30 Day Wardrobe Challenge

Identify What You Will Need

(1) How many items can you wear? Some challenges are more restrictive than others. My first and third wardrobe remix, for example, only allowed 6 items, but the one in-between allowed 30 items. And, of course, you can always create your own!

(2) Opt for variety! During my first challenge, I was bored out of my mind after about 2 weeks because I didn't plan well enough when I chose what I would wear.

For any challenge, you are going to want a combination of tops and bottoms that mix and match easily so you can create more outfits with them. If the weather or your location permits, a couple of jackets or cardigans will help to maximize your wardrobe, giving you more outfit options.

(3) Choose your favorite pieces. Especially for your first challenge, having clothes you love to wear will make it much more fun and rewarding.

How Practical is It?

What have you got planned, so far, for your 30-day wardrobe challenge?

One of the things I learned about my personal style as I participated in my very first Six Items or Less 30 day wardrobe challenge is that I love the feel of skirts and dresses, and I love the way I look and feel in them. In fact, it felt like I loved them best!

So, at the time, I was thinking that I should probably fill my wardrobe with almost nothing but dresses and skirts. But there was one thing wrong with that thought.

Making that drastic a change would not be practical. Wearing nothing but dresses or skirts does not really fit my lifestyle as a homeschooling write-at-home personal style blogger who leaves the house to go to church, to run errands or to hang out with family or friends.

Finally, I realized that no matter how much I love skirts and dresses, if I fill my wardrobe with them but almost never wear them because they feel "too dressy" for my lifestyle, then I won't have created a realistic signature style. So what does that mean about my love affair with dresses and skirts?

It means that if I want to build a collection of dresses and skirts, I need to do so slowly and gradually, paying close attention to how they fit my lifestyle. Which means quite a few of them need to be comfortable and casual so I don't look strange wearing them to the grocery store. But it also means that my wardrobe will need at least a couple of pairs of pants for those days that wearing a dress or skirt just isn't practical.

So when I choose them, they should be as casual as possible, but should not make up the bulk of my wardrobe.

What Does That Mean for You?

Well, how many do you need? Keep your lifestyle in mind as you put together your plan for a 30 day wardrobe challenge or for your wardrobe, in general.

Think in terms of what you do each day and what special occasions may be coming up. It may mean thinking ahead about what you're going to wear to the wedding instead of waiting until the last minute, but you'll be glad you did when the time comes and you've included something appropriate to wear.

Go Crazy with Accessories

No, I don't mean drown yourself in them everyday. But do allow them to add flair to the outfits you create. You will be amazed at what a pretty scarf or necklace or brightly-colored pair of tights or a different pair of shoes can do to transform the same darn jeans-and-shirt combo into a new and exciting outfit.

Many style experts suggest that your wardrobe, in general, should be 2/3 accessories and 1/3 clothes. Which means you can minimize your wardrobe during a 30-day wardrobe challenge and still look fantastic.

Save Some for Later

During my first challenge, it came to me that if I had only reserved a piece for the last week or two of the challenge, that would have helped tremendously to keep me interested. Put aside a jacket or shirt for later in the challenge.

In the current Six Items or Less 30-day wardrobe challenge, many of the participants didn't even choose all their items right away, leaving some excitement for the last two weeks and working with four pieces or five.