Reverse 30x30 Reflections (and all outfit links) and Tips

In short, the challenge is this:

(Original Post in case you want pictures and a run down of this challenge)

Click on the link after each item to view the post that features it. 

For my January challenge, I chose these items:

1. coral and khaki skirt (officially reversed, and I'm already thinking up spring looks)

2. gray and yellow skirt  (officially reversed)

3. white pencil skirt (officially waiting for spring--too cold for the outfits I have planned for it--might opt for finding an A-line version of it instead)

4. teal velvet pants (officially reversed)

5. polka dot tights (I did reverse them, but I found an enormous run in them at the end of the day, which means I had to pitch them. It was a good run, tights. Pun intended.) 

6. khaki pants (officially returned)

7. brown boots (officially reversed)

8. black wedge booties (officially reversed)

9. red heels (waiting until spring for these...just too cold for them)

10. tri-color wedges (officially reversed here and here)

11. aztec scarf 

12. teal necklace (I have better spring looks planned for it.)

13. striped dress (officially reversed)I

14. tan dress (officially rejected)

15. navy dress (probationally reversed)

16. polka dot shirt (officially reversed)

17. polka dot cardi (probationally reversed...I might try to wear it as a sweater with a vest?)

18. polka dot blouse (officially reversed) 

19. printed blazer (wore it here, but it's LEAVING the closet due to fit--if you want it, check out my Poshmark closet; the link is on the left!)

20. chambray (officially reversed)

21. paisley blouse (officially rejected)

22. gray shirt (officially rejected)  

23. paisley blouse 2 (officially reversed)

24. emerald sleeveless sweater (too cold for it just yet)

25. navy sweater (officially reversed)

26. blush sweater with silver polka dots (keeping but I want it to warm up just a bit first.) 

27. silver sweater (officially rejected)

28. black sweater (officially rejected because the v-neck is too deep. I prefer crewcut sweaters. And, for the most part, I SUCK at layering button ups under sweaters.)

29. white lace sweater (officially reversed)

30. orange sweater (officially reversed)

31. long-sleeve purple shirt (If I don't wear it in February, it's gone.)

32. gray skinnies (these have REALLY been reversed but I donned them on the blog just once.)

33. light khakis (I wore them here but plan to skinnify them like I did to these pants.)

34. gold blazer (officially reversed)

Reflections on this self-imposed challenge:

What are the advantages? 

• Really made me consider what I had in my closet. I actually bought fewer things this month because I concentrated so heavily on reviving some less worn items. I always appreciate a hidden perk! 

• It made donating and selling items much easier because I knew I legitimately tried to wear an item before kicking it to the curb. 

• In choosing the items, I had a chance to purge my closet in general. I tried on many things from my closet. If they didn't fit, I immediately decided to donate/pitch/sell them. 

• I realized what "formulas" work best for me when getting dressed (ex: belted pants or skirt + tucked in shirt + blazer + flats/wedges/boots, depending on the cut of the bottoms or the weather), so those formulas made reintroducing certain items (the first two skirts, for example) much easier. Clothes that don't fit into my formulas/style have a much shorter life span in my closet. 

• I ended up using Pinterest even more deliberately. I pinned looks specific to the items I wanted to reintroduce. Seriously, Pinterest saved several items from expatriation.

What are the disadvantages?

• When I did buy something new and it didn't pair well with anything I wanted to reintroduce, I grew a little annoyed. Of course, that didn't happen very often.

• I felt like crap about myself for having bought multiple things and having worn them only once. For shame. 

• A few of the things just didn't work, but I forced it anyway. Not a good idea. 

Will I do it again?

• Absolutely! But, I'd do it on a smaller (one-two weeks) time frame. 30 whole days is a tad overwhelming. Plus, you feel a little guilty for having so many items to reintroduce. 

Tips for anyone considering this challenge:

• Start smaller. Pick five-seven items to reintroduce within the span of one week or two. (Do not drag it out longer than two weeks for that number of items; otherwise, that gives you too much time to forget about them and lose steam with the challenge.)

• Create a pinboard just for the items you're reintroducing to the closet. (I created a 2014 Closet Resolutions board. Had I included those pins in one of my already-established style boards, the pins would get lost.)

• Consider some "unseasonal" items that you have worn a lot but only in a different season. I wanted to winterize my coral and floral skirts that I actually did wear in the spring/summer. 

• Reconsider other "unseasonal" items: On the flip side of the previous tip, think about the season in which you're trying to reintroduce something. I included red peep toe heels in JANUARY. Not my brightest moment. Some things can be winterized and some things cannot. 

• Take pictures of everything and make a list of your items: keep these near where you get dressed. (If you're extra fancy and have a clothes rack, use that thing and send me a picture so that I can drool over it.)

• Try to identify your fail-safe outfit "formulas." If you know that you're a blazer, tucked in sweater, skinny belt, and boots kind of girl, then use that formula to help you come up with winning outfit combinations featuring your less loved pieces. For example, I know I love tucking thin sweaters into skirts and belting them with a wide belt. I used this formula to revive two skirts for the winter. 

• Don't force an outfit/item on yourself. If you don't like it no matter how you try it, then don't keep it. The point of this challenge is to turn everything into your closet that's something well-loved. Sometimes, you just can't love something, so send it to someone else's closet for some love. (This applies physically as well. Just because you can squeeze it on does not mean you should wear it in public.)

• Brainstorm ideas for the different items (before embarking on the challenge) so that you don't go into your closet every day hating your life. Take an hour or two on the weekend and set it aside for inspiring yourself. (Pinterest is really helpful in this department!) 

• Take pictures of outfits before you wear them in public. Sometimes, the outfit looks good in your head or in the mirror, but you gasp upon seeing it in photos. Spare yourself and snap a shot while you're brainstorming ideas. 

• Include items from different categories. Don't forget about unloved scarves or necklaces. They should be reintroduced, too. 

How will I challenge myself in February? 

• I think I'll try out the one in and one out thing. (Don't bring something in unless you plan to take something out.) 

• I'll continue making a list of items I would like to see come into my closet (currently, I'm looking for dark brown boots/booties with a little heel and an A-line navy skirt.)

• Join in on Ginny and Jenn's Style Swap link ups.

• Participate in more link-ups. (I created a post-it note on my computer of the different link ups for every day of the week.) 

• Create a schedule/calendar for blogging. 

• Any suggestions?