Day 22: The day before tomorrow

• Boyfriend cardigan: Gap
• Green long sleeved T: Dorothy Perkins
• Black trousers: Marks and Spencer
• Black boots: Clarks
• Green and blue necklace: East

I have been trying to finalise my 30 for 30 items and then failed to track one of them down which started me rethinking half my items. I have called a halt to that nonsense and have almost got there but now I am too tired to post them. I will get the full list up plus outfit 1 tomorrow. Night night x

Day 21: Stripes are for Sunday

• Jeans: Matalan
• Striped top: Marks and Spencer
• Purple cardigan: Marks and Spencer
• Boots: Clarks
• Wooden red beads: George@ Asda

I missed the Everybody, Everywear Breton Stripes day last Tuesday so here I am working the look today. It has been quite some time since I last wore this stripey top and it just shows how quickly fashion changes as it feels very short compared to the tops I have been wearing lately.

These are yesterday's jeans and you can tell they've been worn for two days as are looking decidedly baggier this evening. They are also slightly too short to wear with boots but I just about get away with it, I think.

Those with eagle eyes may have noticed the new button on my page. I have signed up to Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30 challenge and the rules are that you have to pick 30 items from your wardrobe and wear only those 30 items for the next 30 days therefore, creating 30 looks. Shoes are included but accessories, jewellery and coats are not. The other rule is that there is a shopping ban for the duration but since I am already on a self imposed shopping ban I don't have to worry about that part. The reason I have decided to take part is that I feel I would like to step up a gear in my remixing which has not yet been properly tested yet. The challenge starts on the 1st February and I have been jotting down some ideas but have not yet finalised my list. I will have to make a final decision  this evening and will post the list tomorrow.

Day 20: Cons and kitchens

• Black long sleeved T: Primark
• Pink cardigan: Gap
• Jeans: Matalan
• Trainers: Converse
• Scarf: Marks and Spencer

I would really prefer not to post my weekend outfits. I have a Monday to Friday, 9-5 job when I need to dress work appropriate. Quite what that means no one has ever actually said but I explained my interpretation on Day 3. Professionalism is required which is why I like to dress down at the weekend, unless I have particular plans or a night out. I usually wear jeans or joggers and definitely dress more for comfort than style, although I hope I do still have a shred of that. Because I still have 345 outfits to create I am conscious when I am picking outfits that I have to post them and don't want to waste something good on a weekend day when I've no plans and would normally be repeating the same slouchy clothes. It feels a little like that time before you go away on holiday when you haven't quite decided what to take and you try to avoid wearing all the good things to keep them clean.

Today I headed across town to B&Q, a large DIY superstore. I have been thinking about buying a kitchen and have had some plans and costs drawn up by Ikea. I really like the plan but before I decide I want to be sure it is the right one for me and I'm getting a good deal. So I went to see what else was available and didn't find anything I liked as much. Tomorrow I am going to get up early to watch Andy Murray in the Australian Open Tennis Final and then head to Homebase and back to Ikea. Domestic bliss!

Day 19: Friend Friday

• Top: East
• Black trousers: Marks and Spencer
• Black boots: Clarks
• Black beads: Primark

I did not end up choosing my outfit last night and this morning I fell back into the black trousers and a top routine which has been a frequent work uniform in the past. This top has a cotton top at the front with an attached cardigan type thing. I like the colour but it becomes a bit shapeless as the day goes on and I would ideally like it to be a bit longer.

I have signed up to Friend Friday which poses questions to fashion and beauty bloggers on a set subject and provides a forum to share the answers. I hope to share and learn tips from this and add a bit more variety to my blog. This week's topic is Blogger Mechanics.

1. What technology do you use in blogging? (computer, camera, video camera, tripod, etc...)
I am pretty new to blogging (today is Day 19) and I decided to start off with the equipment I already own to see how it goes and have not yet invested in any specialist equipment. All I use is a point and click digital camera - a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 and a laptop, it's a Hewlet Packard Notebook HP G7000.

2. What computer and online technology do you use? (blogging system, photo storage, photo editing tools, etc..)
I use Blogger and it's serving me well but I haven't yet learned all the features and know almost nothing about html codes. I would like to have a much slicker looking styled blog but for now I am concentrating on the content and am learning as I go. I download the pictures I plan to publish on my blog from my camera to my computer's Windows Photo Gallery where I use the most basic of editing tools - crop and red eye reduction. I label them by day and then upload them to my blog.  

3. What is your process for taking pictures?
My process for taking photos can become a bit of a workout. I just don't have time to take pictures in the morning and have considered taking them at work but I would either need to find a private space or seek help from a colleague. I am sure many would be willing but I would feel a little silly posing in front of them and as I am pretty picky I couldn't ask them to take dozens until I am satisfied with one or two images. So, I wait until I get home from work and I then take the picture. Unfortunately, this means I am a bit crumpled from the day and my make up is past its best and I look a bit shiny. Yes I could powder my nose when I get in, and since I don't use photoshop I probably should but I just can't be bothered. I have found a spot where I take the pictures and as I don't have a tripod I have worked out the height the camera needs to be for the location by placing a table on top of another. I have a table top tripod however, I need to turn the camera on its end to take portrait shots and there isn't a hole to attach the tripod on the sides of the camera so I can't use it.  I then line up the camera, set a 10 second timer and dash across the room and strike a pose. I have a very quick look at what I have taken and reset and go again. I hop back and forward repeatedly until I think I have a few shots to choose from and then I upload.


4. When it comes to backdrops for your photos what do you consider? Do you scout locations or shoot the same spot daily?
At the moment I am taking daily pictures in the same inside location partly because of the lighting. I have the set up all worked out and as I am using a timer it would take a long time to set up at different locations and it is currently too cold outside. However, I live in a beautiful city and I am really keen to show it off as there are so many possible locations. I haven't come across many blogs from the UK yet and most of the blogs I love and follow are in the USA and I am sure my blogging sisters across the pond would love to see my city. Once the weather is warmer I will try some outdoors shots.

5. If you could splurge and get one new piece of equipment what would you be buying?
As it's early days I don't yet know what I really need or what could change my life but a better camera might be on the list. I am seriously thinking in investing in photoshop so I can improve my pictures. I know that my images aren't exactly how I would like them and I could really do with some decent red eye software. I have read so many blogs which say that professional pictures are the key and those blogs have the most followers. Personally I do enjoy the aesthetics of good images but it is the content which really draws me in. What do you guys think?

Day 18: I like your style

• Gray cardigan: Gap
• Black T: Tu, Sainsbury
• Grey woollen skirt: Marks and Spencer
• Black tights: Marks and Spencer
• Black shoe boots: Marks and Spencer
• Snow leopard print scarf: Next

It is lovely when you get compliments at work on the things you are wearing and today someone said nice things about my cardigan and another admired my shoe boots. I believe I have actually had more compliments in the last couple of weeks from my colleagues than normal. Maybe it's because I am paying more attention to what I am wearing, what they are saying or maybe they are all still full of Christmas cheer, whichever way, thank you, I like it!

I had a full day of training at work so I wanted to wear something comfy yet smart. Tomorrow I have an early start and a meeting in Glasgow so should go off now and give some thought to tomorrow's outfit so I am not running around aimlessly in the morning. Night, night x

Day 17: Lori locket

• Maroon woollen dress: Next
• Black cardigan: East, gift
• Black diamond tights: Marks and Spencer
• Shoes: Marks and Spencer
• Locket: H&M

This outfit was appropriate for a couple of meetings I had in the office today and the cardigan is becoming an oft worn favourite. Yesterday I mentioned a bag I received as a gift and I think I should always mention when items are gifts  This cardigan was also wrapped under the tree on Christmas morning and I knew straight away I'd get lots of wear out of it, so well done mum.

Big shout out to Bobbi, my most dedicated reader x

Day 16: A bag's not just for Christmas...

• Red woollen blazer: East
• Velvet skirt: East
• Black long sleeved T: Uniqlo
• Black tights: Marks and Spencer
• Bag: Ouch@ Dowhill Country Fayre, gift

What shoes were you wearing, you may well ask? Well, I was wearing my Ugg boots when I took this photo and the result was not for posting, so it was cropped. I was tempted to not post today but that wouldn't be a true record and as I plan to have 365 posts then that would make my end point further away. I should maybe have posted a picture with the Uggs to teach myself a lesson but I think I've learned it.

Like last week, I was in the office in the morning and then had a meeting at a park in the afternoon. I needed to be smart for the round table meeting, warm outside and wearing comfy footwear which would withstand the elements. I changed in to low heeled black pumps when I was arrived at the office (I think I need to report soon on the collection of shoes I have under my desk at work) and had the Uggs on when outside.

Anyway, enough about my feet what do you make of the bag? Love it!! I saw this bag a couple of months ago when I went out for lunch with my family and we then visted Dowhill Country Fayre. It caught my eye as was really different and I thought about buying it but didn't. Lo and behold, when should it next make an appearance, but Christmas morning - thanks mum er Santa.

Day 15: Dogtooth and mustard

• Black cardigan: East
• Black skirt: Gap
• Mustard yellow top: Gap
• Tights: Marks and Spencer
• Shoes: Marks and Spencer
• Green/blue beads: East
• Ring: can't remember

This outfit felt like a departure for me however, it is reminiscent of Day 3 which I think is mainly due to the colour scheme and particularly the mustard coloured blouse but the combination worked quite well. The beads are a greeny blue colour although appear more blue in the photo. Sorry, I forgot to show off the ring as my hands are buried in my pockets. I cannot remember where I bought it from but I have had it for a very long time and haven't worn it in ages but the colours fitted in perfectly.  I avoided black tights and went for these dogtooth pattern ones which jazzed it up and also look stripey from afar.

Day 14: In the pink

• Black jeans: Marks and Spencer
• White long sleeved T: marks and Spencer
• Pink jumper: Gap
• Boots: Clarks

This jumper is very soft and fine and what you cannot tell from the images is that it has a slight bat wing which makes it a bit different and it drapes well. I love the colour but am not quite sure how it works with my skin tone. The jeans on the other hand are a different story. They are described as skinny jeans but they are more like a straight leg jean and I don't think they are all that flattering.

I need to do a bit of work on my images and posing as if I have a detail on an item I want to talk about then I should really photograph it. Also, in case you are wondering, my fingers are actually longer than an inch long I just need to learn how to uncurl them when I strike a pose.

I am hoping that this blog will help me to embrace my wardrobe of clothes but also help me to purge the things which don't work. I will do a more in depth wardrobe analysis soon but I have always had a problem with letting go of items but now that I have to consider if I want to post them and then see them on film I think I will find it easier to say goodbye.

Day 13: In Vogue

                       

• Beige cowl necked top: Gap
• Jeggings: Marks and Spencer
• Cream Cardigan: H&M
• Grey shoe boots: Marks and Spencer
• Grey knitted beret: H&M

I picked up a copy of Vogue when I was out today and I'm looking forward to reading it over the week. I don't buy it every month but when I do I savour it and keep it for future reference. This month's has a Spring/Summer 2011 catwalk guide so I am hoping that my wardrobe is not completely bereft of any of the season's key looks and that I can remix my outfits to look on trend. I will report back.

I am loving these shoe boots but haven't worn them much since I bought them. They are a soft grey suede look material with a patent leather heel and button. I have been searching for shoe boots after being inspired by Boutique Girl's fabulous Armani Exchange boots over at Things a Boutique Owner Sees which I first saw on her site back in October 2009, so I assume they are no longer available as I haven't been able to track them down. I have been on a constant look out for shoe boots which are low at the front with a manageable heel and this has been a harder quest than you might imagine as so many have very high spindly heels. These ones are not quite as low at the front as I would like them but I snapped them up as were pretty close to what I was looking for and I have no regrets.

The grey knitted beret was masking a bad hair day today although I may have created the phrase 'a bad hat day' which is a shame because I love my hats. Normally my instinct is normally to be very matchy matchy (see Day 10) so mixing in the grey with the beige is a bit of a departure for me.

Day 12: Booooots!

• Brown cardigan: Gap
• White long sleeved T: Marks and Spencer
• Jeggings: Marks and Spencer
• Boots: Monsoon

We don't have a casual friday at work but generally the dress code seems slightly more relaxed as does the atmosphere in the office. A number of colleagues work part time and aren't in at the end of the week so the office is usually quieter and there are few meetings with external visitors. Jeans are quite often the uniform of choice, particulalry if the boss is out for the day. I chose jeans today so I could rock my boots!

So, as you can obviously tell I am rather excited about these boots. I bought them in the post Christmas sales from Monsoon and they were 70% off and they are beautiful. I have been waiting since the beginning of the year to wear them but today was the first day that I felt confident there wouldn't be any rain. They are a gorgeous brown suede and there is no way I am going to get them wet. Edinburgh is historically quite a dry place, particularly in comparison with Scotland's west coast, where I have spent a lot of time. Whilst there can be a biting easterly wind an umbrella used to not need a permanent home in my bag, which was a necessity living in Glasgow. These days there seems to be more rain and an umbrella has become a core every day accessory. Maybe it was that the snow around Christmas took so long to shift, so the pavements were wet and slushy, or maybe wating for a dry day made the weather seem wetter but today was the first day I could safely wear them this year. It's been a long wait! Bring on Spring!

Day 11: That Thursday thing

  

• Grey Trousers: H&M
• Black T-shirt: Marks and Spencer
• Cardigan: East
• Black boots: Clarks
• Heart pendant: Dorothy Perkins

I normally wear this cardigan with slimmer trousers but took the easy option today and put it on when I had already picked out these trousers. I don't think the voluminous cardi worked with the wide legged trousers so I will go back to wearing it with skinnier troos. The grey, black and purpley pink theme is also becoming a bit monotonous I fear.

Day 10: Retake Day 8

  

• Skirt: Primark
• Navy cardigan: Marks and Spencer
• Navy Long sleeved T shirt: Matalan
• Navy tights: Marks and Spencer
• Plum shoes: Marks and Spencer
• Wooden red beads: George, Asda

Rewind two days, back to Monday and this is what I planned to wear and then changed my mind. I added the wooden red beads and changed in to my shoes at work so the heels were no longer an issue. I don't quite know what all the fuss was about on Monday morning but hey it saved me some time this morning and I quite liked the look.

Day 9: Out and about

• Purple patterend top: George @ Asda
• Red woollen blazer: East
• Black trousers: Marks and Spencer
• Black boots: Clarks

So today posed somewhat of a dilema. I needed to be in the office this morning and yet out at an important meeting in the afternoon. The meeting was a fair distance away by car and on site at a museum redevelopment and I knew I would be on my feet for most of the afternoon, outside in the cold for a while and also sitting down to a round table meeting too. I therefore needed to be comfy, in flats, warm, smart and professional. I have few outfits which can match all this and these requirements exclude a lot of options from my wardrobe, so this is what I settled on. I say settled as the result is not hugely inspiring particulalrly after yesterdays proclamation to get out of the rut. I often fall back on this jacket for these types of meetings as it is 100% wool and therefore very warm and as it is not structured is comfortable for travelling and fits well under a coat. I normally match it with - wait for it - black or grey so the fact I wore it with this purple top is something new. 

Day 8: One week forward, two steps back

After completing my last blog, in which I vowed to give more time to planning my outfits, I decided to be true to my word and since it was a Sunday evening give it a go.

On looking through my wardrobe and reflecting on the weeks outfits I realised two things. Firstly, that my wardrobe is in serious need of an overhaul and a major clearout. Secondly, that my pride in moving away from black has not, judging by the general theme of last week, brought colour to my life. Instead, I appear to have shifted towards grey and am embracing what can most closely be described as 'drab'. I definitely don't have a technicolour wardrobe and my winter clothes in particular are less than colourful so I need to find ways to incorporate the colour I do have into my outfits. On that note, I picked out the outfit below. Not exactly the colours of the rainbow and playing it quite safe with navy instead of black or grey but a different look nonetheless. So this was the plan as I headed off to bed.

Fast forward to this morning to 8am and I was full of doubts over this outfit. I can't quite put my finger on what felt wrong. It was maybe the higher heels than I have worn in a while or the summer skirt in winter, which I have actually never worn but it wasn't right. Now, I was hardly proposing to go out in something wildly avant garde but I turned back to my wardrobe and started anew. This is what I wore today:

• Black long sleeved T shirt: H&M
• Purple cardigan: Marks and Spencer
• Grey skirt: Marks and Spencer
• Snow leopard print scarf: Next
• Black tights: Marks and Spencer
• Black shoes: Marks and Spencer

This outfit is ok. But that is just it - it is ok. It is work appropriate and it is safe and now that I think about it it very closely resembles my Day 1 outfit. Where is the variety, where is the outward demonstration of the passion for fashion that is inside me. I am either being a little too hard on myself or stuck in a rut! Maybe my planned look will yet fulfill its destiny.

Outerwear

• Green coat: Primark
• Grey hat: Marks and Spencer

Day 7: One week in

• Black long sleeved T-shirt: Primark
• Jeggings: Marks and spencer
• Gray cardi with sparkly detail: Gap
• Black boots: Clarks

I have made it to the end of the first week. I am not finishing my first week on an outfit high as it is a Sunday and my day was destined for pottering about, housework and catching up with correspondence, but hey at least I made it out of my pyjamas.

So what have I learned so far? Well, I started this blog to re-engage with my wardrobe and in this it is still early days. I have not yet been challenged to remix and have been so busy that the lure of the shops has not yet come a calling. What I have learned is that finding the time to blog has been more difficult than I expected and as this has been a busy week I have also not planned outfits which is what I hoped to do. I am going to put more effort in to thinking through outifts in advance rather than opening the wardrobe door in the morning, when I am running late, and thinking help! I have discovered that I really enjoy writing and creating the blog and I am excited to make it more creative. Although this blog is primarlily for me I would like others to read it and there is a whole community of bloggers out there to connect with and I'd like to make some new friends.

Here's to you week two xx 

Day 6: Wet weekend

• Black long sleeved T-shirt: H&M
• Black leggings with trim: Gap
• Grey cardigan: Gap
• Gray scarf: Bazaar, Turkey
• Boots: UGG australia
• Brown bag: East

So when I don't have any plans I tend not to put much thought into my outfit and generally go for comfort and practicality over style. Today has been one of those days. The weather was beyond miserable, pouring with rain and blowing a gale and the kind of day where no one should come out from underneath the duvet. I however, had errands to run including heading to the Royal Mail depot to collect a package from Amazon which I hadn't been at home to accept during the week. The depot is in an obscure location, not on any bus route which serves me so I decided to walk the couple of miles to get my parcel. This was a fairly grim expedition and the boots are canvas so not the best choice but cosy and kept my feet dry enough. The rest of my day was spent drying off at home.

Day 5: Lights, Camera, Action

            

• Dress: Monsoon
• Cardigan: East
• Plum coloured tights: Bhs
• Shoes: Marks and Spencer

I was invited to a film showing for one of our projects so wanted to wear something a bit more glamourous to work today. Even though the showing was late morning and the average age of those in attendance must have been over 70 I was happy with the outfit.

The cardigan was a must as it is too cold to go outside without extra layers. I originally had on black tights with this but felt that the look was just too black and although I have lots of patterend tights, as the dress has some detail, I didn't want to detract from that. I used to nearly always wear black clothes, particularly when I was at University, but made a concious effort a number of years ago to introduce more colour in to my wardrobe. I found the process of not always going for the black option really hard but seeing myself in this today made me realise that I must have broken the cycle. Head to toe black just didn't feel right. Don't get me wrong I still love black and feel that at times you can't go wrong with rocking the full look but maybe it should mainly be consigned to cocktail hour - we'll see.

Day 4: Hat's the way to do it!

 

• Dress: Gap
• Snood scarf: Marks and Spencer
• Black tights: Marks and Spencer
• Brown boots: Primark
• Hat: Marks and Spencer

As I was meeting my sister for dinner after the course I wanted to wear something a little less like work wear today. The course went well with more time for discussion on how we could apply it to our own work which is always most useful. I met my sister in Jamie Oliver's new Glasgow restaurant, Jamie's Kitchen. It was lovely to catch up as we hadn't seen each other in 2011 and the meal was nice although I wasn't blown away.

I  like todays outfit and am a bit sad I won't be able to wear it again so will have to remix it soon. As it is very early days I have not yet been tested to remix so it will be interesting to see how much of a challenge it proves to be.

Day 3: On the run

• Mustard coloured blouse: Gap
• Black cardigan: H&M
• Grey trousers: H&M
• Black shoes: Marks and Spencer
• Grey hat on chair: Marks and Spencer

I had the frst of a two day training course in Glasgow today which meant an early start and an unknown when it comes to picking a fitting outfit. I work in a sector where business wear is not often required, smart casual is generally the norm and some creativity is not considered out of place. When attending an external training course you are never quite sure of the formality or who you will meet. I played it relatively safe - not too smart, not too casual and my outfit was more than appropriate. A quick post course drink turned into an entire evening out and my outift took me from day to night. A late night home however left no time to consider the next days attire... night, night!

Day 2: Back for more

• Black Long sleeve T-shirt: Primark
• Grey Cardigan: Matalan
• Black trousers: Marks and Spencer
• Black boots: Clarks
• Wooden red beads: Asda
• Bag: East

I hadn't anticipated just how long it would take me to navigate round Blogger or how tricky I would find it but I am kind of proud of my first post and am back for more.

I had planned to launch my blog on New Year's Day however, I spent the first week of the year taking full advantage of the break by lazing around in my old comfy clothes so didn't feel inspired to record that. I put in a bit of practice and found that taking photos myself was a lot more difficult than I had imagined. I have been following a number of other bloggers for over a year now and most of them have really professional looking blogs so I had high aspirations. Some of my favourite bloggers are masters of the technology, have fancy cameras and talented photographer husbands to help out. I have limited IT skills, a point and click and have to dash back and forward at the mercy of my timer! Eventually I had to take a leap of faith and I decided to launch on my first day back at work and all things considered Day 1 wasn't a bad beginning.

Day 1: And so it begins..

  

• Top: Marks and Spencer
• Skirt: Marks and Spencer
• Tights: Marks and Spencer
• Shoes: Brantano

Welcome to Day 1 of my blog. Only 10 days late from when I originally planned to launch but hey at least I got here eventually.

So, here's the deal. They say that the average woman wears about 20% of the clothes in her wardrobe 80% of the time. I am one of that average. I have so many clothes I do not know what to do with them, where to store them, where to find them and yet I always have nothing to wear. I love clothes, I love fashion and I love replenishing my wardrobe with something new to wear. New purchases tend to banish the previous favourites to some unknown recess of the wardrobe and so the cycle goes on.

So I have set myself a challenge to not purchase any clothes for 1 year and reaquaint myself with the past loves in my wardrobe. I plan to remix my wardrobe putting together a different outfit for each day of the year - 1 wardrobe, 1 year, 365 looks. 

Wish me luck!