Day 120: Same skirts, rotating shirts

Yesterday I had a few friends over, and I was tempted to scoop up all of the shirts out of my "unworn" drawer and give them away. With the exception of my sweaters, since it hasn't been that cold for too long, I'm pretty sure that if I haven't worn a shirt yet, I am not that interested in wearing it. But I promise that I'll wear everything, and I anticipate that I will have caught up on my whole existing wardrobe by the end of the year. I do want to remind you that I haven't been photographing every single outfit I wear, but I've posted at least one picture for every day since I started on July 6.  For instance, I didn't take a picture of my "Good Game, Let's Go Eat" shirt that I wore for game night last night. But you can know that it was awesome anyway.

 Top: Gap, Betsy's

Black tank with lace underneath top: ??

Cardigan: LOFT

Skirt: Anthropologie

Boots: Old Navy

Necklace: From Kelly B.

Day 100: Hooray!

It's time to celebrate! I'm 100 days into this project, and it's going really well! I started to wear all of my clothes 100 days ago in order to take an inventory of what I have. Each day, I have worn at least one piece that I haven't worn since the project started, and I'm well over halfway through.  Right now, I have a bunch of casual, plain short-sleeve shirts left, as well as a whole bunch of sweaters. I also have a handful of formal dresses, as well as my wedding dress.  I feel pretty confident that I'll be able to wear everything I have, even if it means that I will dress up too much for Thanksgiving or I have a party with a theme of "Wear your bridesmaid or prom dress".  Dressing up for Halloween is essential this year, too.

Cleaning out my closet has always been one of my favorite hobbies, and The Everything Project was a result of the biggest purge, after losing some weight and a few sizes.  I restocked on the essentials and some fun new pieces, and I am lucky to share clothing with some friends and sisters.  Today, I realized that I only have about 3 pairs of jeans, and they're all nice and new.  It's important to have jeans like these, but I am itching to go to the thrift store at lunch today to find a perfectly worn-in pair of light-colored jeans with a boyfriend fit. All I have wanted to do is dress comfortably and casually lately.  Last night I was tempted to babysit in my pajamas!

Pink & gray striped shirt: Betsy's, from American Eagle

Sweater: Old Navy

Jeans: From Laura, from Gap

Shoes: Chuck Taylors via TJ Maxx

Bag: Banana Republic

Earrings: ??

Candle Necklace: Gift from Anthropologie at my birthday last year.

Did any of you get the same one?

Day 92: Sheer Pleasure

I bought this shirt about a month ago and was saving it for the trip. I like how it looks as a cover-up, and it worked well to wear over a bathing suit, particularly while playing volleyball on the beach.  It's also nice to have clothes that have to be handwashed while you are on vacation, since I could hang this outside on my balcony and it was dry in an hour.  It's a much faster process than when it hangs in my bathtub at home.

Word to the wise: if you're planning on wearing white pants multiple times per trip, make sure to bring the proper undergarments. I wish I could've worn these pants again later in the trip, especially since I thought they'd be good for the temperature transition on the trip home.

 Top: Marshall's

Pants: Rebecca's, from Anthropologie

Clutch: From Mom, Clinique

Flip flops: From Mom, a store in Stone Harbor

Sunglasses: Kohl's

Bathing suit: Victoria's Secret

Day 91: Jamaican holiday

I'm so glad that I went to Montego Bay, Jamaica for the wedding of my friends Alicia and Tommy! I was there for five days, starting last Wednesday. The flight was at 6 am, which means that I landed in Jamaica around 8:30 am and was on the beach by 11.  We stayed at Secrets Wild Orchid, an impressive all-inclusive resort.  I had never been to a resort before, and didn't know what to expect, but this spot was perfect for a few carefree days in the sun with friends. I think there were 28 of us there for the wedding festivities, which was ideal, because Dave and I could go off and relax or kayak on our own, but there were always people around to hang out or play volleyball with if we wanted to.  A perfect vacation!

Dave's sister lent me a beautiful batch of clothes (and jewelry!) to take on this trip, since she dressed well for her St. Barts honeymoon five months ago.  Every day in Jamaica, I put my bathing suit on first thing in the morning and kept it on until it was time to dress up for dinner. I would keep a cover-up or some more casual clothes around during the day to wear during breakfast and lunch, but after nap time, it was generally time to get dressed up and put on some makeup.  The cruise ship in the background of these shots already has me thinking about my next vacation!

Dress: Rebecca's, J. Crew

Shoes: Old Navy

Earrings: Rebecca's

Bracelets: Forever 21

Day 89: Pink and pixellated

Even though I like this outfit and I would have bought any/all of the items I am wearing, I didn't pick any of these out myself. If you take a look at where I got all of these pieces, they're all either borrowed, gifted, or hand-me-downs.  I'll take it! Thank goodness I only have two days of work this week, and I'll be in Jamaica at this time on Wednesday! It was hard to get out of bed this morning--it's cuddle weather!

I want to give you a close-up of the skirt, since it's more geometric than you might have expected:

 Top: J. Crew, from Laura

Skirt: Gap, borrowed from Rebecca

Boots: Gift from Mom, Kenneth Cole

Bag: Coach

Sunglasses: Gap

Necklace: Gift from Margaret, Banana Republic

Day 87: Bachelorette in Black

Alicia's bachelorette party was on Saturday night! The dress code was exclusively hot purple and black.  The only clothes I have in those colors are more appropriate for work than they are for play, so I borrowed this number from my sister. She usually wears it with a camisole underneath, but I showed a little more skin through the lace.The party was a blast, and Shannon, the matron of honor, did a great job pulling it together! Two days from now I will be in Jamaica, ready for the wedding on Friday!! Congratulations, Alicia and Tommy!

Dress: Betsy's, from Urban Outfitters

Belt: J. Crew

Shoes: Nine West

Earrings: From Mom, I think from Aunt Kim

Purse: Liz Claiborne

Doesn't the bride look great in her dress from Forever 21?

Day 87: Kid friendly

I babysat from 8:30 until 2 on Saturday, and I had a  lot of fun! I took the kids to Palumbo Park, and the playground smelled like bacon because of the Morning Glory diner right there. As if that wasn't lovely enough, all of the best Phillies shirts were out in full force. It was so happy to be surrounded by cute kids and clever team spirit on a lovely autumn morning. Then Dave and I dropped by the Midtown Village festival and I picked up a pair of Jack Rogers sandals on clearance. A perfect start to the day!

Cardigan: Clothing swap in Kensington

Top: Rebecca's, from Banana Republic

Jeans: Tommy Hilfiger via TJ Maxx

Shoes: Sperry via J. Crew

Sunglasses: Target

Day 83: Dancing in Ivy

A few friends are coming over to my place after work today, and I thought that this dress would be perfect for hostessing.  My sister-in-law, Rebecca, lent the dress to me, and I love it! I'm glad it works with this cardigan, because the embroidery has a cold-weather feel to me, but it's strapless and sleeveless, so it isn't exactly a Christmas time dress. It's still warm outside, and it's sure to be warm in my apartment tonight even though Dave took care of all of the cooking last night. 

You can't see the lace detailing on this cardigan, but it's there, and this is the dress I wore for the chillier parts of my wedding on April 10, 2010!

 Dress: Rebecca's, from Anthropologie

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Payless
Lindsay necklace: Gift from Mom

Ruby earrings: Bridesmaid gift from Denise

Bag: Target

Sunglasses: Kohl's

Day 77: Business Cozy

Another day, another outfit. Just a step on the way to wearing all of my clothes. This pretty beaded top, which is perfect for this weather since it's made of a soft, sweatery material, is borrowed from my husband's sister, Rebecca.  I know this wouldn't count as "my" clothes, then, but since I have it now, I'm wearing it.  By the end of the project--a few months down the road--I will have worn everything that is still in my closet, in my drawers, and under my bed. Ok, I keep a lot of things other places too. The hall closet, the hook near the front door, my jewelry boxes and stand...I will wear it all. Just you wait.

Shirt: Rebecca's from Banana Republic

Pants: Sears
Shoes: Payless

Bag: Kohl's

Earrings: Gift from Kelly from Ethiopia

Bracelet: No clue. See how it's restrung on a yellow plastic cord?

Day 74: An Apple a Day

Can you tell that I'm bummed that Dave and I never took engagement photos? Good thing I have a sister who is willing to take our pictures when we are being silly. As you know, she is also excellent at sharing her clothing with me. Thanks, Bets! No full-length shots here; I'm just wearing jeans and sneakers, since I have yet to find a great and affordable pair of boots. 

 I like what that New Jersey water does to my hair.



Josh was only interested in throwing apples and using them as a telephone.

Sweater: Forever 21 (yes, Betsy's)
Jeans: Gap
Sneakers: Nike
Earrings: Gift from Betsy
Apples: I actually haven't eaten one of these yet.



Day 72: Bundle

You know what I love about fall, and if you don't, everyone you know has written about it on facebook. I never knew it had such wide-spread appeal, and thought that I just love autumn because I was born in October and am used to celebrating as the air turns pleasantly chilly.  I'm not quite ready to jump into jacket and butternut squash weather, but I'm easing into the season slowly. Yes, I can do plaid.

Vest and top: My sister Betsy's

Jeans and bag: Old Navy

Boots: Payless

Sunglasses: Gap

Earrings: Made by Mom's friend Suzanne

Day 66: On my sister's clothes

I love to go for super long walks around the city, but it's hard to decide how to dress for it.  Comfortable shoes are the most important part, but I'm really not a huge fan of wearing sneakers when I'm not working out. What if I want to stop into a nice store or restaurant? Everyone else has such comfortable pairs of flats; I'm not sure what it is about my shoes or my feet, but I definitely don't. 

I wore this to the grocery store, changed into sneakers for a walk to get my sister Betsy, and then came home and hung out with Betsy and Dave all night.  Dave's mom's recipe for tomato pie was delicious, and made a nice red splotch on these shorts.

Betsy realized how many of her clothes I have been wearing, and requested that I return some of them.  I should point out that she has a ton of my clothes, too. But I was happy to return some of her shirts, including this one. She took the shirt off my back, so then I changed into my "New Jersey: Only the Strong Survive" shirt and a tomato-free skirt.

Top: Betsy's

Shorts: J. Crew

Shoes: Kappa Alpha Theta, bought at Bucknell

Bag: Old Navy

Day 55: Mulberry Macropods

Who's excited for September?

Dress: Betsy's, from Old Navy

Scarf: Gift from Mom

Belt: Francesca's

Shoes: Nine & Company, and surprisingly very uncomfortable

Bag: Target

Day 51: How do you wear black shirts?

When I wear black tops with black pants or skirts, I feel a little more high school stage crew member and a little less Victoria Beckham.  I'm sure it has to do with the fit, and since I don't get my clothes tailored, I end up wearing black shirts with jeans when I can.  This outfit is so comfy. I don't know yet if I'm going to be wearing this to Baltimore tonight or if it would be better to stay off the roads and avoid Hurricane Irene.

Top: Betsy's

Jeans: Laura's, from Gap

Shoes: Banana Republic Outlet

Bag: Goodwill

Green Earrings: Gift from Lauren

Gem Stone Bracelet: Gift from Aga? (That means it's at least 16 years old)

Day 50: 2 Shirts at a Time

The only way I'm going to get through all of my shirts is to wear them two at a time. It's certainly a challenge, since as I work through them, it is harder to find items that match perfectly. But this is what I signed up for! The striped shirt is no longer just to wear with jeans, and the cardigan isn't just for black pants. I don't think I've ever worn this skirt before, so I am definitely making progress.

Cardigan: Gift from Mom, Old Navy

Shirt: Betsy's, H&M

Skirt and shoes: Old Navy

Earrings: Gift from Ali

Bracelets: Forever21

Days 45 & 46: Weekend Wear

While Dave was away in Sweden, I actually had more of a social life than usual, thanks to all of my fun friends who kept me company! On Saturday, Jen and I went shopping at the misleadingly named Philadelphia Outlets, and I had lots of luck. Get excited to see my new purchases in future posts! The blog does help me identify holes in my wardrobe and lets me know what I think I need, but of course this means I am prolonging my project. I think these items are totally worth the extra blogging.

For shopping, I wore a variation of this outfit with an ivory Anthro bow top and Bucknell flip flops. Here I am at David and Claire's housewarming party!

Top: LOFT outlet
Shorts: J. Crew
Sandals: Banana Republic Outlet

I wore a ton of outfits on Sunday because I had separate ones for swimming, brunch with Jan, walking around downtown/meeting Dave!, and for dinner at the Khyber, which was apparently what Dave missed while he was in Stockholm.

 This is what I wore for dinner.

 Top: Betsy's, from Gap

Skirt: Old Navy

Wedges: Banana Republic Outlet

Fleur de lis necklace: Gift from Dave
Bag: Target

Day 41: Let's Go Eat

I took a coffee break with Jan this morning, and I am glad I did. I didn't actually want to buy anything, but Fork, Etc. was giving away banana bread pudding, and it was scrumptious.

And then, sitting outside at Mrs. K's, the crappy unassuming little diner right next to my office, was Hunter Pence, the exciting new player for the Phillies, and his parents.  This is the outfit I wore when I made eye contact with Hunter Pence.

The dress and the shoes were both Laura's, but the bag is new. All of these items kind of surprised me, so I'd like to see if you can guess where they are from.

The red earrings, which you can't see, are a gift from Tracy during high school.

PS. Go to The Fightins to check out Hunter's fashion statement!

Day 39: Rainy Sunday

Now it is Dave's turn to take a business trip: he's heading to Stockholm right now. I dropped him off at his office so he could catch a shuttle to the airport with coworkers, but we started our day with zucchini chocolate chip pancakes! So delicious, and very easy. The best part is that I don't have to share the leftovers. Then I spent a quality afternoon with my family, and the rain stopped long enough for us to go to a used bookstore and Percy St. bbq.

Shirt: Was Laura's, from Ann Taylor LOFT
Shorts: J. Crew
Boots: Gift from Alicia
Necklace: Was Margaret's
Bracelet: Gift from a friend in high school
Umbrella: New Bucknell bookstore!
Monet tote: Gift from Mom?

Day 38: Stripes on stripes

Surprise! This post is coming to you from Pittsburgh. Dave and I successfully surprised our friend Zack before he and his girlfriend Laura embark on a 2-year teaching experience in Germany. Now yesterday's shirt makes sense, right? We visited for less than 24 hours, but were so happy to spend that time with two dear friends. As a bonus, you will soon be seeing some of the clothes Laura is not bringing with her to Deutschland. Lucky me!

Shirt: don't know!
Shorts: J. Crew outlet
Long-sleeved shirt: Betsy's
Shoes: J. Crew

Day 37: Guten Tag it's Friday

Man, there are a lot of brick walls in this city. Even when I try to mix up the scenery in these photos, we always come back to different brick walls.  In honor of my good friends Zack and Laura, who are moving to Germany this month, I wore my Germany shirt. It's my dad's, it's from the 70s, and I love it. I was proudest of this shirt when I was reading Tina Fey's Bossypants, which included the sentence, "The shirts allowed me to express myself with cool sayings like 'There's No Crying in Baseball' and 'Universität Heidelberg'.” If I recall correctly, she is not complimenting such shirts, but that doesn't matter to me.  Did young Tina Fey have the same shirt I do?

Can you tell what I did with this scarf today?

I am also wearing flamingo socks.

Shirt: Dad's, from Universitat Heidelberg

Pants: Banana Republic

Shoes: Converse

Scarf: J. Karma

Earrings: Gift

Bag: Vera Bradley (Gift)