Hi, friends! Today I’m excited to share a new challenge with you! It’s called the 10×10 Challenge and was originally started by Lee of Style Bee who was looking for a way to make her closet go farther! Essentially what this challenge is, is a micro capsule wardrobe where you pick 10 pieces and style them 10 different ways. The purpose is to try styling your existing clothing in ways you wouldn’t normally. Weither you want to curb your shopping habits or just try out new ways of styling pieces you already own, this is a great way to get a jump start on your goals! (You can find Lee’s advice on the 10×10 Challenge here. And she’s got plenty of great advice and examples there too!)
For me, I was finding that I had a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear in the mornings. While I’ve been playing with the idea of starting a capsule wardrobe, this 10×10 Challenge feels like the perfect little trial to see if leaning down my closet is a good choice for me! Plus, after my Floral Dress 4 Ways Challenge, I’m hooked on styling challenges!
The best part?! No need to buy anything. No need to throw out anything. No need to overhaul your closet at all! You can start almost immediately with little preparation necessary–my kind of challenge!
Alright, so what all is involved in this 10×10 Challenge? Here’s the basic guidelines…
Basic Guidelines
- Pick 10 pieces from your current closet.
- Style those pieces for 10 different looks.
- Use 10 days to do it.
- Have fun and don’t take it too seriously!
Lee calls these guidelines and not rules because this is supposed to be a fun, enlightening challenge and not something too rigid and strict that stresses you out. Think of it as a fun way to see how creative you can get with your style! It’s ok if you need to fudge something here or there, like adding in one more pair of shoes on a rainy day or adding another coat if the weather makes a turn for the worst. It’s a new challenge and a new experience to learn from! And if nothing else, this is my first time trying out the 10×10 Challenge, so I’ll be learning with you! For me, I’m planning to do 5 days during the week, take the weekend off (to launder my items, etc.), and then complete the final 5 looks the following week. But we’ll see how it goes! If it feels right, then I’ll go right through the weekend. If not, I’ll pick it back up on the following Monday. That’s the best part of this challenge! It’s super chill and flexible so that you can do whatever works best for your schedule and lifestyle!
One of my favorite bloggers, Caroline of Unfancy (the queen of the capsule wardrobe, also partakes in this challenge every season and I’ve loved watching what outfits she puts together each day as a part of the challenge. (P.S. – Caroline and Lee hosted the Spring 10×10 Challenge the past 2 weeks, but it didn’t quite work out with my schedule…so I’m completing the challenge a few weeks late. Nothing wrong with that! And I’d love for you to join me too if you’re interested!)
At any rate, my point in bringing Caroline up is that I love her whole outlook on the challenge. “It’s less about the success of the challenge, and more about what it teaches us along the way.” Yes ma’am! Couldn’t have said it more perfectly myself. And this is exactly the mindset I am going into the challenge with. Let’s see just how much I can learn about myself and style!
Ok, so let’s get right into some of the finer details then, including how to pick your 10×10 Challenge items and the 10 pieces I ended up choosing!
What’s included?
Count these pieces toward the 10 items you choose!
- Tees, Tops, Sweaters
- Skirts, Shorts, Pants
- Dresses
- Shoes
- Cardigans, Jackets
What’s not included?
These pieces can flow into and out of your daily outfits freely!
- Jewelry
- Purses
- Scarves, Hats, Gloves
- Athletic Clothes
Beginner’s Formula:
This formula is what I’m using for my first 10×10 Challenge! It’s a great place to start!
- 4 tops
- 2 bottoms
- 1 dress
- 1 top layer
- 2 shoes
When choosing pieces…
Consider the weather. Choose pieces that fit the forecast but also allow for some room if it’s a little cooler/warmer than you planned. Also beware of rainy days too!
Consider your lifestyle and the activities you will be partaking in. For example, are you taking the challenge during the work week where you need to look more professional? Or are you trying this out on the weekends when things are a bit more causal? Do you have any special events happening during the challenge that you need to accommodate?
Choose pieces that are easy to launder (i.e. do not require dry cleaning). You can also freshen up clothes between washes by using a steamer that not only de-wrinkles fabrics but also sanitizes them!
Choose colors that work well together. When in doubt, go with more neutral colors like white, gray, black, tan and only add in 1-2 additional colors. (Although, this is just a guideline, as you will see my color-packed picks below 😉 )
Pick mostly pieces you love and wear time and time again (and are comfortable styling). That way if you add in any newer pieces, they will be easier to style and you won’t feel at a loss of what to wear! For me, this challenge is a way to make getting dressed in the morning easier by having less pieces to choose from. A type of “less is more” situation!
Why should you try this?
Like I mentioned above, I’m trying this out as a trial of the capsule wardrobe and to make getting dressed in the mornings easier. By narrowing down my closet to just a few pieces that I know and love, I’m hoping that I can get more creative with the pieces I already own and to put together outfits that I’m proud of and feel confident in.
But there are so many other reasons you may want to try this…
- Take a break from shopping!
- Reinvest in your existing closet.
- Test out your creativity.
- Find a better sense of personal style.
- Try out a capsule closet.
- Practice for traveling lighter on vacation. (a great way to test out the ‘re-wearability’ of pieces!)
Alright! Are you ready?! Here are my 10 picks for the Spring 10×10 Challenge. I’ll be sharing my first outfit on Monday night, so get ready to see which pieces I style first! I’m so excited!
As a part of the 10×10 Challenge, my goal is to have a new outfit post up each day of the week, lightly discussing how I styled each piece and the pros/cons of each look. These posts will likely be less in depth than my normal outfit posts since I will be posting more frequently. But I hope by posting each day, it will motivate and inspire you to partake in the challenge with me! Ok, here are my 10 picks!
My Spring 10×10 Picks:
1. Blush Tee | There is nothing more comfortable or versatile than a classic vneck tee in my opinion. It can be dressed up or down and the blush pink color is so very spring-y! It makes me so happy!
2. Red Tank | I love a good pop of red! And this cami/tank is perfectly layerable.
3. Chambray Button-up | I am continually surprised at the versatility of a chambray button-up. On our recent trip to Seattle and British Colombia, this was a great layering piece over longs sleeve tees, in addition to styling it as a buttoned up top on its own.
4. Light Weight Sweater | Since the weather in Colorado can be up and down at the blink of an eye, I decided to add in a light weight sweater that is heavy enough to keep me warm on cooler mornings and light enough to be worn on warmer afternoons. I chose this one in particular because of its creamy color, which can be easily paired with other pieces and colors.
5. Patterned Dress | I love a good pattern and this dress is the perfect way to add in a playful print to the mix. Dresses are surprisingly versatile pieces that I don’t utilize enough. They can be worn as dresses or layered as a top or skirt. I’m excited to see how I decide to style this piece in particular!
6. Skinny Jeans | Dark skinny jeans are my go-to item and always save the day when I don’t know what else to wear. These were a must to include!
7. White Skirt | Last summer I lived in this skirt. So this white skirt was only a natural progression of my growing button-up skirt obsession. And I love that it adds nice variety and contrast to the dark denim skinny jeans.
8. Beige Cardigan | Neutrals for the win! This sweater can go with anything. And it’s the perfect weight for layering on top of tees, dresses, and blouses in a chilly office.
9. Light Beige Flats | Keeping my footwear neutral too! Most days I live in these Lucky flats. I have them in black, navy, tan, and light beige but opted for the lighter color for spring.
10. Tan Clogs | Adding in a heeled option that is still plenty walkable and comfortable.
And those are my 10 pieces for the Spring 10×10 Challenge! I’m so excited to start styling away! Yay! If you’re looking for more information on past 10×10 Challenges, be sure to check out Caroline’s Spring 10×10 and Lee’s Spring 10×10 from the past couple weeks. They are so inspiring!
What about you? Want to join in on the fun!? Let me know in the comments below and we can keep each other motivated!
You might also like…Styling A Dress Like A Blouse and A Fun Gingham Dress.
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Get the Look…
1. Pink Tee: Madewell | 2. Red Tank: J. Crew | 3. Chambray Button Up: J. Crew | 4. Light Weight Sweater: H&M
5. Patterned Dress: 1. State (similar) | 6. Jeans: 7 For All Mankind | 7. White Skirt: J. Crew | 8. Beige Cardigan: J. Crew Factory
9. Beige Flats: Lucky | 10. Tan Clogs: Old Navy (similar here, here)
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