“Our life is frittered away by detail…Simplify, simplify, simplify! Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.”
Henry Thoreau
I embarked on a quest to wear one dress for 100 days, exactly that many days ago (read more about the 100-day dress challenge here). One of my primary goals was to dress more sustainably by building a capsule wardrobe around a single dress. I accomplished this goal and so many more. With that in mind, I decided to put together a list of 10 key takeaways from this challenge. Let’s get started!
Here’s a list of my top ten takeaways from the 100-day dress challenge:
10. Less Is More
Although my wardrobe has considerably shrunk since I started this challenge, it feels like I have more to wear. At the beginning of the challenge, I donated clothes that didn’t fit well or make me feel good when I wore them, were too well-worn, or weren’t practical. As the challenge went on, I continued the purge. I now own a smaller wardrobe of clothing, but it makes me feel good about myself and fits my lifestyle.
9. Laundry Isn’t an Ordeal
Since my weekly wardrobe is made of a single dress, I have much less laundry. Previously, the base of my outfit would be a different dress, skirt, or pair of pants each day. When the day was done, this base clothing item went into the laundry hamper, along with everything else. Merino wool stands up quite well to wear, so I only wash the dress once a week (it could go longer between washes, but I like the routine of doing this weekly).
To keep my dress fresh during the week, I pair it with a newly washed pair of bike shorts and undershirt each day. Plus, I hang it on my closet door each night to air it out. As a result, my husband and I have a single load of laundry a week (our children do their laundry). It’s made laundry a simple task versus what felt like an ordeal. Plus, we’ve conserved water in the process. Win-win!
8. Pictures Aren’t Scary
Before this challenge, I would cringe when I saw myself in pictures. Taking a daily picture still isn’t my favorite thing. However, it’s made me more aware of and comfortable with how I look and feel. I can now look at a picture of myself and, instead of focusing on everything I don’t like (although that hasn’t gone away entirely – progress versus perfection), I now see things I like. Also, looking back on the photos helps me remember what the family was doing. I’m guessing I’ll enjoy this photo diary even more 10 to 20 years (or more) from now!
7. Accessories Help Make Me Feel Good
People who know me well know I love jewelry. I enjoy looking through my jewelry to figure out what I will wear, as much (or more) as wearing it. Accessorizing adds interest to the outfit and, more importantly, makes me feel good.
6. Getting Out Creative Energy Matters to Me
The first time I made a piece of jewelry was in the early 2000s when I was birthday shopping for my mother-in-law. I couldn’t find the right and perfect gift, so I decided to make her something. This sparked a never-ending love for jewelry-making. Rather than buying new clothing if I got bored during this challenge, I often instead got out some creative energy by making a new pair of earrings. Not only was this a way to end my boredom, but I also ended up with a new piece of jewelry at the end of the process.
5. Regular Maintenance Keeps Things Fresh
It’s a well-known fact that things last longer with routine maintenance. This is true of our cars, homes, health, and so much more. With this dress, taking care to protect it throughout the day, hanging it up every night, and gently washing it as needed has helped extend its life. It’s also led me to keep up similar practices with other things in my life, like taking a few minutes each day to pack a healthy lunch, doing minor cleanup throughout the day, and so much more.
Not only do these types of practices keep things fresh and bright, but they also reduce stress. Here’s to continuing to find little ways to keep up on the maintenance!
4. Quality Over Quantity
This quality over quantity takeaway kind of goes with less is more, but it’s a bit different. The core concept of this idea is that not only is having less things helpful, but so too is making sure the things I choose to keep (or bring into my home) are of good quality. Choosing well-made products with quality designs may cost more in the short term, but they’ll likely end up costing less in the long run. Durability leads to fewer purchases and lower overall costs. This makes my pocketbook happy!
3. Sustainability Begets Sustainability
The sustainability journey I embarked on 100 days ago started with a single dress. One of my main goals was to reduce my involvement with fast fashion and join the slow fashion movement. Not only was I able to accomplish this sustainability goal, but it also led to improved sustainability in other areas of my life. As a simple example, doing fewer loads of laundry results in lower water and detergent use, and helps extend the life of my washer and dryer. The little things add up!
2. Challenges Are Motivating
I like a good challenge. I’m naturally competitive and, thereby, find challenges highly motivating. It matters not if I’m competing with myself or other people. Instead, I enjoy the journey. Having something I’m working towards adds an element of excitement and adventure to my life, even if it’s as simple as wearing one dress for 100 days. Here’s to figuring out my next challenge, er, adventure!
1. Single Steps Can Take You Far
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
Lau Tzu
You’ll never reach your destination if you don’t take the first step. It usually takes some type of motivation to get moving. This challenge motivated me to put one foot in front of the other. Once momentum builds, it’s easier to continue moving forward. While this particular challenge is over, my journey is not. What will I wear tomorrow? For now, it’s probably still this dress. However, I’ll also look for a few quality items to add to my wardrobe.
My sustainability journey has just begun. Who knows where this journey will lead? I suppose the only way to find out is to continue taking it one step at a time. So, onward ho!
Click on the following links to connect with us on Facebook or Instagram!
Well done! I’m about 40 days through the challenge. What are you doing with your dress now?
Congratulations on your challenge! I’m still wearing my dress as a part of my regular wardrobe rotation. Plus, several more have been added to the mix. I would love to hear how your challenge went and what you’re now doing with your dress!