7 items

In an effort to switch things up around here, the Mr. and I had the idea for him to help me with a “style challenge,” of sorts. He chose 7 items, and I had to figure out how to wear them, all in 7 days. There was to be no repeating, and I could not double up items in 1 day.

So, 7 different items to style, in 7 days. Sounds easy, right? Shouldn’t be TOO difficult. I mean, it wasn’t IMPOSSIBLE, but it wasn’t as easy as just throwing on what I want to wear every day. However, I did it! And he even gave me 1 easy item – my running shoes, since this week happened to include my most recent half marathon.

Here are the 7 items he chose, and a little blurb of information from him (below). The next several posts will show how I styled these items, and his rationale behind choosing each of them for me: the jeans he’s always liked (they’re from high school), the brown shoes & blue plaid belt, I hardly wear, and the running shoes, so I could run my race.

button up shirt: Aéropostale
dress: from a friend
sequined skirt: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's
jeans: American Eagle
belt: American Eagle

running shoes: Mizuno via Zappos (Mizuno Wave Inspire 10)
loafers: MIA

From the Mr: 
"I got to pick 7 items out of Annie’s closet and she had to create an outfit with each of them for the next 7 days. I debated playing a mean joke and picking out swim suits and winter jackets, but I guess the nice side of me won and I picked the above 7 items for her to work with. I tried to give her a bit of a challenge, and threw in a couple of easy ones as well. I think she pulled off each outfit like the beautiful, stylish, and confident woman I know her to be."

I’m really into the idea of challenging myself when it comes to my wardrobe and this blog, especially lately. It’s so easy for me to fall into the trap of wailing “I have nothing to wear!” But being forced to flex my creativity within certain confines/”rules” really makes me look at what I already have in a whole new way. For example: having 7 items I could wear in any order, but having to style them, all in a week’s time span, made me evaluate more of the items still hanging in my closet.

All of that being said, I’m completing another 30 for 30 Challenge for the month of October – I’m currently completing it, but am backlogged with other outfits to share, so look for those later this month. The “rules” are about the same – maybe 1 or 2 tweaks to what I’ve done in the past.

If you know of any other fashion/style challenges I should try, please share! I’m really interested in hearing if anyone else (besides style/fashion bloggers) does this, or if you have any great ideas to share with me – I really like having to stretch my mind and closet, as well as get creative in how I make my closet really “work for me."

transitioning the other way, part 6

The last of my (spring) transitional looks as we head into fall. But the principles are the same – layers, and a mix of warmer & colder weather clothes. If you’re in and out of doors like I am, layers are key. So, when you don’t want to freeze in the morning, but you don’t want to sweat all afternoon due to crazy temperature fluctuations – wear some layers.

And try mixing and matching the last of your summer wardrobe with sweaters and light jackets.

Or try a sundress with a scarf.

Or something summery with booties.

Because, come January, we know we’ll all be itching to ditch the sweaters and boots…

shirt: Old Navy

cardigan: Aéropostale

jeans: thrifted (True Religion)

sandals: Target

transitioning the other way, part 5

More layering, more dark(er) colors, some studs, and leopard print.

Whenever the seasons shift, it takes me a few weeks to really get into my groove. This outfit is a perfect example – it was May. Yet I wore dark colors and layers like it was fall (technically it’s fall now, though…). Sometimes I want to wear sandals when it’s snowing, or sweaters with shorts when Spring is finally here! Whattt?

studded shirt: Old Navy

chambray: Kohl’s

scarf: WalMart

black skinnies: Aéropostale

sandals: Shoe Carnival

transitioning the other way, part 4

Can you believe I wore tights and booties and a scarf in May? I couldn’t either…but *sigh*, I did. Because it was cold. And very windy, as you can tell by my flyaway hair and scarf. The booties and tights and scarves are prepped and ready for their comeback this fall. My goal is to wear more dresses and skirts this fall & winter, because wearing pants all day, every day, can get old. Fast. That’s when I stand in front of my closet and say “I have nothing to wear!” and then go out and buy cheap stuff I don’t love, that I’ll wear once, that isn’t really ME.

I’m trying to “curate” my closet and my style – it’s a VERY slow process (for me, anyways), but I feel as though I’m really making progress! I’ve gotten rid of A LOT of items that I liked, but was never excited to wear. I’ve also boxed up some things that I love, but currently don’t fit (too big – and with how often my weight fluctuates, I’m very hesitant to get them tailored). I’ve sorted my closet by “colder weather” and “warmer weather” – some items are in both categories and that’s fine. This just forces me to be aware of what I’m keeping in front of me, and what gets put away until next summer/winter. Part of the reason for this “practice” is that I’ll be SO excited to wear my sandals next spring when I haven’t seen them all winter. I put them in a different room and closet for that reason, and also so that when I’m getting dressed and it’s -20 and snowing out, I’m not distracted by sandals and shorts, and end up convincing myself that I “have nothing to wear.”

Interested in hearing more about how I’m “curating” my closet and style? If so, let me know and I’ll come up with more to share :)

dress: Old Navy

jacket: from a friend (Old Navy Outlet)

tights: Old Navy

booties: Old Navy

scarf: gift (but also from Old Navy…)

transitioning the other way, part 3

Here, again, with more sweaters and scarves. Are you getting a sense that the weather here in Colorado is screwy? I mean, really, I don’t think anyone ever REALLY puts away their snow boots or North Face jackets – they just simply hang behind the shorts and sundresses, still easily accessible should we get snow in June...

But anyways, here’s a cardigan and scarf over a tee, with jeans. Layers easily put on when it’s chilly, and then taken off again when it gets too warm.

shirt: Old Navy

sweater: Aéropostale

scarf: Walmart

jeans: Aéropostale

transitioning the other way, part 2

This outfit was an attempt at dressing for warmer weather, but with the colder weather clothes that were still front-and-center in my closet. So, a ¾ sleeve striped shirt, light-weight green jacket, skinnies, and flats with strawberries on them.

I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this outfit and the next couple are from back in May – feels like so many things have changed, yet so many have stayed the same…

- I’m now a redhead (of sorts)

- these jeans (and several others) are big on me since I’ve been running

- we lost our sweet Cali girl

- I got a promotion at work

- the Mr.’s work has continued to be a rollercoaster

- one best friend had a baby, and is now a mother

- another best friend moved to my city, and we see each other a lot more regularly than we have in a long time

- I got to see another best friend and her son, and friends, and family in Florida for the 4^th of July

- I ran a 10k and another half marathon with my Dad (more to come on that soon)

- I gained more Instagram, Twitter & Bloglovin followers

- I deepened some existing friendships and relationships, and developed new ones

- I spent lots of time determining what makes me truly happy, and am trying to do/experience more of that

- I still curl my hair like this

- I still like to wear blue (makes my eyes POP!)

- I’m trying to adopt the idea of simplicity into many areas of my life, with the hope that it will spill over into everything

Needless to say, this past summer, and past year, has been a season of growth and change.
What about for you?

shirt: thrifted (French Connection)

jacket: thrifted (Land’s End)

jeans: Aéropostale

flats: Keds

transitioning the other way, part 1

I’ve got 6 outfits from this past spring I never shared here. They’re “transitional” outfits (worn during icky rain-y spring weather), and by the time I would have posted them, we were well into the warmer days of June, so I decided to save them for fall. Because who wants to look at jeans&sweaters and tights&booties when it’s 90 degrees and sunny? Now that we’re slipping into 80 and 70 degree territory, I think it’s safe…

This first one is nothing special: jeans, v-neck, cardigan and sandals. But I remember being so excited to wear finally wear sandals! And not having to wear my cardigan the whole day! Here in Colorado, it feels like winter lasts from October to May (we got snow on Mother’s Day this past year), so breaking out sandals and shorts and light layers is such a treat.

shirt: Old Navy

cardigan: Hollister via Plato’s Closet

jeans: thrifted (True Religion)

sandals: Target