We made it! The #10x10Challenge officially ends today and I am feeling completely refreshed by my wardrobe and inspired to streamline even more in time for spring. Fresh on the heels of the challenge end, today's post and video is a complete rundown of everything I wore and why I paired the pieces that I did - along with a few accessories and jackets/blazers as needed. Below, I've outlined each my looks along with some of my reasoning behind them so that you can really get a feel for how I utilized my smaller than usual wardrobe for 10 days.
THE PIECES
- BLACK V-NECK CASHMERE SWEATER | everlane | gifted | retails for $100 | First up is my current go-to sweater. This beautiful v-neck was recently gifted to me by Everlane and I couldn't be happier with it. If you've been following me for a while then you know how much I love cashmere and Everlane's pieces are some of the best around. Each sweater is beautifully constructed, ethically sourced and incredibly soft. Even though I quite a few cashmere sweaters in my winter capsule - a navy crewneck, black crewneck, black turtleneck, ivory turtleneck & ivory crewneck - I selected the v-neck for this challenge because I've been loving the more open neckline and wanted an alternative silhouette to my crewneck tee.
- BALLET FLATS | Chanel | Purchased for $300 at a second hand shop in Paris | size 36.5 - I love these shoes and found them unworn at a lovely little second hand shop in Pairs - the week Jason and I got engaged so as you can imagine, they are one of my most treasured possession! Even though they're finally starting to show their age I will likely keep them forever and wear them far too often to not include them in this challenge. I have them in my usual size and I find them to be some of the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned.
- WHITE BUTTON DOWN | BROOKS BROTHERS | $98 BUT YOU CAN GET THEM ON SALE | SIZE 2 - I've owned and loved this shirt for about 5 years now and with proper care it still looks great! I love the versatility of a crisp white button down and for me it's an absolute wardrobe staple so it was a no-brainer to include it in this challenge.
- GIRLFRIEND JEANS | LEVI'S | $60 | SIZE 24 - Because I work from home, I'm lucky enough to be able to wear jeans whenever I want and I wear this pair by Levi's constantly, so naturally I had to include them. I picked them up years ago when they were first released and absolutely love everything about them from the slim cut to the color. At the time that I purchased them though, I found that they ran very big so definitely double-check your measurements against the jeans if you're interested in picking them up. I typically wear a size 26 in jeans and needed to size all the way down to a 24. Once I found my size though they were perfect. I also find the length to be just right for my 5'4" frame.
- STRIPED BOATNECK TEE | J.CREW / $29.50 / SIZE S - A striped tee is an essential that I wear year-round and this black and white, 3/4 sleeve one from J.Crew is a favorite. I've had this little tee for over a year now and it's just as lovely now as it was the day I bought it. I love the slim cut, lightweight cotton and flattering length and find that it makes a wonderful piece for layering. Thanks to it's endless layering possibilities it was an obvious inclusion for this challenge. Plus, I can easily pair it with any of the bottoms I've selected as well.
- BLACK ANKLE BOOTS | MARC FISHER "YALE" BOOTS | $179 | SIZE 6.5 - The other pair of shoes that I selected are my go-to black ankle boots from Marc Fisher. I love these boots for their comfort and versatility and love how easily I can wear them with most of the items in my wardrobe. Plus, I find that they're just the right shoe for keeping me warm but not too warm during the colder months here in Charleston.
- BLACK SILK SHIRT | EVERLANE| $88 | SIZE: XXS - One of my favorite tips for getting dressed in the morning is to mix different textures and materials for a high-low feel so when I set out to select my winter 10x10 pieces I knew I wanted to include a silk shirt. I ultimately chose this black option from Everlane because I love how it drapes loosely on my body and the silhouette looks lovely with all of my bottoms and shoes.
- SLIM, MID-RISE ANKLE JEANS | EVERLANE | $68 | SIZE 26 - Next up is a new item to my wardrobe. The Everlane mid-rise ankle crop jeans in the medium wash are perfection and I've worn them constantly since I got them so they were an obvious inclusion. After reading countless reviews online I picked up my usual jean size 26. All-in-all, I think they fit beautifully and the ankle crop is the perfect length for my 5'4" frame. Also, the mid-rise is ideal for a shorter frame like mine and I love how they appear almost high-rise on me - they come up to just under my belly button and do a beautiful job of cinching me in. If I had to pick one criticism, it would be that they seem to loose their shape slightly quicker than I'd like and become a little loose (thanks to the 100% cotton/2% spandex composition). If I could do it over I may size down.
- SLIM-FIT BLACK CREWNECK TEE | J.CREW | $32 | SIZE XXS - Another crucial layering piece for me is a slim-fit tee and this black one from J.Crew is a personal favorite. I've had this top forever and it hasn't lost it's shape, is still true black and fits me perfectly. Like most J.Crew items though, I find that their vanity sizing is a bit extreme so I have this in a size xxs which is closer to a true size small - slim but not skin tight.
- BLACK PANTS | H&M | VERY OLD | SIZE 4 - Last but not least, I had to include my favorite black pants from H&M. I picked these us when I was living in the city and have worn them constantly since. I love how easily they can be dressed up or down and the elastic waist looks put-together but is just as comfortable as a pair of sweats. Their versatility combined with their comfort made them an obvious selection for this challenge.
THE OUTFITS
When it came time to actually wear the pieces I set aside for this challenge, I was reminded just how much I rely on a "uniform" to get dressed everyday. In fact, even though I had the H&M pants in my mini closet and I thought I would wear them a ton, I actually only ended up wearing them twice because I opted for a jeans and simple top combo more often than not. Below, I've linked each of my looks (day 1 at the top and day 10 at the bottom). Beneath the pictures I've outlined more of the thought process behind each look so that you can get a feel for what I loved and what I didn't and how I would tweak these looks in the future.
THE OUTFIT DETAILS
LOOK 1
Everlane Sweater
Everlane Jeans
Marc Fisher Ankle Boots
Vintage Beret
JCrew Blazer (very old)
The 10x10 Challenge kicked off on a Friday so I took full advantage of the weekend and stuck with a simple combination of jeans and a sweater. To help round out the look and keep me warm I wore my Marc Fisher Yale boots and topped it off with one of my favorite blazers from J.Crew that I've had for years and my black beret. I kept the rest of my accessories simple and opted for my simple, everyday jewelry, Target hoops and very old J.Crew bracelet.
LOOK 2
Jcrew Striped Tee
Levi's 501 CT Jeans
Chanel Ballet Flats
Brooks Brothers Blazer
Zara Faux Fur Stole (very old)
Day 2 was also Saturday so I kept things pretty casual with my striped t, Levi's 501 CT jeans that have a looser fit and my incredibly comfortable ballet flats. To keep things from feeling too casual, I also wore my navy blazer and faux fur stole. This look was easily one of my favorites and I have every intention of re-wearing it again before it gets too warm here.
LOOK 3
Everlane Sweater
Levi's Jeans
Marc Fisher Ankle Boots
Hermes Silk Scarf
On day 3 I pulled out my Everlane sweater again but this time I wore it with my Levi's jeans for a more relaxed feel. Have I mentioned how I much I love these jeans before (lol) ? It was slightly chilly so I wore my Hermes silk scarf and Marc Fisher Yale boots to complete the look.
LOOK 4
JCrew Striped T
H&M Pants
Marc Fisher Ankle Boots
JCrew Bracelet
Old Scarf (a gift from my parents from Italy)
On Monday I wanted to feel super comfortable so I wore my striped t and H&M black pants that I've had for years and feel like sweatpants. To keep me warm while I worked I wore my very old red scarf that was a gift from my parents, and my Marc Fisher Yale boots. For jewelry I stuck to my simple, everyday pieces and my very old J.Crew bracelet.
LOOK 5
Brooks Brothers Shirt
Everlane Jeans
Chanel Ballet Flats
Target hoops
Zara Jacket (very old)
On Day 5 I wanted to feel slightly more pulled together so I wore my white shirt from Brooks Brothers (you know how much I love this shirt!) and my new Everlane jeans that are the perfect balance to everything in my wardrobe because they're slim but not too tight and have the perfect mid-rise and color. I topped it with one of my favorite jackets that I picked up from Zara years ago (you may be able to find it on ebay or Poshmark) and balanced out the length with my ballet flats.
LOOK 6
JCrew T-shirt
Levi's Jeans
Chanel Ballet Flasts
Brooks Brothers Blazer
Vintage Hoops
Next up I paired my simple black t from J.Crew with my Levi's 501 CT's to balance out the proportions and played off of the neutral color palette with my camel blazer and ballet flats. I kept my accessories very simple but wore my Target hoops for a fun pop. I love this look for it's classic simplicity and it's one that I've worn countless times before.
LOOK 7
Everlane Silk Shirt
Everlane Jeans
Chanel Ballet Flats
JCrew Bracelet
Vintage Scarf
Look 7 was all about dressy casual for me so I paired my black silk Everlane shirt with my Everlane jeans and ballet flats. To keep things polished I tied my vintage silk scarf around my neck and wore my J.Crew bracelet and everyday jewelry. To show off the scarf and open up the whole look I also tied my hair back into a low bun.
LOOK 8
Jcrew T-Shirt
Everlane Jeans
Chanel Ballet Flats
Vintage Dooney & Bourke belt
For look 8 I pulled out my striped t again and paired it with my Everlane jeans and ballet flats. I topped it off with my navy Brooks Brothers blazer and cinched it at the waist with my vintage Dooney & Bourke belt.
LOOK 9
JCrew T-Shirt
H&M Pants
Chanel Ballet Flats
Jcrew Necklace (very old)
Zara Leather Jacket (very old - purchased in Paris)
Yesterday, for day 10 I went monochromatic with my J.Crew t and H&M pants. I broke up the black with my very old. burgundy/brown Zara leather jacket and ballet flats (it started to rain in the afternoon so I switched into my Marc Fisher boots). For accessories I wore an old J.Crew necklace that's long enough to fill the empty space but not too long that it's annoying.
LOOK 10
Brooks Brothers Shirt
Everlane Jeans
Chanel Ballet Flats
Target hoops
And last but not least, today for day 10 I'm wearing my Brooks Brothers white shirt and Everlane jeans for a classic base. To keep things fresh I've rolled my sleeves, tucked in my shirt and am wearing my Target hoops. I've also tied my hair into a low bun again and am wearing my ballet flats (though I may switch into my booties later because it's starting to rain).
FINAL THOUGHTS
And there you have it! That's the complete run-down of my participation in the 10x10 Wardrobe Challenge. I couldn't be happier that I participated and I want to thank Lee and Caroline for leading such a fun challenge that has united a community in such a fun way. While I could easily analyze my final thoughts and feelings for the next three paragraphs, I'm going to instead just say that this challenge has been eye-opening. Even though I already have a small wardrobe, I've been reminded that I can function happily with an even smaller closet and I've been inspired to minimize even further in 2018. Also, I've loved sharing my everyday looks with you all so much that I'm making it another 2018 goal to share my looks everyday! So, starting this week I'll be sharing my looks each day in both a flat lay and a full outfit shot. My hope is that this approach will help demonstrate how versatile a small wardrobe can be and how far you can stretch your basics with some great accessories and outerwear.
Also, early this week I filmed a quick overview of the pieces I selected and why that you can see below. I also shot some quick clips of the outfits that tacked on towards the end if you want to see them in action. Like always, thanks so much for watching!
