30 for 30: April 2015 recap

Ta da!

All of my 30 outfits, in one place. Just what you were hoping for on a beautiful Colorado Saturday morning :)

day 1 // day 2 + 3 // day 4 // day 5

What have I learned completing this challenge FOUR (4! yes, FOUR!) times now?

day 6 // day 7 // day 8 + 9 // day 10 

It's important to pick items that go (not match, just go). All black, all gray, all brown, all blue, etc. But it's also important to have a few items that require creativity. Prints, layers, things I might not normally pair together, or items I don't wear that often because I'm stumped on how to style them.

day 11 + 12 // day 13 + 14 // day 15 

This challenge always reinforces to me that less is more. Truly, truly, truly. 

Case in point: I created almost 30 different outfits with 30 items, including shoes and light jackets. 

I've got plans to go through my wardrobe (yet again) and pare down even more. I recently switched out my winter items for my spring & summer clothes. I thought I had more winter clothes than summer, but, nope. Turns out I have more summer clothes - they take up significantly more space in my closet than my winter clothes, except for my sweaters...riddle me that.

day 16 // day 17 + 18 // day 19 + 20

I also unearthed that the next time I do this challenge, I don't want to include light jackets/outerwear in my 30 items. And here's why - I tend to wear those jackets to & from somewhere, not during whatever activity I'm doing (usually working). So, from here on out, blazers are part of the 30, but faux leather jackets are not. Either are heavy winter coats, down vests, ski jackets, or things that I will take off once I enter my destination/layers that go OVER my clothes, that are designed to keep me warm. Follow?

day 21 + 22 // day 23 // day 24 + 25

Additionally, it's hard to dress for spring. Is it going to be warm? Cold? Why am I wearing so many dark colors in the spring? Why won't winter go away? Is it going to snow? I don't want to wear a heavy sweater, but it's less than 40 degrees right now. I could wear skirts and dresses, but I'm trying to move past tights for this season. The struggle is real, folks.

#springtimeintheRockies

day 26 + 27 // day 28 // day 29 + 30

So, there you have it. This time wasn't quite AS eye-opening as previous challenges, BUT it did reinforce what I already know, and serve as a great reminder of those lessons.

What's your favorite outfit from my 30? I've got a few:

day 1 //  day 4 // day 6 // day 15 // day 30

And some least favorites...

day 3 // day 5 // day 21 // day 26

See my 30 items here

Thank you for reading!

30 for 30: day 29 + day 30

The last two-fer, for the last two outfits in my April 30 for 30 style challenge. So, sit back, relax, sip that glass of wine, and continue to wait on the edge of your seat for my recap of these 30 outfits (you'll be waiting a few days. Did I mention I'm running a half marathon on Sunday morning?

because I am...)

day 29

These tights didn't photograph so well - they look more puke-green than in their packaging from Old Navy. Disappointing.

BUT

Never fear. One of my favorite dresses, my favorite boots, and a new necklace make for a redeeming outfit.

blue sweatshirt dress: J. Crew Factory

green tights: Old Navy

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

navy floral scarf: Target

necklace: WalMart

day 30

The last one. Not to read too much into this and create some meaning out of something that is probably pretty insignificant, but this is one of my favorite outfits. Not just for this month.

But EVER.

Polka dots, leopard, skinnies, flats + a faux leather jacket. I mean...

Do I have to say it?

All of my favorite things. Together. In one outfit.

And the print-mixing. This cardigan. This shirt.

LOVE.

 (apparently I've lost the ability to speak in complete sentences. excuse me. Friday?)

leopard print button up: WalMart

polka dot cardigan: J. Crew Factory

dark skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

black flats: Target

faux leather jacket: Target

Lilly

I shopped the Lilly Pulitzer for Target line last Sunday. And by shopped it, I mean I was in line before 8 am. Only to have a lot of other over-caffeinated ladies swarm the racks and tear it all bare, like how I imagine a shark's feeding frenzy would look to an observant ocean-dweller.

For real though, by the time I got to the clothing racks, all gone. And all the people ladies were reaching all over each other, and hangers were flying like crazy (slight over-dramatization, but not much).

My friends and I circled the store a few more times, and then creepily hung out by the fitting rooms for any cast-offs in our size.

No such luck.

However, we're resourceful young ladies, so we drove to the store the next town over. And we had much more luck there. We had so much luck, that we took our time perusing the brightly-printed items, and some lady came up right behind us and grabbed all the articles of clothing off the racks, regardless of size. Then she made a beeline for the outdoor section for the houseware items, and proceeded to literally wipe the table clean by sliding all the items into one of her three carts.

It was nuts. Nuts, I tell you. Target stores sold out of Lilly in not just days, or hours, but MINUTES. Li-ch-erally. MINUTES. I love Lilly, and I know a few fellow devotees, but even I was surprised by the number of fellow enthusiasts located in Northern Colorado (it's cold here. there's no beaches. no palm trees. I digress).

Whatever your thoughts on Target's designer collaborations or people reselling the items on eBay, the prints are great, and the price point was impeccable.

And now *drumroll please* I present to you, my newest additions to my Lilly collection.

All my spoils, minus a tray that's pictured below.
Beach bag, scarf, cosmetic bag, fancy headband, clutch, and a few articles of clothing.

Unfortunately, I have yet to wear the shorts, romper, and top, as it's been a bit too cold here in Colorado for fun summer clothes (soon!).

Confession: that romper is a child's size. Yes, yes, I DID scour the little girl's rack and find something that fits me (when being short pays off! finally!). Don't worry - not wearing it to work or for when I need to look like a grown-up, just for weekend romping.

And this scarf - I've already worn it at least twice, and gotten tons of compliments on the color and print. The blue clutch made its first appearance this weekend at a ZTA Alumni event, and the beach bag is going to be perfect for a cruise this summer.

This tray. The one thing I was able to salvage from the afore-mentioned-lady's cart. And I LOVE it. It's called a tray, but I'm finding all sorts of uses for it - koozie holder, remote control station, multiple candle-holding dish, etc. etc.

Sooooo, did you shop Lilly for Target? If so, what were you able to find at your store??

30 for 30: day 28

day 28

Black and white. And gray all over.

So many shades of black/white/gray. Love it.

Lately, I'm really loving throwing a blazer over the top of something to complete my look. And this blazer really hits the mark - it's gray, with white piping, and a ponte knit, so it's pretty warm. Casual, comfortable, yet stylish and slightly professional.

black & white buffalo plaid: Old Navy

gray blazer: Aéropostale

black skinnies: Target

black flats: Target

linking up at

Book of Leisure

Pampers & Pearls

Vintage Gwen

Tucker Up

Cappuccino and Fashion

Classy Yet Trendy

Shopping My Closet

Pumps & Push Ups

Fizz & Frosting

Sydney Fashion Hunter

30 for 30: day 26 + day 27

Twofer! Twofer!

Hope your week is off to a smooth start, friends. 

day 26

Here's some serious print mixing - stripes, Lilly, and dots! Ta da! I needed a little extra warmth in this dress, so I layered a striped shirt under my newest Lilly dress. And it appears my dress shrunk a wee bit in the wash...

dress: Lilly Pulitzer

striped tee: thrifted (Target)

faux leather jacket: c/o Aéropostale

flats: Target

day 27

I got told I looked a bit Grease-esque in this ensemble. And at first, I thought "No way." But the more I look at it, the more I think yes. Not quite Sandra Dee, not quite Danny Zuko. Somewhere in the middle, I guess.

Race you for pinks?

black shirt: Eddie Bauer

dark skinnies: Aéropostale

black faux leather jacket: Target

black flats: Target

linking up over at A Touch of Tartan

30 for 30: day 24 + day 25

day 24

Since I've already worn this cardigan with this pencil skirt this month, I tried something a little different this time around- I wore this cardigan as a shirt. I buttoned it all the way up, and tucked it into my skirt. I paired it with black ankle booties, and of course, my black faux leather jacket, to "toughen it up" a bit. And it's something I'm pretty into.

black & white polka dot cardigan: J. Crew Factory

pencil skirt: J. Crew Factory

faux leather jacket: Target

black ankle booties: Kohl's

statement necklace: Walmart

day 25

Here we have some (extreme) print mixing. Leopard up top, and stripes on the bottom. Not just a small piece, or an accessory here or there. I went all out. All leopard, and all stripes. And while I love the idea of this, the shirt didn't tuck in so nicely into my skirt, so this outfit (or some variation) is going to be revisited. And soon.

leopard button up: WalMart

striped skirt: Target

faux leather jacket: Target

pointy toe flats: Target

30 for 30: day 23

day 23

All the blacks and grays! All of them! I kinda dig it…but I know...

It’s spring!

The sun is shining!

The flowers are blooming!

The grass and the trees are green!

And that’s all correct. Except for when it snows. And when it does snow in the spring, something like this outfit is pretty perfect.

black chambray: Old Navy

black cardigan: Maurice's

gray skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

black ankle booties: Kohl's