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As of today, I am officially two thirds of the way through the Wear Everything Challenge -- which only means that February is over, not that I've worn two thirds of my closet. For sixty days, I've been relying only on what I already own when I get dressed, and while I will admit that there have been days when I have hated every single thing in my closet, I've learned an interesting thing about personal style: repetition is the key to having a signature look.
What do I mean? Simply this: when you are wearing the same things over and over, you develop a look that is distinctly yours, one that people recognize and associate with you.
I'll give you an example: my husband is not one to notice what I wear; he is more likely to gaze at me on a Saturday afternoon and say, "Have you showered today?" I'm not sure if that's more a testament to my typically low-maintenance look or to his preoccupation with other things, but either way I find it totally charming.
This winter, I've been wearing my boots quite a lot, mostly tucked into my skinny jeans. It's warm and practical and a little spiffier than jeans and driving mocs (especially since my driving mocs have seen better days, honestly). And recently, my husband, who couldn't tell you what my wedding gown looked like other than to say, "It was white, right?" -- my husband said, "I like those jeans, especially with your boots. That's a good look for you."
You could have knocked me over with a feather.
My point, though, is this: when you wear something regularly and consistently -- jeans and boots, or a big necklace, or a belt with everything -- it becomes your style. Eventually, then, it becomes a part of your persona, rather than a look that you are trying out. People remember the whole look, rather than just your blouse or shoes, and they associate that look with you. When you are relying on what you already own rather than constantly shopping, you have an opportunity to put the best pieces in your closet to work -- the ones that fit well and make you feel good -- and develop a distinct personal style.
The second thing I've learned from this project is that I have some really great things in my closet, pieces I was saving for some special occasion. In the fall, I bought a beautiful pair of pink silk ballet flats; I brought them home and put them away and waited for the right occasion to get them out. Which was never, apparently. When I finally found an event special enough to warrant the pink silk shoes, I got dozens of compliments on them, and I started to wonder what exactly I was saving them for. Now I've been pulling them out to wear everywhere, because why not? They're comfortable and pretty and who doesn't love hearing, "Those are GREAT shoes!"
Finally, I've discovered that I have some big gaps in my closet, specifically in the Casual Weekend Wear category. I have two sons, and our weekends are chock full of birthday parties and basketball games and crafts and light saber duels in the driveway. Stacy and Clinton are always outfitting WNTW participants with cute little skirts and jackets for weekends, but honestly, that's too dressed up for my weekend. This week I broke down and bought a pair of leather Keds, because I had been wearing a pair of three-year-old running shoes with my yoga pants, and frankly, that wasn't cutting it.
I'm not the only one who has been digging around -- literally and metaphorically -- in the closet.
Dearest Mable has been thinking about the Wear Everything Challenge, and had what I think is a brilliant insight: "You’ll find that your wardrobe is far larger and much more narrow than you had ever expected, that you were totally right and completely wrong when you said that you had nothing to wear, and that there is an intense amount of satisfaction and happiness to be found in putting together a smart, imaginative outfit in a blend of colors you thought could never go together." I think that sums up my experience perfectly, particularly the bit about how my wardrobe is simultaneously larger and more narrow than I expected.
Rookie Mom Whitney tried to wear everything in her closet, and learned an important lesson:
