Home Truths #10pcs91days

Today was the last day of my version of GreenByDesign 10 piece challenge and not only was I glad for it to be over, I was actually happy to spend the day ill in bed so that I didn't have to think about what I was going to wear on my last day.

I was over the challenge for a couple of reasons.

Relying on 10 pieces meant constantly doing the washing even when I didn't have much to wash. I would either have to wait til there was enough for a full load or I would have to hand wash the clothes instead. Either way, my favorites started to wear and fade from the constant washing and it became quite an inconvenience.

Life also became dull. As I work in an office environment, most of my pieces had to be work appropriate, which meant clothes had to be pretty basic aka plain. The problem with this was that it would then filter over to my weekends and evenings, thus I could not separate work from my personal life.

What I found from doing this challenge was that I like variety and not having variety surprisingly affected me. I felt I couldn't express myself and I felt restricted. Restriction does not sit well with me. This challenge required me to constantly think about what to wear, when to wear, when to wash, which although doesn't seem like a huge ask, for me it was as I couldn't be my carefree self. I didn't have the luxury to purchase new pieces I came across since I wouldn't be able to wear them, so what was the point.

This challenge did bring about some home truths. I never thought of myself as the vain type but maybe I am just a tad. I definitely don't want to be one of those people who, as Tim Jackson puts it, "spend money we don't have on things we don't need to create impressions that don't last on people we don't care about". But I do in my life want to have choice and I want to spend time thinking about the bigger things rather than wasting it on scheduling my washing and wears. Moderation is the key.

Another challenge, not quite enjoyable but muchly welcomed for now everything I buy will have meaning and appreciation.

¨In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different¨
- Coco Chanel

Green By Design 10 piece Challenge

Yes, another challenge. It seems that I am a sucker for challenges. But what I´m finding is that these challenges are helping me better understand my consumption patterns, which is quite essential if I am to live a sustainable life.

Green By Design Summer Light Challenge is about challenging ourselves to pick ten garments and wear only those garments the entire Summer: 10 pieces for 91 days (accessories and underthings not included, of course). With the motto ¨simplify your fashion equation, identify your signature, consume less, live more¨, I am intrigued.

However, as it is not Summer here in icy cold winter Melbourne, so I have chosen to adapt this challenge accordingly and again complete a trial run before Summer 2011 hits! Yes I do like trial runs as I get to ease myself into it!

So this is how I´m revising the challenge to make it Winter friendly. In addition to the 10 garments I will add 2 thermo wool tops, one dark and one beige, which ought to keep me snugged. The duration of the challenge will also be shorten. I will start tomorrow and continue until the end of month. That means throughout the State of Design Festival you will pretty much be seeing me in the same clothes! I promise you I will do some laundry!

The 10 Garments:

The extras for Winter (the woolies):