Showing posts with label 30 for 30. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 30 for 30. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

30 for 30 roundup, and lessons for next time





















Whoa, that's a lot of myself all in one place!

So, 30 for 30 roundup. I really am pleased with how this all turned out, aside from one small bump in the road, and I think if Kendi plans to do it again, I'll do it too--though admittedly with fewer sweaters!

Lessons learned

Fewer pants, more shoes. I ended up wearing my five pairs of pants a whopping seven times. I wore jeans 10 times, so that leaves 13 days for skirts! I didn't really need all those pants, and I could have used at least one additional pair of shoes--a coloured shoe, or a flat sneaker/walkable shoe. I had two brown pairs and two black pairs, and brown/black, while classic, sometimes lacks the slap that blue or maroon can provide.

Color and pattern mixing isn't that big a deal. There's one colour combo I vetoed all during 30 for 30--the pink skirt + red-orange shirt combo. That did NOT work. However, I found that for the most part, everything matched and/or went pretty well. That's probably partly from planning--I laid everything out a couple nights before 30 for 30 started and made sure there was an operable colour palette there. I highly recommend this to anyone doing 30 for 30, whether for the first time or fifth!

Forget diamonds, cheap accessories are a girl's best friend. Most of my accessories are supercheap--scarves, jewelry, belts, socks, even a handful of paper clips. The only thing I've splurged on are some tights from We Love Colors, which were SO worth it. This 30 for 30 would have been so boring were it not for the plethora of accessories in my wake, especially my giant statement necklaces from Anthro & JCPenney ($10 for each, y'all).

Be prepared. I went into 30 for 30 with a ton of sweaters, most of which I definitely didn't need. I didn't expect the temperature to jump into the 70s halfway through my 30. On one hand, I really with I'd had another cardigan in my 30--but I don't think I needed the floral sweater (which I wore once) or the pink sweater (twice, and very hot in it the 2nd time). More versatile pieces are in order next time! Also, plan your laundry. Laundry is kind of tough to juggle when you have 30 pieces, meaning no full loads, but you have to get it done at some point!

Faves and fails

Best items: Those Target wedges were the wisest 11th hour purchase I have ever made. I ran to Target the night before 30 for 30 started and bought them because my beloved metallic wedges are falling apart, and I needed some sort of stable heel in my 30. Everyone across the blogosphere seems to have them, and it makes sense. That chartreuse cardigan is a winner, and I have to say the sequin top from Anthro earned its keep!

Could do without: The blazer was not exactly the best choice. I like my blazer but I don't think this forum was the best for it. I added it for the Every Body Every Wear challenge, and that's the only time I wore it. I did love the one outfit it was part of, though! And again, not so many pants. I could have cut it down to 3 pairs and been good. Black, brown and tan. I'm glad I dumped the dress, though maybe if I hadn't picked a sweater dress things would have turned out differently.

Fave outfits: eight, thirteen, nineteen, twenty-one, and twenty-eight.

Fail outfits (not really but they weren't so great): five, seventeen (IT WAS JUST SO HOT), and twenty-four.

Fave venues: six (the snow helped!), seventeen, twenty-six, twenty-eight, and thirty.

Fail venues: four & five, seven, and eighteen.

Best experience during 30 for 30: Finding out that I'm going to BEA with my boss in May!

Worst experience during 30 for 30: That time when my camera flew off my car and wouldn't stop buzzing :(

Overall

Great experience! Picking the right colour set helped a lot. In the future I'll remember to pick more versatile items that are wearable alone or in a set, and I won't avoid my laundry like the plague. I look forward to doing it in spring!

Triginta



Sweater clip: estate sale
Cardigan: parts unknown
Top: TJMaxx
Skirt: JCPenney
Tights: We Love Colors
Wedges: Target



First: I'M DONE! I'M DONE! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Second: In a more mature response, I have completed my 30 for 30! After finishing this post I'll do a roundup, but for now let's say that overall I had a great time. I had a bit of a time balancing my laundry and I did kind of break my no shopping rule (come on! $10 cardigan! And my mom bought it for me!) but I enjoyed it.



Third, these pictures had to be taken twice. Coworker K. took them around noon and they looked good, and then I turned on my camera and they were GONE. What. Fortunately coworker T. was around so I made her take my pictures for me. Thanks T. and K. for helping!

Fourth, yes my tights match the trees. I didn't think it was on purpose, especially since I wanted to take pictures in front of a different tree, but that didn't happen.

Fifth, I'm done I'm done I'm done! Yaaaaaaaay! See you tomorrow!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Novem et viginti



Necklace: Anthropologie
Black top: JCPenney
White top: JCPenney
Skirt: JCPenney
Legs: pasty
Flats: Target



Or maybe I should rename this blog JCPenney Cardigan, or Animated JCPenney, or JCPenney Target. Because these are apparently the only two places where I shop!

You can't really tell, but every piece of clothing I'm wearing is patterned. I didn't notice until coworker C. mentioned my polka dot shoes matching my polka dot shirt. My skirt is striped! What am I thinking?! Also check out those fuzzies on my shirt. It's time to pick those off.

Also, coworker K. kindly photographed me today. I think she secretly likes it, and how could you not when I'm the subject? (That was me trying to be haughty but I can't do it.)



Meanwhile, coworkers F. and T. (can you tell my only friends are my coworkers?) really think I should bring in all 30 of my pieces to work tomorrow and change outfits like Anne Hathaway did at the Oscars. I can tell you right now that that idea will not come to fruition because a) I have laundry to do and I'm lazy and b) I am not lugging four pairs of shoes and six sweaters into work because I'm lazy. So really it all boils down to "I'm lazy" and isn't that a good excuse for everything?

One more day and 30 for 30 will be OVER. See you then!

Monday, February 28, 2011

Octo et viginti



Necklace: wapa on Etsy
Cardigan: Target
Top: Target
Belt: Target
Skirt: JCPenney
Tights: Target
Wedges: Target



I should change this blog to Animated Target. Or Target Cardigan. Or Target Target. Something in that vein.

One of the wonders of working with The Public is that no two days are alike. Today I received my first marriage proposal, and it was from a 64 year old man with a beard and trucker hat. If his choice of clothing is any indication, I will be swathed in plaid at our wedding. And you're all invited! I can't wait, you guys, it's going to be so much fun. We'll eat grits and there will be target practice at the reception.



In addition to getting engaged today (j/k I said no), I drove through a tornado warning to get back to work after my dinner break! That was fun. Less fun was darting inside, which admittedly was kind of enjoyable but ended with my amazing $30 suede wedges getting wet :( I think I was able to force out the water stains though. I hope.

I celebrated my birthday obscenely early today and bought myself a tripod. After last week's Incident, I've been scared straight. Soon you will see a lot more trees and such. And maybe I won't be blurry?! No, I'll still be blurry.

Two days left! Can you believe it? I can't. See y'all tomorrow!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Septem et viginti



Necklace: JCPenney
Top: Anthropologie
Tank: Walmart
Jeans: Walmart
Boots: Target
Nail polish: China Glaze Side-Saddle



Uh, just imagine this outfit without the tank top. I wore it because my Anthro top--beloved though it is--is slightly sheer, and I couldn't wear it without something underneath. Also, it started raining just as I was taking pictures. That was nice but I have to say there's not quite like some spring rain. It feels good.



Today started a long stretch of road in which I work every Sunday. So look forward to a lot of jeans on Sundays! But probably with more remixing, instead of the same two pairs of shoes over and over ;)

I think we can say farewell to jeans in general until at least 30 for 30 is over. Three more days! WHAT WILL I DO? Only time will tell. See you tomorrow!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Sex et viginti



Top: JCPenney
Jeans: Walmart
Flats: Banana Republic



If this were a regular post, I'd title it "Hippie on a Mission" because I look a bit too Woodstock for my own good AND I actually walked down a giant hill and and braved hundreds of gum drops (see picture) to bring you these photos. These pictures were also taken on the property on which I live. I'm in the process of sniffing out 13 acres' worth of photo locations and fortunately there was a fence post right there. Perfect, right?



Other positive news: Aside from persistent buzz, my camera is fully operational with a few smacks of the palm. I'm pretty sure the problem is with the lens operator, so on Tuesday it's off to the camera doctor.

Kayla of Freckles in April recently posted about her internal struggle with 30 for 30, and I agree. Much as I'm ready to wear something from the rest of my closet--I swear I heard my cardigan collection crying for attention yesterday--it feels like there are so many more ways to wear my 30 that I haven't tried yet. I guess that's a good sign?

Sorry, lots of words. See y'all tomorrow!

Quinque et viginti



Top: Anthropologie
White tee: Target
Belt: Walmart
Jeans: American Eagle
Socks: Walmart
Wedges: Target



Well, I did have the wise idea to take my memory card out of my camera and put it in my mom's camera to import the pictures. So yay for that! Right now there are three major problems with my camera, two of which I think can be fixed.

1. There is a loud mechanical buzz emanating from the right side of my camera, in the grip area. I'm not sure what it is but I've found that beating the grip against my hand stops the buzz. THEREFORE something must be loose! I'm sure if I beat it into submission it'll work. And then I'll be taken to jail because that is never, ever right, so I'm just going to take it to a camera shop and see if they can find the source.

2. My camera isn't going into preview mode, which means I can't import pictures. I think this will be fixed if the source of the buzz is fixed. Ha! I just hit the grip until the buzz stopped and it allowed me to enter preview mode and open the importer. So there's really only one step to fix.



Here's what I don't think can be fixed:

3. There is vignette at the bottom of each photo I take. I'm pretty sure that when camera met concrete the lens was banged out of place. This is something I've decided I can live with--cropping's a pain, sure, but I do it on most of my photos anyway and honestly, I kind of like the effect--it's not big or distracting and actually, three photos after the photo below, the lens seems to have readjusted itself some. I'd like it better if it were on the top too, but for now whatever I'll deal with it I just want my camera to operate :(

I feel triply bad because my parents gave me this camera for my birthday last year. I've been using it for eight months! After I get paid and deal with my bills, step one next week is buying a tripod because this is not allowed to happen again. I would have been absolutely crushed if this had happened to my film SLR--another camera my parents gave me.

See y'all tomorrow? I hope so anyway!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Quattor et viginti



Hair bow: Anthropologie
Necklace: Heirloom
Cardigan: parts unknown
Top: Target
Pants: Target
Socks: Walmart
Flats: Target



I am having difficulty writing this entry. Basically my brain is on the low setting for the night and I can't think of any fascinating topics to discuss.



Oh, I know! I almost got run over my a truck hauling a Bobcat while taking these pictures. Boy, that was fun. I wish I had gotten the guy in my shots because it would have been hilarious.

See y'all tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tres et viginti



Sweater: American Eagle
Pants: JCPenney
Socks: Walmart
Flats: Banana Republic
Nail polish: China Glaze Paper Chasing



Not a single thing in my outfit is from Target! That's an accomplishment in and of itself. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with myself thus far--there is one week of outfits left and I don't feel like I'm floundering. And I think I'm getting better of the picture taking thing--I took four pictures today and that was the end of that. Shazaam!



I have worn this nail polish for a record four days. I ran out of nail polish remover, and I haven't ordered more yet (because I'm picky and use nail polish from Sephora because it doesn't fry my nails) but obviously I don't care enough about my nails because I peeled it all off. Well, you know, make do or do without, right?

See y'all tomorrow!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Duo et viginti



Cardigan: Target
Top: TJMaxx
Skirt: American Apparel
Flats: Target



There's those darn knees again! How horrifying. I considered even dumping the cardigan today because it was Real Warm, Y'all and I didn't need it. But at work I did so I guess wise choice? Also I pretty much closed my eyes and pulled stuff out my closet and hoped it looked okay together. The first time I tried that I ended up with this skirt and a cat so I tried to make sure the second effort stuck.



Coworker F. has kindly been policing my outfits and checking my blog biweekly at least to make sure I'm staying in my 30. She doesn't have faith in me! I have to admit though that having someone keeping an eye on me makes it a lot harder to even think about cheating. It actually makes me almost defiant. Because of you, F., I'm going to extend my 30 for 30 to 30 for 60 WHOA. All that root beer I had at dinner has gone to my head.

See y'all tomorrow!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Unus et viginti



Necklace: Anthropologie, lengthened by me
Top: JCPenney
Jeans: Walmart
Socks: Target
Wedges: Target



This outfit brought to you by Monkeyface. I had the idea of jeans + wedges but Monkeyface did it up right so I just ripped her off instead.



It may have been Presidents' Day here in the good ol' USofA but I still had to work. We had an in service day, during which the head of the system announced that among many other things, we are now allowed to wear SHORTS (a personal battle of mine since last summer which has gotten me into trouble twice but WORTH IT) and, on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, we are now allowed to wear jeans. The happiness of my legs has risen dramatically, just as the quality of my outfits on Fridays will sink. MAYBE. Today's outfit did pretty well, didn't it?

See you tomorrow!