Fall 10×10: My 10 Looks
That's a wrap on my Fall 10x10! This one was very different from Winter, Spring, & Summer challenges because my 10 items were all from Lee & Birch and I planned my looks a week ahead of time.
The summer challenge influenced me with all the patterns, color, & texture! After 4 years of narrowing my focus on the items I bring into my closet, I needed to break free from my demanding rules a bit.
This 10x10 made me enjoy clothing again. It's since made me much more interested in the history of clothing from a political, cultural, and societal standpoint. I highly recommend the Articles of Interest podcast by 99% Invisible if the history of jeans or why we call it plaid sounds intriguing to you.
The first 5 days are a blur to me. My schedule is nuts this season so the fact that I didn't realize any issues or frustrations with my clothing as I ran around like a wild woman is a great sign they did the job.
Teacher Style I wore these black boots the majority of the challenge and they already feel like a staple as it gets colder. I wouldn't have been comfortable wearing velvet leggings with a shorter top if it weren't for the longer-length cardigan so the layering was a good choice. For my morning class, I buttoned the top of the wide collar because it's important to me I remain modest as a young professor. This outfit will be on repeat this season, it's so simple, fast, & comfortable for my 6 am get-up.
Buffalo check button-up | Black and white cardigan | Velvet leggings | Waterproof boots
Print Shop This look was one of my favorites. After dressing up for class days, I love dressing down for print shop days. The camouflage moto pants are my absolute favorite item of this challenge. I love the knee detail and the zippers around the pockets. Mixing it with the plaid scarf was fun & not something I'd usually think to do but the look needed color so I added it in. I didn't even get a speck of ink on my crisp white shirt!
White long sleeve | Plaid scarf | Moto skinnies | Slip sneaker
Teacher Style I don't normally wear denim on class days but this day we toured a print shop local to Grand Rapids, BrightFormat, so it made more sense. The denim and black boot combo made me feel like a boss. I felt confident and had a take no shit attitude pretty much all day. Win!
Buffalo check button-up | Black and white cardigan | High-waisted denim | Waterproof boots
After Work I like looks that can go from day to night seamlessly because I don't like spending time messing with multiple outfit changes in a day. Once the robe is on, I'm not going anywhere. I LOVE the hue of this orange duster — it's the perfect shade for Fall — and how it elevates a simple white top and black bottoms combo.
White long sleeve | Rust-colored duster | Velvet leggings | Waterproof boots
Casual Wedding I don't have much green in my closet so this cozy shirtdress was a great addition. It's super soft and has a nice pocket detail so I don't feel like I'm just wearing a sack. It worked perfectly for a more casual wedding I went to that involved a bumpy trolley ride. I felt super comfortable and the gold jewelry and metallic clutch elevated it subtly.
Shirtdress | Waterproof boots
Weekend at Home My parents came to visit for the weekend so I'm glad I had this simple white and denim combination. The day was all about catching up with my parents, making chicken chorizo chili, and walking Tiger. I worried a bit about spilling ingredients on my white sweater but ultimately was all good and super cozy for a lazy day in our cozy cottage.
Pearl-studded ivory sweater | Plaid scarf | Moto skinnies | Slip sneaker
Sunday Brunch I mentioned on Sunday that I failed to wear this look and that I really need to stop planning dresses on Sunday's! I simply don't wear them. As much as brunch sounds like this super cute thing to bookend the weekend, I've never done it so I'm not sure why I thought I would this day. This is the outfit I would wear if I were the kind of girl to do brunch.
ShirtdressLayer | Plaid cardigan | Waterproof boots
Lunch My favorite look of the challenge! It feels the most Me. I don't know if it's the shade of tan in the wedges and my glasses or the moto pants with the pearl sweater but it all just goes together in this cohesive and mismatched kind of way. I wore it for class then lunch with a friend. I'll be wearing this again and again.
Pearl-studded ivory sweater | Black and white cardigan | Moto skinnies | Tan wedges
Print Shop I wouldn't have worn this to the print shop if it weren't for this challenge. Velvet leggings in an inky shop just felt, unnecessary and the sweater was too hot. BUT, it's definitely a go-to look and quick way to feel dressed up when you're running out of time and would like to spend more time listening to podcasts on the commute than getting ready. This is how the cardigan looks when the two buttons are closed, I LOVE the collar it creates.
White long sleeve | Black and white cardigan | Velvet leggings | Waterproof boots
Halloween Style Had to save the most Halloween-ish for last. Not really a costume but the rust duster felt very festive. I really loved mixing the feminine floral pattern with masculine camouflage, it made for softness with an edge which is how I think I am (don't tell me if this isn't true).
White long sleeve | Rust-colored duster | Moto skinnies | Tan wedges
Insights
What am I trying to say? I faced a lot of doubts & demons this challenge. More than any other 10x10, I was concerned with what I was saying by partnering with a local boutique for all 10 items. The majority of my style posts are about capsule-inspired wardrobes, slow fashion, and clothing essentials. It worried me that some of you who know this about me might think it odd or worse, disingenuine, that I dedicated these 10 days to a somewhat different message.
I share a different perspective about 10x10's than most of the 10x10 community anyways but my partnership with Lee & Birch was an opportunity to connect and collaborate with fellow local women in business. I felt it important to celebrate a boutique in my backyard and the women who have been running it for over a decade. A very hard feat in a fast-paced, ever-changing retail industry. This was not a sponsorship, meaning I wasn't paid to talk about their clothes, nor did I purchase all 10 items for the sake of this challenge. I purchased around half because one of their stylists was AMAZING and helped me discover items I was looking to fulfill after the Spring 10x10 when I became disenchanted with my whites and lack of color in my closet.
Anyways, this could very well be me overthinking things but it feels right to tell you. My goal with 10x10's and anything for that matter is never to encourage you to buy things you don't need or want. If you like it, buy it, and try out a local boutique that I personally enjoy. But if you don't, then don't and I hope the looks inspire you to mix items you already have in your wardrobe or find it at other places you enjoy.
Clockwise from left, images from: Yoke & Bore / Mom Basics / Lined Notes / Sol Soleil Soul / Ali Wayys
10x10 Representation Matters. If you participated in the challenge or follow someone who does, I'm hoping you heard of the #10x10representationmatters hashtag. It was started this season by a group of women who are most definitely underrepresented in the slow fashion movement. In all movements actually but the focus was on ethical clothing in this 10x10 instance. It took off like wildfire, thank God, and has unearthed a lot about culture, politics, white supremacy, hurtful pasts, and pain that is woven into their everyday lives because of all of these things and more. I've often grappled with myself that all this time & energy spent talking about clothes and personal style is shallow and why am I doing it? What has been shallow is my lack of understanding.
I urge you to read through the posts and follow the hashtag #ethicalfashionrepresentationmatters for continued dialogue. I hope it changes you and your perspectives like it is doing for me.
Inspiration
Still pining for wide-leg pants. Add Ochre to the wish list. Love how Raven hopes to pass on her sisterhood denim jacket. Leaning back to black & tan. Still admiring Candice's style & photos. These green pants & Gina prepping for elections. Corduroy's making a comeback, my Mom started it. Everything Bo has said, especially this.
You can see my inspiration + my 10 items for the challenge here. For more wardrobe inspiration see my Pinterest board and Style posts.
