Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Wardrobe Re-Do: Episode 1


Wardrobe Challenge: Build from a Favorite
If you are reading this, you likely read my post the other day where I whined about the current state of my wardrobe: ill-fitting, uncool, lacking in the "dressy" department, etc. So, I am going to spend the Spring doing a "wardrobe re-do." I think how you dress does say a lot about you, and certainly affects the way you feel. (At least it affects me.) But, I don't exactly have unlimited funds (!) so I'm going to have to be creative and frugal with this project. My first area of focus is to choose items (clothing, shoes, jewelry, etc.) that I already own and really like but never wear. The rule is that the item has to fit and be something I could wear if only I had the right pieces to match.

I received this necklace as a gift from my mother-in-law while I was pregnant with my daughter. It was one of the rare moments my MIL felt like being nice to me- but that is a long, sad story and not for today. Anyway, I really like the necklace and it is special to me because I associate it with my "miracle" pregnancy. (Another long story, but happy!, so I will tell that one another time.) It's strung with tiny pearls and pretty beads and the flowers are hand-blown glass. But I've never worn it because it doesn't "go" with anything I've got in terms of wardrobe. Length-wise it falls right at the bottom of my throat, so it doesn't sit on top of a shirt very nicely. It needs a lower cut or open-collar style of top, but it also needs pastels because of the colors in the necklace.
So, this necklace is my first challenge. I am going to be working on building an outfit I love around it in the next few weeks. My budget for this project is $50. (I won't usually allocate such a "big" budget but I'm thinking that this will be a "dressy" outfit- maybe even for Easter! So...) Wish me luck.
Oh- and if you want to play too, just choose something you own (and love) but never wear and do likewise! Blog about it and link a post in the comments, or just do it on your own for fun. You never know what "hidden treasures" you'll find in your closet!

3 comments:

Beck said...

That's a lovely necklace - I have a "complicated" relationship with my mother-in-law, too. Aw, well.
I keep holding off on buying clothes because I've decided that I'm waiting until I'm thinner. SO I'm practically nude these days....

Anonymous said...

Ahh yes, don't we all have a relationship like that with our mother-in-law? Sad but true.
I think that's a clever idea and one that I might have to try. Goodness knows i have several things that don't get worn because nothing exists to go with them. I'm up for the challenge. Thanks for the inspiration.

Andrea said...

Have you looked at the website "Missus Smarty Pants"?
Sounds cheesy, but it actually helped me see what kind of clothes to pick out for my body shape. You can join for a season and get her newsletter, or join for a year. I didn't think I would like it, but I actually do!