Oh, thank God!

Look, I know you were thinking it too. I’m happy, you’re happy, everyone is happy now that this blasted challenge is over. Let us never speak of it again. But first: a quick recap. Haha! Gotcha! You thought you were home free, but you’re not. Not just yet.

Here is an abbreviated summary of my thoughts on this entire process:

Day 1: I’ve made a terrible mistake.

Day 2: I f—-g hate everything I have to wear right now.

Day 6: Gah! These pants make me look like I’m smuggling Jon Hamm’s trouser bulge. FML.

Day 9: I like blue a lot. Also red and cognac. Not the drink.

Day 10: I need a drink.

Day 15: Wait, this is still not over yet?!

Day 21: It’s been raining for 3 days, and I have no rain gear in the line-up. A pair of saggy-crotched pants, but no rain gear.

Day 22: It’s still raining. Also, I f—–g hate everything I have to wear right now.

Day 23: Sun!! I love everything! You too, saggy-crotched pants.

Day 26: When this is over, I am wearing all of my clothes. At the same time. All of them.

Day 29: I’m pretty sure I have never been more excited to be done with an arbitrary, self-imposed, completely irrelevant project than I am at this very moment.

Day 30: YESSSSSSSSSS!!!

Day 31: What the hell do I wear now?!

I have learned … basically nothing new. Working with a capsule wardrobe makes getting dressed easy, because it limits your available options thereby making them manageable. I prefer to get the same result by prepping a list of outfits ahead of time, but keeping my clothing options wide open. Can I wear the same 30 pieces over and over, without the sky falling? Well, duh! But I’m not going to enjoy it either, which … duh! Like I said, this was revelatory not at all. But I did the damn challenge, and I can now cross it off my bucket list. If I had one. Which I don’t.

Maybe I should make a bucket list next. I’m only – what? – 5 years behind the trend on that one. Ten? Perfect!

Here’s a recap of my 30 outfits, in no particular order.

AG Stevie cropped cordsI love these pants a ridiculous amount. Also, the middle pic above is my #1 favourite outfit of this entire challenge.

AG Stevie cropped cordsSkinny jeans are always a safe bet.

30 x 30; skinny jeansDitto for Marc by Marc Jacobs bags. I have a sickness, but I ain’t looking for a cure.

30 x 30; skinny jeansThis J. Crew dress is a great casual LBD. I’m not sure why I didn’t wear it more often.

J. Crew polka dot shift dressAh, the potato sack of glory!

Old Navy chambray dressThis is one of the few pieces I can probably bring myself to wear again this summer. Oh, and the right pic below is my #2 fave outfit.

Old Navy chambray dress; 30 x 30Speaking of closet workhorses, this J. Crew Factory skirt is one of the best $20 investments I ever made. Well, at J. Crew anyway.

J. Crew Factory black mini skirtThe outfit on the left below is tied for #3 fave, but I might be biased because I wore it on a Good Hair Day.

30 x 30; J. Crew black miniThis is the “other pants” category, which … meh. The “Jon Hamm” pants have already been relegated to playground duty, and not a moment too soon.

30x30 challengeLast, but not least, this cute striped Joe Fresh dress is … still cute. And you can probably still find it at your local Superstore/Loblaws so, you know, think about it. [And by that I mean: buy it! Do it!!]

Joe Fresh striped dress; 30 x 30Have you done a 30 x 30 challenge? Did you hate it as much as I did? Would you consider doing one, or have I completely horrified you away from the mere thought of it? C’mon, spill!

I couldn’t end this post without saying: Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians! This year marks the 19th anniversary of my family’s arrival in this country. My parents and I came here to start a new life, and what a crazy, wonderful adventure it has been. I am so proud to call Canada my home and native land.

14 Comments on 30 x 30 Challenge: That’s a Wrap!

    • I am TOTALLY the same! It’s why I resisted doing a 30 x 30 for years … and I was right. It’s boring. For me, anyway. I like the creativity aspect, but I feel like you can express that without the arbitrary rules/limits.
      I guess I fail (miserably) at the whole minimalism thing. Eh, whatcha gonna do!

  1. Have to say, I’m kind of happy this challenge is over… not that it was terrible or anything. I just found it a bit boring, to be honest. You comments are always such fun, it keeps me coming back, though!

    Happy Canada Day to you too!

    • Haha! I appreciate the honesty. (I really mean that, 100% sarcasm-free.) And I’m really glad you didn’t give up on the blog. I hope you’ll stick around 🙂

  2. happy canada day! happy end of 30×30! happy return to the rest of your closet! i love the chambray/flower necklace/skirt outfit, the scarf/chambray/black accessories outfit, and the jean jacket/striped shirt/skirt outfit the most. i’m kicking myself for not buying those red gap outlet flat sandals when i saw them the other day. so darn cute/versatile!

    xo nicole

  3. hi there Adina (and what a cool name! what’s your heritage?) I’m over here from Writes Like a Girl. you totally killed it with your 30×30 and I loved looking at the overview! your style seems preppy with a fun twist, I love the bright pops of color. I enjoy looking through people’s overviews because I really hope to do a 30×30 someday…and it’s cool to see how people curate their “staples” with pieces to mix and match in between! nice work.

    ♥ perfectly Priya

    • Welcome! Thanks for checking out the blog, and happy to hear that you enjoyed the challenge.
      I also love looking at other people’s 30 x 30 – far more than I enjoyed doing it, in fact. So I hope you’ll eventually do one too … so I have a new one to check out 🙂

      P.S. You’re gorgeous. Seriously.