six items or less

Wardrobe for the next 4 weeks.

Now I think I have it a little easier than some of the folks around here – I’m not a young professional, I don’t have a job where my appearance matters every day. I’m just a student, wrapping up some classes this summer. Being the veritable tom-boy I’ve never really had much of an interest in fashion and as my college career progressed my wardrobe devolved from cute jean and top combos (having a school uniform in high school highly incentivized my interest in “cute clothes) to raggety jeans and worn out t-shirts. Recently, I had a minor crisis of self – I’d just scored a new job at an awesome agency, and suddenly found myself surrounded by twenty-something-fashionistas who magically were able to look fabulous every day. Quickly my paltry dress wardrobe wore out, and I worried if they noticed – it seemed that each individual was very much like Paris Hilton (who famously only wears each outfit once). I ended up quitting the job, not because of the fashion pressures but mostly because I’m a college student who tries to do approximately 10 million things at once – so many in fact that I believe that I could put your average soccer mom to shame.

So, I’ve decided to participate in this experiment. I have to admit my wardrobe hasn’t been this restricted since my high school glory days where plaid skirts, white button ups, and knee-highs were the requirement. I have to admit that I don’t really mind, I’m a little nervous about the increased amount of laundry that I’ll have to do, and potentially the judgement of my fellow classmates and professors should they notice the trend; but I suppose that’s the entire point of the experiment, isn’t it?

I’ve whittled down my wardrobe and settled on some items that I feel relatively comfortable with:

• Knee-length shorts, Brown (1)
• Quick-Dry Convertible Pants, Grey (1)
• Scoop Neck t-shirt, Green (1)
• V Neck t-shirt, Pink (1)
• V Neck t-shirt, Aqua (1)
• Dress – yet to be determined, likely black (1)

So there it is, my 6 articles of clothing that are going to last me through the next month. My biggest challenge is that I ride my bike to and from school each day (5 miles each way), and in the summertime it presents a large challenge to make sure to choose an outfit that is not only lightweight and durable, but also won’t present huge sweat stains when I finally sit down in class considering the fact that the organizers of this experiment decided to do it during what is arguably the hottest month of the year for good ol’ Boston, MA. Jeans are too hot and heavy for this weather, and I feel that the windbreaker that I wear on cold, windy, or rainy days is considered an “accessory” in this case. I needed to reserve the dress because I do, after all, have a swell guy who typically takes me out on fanciful dates, and I’d like to not be sporting the sweat-drenched clothes that I’ve been biking throughout the week during our weekend rendez-vous. In any case, with the 3 shirt, 2 short combo I have 12 built in outfits – enough to last me for two weeks repeating. I’m not an owner of accessories (I own two necklaces, don’t wear a watch, and my previously gauged ears filled in my sophomore year of college), so dressing these items up might certainly prove to be a challenge.

So, here’s to day 1. It’s going to be 84 degrees outside, wish me luck.