Un-Fancy

10x10 Wardrobe Challenge, remix series

spring 10×10 wrap up: what I learned about style, laundry, and making mistakes

I had the BEST time co-hosting this remix with my delightful friend Lee of Style Bee — and before we jump into the recap, I just have to give her a big ol’ THANK YOU! Did you know that Lee is the original creator of the 10×10 challenge? She sure is, and it’s always such an honor to team up with her.

I so appreciate Lee’s grounded, conscious approach to style, and she never fails to get me thinking about my closet in a new way. Bookmark her blog quick — you’ll be glad you did.

Now, let’s get down to recapping this remix! We’ll chat through 9 Q+A’s and then take a look at my favorite outfits that you posted from the #spring10x10.

My 10 pieces included everything you see in the photo above:

  • 4 tops
  • 2 bottoms
  • 1 dress
  • 2 pairs of shoes
  • 1 cardigan 

You can find the links to each piece here. I didn’t include any accessories or outerwear. Instead, if I needed them, they flowed in and out freely.

Let’s jump right in with some Q+A’s.

1 | Did your clothes work for the weather?

They did! Although I’ll admit, I had it super easy this time around. The temperatures hovered between 60 and 90 pretty much the whole time. We had a few thunderstorms, but those pesky temperature swings were nowhere to be found.

Even though I had it easy during this remix, it is possible to do a 10×10 with wild weather. During my winter remix, I experienced everything from 30 degree days with sleet and snow flurries, to 80 degree days with bountiful sunshine. And it worked out. :)

2 | Did you wear anything that wasn’t included in your 10 pieces?

I sure did, but I’m not sweating it. I believe there’s no such thing as cheating when it comes to these wardrobe remixes. Why? Because the word “cheating” puts this weird, serious shadow over something that’s supposed to be playful, experimental, and fun. :)

My denim jacket wasn’t included in my 10 pieces, but I wore it twice anyway. And you know what? I’ve been on the fence about that jacket lately — so it was exciting to see that I still reach for it and enjoy wearing it.

And, just to be totally clear, life activities (gym, sleeping, etc) still called for work out wear and PJ/loungewear, so those were still going on in the background when needed.

3 | How did laundry work out?

Laundry worked like normal. If something was dirty or smelly, I washed it. If not, I didn’t.

I washed my white tee and my striped dress after I wore them each time. Since I didn’t want to run a whole load of laundry for one or two pieces, I’d add them to a load of workout clothes or toss it in with a load of Aaron’s clothes.

But get this: the other day, Louise of Less Less Yes shared this tip with me in the comments. If she needs to wash just one piece, she simply brings it into the shower with her, washes it with a little Castile soap while she’s taking a shower, then hangs it to dry. Clever, right? This tip is changing my world — especially since I already use Castile soap as body wash. Thanks, Louise!

Although I didn’t do much laundry, I did use my steamer a fair amount. I steamed my pink tee, black silk tee, and cashmere cardigan throughout the challenge.

Steaming doesn’t just remove wrinkles — it sanitizes clothes by actually killing any bacteria that might be lurking in the fibers. Because of that, it can even remove faint odors. It’s an excellent way to “wash” your clothes between washes. I love using it as an excuse to do less laundry.

4 | Were there any pieces you included that felt like mistakes?

Not one piece in particular. But I included two crop tops and only one high rise bottom, which limited things dramatically. That’s probably why so many of my looks were so similar. Going into it, I knew I’d be limited by that, and it worked out fine, but it’s something worth noting for next time.

5 | Which piece was your favorite?

It’s probably tied between my pink tee and my cashmere cardi. My pink tee just made me feel pretty and vibrant, and my cardi feels delicious on my skin.

6 | Which outfit was the most outside your comfort zone?

To be totally honest, none of them. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. :)

7 | What did you learn about your personal style?

Clothes can comfort | I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve just been feeling a little more emotional and sensitive in life lately. I was so glad to have comfortable jeans, that happy shade of pink, and my super soft cardigan in my 10 pieces. They actually helped comfort my emotions and made me feel calmer. 

Minimal accessories are my jam | I learned this lesson during my winter remix, but this spring remix only confirmed it. I rarely wore jewelry, hats, or scarves, and it felt right. Instead, I’d use shape (that round bag or a boxy top), color (that peachy-pink shade), and texture (hello cashmere, raw silk, and denim) to add interest to an outfit.

8 | What would you do differently next time?

I feel like I should say I want to experiment more next time. But that’s actually not true. I was totally happy with my outfits as I wore them day to day. Sure, they may not have been the most interesting “blogger” outfits, but I’d rather be real and embrace my true style, even if it’s kind of boring sometimes.

Besides, if I was packing for a trip I wouldn’t feel pressure to constantly experiment and make ultra unique outfits, you know? I’d just be happy if I felt comfortable and like myself each day.

However, back to the question at hand. Next time, I’d like to be a little more mindful of picking silhouettes and proportions that work together, so I can have more options. Like I mentioned before, I included two crop tops and only one high rise bottom, which limited my mix and match options. Noted for next time. :)

9 | Why did you do the challenge in the first place?

To me it always comes down to this: if you want progress, try new things.

I never know exactly what I’m going to get out of these challenges. In fact, I purposefully try to approach it with no expectations.

But one thing I know: our clothes are intertwined with our habits and attitudes, and I’m curious about the relationship between them. So getting out of my norm and doing a short-term challenge like this helps me see things from a different perspective.

YOUR OUTFITS

The 10×10 community is my favorite part of this whole thing. Scrolling through your posts became my little routine at the end of each day, and I’m going to miss it now that the challenge is over. :)

I found it especially inspiring when you guys shared about the challenges you faced during the 10×10. Weird weather. Unexpected events. Feeling frustrated. Yep … stuff happens.

But I loved reading how you made it work, whether by wearing a piece that wasn’t included in your 10 pieces, pausing the challenge for a day, or reworking your whole 10 piece collection in the middle of the challenge.

In fact, that was the #1 lesson I learned from you guys this time around: If it’s not working, rework it.

So thank you. Thank you for being a community of people who are kind and caring, yet who won’t hesitate to challenge others to try something out of their comfort zone, and then cheer for them along the way.

Here’s a little collection of #spring10x10 photos that caught my eye. Just look at all this goodness!

Row 1 | @dailypiecework | @thegoodwearblog | @aliciatsi

Row 2 | @dreaminginjapann | @onlylivinggirltx | @thecasualstylist

Row 3 | @truncationblog | @tartanbrunette | @kimberli_ackles

Row 4 | @maya_sewinzen | @thegarmentlife | @thecuriousbutton

• • •

And there you have it! That’s a wrap on the spring remix. :)

What’s next? First up, I’m taking a little blogging break until Thursday. But then, I’ll be back with regular outfit posts. 

Plus, I’ve got tons of fun stuff in the works for May, including:

  • A couple of packing list + travel guides.
  • A capsule update — including what I’ve swapped out, what I’ve added, what it looks like now.
  • And finally, I’m stepping outside the normal realm of Unfancy and sharing our house tour! I’ve put it off for so long because our house isn’t “finished” — but who cares. The process is more fun than the finished product anyway. :)

In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you! Care to share what worked + what didn’t work in your remix challenge? Any style breakthroughs? Any life lessons learned? Would you try it again in the future? Sound off in the comments!

See you on Thursday!

xo,

Comments

  2. I may have to try one of these challenges! I gave up shopping for Lent this year and it definitely helped me kickstart a closet clean-out + discover some pieces I had forgotten that I loved! And it was so refreshing not shopping that I’m trying to stick to it! Love all of the pieces you selected and the Q+A was helpful too!

    Zelle
    Southern Style

    Reply

  4. Hi Caroline!

    I have a question about your Madewell sandals- Have they held up well? Would you recommend them?

    Thanks!

    Reply

      • Hey ladies, so far so good! I had to put moleskin padding on the heel to keep it from rubbing, but since I did that, they have been working out well! :)

        Reply

  6. Thanks for the shoutout! I use Dr. Bronner’s Almond, too! Everyone else uses lavender or peppermint. Glad to be in good company!

    This 10×10 was a total failure to me. I ended up dropping out after around the 6th day – I had already got to 10 and wasn’t feeling it – I was on spring break so it really threw off my rhythm. I usually know what works and what doesn’t — for work, which is usually my only activity. But during spring break I was hiking, camping, going out to see friends AT NIGHT (shocking for me…I steadfastly go to bed at 9:30 most nights), doing yard work, installing a dishwasher…etc. It was just too much variety. If I had planned it out, I probably could have made it work, but ultimately, since I wasn’t out, I was just at home, I just changed if I felt uncomfortable in my outfit or needed a change for a different activity.

    I think next year I will be going to grad school and instead of working, so it was good prep to see how that will be. It will be different.

    The best thing I got from it was 5 blog posts in 10 days. I have been struggling to do even 1 blog post a week. So, I was happy since it helped me achieve my goals of writing more, and commenting on other blogs (Like Michele from Dreaming in Japan, whose blog I discovered last 10×10 and who is my fave, and other bloggers like Anna of Everyday Joys who I met this time around). I was slacking off on commenting although I know it’s important! It is good to comment on other blogger’s posts if you find them relatable, especially smaller bloggers whose blogs you love but don’t get that many comments – otherwise it feels like you are shouting into the void as a new blogger. So, it was good to meet people who and interact and see what they are doing and thinking, instead of just typing…seeing the stats on my dash…wondering who it is…wondering what their life is like.

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  8. I’m starting a new job this week with a rather stringent dress code, and have spent the last two weeks collecting items that fit the requirements, while hopefully still loving what I wear. So, watching the 10×10 unfold during this process has been perfectly timed and extremely helpful! I currently have 15 items (some seasonal) and will add a couple more peices once I find the perfect ones. but it will basically be a challenge year round! I’m sure I’ll appreciate my after hours wardrobe all the more.

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  11. Woohoo! I really loved your challenge, and I loved participating! I definitely struggled with roller coaster temps, and taking photos of myself – especially ones I liked – every day was way harder than I expected. I’ll be sharing my insights from the challenge on the Everyday Joys blog later this week.

    Can’t wait to see the home tour!

    https://everydayjoys.blog/

    Reply

  12. Thanks for hosting this fun & challenging spring event. Even though i didn’t finish, I learned a new style of dressing-more ethical fashion, minimalism, capsuling, etc. I’m in my own fashion world, here in Dayton, Ohio. And, may be moving to a completely different climate. I did gain more confidence in being myself & quality, breathable materials. I am wiser & better for taking on this challenge, even though I didn’t finish it. Can’t wait to try a future one & complete it! Thanks again for sharing your wisdom & insight into this crazy roller coaster of a ride, called fashion??. Have a bright & cheerful Monday!

    Reply

  13. First, I loved the challenge and the recap/review/lessons learned.

    Second, I followed your link to Louise’s Less Less Yes blog, which led me to find the Frugal Woods (www.thefrugalwoods.com), which is a fantastic blog about living frugally. Love the connections & community that your blog enables. :)

    Reply

    • Yes!! I love frugalwoods. They are much more extreme than me but it’s the kind of aspirational blogging I’m into. Very practical people who will help you reevaluate your perspective.

      Reply

  15. Yay, looking forward to your house tour:-))))))))))
    I didn’t participate in the 10×10 this time because there were almost entirely old clothes activities scheduled für the past two weeks (moving, hiking, walking the dog…). I find it easier to do the 10×10 on regular business days. Aaaaand when it’s really spring. With the weather we had lately I could have done my winter 10×10 all over. Funny thought: Would you do a 10x 10 with similar clothes all over again?
    Back then I discovered a 10×10 can be helpful whether to hang onto an item or not. So I might try some questionable pieces soon.
    Know what I also love about the 10×10? Discovering new inspiring blogs!

    Reply

  18. Interested in experiences with castile soap on clothes. I really wanted to like castile soap, I used it as body wash and even experimented with making my own shampoo, as well as using it for some cleaning purposes. I never tried it on clothes. Considering that it is oil based, can it leave grease stains on certain fabrics? I’ve stopped using oil based soaps on my body/hair – I just found other products that work better for me, so I don’t really buy castile soap anymore. I do occasionally wash clothes in the shower though, I just use some detergent like I would in hand washing. It’s a great two birds-one stone trick. I also clean my shower walls while showering :).
    I didn’t participate in this 10×10, but loved watching along!

    Reply

    • Hey Gabby! After reading a quick couple of reviews, I’m glad you brought up the possibility of grease stains on clothing — looks like several people have had that experience with castile soap! Yikes!

      Reply

    • I haven’t had that problem, but if you’re worried, you could just use a different type of soap. Sometimes I grab a bottle of Dawn from the sink to handwash things if I splattered oil while cooking or stained something with salad dressing or anything else oily while eating. In all honesty…I just use plain bar soap if I’m out of Dr. Bronner’s. The main point is just bring it in the shower with you instead of running the laundry all the time.

      Reply

  19. I’m looking forward to the capsule update, because I don’t think you’ve done one before. That should be interesting.

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  20. YAYAY love your posts! And I think your style is absolutely wonderful! I do love all the “blogger” outfits but also it’s not always doable for me because of my budget. You help me realize that that is ok and that there are ways to either save up for a specific item or embrace the clothes I have and love! Really Caroline, I want to thank you so much. Your heart is so in the right place and that is very refreshing when the rest of the world is telling everyone to buy buy buy. So thank you!!!
    Also! I have started focusing on summer because in az it feels like summer although we know it will get hotter, sadly. Anyways, when do you start your summer capsule and how is it that you prepare/ lead up towards that? Do you start looking at your clothes and seeing what you need? I feel like I need a little help with that approach.

    Thank you!!!

    Reply

    • Hey Jenn, thank you for the kind comment! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the content. To prepare for summer, it will probably be similar to Spring. Kind of a gradual change, as the weather warms up. I’m excited to see how it ends up in the next couple months! :)

      Reply

  22. Thank you for another delightful 10×10, Caroline! Your and Lee’s blogs are a treat for me generally, and I love when you pair up on a fun, inspiring project!

    Your takeaways around “minimizing accessories” and how “clothes can comfort” are near and dear to my heart. And I’m excited for your upcoming travel posts! I recently purchased an Away carry-on, and this 10×10 was prep for an 8-day, carry-on-only trip in May.

    http://alchemisteating.com/

    Reply

  23. I loved this series! I didn’t participate myself, but I think maybe once the weather in the Pacific Northwest normalizes a little bit, I’ll try out this challenge. Our spring weather is incredibly bipolar here, and its not outside of the realm of possibility to have 70 degrees, and snow in the same week!

    -Mackenzie
    http://www.kenzywho.com

    Reply

  24. I didn’t participate this time around, but loved following along with your posts! I loved everything you chose *except* your duster jacket, which washed you out a bit, but I’m sure was soft enough to live in. Haha.

    Like many of the other commenters, I think I’ll wait to do a spring 10×10 when spring actually comes to my city (Boston). It was 35 last week and 58 today, 40 tomorrow, 70 Thursday…

    Does Texas have the “colder at night” problem? It drops about 30° at nighttime in the summer here, so a 90 degree day still requires you pack a sweater for later on. Makes me realize I need to up my cardigan game!

    I don’t know if you know of her yet but one of my fav bloggers is Ariana over at paris-to-go.com, who was the first person I heard of capsules from (she was living small and zero-waste in Paris when she started) and she recently put up her most recent capsule (post-move to Ohio) and it was fascinating! Her entire wardrobe fits in a carry-on. I was so inspired. And shocked! In the best way. :)

    -Aspiring Minimalist
    http://aspiringminimalist.tumblr.com

    Reply

    • Hey Jan, yes we do have chilly nights (and lots of air conditioned buildings) so I understand needing to carry a sweater or jacket all the time, just in case. And thanks for mentioning the other blogs, I’ll be checking them out! :)

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  25. I have loved watching your style and blog evolve. I think challenges lik this are such a good way to learn more about ourselves, every time I learn something new! Your encouragement to let it be fun helped me to tweak the challenge for my life! Thank you for all the inspiration and for including me in your roundup!

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  26. Interesting insights, everyone. What I like most about challenges like these is how they make you rethink your closet. My clothing closet extends back into an abyss where I tend to forget what exists there. My closet is not huge by any means, but it doesn’t have double doors.

    I did the 10×10 challenge recently and the thing that I found most rewarding was understanding how flexible my 10×10 pieces actually were and are. I can definitely have more fun with my closet’s contents. :-) I’ve been experimenting more since the challenge.

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  27. I absolutely adore your packing lists, so excitement point number one, but the topic that has got my heart racing is your house tour!!! I. Just. Can’t! Anticipation levels are high!!! Bring on the coming week(s)!

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  28. I have a laundry related question. Do find that with wearing the same shirts often that your deodorant ruins them? Because I have a pink tee and I only got to wear it like three or four times before the pits were destroyed. This happens with so many of my shirts especially lighter colored ones and I hate it. So yeah I was wondering if anyone has any tips or experience with this issue.

    Reply

    • Hey Reena, that can definitely happen, it’s such a bummer! I wonder if it depends on they type of deodorant you are using. You may want to try something clear or spray-on and see if that helps the problem. Good luck! :)

      Reply

      • I have always had this problem until I switched to a natural baking soda based deodorant! the brand I use is called Bare Organics…not sure if its available in the states. (I live in Ontario Canada). But it is the only natural deodorant I’ve tried that actually works…and it works perfectly! And I never get any stains on my clothes! I like the jar best, and I Just make sure it’s rubbed in all the way. takes a bit of getting used to, but its amazing.

        https://bareorganics.ca/collections/for-body/products/canadian-shield-deodorant

        Reply

  29. I finally branched out and wore my tan booties with black skinny jeans – and I loved it! The booties are woven and felt more like spring than the black I’ve been reaching for all winter. Thank you for showing me how great the two be together!

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  30. Oh the house tour! Made my day to hear this. I hope you drag it out for several days, maybe a room at a time so we can relish it all for longer. I know I’m trying to do a major purge and I would love to hear how you learned to minimize your home! And don’t forget your yard! This is not asking too much, I hope! Thank you!

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  31. I loved seeing all your outfits in this spring 10×10 as they popped up on my blog feed!! Thanks for sharing your experience :)

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  33. I am so excited about your new ideas, hardly wait to see what you are up to in May!

    Ps I know that you might think the outfits are sometimes boring because they are simple and not full of colors or accesories or they are repeated in different posts and I agree on that but looking at my style i might say the same thing. I always say that I should experience more different styles and outfits but the simplest and confortable ones are the ones I choose in thr end so… Yup… I am decided to dress for who I am and not for who I would like to be. It s better!

    Xoxo
    Andreea

    Reply

  34. I love your blog precisely because of your down to earth, non-normal style blogger content. I’m not much on accessories myself and I often feel that fashion magazines and style blogs aren’t me at all so it’s nice to read your blog and see that tons of accessories and makeup and the latest “it” bag and shoes aren’t a requirement to be fashionable. So please, keep being you! Can’t wait to see your content for May! Until then, lots of love from NC!

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  35. ive tried a few steamers and none worked as well as i’d like. is the one you linked to pretty good? i need it mostly for cotton button ups.
    thanks!

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  37. Yes! I’m superexcited about the home tour! AND I love this 10×10 project, have to try it :) Thank you for the inspiration!

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  38. Hi Caroline

    I love all your capsules and the 10×10 challenge. I have to do them theoretically as I work in a hospital and have to wear scrubs all week. I just want to know how do you know what warm clothes to include in your autumn/winter capsules? I’m always cold in winter and this year I’m trying to put together my first full season capsule and I don’t want to freeze. I’m south African (Pretoria) so we don’t have central heating/double glazing. Temperatures are between 0 and 22 degrees Celsius and very dry… Any ideas readers?

    Reply

  39. I totally failed on this challenge because I had no time to prep (literally 20 minutes Monday morning I said “OK, what are my ten pieces?”. I knew it wasn’t a good idea to rush into it, so next time I’m going to do it when I have the time to plan. But that washing your clothes in the shower thing is GENIUS.

    http://www.wonderlandsam.com

    Reply

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