I Wore the Same 6 Pieces for 5 Days: Here’s What Happened

When I was younger, the local radio station used to have a segment called “Desert Island Discs.” Essentially, the featured guest had to pick the eight records he or she would bring if stranded on a desert island. It was a game I loved to play along with, tweaking my list often as time went on. Recently, I’d read a lot about “uniform dressing” or “capsule wardrobes,” and it totally reminded me of that desert island concept. The idea being, you can only have a finite number of clothing pieces and you mix and match them differently every day. By narrowing down which items are your absolute essentials, you’d rid yourself of all the background noise and your true style would come through, loud and clear. I decided to try it. It’s kind of like a fashion puzzle, two things I consider myself to be pretty adept at.

I started with a micro version of the challenge, as tossing out the majority of my closet for good was just not realistic for me (no matter how excited my husband was at the idea of all that free apartment space). So I challenged myself to create five days worth of outfits from six clothing pieces I felt I couldn’t live without. I narrowed it down to:

1. Striped Shirt: This was a no-brainer. I live in stripes.

2. Army Jacket: It just makes any outfit instantly cooler.

3. Straight-Leg Jeans: Because denim is life.

4. Slouchy Sweater: Comfy and sexy at the same time.

5. Slim-Fit Turtleneck Sweater: Perfect for layering.

6. Metallic Skirt: To add some extra interest.

Here’s what I came up with (shout-out to my husband for having the patience to photograph me every day).

1. Monday: A little bit cowgirl, a little bit Madewell inspired. And never underestimate the power of a good neckerchief.

2. Tuesday: A metallic skirt can be surprisingly daytime appropriate when you tone it down with casual pieces. Also — pushing up or rolling sleeves can make all the difference in a look.

3. Wednesday: I never really thought to layer anything under this turtleneck but this challenge called for a little creativity. I was pleasantly surprised at how stripes peaking out really added more intention to the outfit. Plus, big earrings make everything better. Always.

4. Thursday: Pairing the metallic skirt with the slouchy sweater and pointy pumps made for a surprisingly cool but ladylike look. I threw on my favorite crossbody bag to add a casual-effortless vibe.

Friday