We love new products, trends and tips but ever wondered about wearing them in real life? Each week we’ll take on a test drive, from the newest nail colour, to playing with perfume or seeing how long that hairstyle actually takes and share what we find (sweet, not-so-sweet and everything in between).
The Six Item Challenge is over. I laughed, I cried, and I’m ready to burn my six items. They won’t perish in vain though: it’s with great pleasure that I share, in no particular order, the six things I learned during the Six Item Challenge:
1. Nobody cares. I wore the same six items for 30 days and not once did my male roommates question my attire. I went to work events, attended social gatherings and ran errands, and nobody said anything. Ten days ago my father asked when it was starting! So the next time you’re pacing frantically in front of your closet, just put on the first thing you tried on, walk out the door and don’t think twice about it. Most people won’t even think once about it.
2. The power of accessories. My editors had given me a get-out-of-your-miserable-challenge-free card for special events, and although a couple came up, I opted to stick to my six items and dress them up as best I could with accessories, shoes and coats. The outfits wouldn't have been my first choice, but I didn’t break any dress codes, all thanks to some serious gems and heels.
3. Quality over quantity. I just counted seven variations of grey shirts in my closet. I lived off of one for an entire month. Enough said.
4. Wear what you love. I shopped on occasion during the challenge (which my co-worker Bonnie likened to buying potato chips and saving them till the end of a diet) but I started asking myself, “Could I wear this almost every day for a month?” and considering whether or not it was actually a worthy purchase. I was also motivated to edit my wardrobe, and decided to part with the items that, although great, weren’t “Six Item” material (I'm selling them on MyExCloset.com).
5. OxiClean is your best friend. Take one clumsy girl, add six items for 30 days—that's a total of 90 meals plus snacks—and you've got yourself quite a lot of laundry to do. On day one I smudged chocolate on my skirt, which was when I realized I'd have to get serious about stain removers.
OxiClean was my stain remover of choice, but club soda worked well in a pinch.
6. Have fun with fashion. I won’t lie: By day 10 I was miserable and insanely bored with my items. I envied everyone around me who was free to wear whatever they liked, and I vowed that once the challenge was over I would cherish the freedom to dress as I pleased each day and make the most of it by wearing fun, even eccentric pieces that make me happy.
For anyone considering the challenge, I highly recommend it—and I send out a huge congrats to Sherrill who conquered the challenge with me. Not only was I awake and out the door in less than 30 minutes each morning, but it also led me to evaluate my shopping habits and the importance I place on fashion. I love curating a well-stocked closet, but if it’s true that women wear only 30 per cent of their wardrobes, I’m happy to chuck the other 70 and invest in high-quality, timeless pieces, ensuring a modest but impeccable wardrobe.
To see all 30 outfits, click here.
And don't miss our $20 outfit challenge and the 5 daring trends test.