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the 15:30 closet challenge (Oklahoma rules)

Filed Under what I wore: 2010 on August 23, 2010

I cleaned out my closet this weekend; I have a pile of things for consignment and another two piles for the tailor (one pile of pieces I can wear now, and another of pieces I will wear when it is no longer hotter than the surface of the sun here). Thanks to Couch to 5K, nearly all of my skirts are too big in the waist now, so I’ve got that going for me.

The consignment pile is made up of pieces that — not surprisingly — were impulse buys. I’ve worn all of them, but only once or twice, and never with any real delight. So off they go!

I would like to say that I cleaned the closet because the weather is turning and it’s time to get out the fall clothes, but I would be lying (see above, re: hotter than the surface of the sun). No, it’s all Felicia Sullivan’s fault I’m cleaning my closet. And I cannot thank her enough.

I am, as you know, a diehard fan of the Carefully Edited Wardrobe. I don’t believe in shopping just to shop (in fact, I don’t even really like shopping — I would rather see a movie or read a book or flip through a fashion magazine); I think everything you purchase should work with what you already have. I believe that getting dressed should never be something you agonize about, not even for a special occasion, and your clothes should never overshadow you.

I also really believe that less is more, and that too much stuff just makes you feel heavy and dull. Or at least that’s how it makes me feel.

So Felicia had me when she announced her 15:30 Challenge: “Simply put, here’s the concept: 15 items worn in 30 days — the ultimate wardrobe remixer. 15:30 is a return to chic minimalism, an embrace of fall’s siren call for refinement. Because haven’t you stared at your closet and been overwhelmed by it? Ferretted out clothes that came from another decade and are not foxy enough to be considered vintage? Pilfered through a dozen shirts with the ominous feeling that you still have nothing to wear.”

Yes. Yes I have.

I’ve done various no shopping, remixing challenges before, but never one quite like this. Felicia has posted full guidelines here (my absolute favorite is #4, the COMMIT LIST: “Stain on shirt? DEAL WITH IT. Cat ripped your pants? Get a SEWING KIT.” Amen, sister) but after hearing from some of my Oklahoma neighbors, I need to add some caveats. Because, as I may have already said, we are currently living on the face of the sun here in the Sooner State. But by mid-September? It could be in the 50s. God willing.

That’s a lot to plan for.

Felicia will be committing to a list for the entire month of September; what I would suggest to those of you living ~~on the face of the sun~~ in Oklahoma, or in other places where September is the transition month from hot as hell to cool, crisp fall is this: take the 15:30/4 challenge. Choose 15 pieces, and then reevaluate weekly, based on the weather forecasts, what you will need for the next week.

Felicia’s 15:30 rules, with the Oklahoma Loopholes in italics, are as follows:

1. Select 15 items from your closet: These can include shirts, trousers, jeans, cardigans, dresses, etc — in short, clothing. Make your final selections by August 30th. Each Wednesday, check the forecast for the next 7 days and adjust as needed, but ONLY in response to the weather. In other words, if the temperature drops from today’s near-100 high to something more appropriate for September (say, highs in the 70s) you can trade a tank top for a long sleeved tee. But you cannot trade one tank top for another just because you’re bored. That’s a no.

2. Use unlimited accessories: Remix your outfits relying on all of your jewelry, shoes, scarves, outerwear (blazers/suit jackets do not equal outerwear!), and belts.

3. Captain Obvious: your pajamas and lounge-at-home clothing do not count, undergarments do not count, gym clothes do not count. I’m going to add my weekend pre-shower wardrobe of shorts and tees that are fit only for housework to this category; I’m also lumping my running clothes in here, for — as Felicia says — obvious reasons.

4. Make the COMMIT LIST: Document your list on your blog, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, loose-leaf paper, etc. Feel free to snap photographs of the items, list them — get creative! This is your commit list, and you can’t stray from it. Stain on shirt? DEAL WITH IT. Cat ripped your pants? Get a SEWING KIT. If you amend based on the weather, update your list. Keep the total to 15 pieces, and stick with those pieces for at least a week; only change them out if the temperature soars or drops dramatically. As it hopefully will in September.

5. Keep a diary: Document your outfits each day, whether it be via an “outfit of the day” photo or a log of what you’ve worn and how you’ve mixed it up. Don’t forget about The Working Closet Flickr pool, too! Share your outfits there — we’d love to see them.

6. Ask for help!: Call your friends, pen a blog. Don’t be afraid to ask friends for help on creative ideas on keeping your wardrobe fresh!

I would add one last thing: don’t be afraid to make your own rules. If you only want to do this for work, or only for the weekend, then do it; the idea is to get you to think smarter about what’s in your closet and how you can wear it, and to give you a break from the slog of getting dressed.

I’ll be posting my 15 pieces, just as soon as I have my skirts back from the tailor. And I will also be praying that the weather cools off soon because I’m really completely over my sundresses. Totally.

What say you — are you in?

20 Comments so far
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I am so in. But I have no need to reevaluate due to weather because I have ZERO expectation that it will be anything less than hotter than the surface of the sun here in Houston for the entire month

Yeah… Imma ’bout to call shenanigans on Oklahoma. (Yes the whole state) If Texas has to play by the rules, so does Oklahoma - and our weather ain’t dropping anywhere NEAR the category called “outerwear” unless it’s a raincoat for a hurricane.

*raised eyebrow*

However.

I have actually had to PURCHASE something for this challenge - an investment piece to REPLACE said piece that was non-tailorable (a word? yes.) - not sure how that counts, but I didn’t see a “no purchasing” rule anywhere.

But the irony, it is THICK.

First of all, Pammer, excellent use of shenanigans. Nice work.

I’m going to pick my 15 pieces with the assumption that it will indeed continue to be as hot as the surface of the sun for most of September, but Oklahoma in September is unpredictable, and what I’m hearing from Twitter is that the weather is a good excuse not to do the challenge.

Thus, the loopholes. Because this is an exercise worth doing, I think.

(Plus you know that the original Sooners were the dudes who cheated on the land rush, so chalk it up to where I live. Ha!)

First- give it up for Pam calling in the Texas v. Oklahoma rules.

I am very interested in what y’all come up with, but am bowing out this month b/c 1) it IS the temperature of the sun and I can not make decisions like that while sweltering, 2) I can not make decisions…but, I decided not to buy anthing for the next month-sort of the same idea, but with more wiggle room.

Susan,

I can’t wait to see your selects! I actually have to buy two pieces, as I realized that I don’t have a few wardrobe staples (black blazer!!!).

xo, Felicia

Love the nod to Caddyshack…I use that line all the time. I love the OK rules…and yes, I think calling them the Sooner rules would be on point. I’ve been thinking about this challenge for a while now since I saw Pinque try it….but I’m not brave enough. That said…I’m so excited to watch you and I know you will rock it. Btw…my hubs is sitting here saying he lives this challenge all year long, I guess he maybe needs a few new shirts or something soon

I could do this in October, it is too variable here. I also don’t think I I am ready yet.
The one challenge I have, and it is a purely selfish one, work clothes do not equal not work clothes. If my work did not require that I dress in a style that I am not at all comfortable with, I would be far more willing. That said, if any time of year the two meet, it is in fall. So, I will make it a goal to try it in October. I miss sweaters so.

I like the Oklahoma rules (sorry–I go to OSU and we go not use the “S” word here unless it’s something derogatory about that particular place) because it really is too variable here to really count on much. Remember the 60s last week? Remember in March when it went from 75 on Friday to snowing on Saturday morning?

I’ll pick my clothes with the idea that it will stay broiling. But it’s nice to know I can grab a sweater if it snows.

I’m going to have to come up with a college caveat because I don’t have immediate access to a washer/dryer for one piece. I own a few multiples so, I stain a plain white t-shirt, I trade for a plain white t-shirt. Whatever. I guess I could hand-wash, but who has time?

Thanks again, Susan! I’m excited about this. I think it will make me think out of the box and hopefully I’ll still think out of the box come October.

I really want to do this, but I don’t even own 15 pieces that fit my postpartum body right now.

(I guess that means I’m doing a 6:30 closet challenge of my own!)

I can definitely do this. We’re packing up for a move, so I’m challenging myself to live with what I haven’t packed.
Not surprisingly, it’s shorts and tees and tanks–lightweight summer stuff.

Way less ambitious than your “What I Wore” series, though; that takes guts.

I’m with whoorl only I don’t have her excellent postpartum excuse. Sigh. It’s been a hard year on my waistline. I AM working on it, though.

I love reading your articles on a minimalist wardrobe. Even the clothes I will be able to wear sans 10 pounds are old and worn and need to be in the rag bin. That’s because I have a hobby and I’d rather spend money on that! But it’s getting to the point that I can’t be seen in public and must spend some money. I’ll do it much more intelligently with your tips and tricks. So thanks from the bottom of my rag bin.

I keep trying to come up with 15 pieces, and then my closet explodes and I’m covered in clothes screaming, “What about me? WEAR MEEEEE!” and I get flustered. So I don’t know if I’m in or out yet. But I’m thinking about it. Does that do anything for ya?

I’m in! I’ve been needing to reevaluate the closet with my new and “improved” (read: 2 babies later) body. Some thing will just never fit again, I need to let them go! Excellent challenge!

what really surprised me last time i cleaned out my closet was that my favorites were the impulse buys and the stuff i was sending to good will were the “basics” i felt like i “needed”

I’m in the postpartum boat too but somehow, I have maybe 5 pieces I really like (particularly if the loads of house-only tanks don’t count). I just need to figure out some things to fit my giant hips and I’m game.

I only own 15 pieces of anything so I think this should be easy enough! And I live in the desert in California. I was THRILLED when the temps DROPPED to 96 last week. We’ve been cruisin’ at 105-110 for the past few weeks.

Btw, I really hate living in the desert….

The more I read your blog the more I celebrate my tiny hanging space rather than wishing I had more. Because I have to clean out every month, and absolutely everything that is not being worn has to either go to the charity shop or into a vacuum bag. I’m sure I don’t hang more than 15 things at a time to start with.

I’m loving this challenge and think I’ll give it a whirl. My closet needs a purge and my weight/health is finally stabilizing to the point where I don’t need 3 sizes of pants anymore! Yeah! So I think this is realistically doable from a waistline perspective. The New England weather is not cooperating though. We went from a string of hot 90+ degree days to cold, rainy and 60 degree days. Can’t wait to see what you choose because I’m not sure where to begin.

Are leggings considered undergarments or pants? I’m only planning to wear under a dress if that impacts your answer.

[…] be the only deviation from the plan and now you’ve been warned. And these, Susan, are the Texas rules. […]

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