Wardrobe Challenge Three Month Update
Hello fellow spicy brains,
It’s now three months and a few odd days since I began my wardrobe challenge. Nearly every day since the year began, I’ve worn that same jumpsuit. Yesterday, I purchased the first bit of clothing that didn’t fall within my set parameters. So, let’s chat about how it’s gone and where it’s going, shall we?
Things I Love
The number one pro is the exact benefit I expected: I love having a uniform. Getting dressed every morning has never been easier and shopping for accessories would also be extremely easy, had I done much of that. Knowing that everything in my closet can go together, from layers to shoes to jewelry has taken an entire decision making process out of my daily routine. It’s really lovely! Packing has also been a breeze!
I thought I would do more accessory buying, but I actually found myself much less interested in it than I thought I would be with an all-black outfit each and every day. I did buy one necklace and a bracelet, both of which I’ve loved having in my wardrobe, but not much else.
Things I’ve Struggled With
Probably the biggest thing I’ve struggled with is overall fit and body image. There are things I really love about the jumpsuit—the bust is really nice and flattering. The legs are a bit shorter than I would prefer and where the bodice hits my waist isn’t my favorite. I was hoping the empire cut would make up for the one piece and accentuate my waist enough to be flattering, but it hasn’t quite worked out that way.
The nature of a one piece outfit is also a bit inconvenient for summers in the south, as our slowly warming temperatures has demonstrated. I can generally get by with wearing bottoms and layers several times before washing, but as temperatures rise, it has gotten harder to get multiple wears out of the jumpsuit. That can make the laundry schedule a little wonky and run the risk of them wearing down faster than I’d prefer.
Why I’m Shopping Now
Taking into account the things I’ve struggled with, I’ve purchased some wide leg pants. So far, I’ve purchased four pairs, kept two, and exchanged one for a new size. They’re all wide leg but different styles.
I decided some time ago that I would begin shopping for extensions to my wardrobe during the challenge rather than after. Knowing that I still have the three jumpsuits ready to go means I can slowly try things out, figure out what works for me and my body type, and build up a new uniform while still wearing the jumpsuits. I can experiment with the idea of having a summer uniform, a winter uniform, and a transitional season wardrobe.
Mentally, I’m not making any major changes. I’m still considering the jumpsuit my daily uniform, while I start slowly experimenting with the new one. I’m hoping that will help with the issue of urgency that I normally face when shopping for new clothes.
What I’ll Do Next
I’m not completely positive! I know that I’m in no hurry to add a bunch of new things to my closet. I’d rather take my time finding the right pieces than rush to do something new at this stage. As I try new things, I’m comparing things to the jumpsuit. I’m paying attention to how I feel physically and how I feel energetically. That urgent “must have the entire wardrobe figured out” feeling is probably one of the biggest drivers to overshopping, followed by feeling the need to buy new things to make myself feel better. Taking things slowly will be hard, but necessary I think.
How I’m Feeling About It All
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention feeling like a failure for buying new things only three months in. Saying a thing out loud and then changing it publicly is humbling. I’ve many times felt false and like a failure. Much like the other symptoms of ADHD, it’s easy to place a sense of morality on things like this. Is changing the rules of a self-imposed challenge the same as lying? Am I giving up? Am I wrong for tweaking rules to suit my life better when there’s nothing at stake other than how I followed my own guidelines?
These are interesting questions that I’ve wrestled with since early April when I started changing how I was approaching this challenge. They’re also questions I’ve asked myself about many other aspects of my brain and neurodivergence in general.
How important are societally-imposed rules? Where do you draw the line between arbitrarily doing what you “should do” and doing what works for you? Food for thought.
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