My first 10 x 10 Challenge is in the books (huge shoutout to Lee and Caroline for hosting)! I’ve really enjoyed the way this challenge has forced me to be more creative with my work wardrobe. Whittling down to just ten pieces of clothing for ten days helped me flex my creative dressing muscles and I think this will pay off for future travels, too.
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Let’s jump into this recap to see what I’ve learned! As a refresher, here are all ten pieces I wore throughout the challenge:
FALL 10X10 GARMENTS
My biggest concern while participating in the 10 x 10 Challenge was that people would notice that I was wearing the same few pieces over and over again (there’s a very weird stigma surrounding repeating outfits too often here in the South). But I was relieved to find that the only thing people seemed to notice was that I was dressing in a more “professional” style.
I think this was due to me wearing my blazer most days to keep warm in the office, while a lot of our staff wear jeans and our logo-ed tees on event days. Overall, I’d say the challenge was a success; I made it through all ten days without any repeats and discovered some new outfit combinations.
Another important thing I discovered is a surprising one: I’m ready to remove an item from my wardrobe. But more on that later, for now, it’s time for a look back at the outfits!
FALL 10×10 OUTFITS
Here are my ten outfit combinations for the challenge, plus two bonus looks I shot for fun (you can see more details about each of my 10 x 10 outfits in previous posts):
FALL 10×10 FINAL THOUGHTS
So let’s talk final thoughts, now that I’ve crossed the finish line.
What worked well
I shot all ten of my outfits the day before officially starting the challenge which made getting dressed each morning a breeze. I’m a planner who doesn’t always do well with fluctuation, so I really appreciated having everything ready to go.
Thoughtfully planning my outfits in advance made the challenge seem more doable, particularly since I was able to strategically repeat pieces so it would be less obvious. I also found documenting my daily pre- and post-work outfit photos helpful, as I could see how each outfit looked after eight or more hours of wear.
I now have a better idea of which tops wrinkle easily and if my jeans stretch out when worn for hours, which helps me know which items will pack better for traveling.
What was challenging
I felt a little stuck with my accessories choices, particularly by the second week, since I felt obligated to wear the pieces I chose when we shot the photos. I also felt obligated to get outfit posts up ASAP each evening, and they probably were not as well-written as I would have liked.
Wearing my dress three times in the second week was a little rough; it was pretty warm here and it was definitely closing in on washing-time. After looking at everyone else’s 10 x 10s, I wished I would have included more “fall-like” colors and layers, as well as a pair of boots, though it really was too hot the entire time.
Favorite outfits
1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 (is that too many?). Most of these favorites included the sheath dress from Target, which I think will be a real workhorse for as long as it lasts. Unfortunately, it’s probably not the most well-made garment in my closet.
Least favorite outfits
4 and 8. Both involve the wrap top from Vetta, which is really pretty and really versatile, but just does not work for my body at all. The constant adjusting and re-snapping makes me anxious when I wear it, and I’m at the point where I no longer like clothes that I have to fidget with. As I mentioned in my item spotlight on Day 8, the top will be going on Poshmark as soon as I have time to post it.
Looking for more of the Fall 10x10? Find all the posts here: Preview | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
The laundry situation
Handling laundry for this challenge wasn’t really any different than a normal work week. To be honest, I was a little nervous about stains or sweat since we don’t have a dryer, and it sometimes can take a full day for clothes to dry on our drying rack, but it all worked out okay. I did use a clothing refresher spray on garments being worn again before washing as a precaution.
Any surprises?
Two, actually. One was that I found myself wearing more lipstick than usual. I tend to save lipstick for special occasions since I feel self-conscious about bringing attention to my lips on a day-to-day basis. But I also felt the need to apply it to feel as put-together as my outfit.
The other thing that surprised me is the sheer number of outfit combinations that are possible within the ten pieces without repeating any exact outfits. I realized way too late that another choice I could have made was wearing tops underneath my dress. This isn’t something I’ve ever done before (at least not as an adult) and I wish I would have realized sooner to give it a shot here. That would have increased my options even more.
Last, but not least, would I participate again?
You bet! Just not in the summer, however. I truly don’t think that I could realistically complete this challenge during a hot, humid, sweaty Florida summer.
*this item is no longer available and I've linked a similar product
YOUR FALL 10 x 10 LOOKS
Enough about me, have you all been keeping up with the #fall10x10 feed? There is so much amazingness going on there, with lots of creativity and positivity adding a boost. Here are a few (a few apparently can sometimes equal 16) highlights, though it was so hard to pick!
Row 1: @thriftshopchic, @thelook365, @karinemilyblog, @greteclaire
Row 2: @blank.slate.abc, @consciousbychloe, @thecasualstylist, @fashandtalks
Row 3: @jess_step_, @kerrykimmcarthur, @meganjedlinski, @sustainablefashionchat
Row 4: @dogparade, @cindyele, @andrea_hartman_, @valikis
Enjoyed this post? You may also like:
- All of My Packing Lists
- All Quince Reviews
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- All Cuyana Reviews
- All Universal Standard Reviews
- All wool& Reviews
- Why You Should Always Pack a Bandana When You Travel
- My Flight Got Canceled and All I Had to Wear Was This Dress
- Style Reviews Index
- Shop My Closet
- Exclusive Discounts + Promo Codes
That’s it for the Fall 10 x 10! Feel free to share a link to your 10 x 10 or any others you found inspiring.
Travel posts are on deck in the coming weeks, as well as a travel-inspired recipe or two. See you Thursday!
