the september issue

fair warning, this is a long post and full of obnoxious pictures of myself and my wardrobe.  so if you are not interested in project 333 this would be a good time to click that button.  i do it all the time so don't feel bad.
 
i'm a couple of weeks ahead of myself here but courtney's project 333 comes to an end on oct 1st.  i thought i'd share with you what i've learned about myself while being involved with it.  i've said this before but the best thing about the project has been that i discovered my personal style.  because i've always loved fashion i've always thought i had a little style.  the problem with my style was that i was all over the map.  i often bought clothes for a life that i thought i wanted to be living instead of the one i actually was living.  the result was a closet full of clothing and only a few pieces that i actually wore on an everyday basis.  by narrowing down the contents to 33 items there really isn't room for impractical choices. and since moving to this place with only one small closet, space is definitely an issue too.  and so now that the project is over for me (you can still participate) i don't think i will limit my wardrobe to only 33 items permanently, but 40 or 50 sounds very reasonable to me. and the idea of applying a random number to your possessions without any purpose is silly.  because of project 333 i now know what works for me and what doesn't.  for instance i adore levi's and button down shirts.  during the fall and winter i reached for these items over and over.  jeans and a shirt paired with a herringbone jacket is my kind of heaven because this outfit truly fits my lifestyle.  when spring came around i would wear my white levi's and i still found myself reaching for a chambray shirt to go with it.  then when summer was in full swing i switched to shorts but i really found myself wanting to wear lightweight summery dresses. that is something i will correct this year.  more dresses!  i definitely made some shopping mistakes but not as many as i used to and overall i'm extremely happy with my purchases.   my biggest mistakes were in this order...the red saltwater sandals.  they are definitely cute but honestly do not look good on my feet.  they are new leather and that bothers me quite a bit.  next would be the few cheap tops i bought for the spring.  you can see them here.  i just never reached for them and i don't know why so i can't explain it.

just in case you were wondering, my usual first step when shopping is to start in the second hand shops.  i'm fortunate that we have so many good ones in redlands.  then i try to buy natural fiber clothing that is american made or compassionately made.  and if i had to sum up my style in a few words it would be...levi's, herringbone, vintage leather goods, pretty dresses and vintage turquoise.  that's me and i'm not sure i could have said that so succinctly prior to this project. 

and i cannot emphasize enough what seeing myself in actual photographs has done for me either.  i highly recommend it.  even if you don't have a blog get someone to snap a few pics of yourself in your favorite outfits.  it's a real eye opener.  i really need to do a separate post on this subject.


well now we are at the obnoxious part of the post.  here are some of my favorites that i wore over and over and over and over and over.

  errands, hanging out, movies, baling hay.  perfecto.

ditto

there isn't a thing about this outfit that i don't adore.

i wore this kayce hughes dress constantly last spring and now into early fall without tights.

i LOVE it.

this outfit couldn't be more me.

remember this el cheapo jacket from forever 21?  i felt so guilty b/c it was made in china. 
well, the truth is i wore it to death in the spring and it is none the worse for wear.  not a thread out of place.

chambray, denim and a vintage handbag. 

 kill me now.

yes, well what can you say about a $2 maxi skirt that i wore everywhere.  honestly, it was getting embarrassing.

and this rrl shirt and vintage bandanna, a gift from alex that i adore.  that kid knows me.

and one of the kayce hughes dresses i just bought.  so me.

are you still with me?
are you sick to death yet?

how about what didn't work?

love the look but the shirt was too thick and heavy for my climate.

i bought this kate spade dress for the upcoming reunion and loved it but it was too sheer and needed dry cleaning.  ebay.

returned this also.  it's longer than the kayce hughes dresses but there just wasn't any movement to the dress or something of that nature.  anyway, i wasn't comfortable in it.

i think there are a few more that didn't work for me but i'm afraid if i post another picture of myself i'll vomit. 

so that's it for project 333.  i hope that all i've learned sticks with me,  i hope to never wander around a department store again aimlessly looking for something to buy just because a advertising agency told me to.   target, i'm talking to you!  

those missoni flats are on ebay for $140.

that is stupid.  why not save for the real thing?

xo

janet

ps - i rarely watch tv but i'm up all night  (click to watch the trailer)which airs tonight and stars christina applegate and will arnett. 

i'll be away from my computer for a few days so i want to wish you an early happy, amazing weekend.

let's all squeeze every last drop out of summer that we can!