Day 143

Lately I have been incredibly inspired by England's newest princess. Her chic style and elegance make her put together look seem effortless.  And while one could argue that her sense of fashion is merely the work of a royal stylist and a limitless clothing budget, I would beg to differ. Kate's clothing, while certainly nice, is more affordable than you might think and she is not afraid to re-wear items. In fact, on her recent trip to Canada she reportedly wore the same pair of jeans not once, not twice, but three times. Gasp! Not only did she wear the same pair of pants three times, they were a reasonably priced pair of jeans (J Brand under $200). Take a cue from the Duchess of Cambridge and find pieces that are timelessly chic, yet age appropriate. She always seems to be aptly dressed for any occasion.

Fashion Tip of the Day: Invest in a pair of heeled loafers. Instead of pairing them with dress pants or a pencil skirt, try a pair of skinny jeans and a menswear inspired jacket. You can also pair them with a blazer and tailored walking shorts for a summer work appropriate ensemble. 

Day 72

Fashion Tip of the Day: Spring is a great time of year to start bringing out pieces from your summer wardrobe and combining them with cold weather clothes. Just like I'm wearing in this picture, combine trouser jeans with a floral top and wedges. By mixing and matching the weights of the clothing, you can ease your wardrobe into summer.

Day 52

Over the last 52 days, I have not purchased any clothing items and all that entails. I have set foot in the mall numerous times and managed to leave without anything. Though I am proud of myself to some degree, I have yet to repeat an outfit in the last 2 months. It is evident that I not only have enough clothes, I clearly have too many.  I realize this is not a ground breaking discovery, but when you have a love of fashion, it is easy to get caught up in wanting the latest and greatest. 

After reading a semi-political article today regarding the possible shut-down of the U.S. government, I realized that my shopping plight and the government's budget are very similar.  The article touched on the fact that the majority of Americans live above their means and how the government does not set a very good example.  I promise, I am not trying to get political here, no matter what your political preferences are, one has to agree that us Millennials are accustomed to a fairly privileged life. I know that I have been guilty of assuming I can maintain the standard of living I was familiar with when I was being supported by my parents. This is simply not sustainable and while my logical thinking tells me this, my desire to be "fashionable" has not ceased. 

Maybe this challenge wouldn't be that big of deal to another person, but it has definitely forced me to take a long look into my own actions and desires for my future. While I still love to be fashionable, I am learning new and exciting ways to do it. It is amazing how creative you can get when you are facing a challenge. 

Stay tuned for more pictures and if you have fashion related questions (or really any questions) for me, please ask them! 

Fashion Tip of the Day: Pair a short sleeved blouse with a full skirt that hits right at the knee. A floral skirt is an excellent choice for the spring. Add a belt to cinch in your waist and a pair of wedges to make the over look more modern. Pile on the bangles and a chic handbag, and you are ready for brunch with the girls or a picnic with your honey.

Day 50

Fashion Tip of the Day: The perfect spring shoe is a fabulous wedge. Try on multiple pairs and styles because I have seen too many unflattering wedges. Be careful that the straps for the shoe doesn't hit your ankle in an odd spot.  Straps that bind the ankle tend to be unflattering on the rest of the leg. 

Day 38

I have an obsession with Mad Men. Not only is the show excellent, but the costuming outstanding.  The show would not come to life like it does, without the wardrobe styling true to the late 50s, early 60s. I find the silhouettes of the women's clothing to be incredibly inspiring. So many women these days hide behind their clothes, in either an attempt to hide their body or follow some crazy fashion trend. You can never go wrong with clothing that fits you correctly. While I understand bold patterns are not for everyone, the silhouette on the dress I'm wearing in the picture below is a universally flattering style. 

Fashion Tip of the Day: Women need to stop expecting clothing to fit perfectly when they walk into a store. If it happens, great, but most likely it will be too tight or too lose in certain areas of the garment. A tailor is a gal's best friend. Whether it is taking in the waist of an otherwise great fitting pair of pants or shortening the hem on a dress to update it, tailoring clothing to fit your body correctly will make all the difference in how you feel while wearing the garment. Go through your closet and pull out anything that you have been avoiding wearing because it doesn't fit properly. If it is something that is too small, get rid of it. If it is something that seems out-dated assess if it can be tailored to update the look. Tailoring is a relatively inexpensive way to lengthen the life of your clothing. 

Day 36

Fashion Tip of the Day: Although skinny jeans have been all the rage over the last few years, wider legged jeans are all the rage this season.  If you are more curvy on the bottom, opt for a pair that are lose fitting through the thigh and gradually flare out. If you are more straight up and down, invest in a pair that are fitted through the thigh. Pair the jeans with a fitted blazer and heels and it becomes an office appropriate alternative to dress pants.

Day 30

No, I have not fallen off the wagon, I promise! I have been so busy I have had no time to even miss shopping, for the most part. After attending a St. Patrick's Day festival last weekend, I have decided to use the money I am saving from not shopping and use it to start Irish dancing again. For those of you who have know me most of my life, you know that I cannot sit still (total understatement). Irish dance provided an outlet for most of my energy through the years and I have not had the funds to take lessons in the past year or so. I am thrilled to be dancing again and I know it will definitely take my mind off of shopping.


Fashion Tip of the Day: When you are out shopping and find something that catches your eye, make sure you are able to visualize it with other pieces in your wardrobe.  Make sure you can create at least 3 different outfits with that particular piece.  Before you head out shopping peruse your closet and make a mental note of what you already have. When you spy that fabulous coral cardigan, you know exactly what you have to go with it!