Hi, hi! I can’t believe we’re already on outfit 7 — it feels like we just started, but we’re so close to being finished with this challenge!
In case you missed it, here’s what’s going on: Lee of Style Bee and I are hosting a remix challenge: 10 pieces of clothing, 10 outfits, 10 days. You can find all the details here. Now, onto the outfit.
First Impressions
This outfit. Does it get any cozier or more comfortable? No. No, it doesn’t. :)
Soft, stretchy jeans + a loose, plain tee + the softest cashmere cardigan ever — I could wear this outfit for the rest of my life and be happy as a clam.
I’m going to cut our First Impressions a little short today to chat about something else instead: laundry! A few of you have been asking me how often I wash my clothes during the 10×10, and I’m here to answer — let’s get into it.
I always take a basic approach to laundry, and I’m taking the same approach during the 10×10 — if it looks dirty or smells, it gets washed. Otherwise, I try to get as many wears as possible between washings.
That usually means tops get washed pretty often, but I can fit more wears in with dresses, jeans and outer layers.
During the 10×10, I’ve needed to wash my white tee and my black dress after each wear. I’ve also given my pink top a good steaming after each wear, but it’s still fresh, even after wearing it on the weekend too. I’m pretty surprised at how sturdy that thing is — it stood up to a busy Sunday with the family, and activities like playing with my nephews, grilling veggies outside, and cleaning up after our big family meal (aprons are lifesavers when it comes to keeping clothes fresh in the kitchen).
But other than that, I haven’t needed to wash anything else. My jeans are doing great — I wash them as little as possible anyway to preserve the dye. And my cardigan is still fresh — though it’s probably going to need a good steam after today’s wear.
Styling Notes
COMFORT FIRST | Yep, I’ll call this a styling note. :) Because feeling good in clothes is really important — more important that I’ve given it credit for in the past. For example, I always feel cocooned and happy when I wear this cardigan, simply because the fabric feels so good against my skin. And I feel confident in these jeans, like I can take on anything, because they are as comfortable as yoga leggings, while still looking a little dressy. Cocooned, happy, and confident? That’s a good group of feelings to have in one outfit. I’m aiming for more of that.
STATEMENT BAG | This is a basic jeans-and-tee outfit, but the circle bag gives it a playful, unexpected focal point. Since I’m not a jewelry girl and my style can be a bit plain, I’m excited to employ this styling trick more.
FRONT TUCK | Just a little styling move to help define my waist.
LACE UP SANDALS + CUFFED JEANS | I mentioned this yesterday, too. Since these lace-up sandals have a lot going on at the ankle, I cuffed my jeans a little higher above the ankle to give it all room to breathe.
• • •
And there you have it! Make sure to hop on over to Lee’s blog to see her outfit today, too!
So tell me, how’s laundry been for you during the 10×10? Are you doing more than normal? Less? Share away in the comments.
And I’ll see you tomorrow for outfit 8! We’re almost done! :)
xo,
Photo Credit: Katie Jameson
Liked today’s outfit? You can shop it and support Unfancy at the same time by using these affiliate links:
01 | Tee by Everlane (made responsibly) | similar (under $20)
02 | Cardigan by Cuyana (made responsibly) | similar | similar (under $25)
03 | Black jeans by Mott + Bow (made responsibly) | similar (under $40)
04 | Lace up sandals by Madewell | similar (made responsibly)
Comfort + style is definitely the way to go. I’ve learned a lot from your blog about how to combine those two elements. Thanks Caroline!
I wash tops after each wearing. So far I’ve worn a different striped crop top when the one I selected for the remix was in the wash. Tomorrow, I will wear a different white tee than the one I selected, for the same reason. So I’m up to 6 tops now.
I LOVE this outfit. I discovered your blog a few days ago and am really enjoying it. It’s like a little bit of zen in the fashion blogosphere. Thank you.
Hi Caroline –
I’m a recent joinee to Un-fancy and in the short period of time that I’ve been a subscriber, I have incorporated many of your principles into my own wardrobe.
I have a conundrum and a challenge. As you noted in a post, your style is super casual, with a heavy emphasis on jeans. I could wear jeans to work but in my view they detract from the professional image I need to present (I’m an IT Project Manager working in a very, very male-dominated environment).
So I have a challenge for you, if you care to accept it :-): Could you create a capsule wardrobe that works for both work and weekends and one that minimizes the number of pairs of jeans? Or is such a thing even possible?
Elizabeth
Chicago, IL
When I first began following this blog, I worked in the office 5 days a week and I could only wear jeans on Friday. I had no difficulty creating my own capsule with chinos and cords that I could wear the other days of the week. At the time, I had separate wardrobes for work and weekend, but this blog showed me that I could create more overlap between the two, which helped to simplify my wardrobe overall and gave me more use out of all of my clothes.
Things do not need to be washed as much as people think! Plus, just because something needs to be washed, doesn’t mean you have to run a load in the machine. I usually just take anything that needs washed in the middle of the week into the shower and wash with castile soap and hang it to dry or lay flat as needed. Easy!
I wore this dress two days in a row, washed it with my weekend laundry, wore it yesterday and again today. Sometimes I wear a tee shirt under to keep from having to wash it if I want to wear it more than two days.
https://lesslessyes.wordpress.com/2017/04/17/spring-10×10-all-my-uncounted-outfits-so-far/
I love just throwing a cardigan or some type of coverup over a teeshirt!
-Kirsten // http://www.porkandcookies.com
Do those jeans keep their shape after multiple wears? Stretchy jeans are so comfy but my current pair needs a trip through the dryer after every wear — not really practical.
Hey Christine! These jeans are seeeeeriously impressing me. They aren’t stretching out and the high waist stays up up UP even after multiple wears, so no need for a dryer run. Plus they feel like wearing yoga pants — no pinching in the waist even after a big meal! :)
Yoga pants? I’m in :) Thanks for the info!
Love the simplicity and your styling notes about comfort first :)
Would you ever do a post on your go-to styling tips and how you pair them together? Maybe even showcase some looks that are overstyled/understyled/just right? My favorite thing about your blog is not just the pieces you wear but how you style them differently to make them fresh.
Sure Chelsea! I’ll add something like that to my list of post ideas. :)
Awesome!!
Yes, this outfit is absolutely cosy and comfortable at the same time! You look perfect in this look!
xx Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Great outfit! Your bag is so cute <3
https://www.myblackcloset.com/
Just curious – did you replace the Joe’s jeans you had? How do you like these in comparison? Also – with jeans I ALWAYS wash them in cold, inside out, with a cup of white vinegar (don’t need soap) when I first get them – that locks in the dye so they don’t fade and the dye doesn’t rub off either :) I usually want my skinny jeans tightened up a bit after each wear, so I thrown them in the dryer with a load of wet clothes and it kind of steams them back into shape without a full washing (which can be damaging with the spin cycle, etc.). Apparently I take laundry very seriously although I didn’t realize it until typing this all out, ha! Hope it helps you and your readers.
Hey Anna! I didn’t really “replace” my Joe’s Jeans, but they do have a lower rise — and with high waisted jeans being my preferred fit right now, I was ready to pull the trigger on these. They both live in my capsule-ish for different reasons right now. :)
As usual love the outfit and really like the feed into the laundry info. We design laundry areas in every home of all sizes. Agree with you 100% that less frequent washing is great for the clothes, limits the task which ultimately gives us all more time. Great post….you just have it all together!-Laurel Bledsoe
Love the challenge concept! Also, that cardigan! It all looks so great! looking forward to checking out the rest of the challenge.
Thanks for posting about laundry. What do you use to steam your clothes?
Hey Felicity, I use my handy dandy travel steamer! (http://bit.ly/2dbkZvP) :)
Thanks.
Such a great outfit! I love how simple and relaxed it is!
LOVE LOVE LOVE.
This is like my go-to outfit and I’m wearing something extremely similar today…with a bit more warmth because its SNOWING.
Great post.
http://www.katelately.co/2017/04/18/popular-debate/
Really cute and so simple. What is the comfort like on those sandals? I love how they look, but wonder if the soles are so thin that they wouldn’t handle a heavy walking day that well. (And I obviously imagine them on vacation when I look at them haha).
Hey Lo, I actually think that for a thin sandal, they are pretty comfy! I did have to put some moleskin padding on the heel, and that helped a lot! :)
I was traveling for my 10×10 so I only managed laundry of 3 items (my white and black tees, and a pair of jeans) once we reached my MIL’s house on Friday (a week into the challenge). I also didn’t end up wearing two pieces I brought – a tunic that ended up being too wrinkly and dry clean only {next time I’ll check the page better}, and a dress that ended up feeling too dressy for my husbands family’s uber casual Easter. I did swap in two pieces I bought while on holiday because it was colder out west than I had anticipated and once we got back east we ended up going on a 4.4 mile hike – which I definitely hadn’t packed for! I might launch into a 20×20 or another 10×10 in a couple of days once I get over my jet lag. This has been my best 10×10 yet even though I did bend the ‘rules’ a bit!
Comfy outfit! I really liked the circle bag. Since I’m starting a handbag business I wonder if a circle bag is practical. I wanted to make one circle model but wasn’t sure about the everyday use. They are cute but wanted to learn from the user point of view what your thoughts were on that.
Thank you!
Alina
http://www.eclecticalu.blogspot.com
Hey Alina, I find it very practical when I just need the essentials — which is most of the time! :)
Hi Alina, I recently bought a circle bag very similar to the one from Caroline (I recommend this brand in Europe, also sustainble: http://www.omybag.nl), but now I am on the lookout for a wallet that fits in properly. My old wallet is rectangular and quite wide and if I want to take it out, I have to rearrange everything else in the bag. So I hope a more square-shaped wallet will be better. I admit that buying a new wallet to fit your bag is not the most sustainable option, but my old one needed a replacement anyway, so I’m not feeling too guilty :) So my advice is: the bag is indeed quite practical… on the condition that you don’t want to take a large wallet with you all the time. Depends on your lifestyle!
I have been trying – basically my whole life — to downsize my purse/handbag. I LOVE big bags. But, they do take a toll on your shoulder back and are somewhat of hassle when eating out, shopping, church, etc.
What are the minimal pieces you carry in your handbag — especially since you change handbags often.
I am very OCD and everything I own is matchy-matchy! Help me break the cycle!
Hey Kim! I know the feeling of the big bag shoulder pain! In this little bag, I carry my essentials: a small wallet, my phone, keys, lip balm, Beats earbuds, hand sanitizer, and a few little things like hair ties, bobby pins, and Advil. :)
love this so much. probably one of my favs because it’s just right up my alley.
ox
Alina, I have a rather stiff leather circle cross body bag which I love, and always get many compliments on. It is difficult, though, in that it has to be set down on its flat side to open the zipper that goes maybe 2/3 of the way around the flat (3″ -4″) outside edge without spilling the contents! The top opens back to reveal the whole inside, but wants to fall closed! Caroline’s soft leather bag is much more accessible, I’m sure!
Just thought maybe this info would help you with your design thoughts or process, as there seems to be quite a number of hard-sided circle bags available.
Do you steam your clothes to clean them? If so what type of steamer do you use?
This could save on my dry cleaning bill.
Love your blog I’ve been reading it for a few years.
Hey Maria! I do use my steamer a lot to freshen up clothes in between wears. This is the one that I use: http://bit.ly/2dbkZvP :)
Hi Caroline.
Not sure if you’ve posted this already, and if so I apologize…..but wondering, for the Mott & Bow jeans, how are the sizes in comparison to Madewell or your regular? Would you say true to size?
Thanks.
Hey Monica, they are comparable to Madewell — they fit very similar to my high rise skinnies (just sit slightly higher on the waist) . True to size, in my experience. :)
Hi Caroline!
What do you do when your body changes and your size increase? To be more exacts, in the progress of still fit in your old clothes but they don’t look the same on you and you are starting to buy new ones! What can I do with the olders? Save them, put them in a box, leave them?…
Congrats for your work! I really love it!
Hey Natalia! That’s a problem we all face at one time or another! If the clothes don’t fit you anymore, and are being replaced, I would consider a few options:
1) if they are high quality items that you feel might fit again some day, hang on to them for a while. Put them into storage and give them another try later on.
2) if you are ready to part with them, you can try giving them to friends who will love and appreciate them, or try a clothing swap.
3) donate to a charity or an organization that needs women’s clothing (like a shelter).
4) try to sell them (online sales can be fairly simple on platforms like Instagram, Poshmark, or ThredUp).
Hope that helps! :)
Super cute! For the jeans, are you wearing the 28 or 30″ length? I’m 5’7″, and trying to decide which pair to get… Thank you!
Hey Keaton, for your height, I would imagine the 30″ would be just right! :)