So you guys know I have been doing Style Challenges with Alison from Get Your Pretty On for over a year now. Although it CAN be slightly "time consuming" and MIGHT drain your wallet, I wanted to share with you a few tips I learned along the way and how I made the Style Challenges work for me:
Tip 1 ~ You don't have to buy everything on the list!
When I first started, I felt the need to buy every single item on the list so I could be "in uniform" and follow along perfectly (the OCD in me, I guess). What I do now is make an effort to TRY everything, but be OK if the items don't work for me. I will wear things around the house for a day or so with the tags and if I don't feel it, back it goes! At this point, I need to LOVE the clothes I have and I am honest with myself--if I don't love it, I don't keep it!
For example, duck boots were on the list for the Winter Challenge. I LIKE them, but I don't live in a climate that really necessitates the need to super "wintery" boots like that! So here I just swapped out my rain boots for duck boots (perfect since El Nino is upon us here in California!)
Outfit Formula: Black Jeans + Chambray + Vest + Duck Boots
Vest: via Jane.com (similar)
Scarf: Target (similar)
Black Jeans: Express (exact)
Boots: Target(exact--the pink and red ones are super cute too!)
Tip 2 ~ You don't have to stick with the EXACT same color or pattern combos as the preview pictures.
Sometimes the outfit formula will say "printed sweater," and the preview picture will show a fair isle sweater. This DOES NOT mean you have to buy a fair isle sweater if that's not your game! It means a PRINTED sweater. I used a polka dot sweater for my printed sweater in the last challenge and loved it!! Same goes with colors. If the preview shoes a beige shirt and you know that color washes you out, choose another neutral color that works!
This outfit called for a grey sweater....well, I didn't have a grey sweater, but I did have this beige one that loved and wanted to wear!
Outfit Formula: Plaid Top + Skinny Jeans + Grey Sweater + Boots
Plaid: Express (exact)
Jeans: Express (exact--LOVE THESE SO MUCH!)
Boots: Nordstrom (similar)
Tip 3 ~ Learn to love what you have.
Once you get a good "base" of clothing you love, it's easy to just keep wanting more...when logic would tell you stop and be happy with what you have! Try hard to push through the urge to buy more before you consider what you already have. The challenges have been great at using past classic pieces such as dark wash jeans, black jeans, boots, etc. Try to add in a piece or two to keep your wardrobe updated, but there is no reason to buy a whole new wardrobe every season. Scour Pinterest to find more ways to wear the same pieces, but it different ways.
For the Fall and Winter Challenges, I shopped my closet for 90% of the items--if I didn't have something, I found and sub and it worked perfectly! The Challenges have definitely helped me wear my "old" pieces in new ways.
Example--The Challenge called for a "sparkly tank" for layering. I knew that would be great for holiday parties, but not much beyond that. Instead, I swapped out my oldie but goodie lace tank and then followed the outfit formula of flare jeans/neutral cardi and ankle boots. I LOVE shopping my closet!!
Outfit Formula: Sparkly Tank + Black Cardigan + Boot Cut Jeans + Booties
Cardigan: Target (similar)
Jeans: Express (exact-LOVE!)
Boots: Sears (exact, sooo comfy!)
Necklace: Stella & Dot (exact)
Tip 4 ~ You don't have to be "in uniform" every day!
The Challenges last for 21 days and each day there is a new outfit formula. But a certain formula might not work for you on a certain day and that is perfectly FINE! For instance, I can't wear jeans to work. So if an outfit calls for jeans on a workday, I either find a sub or file the outfit away for another day! No biggie. I print all of the outfits and pin them up in my closet for easy reference. :)
I couldn't wear this outfit formula to work so I saved it for a weekend outing. I could have also subbed black jeans for work!
Outfit Formula: Plaid Top + Cardigan + Jeans + Boots
Plaid: J Crew, old (cute option)
Cardigan: Nordstrom (exact, TONS of colors and on sale!)
Boots: Nordstrom (similar)
From the Challenges, I have met so many AMAZING women and for that, I am SO grateful!!! In fact, it might be the best part! I met my blogging link up buddy Carrie from the Challenge! It might possibly be one of the most fun, positive places on the internet.
I just feel that you can go overboard and overbuy if you aren't mindful of the things I listed above. It CAN turn into a buying obsession. The bottom line is, you are trying to LOOK and FEEL pretty....and that doesn't necessarily take hundreds of dollars! Having a certain necklace/bag/sweater that you see won't bring you happiness. What will bring you happiness wardrobe-wise, is being secure with yourself and your body AND having a closet (big or small) of clothes you LOVE.
That being said, I love my Style Sisters from the Challenges and I LOVE the wardrobe the Challenges have helped me build! I'm so excited to announce the new way to join Challenges!! Registration for Annual Membership is now open! Basically you get 4 Challenges for the price of 3!
As always, at the beginning of each season you'll get a shopping list and over 21 outfit combos for that season! It's been an awesome way to get classic pieces in my wardrobe, as well up have little "updates" every season! It's like having a personal stylist every season!
Click HERE and you can read all about it! The special rate ends January 31st and there won't be any other discounts for the individual challenges this year :( Definitely check out the Annual Membership, girls...you know I love a bargain!!!
Time to link up! Don't forget to use the hashtag #lovelylittlealamode on social media!As always, at the beginning of each season you'll get a shopping list and over 21 outfit combos for that season! It's been an awesome way to get classic pieces in my wardrobe, as well up have little "updates" every season! It's like having a personal stylist every season!
Click HERE and you can read all about it! The special rate ends January 31st and there won't be any other discounts for the individual challenges this year :( Definitely check out the Annual Membership, girls...you know I love a bargain!!!
Hosted by ~
Each week we choose a favorite...check out Carrie and Whitney's blogs to see if it's you! My favorite look this week was Karen from She Thought She Could. She's always pretty, but I really loved her honest thoughts about blogging and how she's been feeling. Her post totally spoke to me! Read her sweet words HERE.
Now let's get linking! We like to keep things simple around here. Just link up your favorite posts--fashion, beauty, food, DIY, anything goes! Follow your hosts on social media, have fun and be inspired! Thanks for linking up!
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See where I link up HERE
These are great tips, especially learn to love what you have! All of your outfits are so cute and stylish! You look great!
ReplyDeleteJill
Doused In Pink
Glad to hear that these style challenges work so well for you! Thank you for hosting and hope you are having a fab week!
ReplyDeleteAlice
www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
It is interesting to read your opinions of this challenge because I've never done these challenges because I never wanted to wear a "uniform" and look like everyone else. But I can certainly see how a lot of women who struggle with putting outfits together would find them very helpful. I've heard a lot about how supportive the other women are and all the friends they made through these challenge. That's great.
ReplyDeleteThese are some really great ways to make the challenge a little more realistic! I take it you are going to keep doing them??
ReplyDeleteI really like how your plaid shirts and waterfall cardigans look together - must give that a try! thanks for hosting and have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteSuch great tips! I agree with everything you said. I'm not sure I'm going to do any more of them. As you know it's harder to wear the Fall and Winter season, and the Spring season is almost always too hot to wear most of those outfits too....I think this mean I need to move somewhere with seasons!
ReplyDeleteI love your thoughts behind not buying and over-consuming. You can make a wardrobe go a long way without a ton of clothing!
ReplyDeletehttp://passportcouture.com
I think style challenges are great, but it's definitely good to make them work for you and where you are going (like work)!
ReplyDeletewww.amemoryofus.com
Get points and input about the challenges. I'm ever so grateful for our friendship and we will meet in real life one day...but until zoom chat will have to do. Thankful for you sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteI love your tips especially how we can go overboard with shopping. That is something I try to avoid.
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips, and I agree completely about making sure a style works for you before you commit to buying it. I've made the mistake of not doing that before! I also love how you shopped your closet for this challenge. You came up with some great looks!
ReplyDeleteShea | www.shealennon.com
Great tips for making the challenges work for you! (Wish I'd known these earlier! LOL!) LOVE that we met through the group--this year we need to meet for real!
ReplyDeleteWonderful tips!!!! Thank you so much <3
ReplyDeleteAlways picture perfect. You should be the poster child for Alison's challenges. I am a little sad not to be signing up this go-round. This will be the very first one I have missed. Look forward to seeing what you put together.
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips to get the most out of the challenges. Plus you look too cute in all the outfits featured!
ReplyDeleteI always love seeing what you gals come up with during your style challenges. I just love that outfit with the green plaid shirt and light jacket! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteCarrie
curlycraftymom.com
I love the tips and you all are so good coming up with the challenges. Love the plaid on you Casey!
ReplyDeletejess xx
Thanks for linking up with Turning Heads Tuesday!
www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com