99 Days of Summer Style Check In

Good morning!
If you follow me on Instagram then you may have seen that I joined in on the #99daysofsummerstyle challenge that I heard about from Paige (a sustainable style blogger in Colorado). Her goal with it was to show up + get dressed for 99 days in a row, no matter how exciting (or unexciting) the outfit was. I loved the idea, and decided to add more to the challenge to fit with some of my personal goals.

[Sidenote: I’m chronicling all 99 days of style HERE!)

Consuming less (of everything) is something I am actively working on. It is way too easy to fall into a cycle of constant consumption. Both my wallet and the planet are happier with me as I’ve almost completely curbed my shopping over the past 34 days. This isn’t to say I don’t want to shop, I do, but I am challenging myself to buy very little over the course of 99 days. It is a way for me to
1.) Take a stab at wearing everything I already own
2.) Get a better feel for which pieces I no longer like or need
3.) Get out of the habit of buying, buying, buying

So far during this style challenge I have purchased two sports bras and one pair of neutral leather sandals (that are replacing an old pair).
I did recently get this short suit through my ShopBop collaboration, and I am SO excited to wear it as an outfit, but also share multiple ways to style the pieces as separates. But, before I started the challenge, I pulled out between 30-40 items from my closet, sold a few on Poshmark, dropped 20 off at my favorite consignment shop, and donated a handful. Once this challenge is complete I have a feeling I’ll be pulling out at least another 10 items to either sell or donate.

I want to have a collection of items I truly feel good in and enjoy wearing, so challenging myself to wear all the items I currently have is a great way to weed out what’s no longer working for me. For example, I wore this romper the other day, and over the past few years my butt + thighs have grown (and I’ve definitely dried the romper haha) and I didn’t feel great wearing it, so I think it’s time to say goodbye. In years past I may have held onto it without ever trying it on, but by making myself give every piece a shot, I’m able to make a good decision about whether to keep an item or not. Overall I’m really enjoying sharing my everyday outfits. It’s challenging me to get more creative with what I already own, and even in the first 30+ days it has reminded me of just how versatile the pieces I already own are.

This is not to say I could completely stop shopping, but my main goal with this is to consume less, remix more, and weed out the items that are no longer serving me. I have a running wishlist of items I’d love to add to my closet, but I’m being significantly more discerning that in the past. (No joke I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect yellow sundress since last April – I have bought and returned more than 20 dresses and have yet to find a keeper!)

At the end of the day, the goal is always to look + feel good when you get dressed, so don’t hold onto items that don’t help you reach that goal. I’ll make sure to check back in after another 33 days of the style challenge and then again at the end.

Real quick – do you like seeing more everyday outfits? Let me know!
xo, Maddy