The 10 Outfits x 10 Items Challenge: mastering style and finance

I have a confession to make. I own 6 white shirts. One is silky. One is oversized. Two are the exact same shirt, the second bought by accident because I didn’t realise I already owned the first.

A second confession: I own 4 dresses that I have only worn once. I’ve owned one of these dresses for nearly 3 years.

I love fashion. Every targeted ad I see is for ASOS. But this situation is getting out of hand. Buying new things when I have unworn items (and in the mortifying case of the white shirt, the exact same unworn item) sitting in my (oversized and bursting wardrobe) is an environmental and financial tragedy.

So this January, I embarked on the 10 outfits x 10 items challenge to reclaim my wardrobe. I was nervous initially that people would notice I was repeating my clothes or that I would get bored of my outfits. But I was shocked to receive more compliments in those 10 days than I did in the entire previous month. I didn’t outfit repeat once and I flexed my fashion muscles by styling each outfit differently.

What is 10 Outfits x 10 items? 

The rules are simple and clear: choose 10 items from your wardrobe and craft 10 different outfits with them. Get creative! I love colour, and I definitely didn’t stick to a monochrome aesthetic. However, I did choose a colour palette for the week. Plan out how your colours work together and let them shine.

It is up to you whether you choose to make shoes a part of your challenge or not. I did – and this was the hardest part. But this is your challenge and no one is going to judge you for adding an extra pair of shoes so if you want to have 10 items of clothing and a few pairs of shoes, go for it.

The stylist’s spark

One of the main aims of the challenge is to get creative. By limiting the number of items, you are forced to pair things in new ways or consider how many ways you can wear one key item. You might reveal a hidden gem – mine was a wide leg strappy linen jumpsuit that had been relegated to the ‘maybe’ pile of charity donations.

Throughout the challenge I wore it three times, once on its own as a dressier option, once for coffee with a friend with a t-shirt underneath and once for work with as a pair of wide leg trousers with a jumper and a designer belt over the top. Can you find a forgotten item to resurrect as a staple piece?

Sustainable and stylish?

Fast fashion is one of the growing threats to our planet. Some major online retailers have ‘52 seasons’ with new items dropping weekly to boost their profits and trick consumers into feeling as though their wardrobes are always lacking. Shopping your own wardrobe is the most sustainable way to shop. By working with what you already own, you’ll spend 10 days avoiding impulse buys and hopefully finish the challenge with a more mindful approach to buying.

Remember – a curated wardrobe has more wearable outfits than one that is bursting at the seams with mismatched impulse buys.

A financial flair

How much did that new blazer cost you? $40? And it’s such a good dupe of the designer one you preferred. You wear it once but notice that you actually aren’t keen on the length or how the shoulders sit. You consign it to the back of your wardrobe and think ‘oh well. It wasn’t that much money,’

It may not seem like a huge amount to treat yourself to something new, but if you only wear it once, it is a waste of money. Shopping your wardrobe reduces the cost-per-wear of each item. If you wear that blazer 10 times, the cost-per-wear is $4. As part of the challenge, you may even style it in a new way, making it feel fresh and new again.

For more information on the real cost of your blazer or favourite designer bag, click here.

Curating your challenge

If you’ve read this far and you think you could never be that girl who has a capsule wardrobe, think again. I’m going to share my top tips for creating your ten new favourite outfits.

1. Create a colour scheme. Neutrals or Vanilla Girl aesthetics obviously work well here, but I chose black, cream, pink and blue as my colours to make absolutely sure everything could be worn together.
2. Don’t focus too heavily on the same type of item. You might think you need 6 tops, but consider how that will impact the rest of your wardrobe. Equally, do you want a wide leg jumpsuit and a pair of wide leg trousers or is it better to mix your styles for greater versatility?
3. Be mindful when making your choices. Can you style something three ways? What do you need to include based on your work and social schedule? Will you feel like your best self wearing that outfit?
4. If you are including shoes, keep them to two pairs and choose pairs that are comfortable. If you need to wear high heels for work, I am truly sorry and your boss is the devil. Consider excluding shoes from your challenge, or keeping your challenge as an after-work activity. You aren’t going to enjoy it if you are wearing shoes that make you scream internally with every step.

What I wore for my 10 outfits x 10 items challenge

Based on five working days, drinks with my book club on Friday and a walk and breakfast with my bestie on Saturday, these are the items I chose:

Bottoms:

1. Cream high waisted trousers

Tops:

1. Black ribbed t-shirt
2. Blue ribbed t-shirt
3. Blue linen shirt
4. Cream jumper

Outerwear

5. Pink oversized blazer

1 piece:

1. Black wide leg jumpsuit
2. Blue knit midi dress

Shoes

1. Pink Converse high tops (I can wear these to work so they made sense for me, but in most workplaces plain white leather runners are becoming more acceptable)
2. Black leather chunky sandals

What worked well? 

Christ, I can hear my teacher voice activate when I ask that question. But there is a reason that teachers always ask their students what went well in their work. Hopefully by reflecting on outfits that worked, you will be able to get more value from your wardrobe. For me, using the two one-pieces in multiple ways allowed me to get more mileage out of my wardrobe. My chunky sandals were a huge hit for both work and a night out with friends – and so comfortable that my feet were happy in them all week.

Even better if…

If you have been anywhere near a school in the past 10 years, you knew that one was coming

I did not need two ribbed t-shirts in my collection. I LOVE a cropped ribbed t-shirt, but the fact that I had two of the same item and only one pair of trousers was questionable. The black ribbed t-shirt looked fab with the cream trousers and pink blazer, but it only really worked with them and thus was a bit of a wasted item. I was able to wear everything else at least two ways, so next time I would definitely consider how many ways I can wear a single item.

 

In a world where fashion often seems synonymous with excess, the 10 Outfits x 10 Items Challenge is way to approach fashion more sustainably and creatively. If you’ve been inspired to take part, make sure to comment below to let us know what items you choose or tag us on Instagram @fearlessgirlfinance_