The October Dress Project

The October Dress Project - a call to simplicity.  One dress, 31 days, 31 looks.

Ok, so...I usually don't like things called projects.  Because, well, they usually require work.  And planning.

And a project about clothes?!?!  You all KNOW how much I LOVE clothes shopping (if not, refer back to ""New Bathing Suits and Other Horrors" or "Clothes Shopping")

But here I am.  Excited about wearing THE SAME DRESS for 31 days straight.  And, I've been excited about shopping for the last couple of months for this.  Yup.  Me.  Excited about CLOTHES SHOPPING!!!

Here's the breakdown:  Dress:   $6 at Salvation Army.  It's originally from The Gap.  Gap no longer has this particular dress, but its similar dresses currently sell for $59.95.  I have bought 3 cardigans ($2-4 each), one blazer ($4), one velveteen overshirt($4), one necklace($0.99), 3 pairs of leggings (one new, $7; two "new to me", $2 each), 4 belts (ranging from $0.50 to $1.50) and a bunch of scarves (some of which can double as belts) (ranging from $0.25 to $2.50, most under $1), and a dicky ($0.99).  Aside from the one pair of leggings, and a scarf on clearance at Family Dollar, the only things I've bought absolutely new were 2 pairs of shoes; on sale, buy one get one 1/2 off, to replace a pair of blue pumps that died 2 years ago and a pair of black pumps that died earlier this year.  Do you KNOW how HARD it is to find plain pumps?  No bows, no "jewels", no spike heels, no flowers?  Just plain pumps?  So yeah, when I found 2, on sale, I snatched them up.  A little higher than I usually wear...but this dress is a little shorter than I usually wear, so hey, why not?!

And yeah, I had shoes/blazers/sweaters/scarves/jewelry that I already owned that I will wear as well.  I probably bought more than I will actually need or use.  But here's the thing:  when October is done - I have other skirts, suits, slacks, and dresses that these accessories will go with.  And that's the point.

I have clothes in my closet that I have not worn since Hal and I moved to Pennsylvania over 3 years ago.  Why?  I don't know.  But I know this:  I now have a base wardrobe.  Things that I can mix and match.  And I'll be going through the rest of my closet soon.  What I haven't worn/don't fit/don't like anymore will be going to the thrift store. 

Except for the dress I wore on my first day of school in Kindergarten.  Yes, I still have it.  And yes, it's hanging in my closet.  And no, I'm not giving that one away.