The little black dress challenge

If you follow me on instagram then you already know about my little black dress challenge. I challenged myself to wear the same dress thirty times this winter.

Why thirty? The thirty wears campaign encourages us make more conscious, thoughtful purchases and create a more ethical and sustainable wardrobe by asking before buy anything: will I wear this at least 30 times? I wanted to get a real feel for how many wears thirty really was by actually trying it out.

What’s more, I added an extra challenge. Since I stopped shopping, I’ve really been trying to make the most of the clothes I already have by wearing them in new and different ways. So, I also challenged myself to also wear my little black dress in thirty different ways.

Jewellery, belts, jackets, cardigans, jumpers, tights, scarves, wraps and shoes all changed the look of the little black dress. I was able to dress it up or down for parties, work or everyday wear. I even transformed the little black dress into a top a couple of times, once with jeans and once with a skirt over the top!

Here’s a round up of all thirty looks…

So, what have I learnt from all this dressing up?

Well, the biggest lesson I learned that thirty is A LOT of wears. The only things in my wardrobe that are realistically going to get worn thirty times are staples, like jeans and singlets that can be worn in any number of different combinations, or classics, like the little black dress that can be worn year in and year out. When I buy these things, I need to make sure that I buy really good quality items that won’t wear out or fall apart. It probably makes sense to buy them new, as long as I make sure that they are sustainably and ethically made.

Less timeless items (like this season’s must-have colour or style, formal wear or party dresses) are unlikely to get worn thirty times and I should probably think about other ways to acquire them than buying new. I haven’t yet tried renting clothes but I think it’s a great idea and there are lots of regular stores as well as specialised services offering rentals nowadays. You can rent things for a specific occasion or even for a whole season if you feel like it.

The other thing I learned is that there are LOADS of interesting ways of styling the clothes you already have into new, fun outfits. And there really is very little need to buy new clothes.

Have you ever tried a clothing challenge? Pleas share your experiences in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.