our teaching methods. I have some big ideas for a curriculum overhaul in my classes, I'm just hoping I can figure out how to make all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. 

Crowder getting in on the picture taking :)

Why I kept it:
These are all pieces I wanted to keep and knew I would wear.
Why I stopped wearing it:
Not an issue here, but I hadn't worn these pieces together.
How I styled it:
Taking the time to add a simple necklace (that's probably more than five years old!) really made this feel like an "outfit" instead of just clothes. Obviously doing that wasn't a big deal, but it just goes to show how lazy I can be when I'm getting dressed in the mornings!
How I felt:
This was just right for school. And, surprise, surprise, I was comfortable!
The verdict:
Keepers!

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 5

On this final Monday before my contract begins, I had the pleasure of getting a TB skin test and turning in insurance forms. I didn't want to invest too much time or energy in getting ready to run these errands, so I threw up my hair. To save it from being totally boring, I added a headband. Once that was in place, I thought a little makeup wouldn't hurt. And by the time that was said and done, I figured I might as well put on "real" clothes. 

I  had every intention of staying in my favorite running shorts (mostly used for the opposite of running), but what's the point of having a closet full of clothes if I avoid wearing them? In addition to being thankful for what I have and deciding once and for all what stays and what goes, the wardrobe experiment is also causing me to make more of an effort to look and feel my best on a (somewhat) daily basis. 

Why I kept it:

I've had this black v-neck for several years, but I can't remember the last time I wore it. I kept it because it's a classic piece, and logic tells me it should come in handy at some point. I bought the striped capris in March and have worn them several times. 

Why I stopped wearing it:

If I want to wear a t-shirt, why not just grab one that's an XL and more suited for use as pajamas? Seriously though, this t-shirt is every bit as comfortable as any other t-shirt I own, so there's no good reason why I avoided it for so long. 

How I styled it:

I'm all about simplicity in fashion. Nothing too fussy or forced. But I'm trying to stretch myself (even if only a tiny bit), so I wore this with a headband, stud earrings, monogram initial necklace, and bangles.

How I felt:

I felt relatively comfortable (I'm so used to wearing flats!) and happy with this outfit. 

The verdict:

These pieces will be staying!

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 4

I wore this to church and to do some shopping with my mom this afternoon. I felt very comfortable yet put together. The top is a lightweight, silky fabric, and it was perfect for the humid weather we're still fighting. 

Why I kept it: 

I bought this top at The Loft outlet over spring break (four months ago), but I hadn't worn it yet. Again, it wasn't a difficult decision to decide to keep it. 

Why I stopped wearing it:

Well, I never actually started wearing it. There isn't a particular reason why, other than the fact that there are other tops in my closet that jump out to me more, so I re-wear those again and again instead of grabbing something different. 

How I styled it:

I added two necklaces and simple stud earrings and called it a day for accessories. I wore it with my favorite pair of jeans and Toms ballet flats.

How I felt:

This is the best I've felt since starting the wardrobe experiment. This outfit fits my style perfectly. It's comfortable (I'm sounding like a broken record, I know), appropriate to wear while teaching, and still has some touches of style that are a step up from a t-shirt. 

The verdict:

Absolutely a keeper; I felt confident all day. This is how clothes should always make you feel! 

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 3

Today I needed a casual outfit for bowling and arcade games with our niece. Can I be honest? It was super hard not to put on a t-shirt. I like the idea of looking nice, but I love the idea of being comfortable. I'm probably entirely too close to becoming one of those people on What Not To Wear that live in sweatpants and decade old t-shirts. 

Why I kept it:

I bought this shirt on clearance for about $8 in July, so it's actually not an item that I struggled with when deciding whether to keep or donate pieces. 

Why I stopped wearing it:

Not really applicable here, but I hadn't worn it yet because I wasn't sure how I wanted to style it. 

How I styled it:

This white belt was another clearance find, and the shorts are a year or two old. I needed to be able to move a lot in this outfit, so I didn't want the styling to be too constrictive. 

How I felt:

I love this cobalt color paired with white, but I usually avoid wearing shorts when I want to look presentable. I just don't find them to be very flattering on me. But the humidity today meant that shorts were definitely the most practical choice. 

The verdict:

I'll keep both of these pieces. 

The Wardrobe Experiment: Day 2

Oh, the joys of summer break--I can stay in shorts and a t-shirt on most days! But I did have a reason to choose an actual outfit today because we hosted a cookout for the third and fourth year medical students. I was leaning toward wearing shorts and a top, but my seven year old niece is staying with us for a few days and she wanted to wear this adorable maxi dress:

She also wanted our outfits to coordinate. Enter this maxi dress that I last wore for Easter 2012 (also the only previous time I wore it).

Why I kept it:

I love the patterns and colors in this dress. I would also feel wasteful getting rid of a dress that I'd only worn once. 

Why I stopped wearing it:

The halter neckline makes this impractical for my everyday wardrobe.

How I styled it:

This dress makes a pretty bold statement, so I didn't add much to it. I did put on some gold bracelets and earrings with a bohemian hairstyle that echoes the "free spirit" style of the dress. 

How I felt:

I thought I would be extremely overdressed for the cookout, but it actually wasn't too much. It was also stifling outside, so the dress allowed me to stay as cool as possible. 

The verdict:

This dress will stay in my wardrobe. The prints/colors are still stylish, and for the right occasion, it's a good piece to have.