Day 57: To keep or not to keep

• Grey trousers: Marks and Spencer
• Green top: Marks and Spencer
• Black cardi: H&M
• Black boots: Clarks
• Necklace: East

This necklace is so heavy that my neck is aching by the end of the day however, the green tones match in with the top so it is worth the effort. The grey wide leg trousers hang well at the beginning of the day but by the time I am heading home, as can be seen in this picture, they become a bit shapeless. Although you cannot see clearly this cardigan is really past its best so I should really ditch it. This challenge is starting to make me address my past reluctance to part with items in my wardrobe which aren't working. Seeing my outfit in a photo and then having to post it sometimes reveals what the mirror hides. I have begun to earmark some items which shouldn't be in my wardrobe temptimg me when I am least prepared. I will keep you posted of what is getting the heave ho!

Day 56: Sunday someday

• Jeans: Matalan
• Grey top: Dorothy Perkins
• Boots: Clarks

This is what happens when you throw a random top into an overnight bag and hope for the best. Some accessories might have improved this but hey it is a lazy Sunday and it's not shameful.

Day 55: Jean genie

• Jeans: Matalan
• Top: Gap
• Cardi: H&M
• Boots (not shown): Clarks



I decided to spend the weekend with my folks so grabbed a couple of tops, shoved them in a bag and headed west. I am wearing my casual jeans again and will be wearing them again tomorrow since I haven't brought anything else to wear. Now, is this a rebellion against the 30 for 30 challenge when most of my wardrobe was out of action and I had to put more thought in to my items? If so, does that mean I haven't really learned anything from the last month or am I just embracing the freedom of being able to grab anything without the pressure. I think I have learned a lesson and will be back on track very soon.

Day 54: Beauty's only skin deep

• Jeans: Matalan
• Black lst: Matalan
• Black shoes: Marks and Spencer

I had a day off work today and since I jumped full on into weekend mode there was only one option - jeans. I included a pair of jeggings and a pair of smart grey jeans in my 30 for 30 items but there are days when you just want to pull on a pair of comfy slouchy jeans and boy have I have missed them.

It is Fashion Beauty Friend Friday again and this week we are talking Beauty products. There is no doubt that I like my beauty products and make up but I don't get as turned on by them as I do about clothes. I have sensitive skin so have to be careful with what I use and I don't have many products which I swear by as I enjoy trying and experimenting with lots of new looks.

1. What's your favourite drug store product makeup and your favorite highend product?
I often go for Rimmel makeup if I want to try out a new lipstick or nail varnish colour as it is great value. Lancome foundation has never let me down but I don't use it to the exclusion of other brands.

 2. Is there one type of product that is your go-to, can't live without?
I can't leave the house without lip balm, be that a slick of gloss or some vaseline but it really is an essential.

3. What's the best hair product you've ever used?
My hair is prone to be oily so I tend to change my hair products quite regularly to prevent build up. I have tried all types of products to reduce the grease, to inject some volume and add shine however when all is said and done I still get great results from Boots Essential shampoo and it only costs 60p!!!!!

 

4. What's the worst beauty look you've tried and look back at now with a little shame or apprehension that you actually did that?

I have never been scared of experimenting with my hair and its been long, short, straight, curly, blonde and brunette and there haven't been many all out disasters, I don't think. The perms were in the 80s when that was the style du jour so I honestly don't regret those looks, honestly. I have had a few brassy moments during my blonde days and a professional colourist rather than an at home dye job could have saved the locks from that fate. The bowlcuts were done to me and not my choice but I must confess I do look kinda cute. By aged eleven, however they weren't quite so adorable? I shouldn't have cut my dad out of this shot - heelloo Mr Sideburns!!
 

5. When it comes to beauty products, we all use the same basic products. What do you use that helps show off your personal flare and personality?

Most days I wear black liquid eye liner and sometimes I go for the full cats eye look and othertimes just an understated slash. When my nails are good, ie when I am not going through a phase of nailbiting, I always have them painted and the vampier the better.

Day 53: Spoilt for choice

• Black v neck lst: Marks and Spencer
• Grey skirt: Marks and Spencer
• Cardigan: Debenhams
• Shoes: Brantano
• Black beads: Primark



It was refreshing this morning to open the wardrobe doors and be able to pick out anything that I wanted. And how did I respond to this re-found freedom? By buckling under the pressure, that's how. I gawped at all my clothes feeling overwhelmed and at a complete loss. Although I have recognised for a while that I have too many clothes I have never felt quite so daunted by my wardrobe. 

I didn't want to wear any of my 30 items and was keen to wear a colour that hadn't featured over the last month today. Whilst this look is a nice one it doesn't really represent a triumphant return to my wardrobe.

Day 52: Goodbye 30

• Trousers: H&M
• Black lst: Matalan
• Black cardigan: Marks and Spencer
• Black boots: Clarks
• Scarf: Tesco

Is it wrong that I am so relieved to be finished with the 30 for 30 challenge? This is the first time I have done it and I did enjoy most of it but I have to say I am not disappointed that it has come to an end. I have done a bit of an analysis of the challenge to see what I have got out of it and here is what I made of it all.

I was very excited to hear Kendi announcing a new 30 for 30 challenge at the end of January as I had watched the Autumn one with interest. Although I was only 23 days in to my own 1 wardrobe, 1 year, 365 looks challenge I felt that I had been floating along and could do with a crash course in remixing. I spent a lot of time choosing my 30 items and mapped out all the occasions I knew I would be dressing for over the 30 days. I didn't plan out the full month's worth of outfits but I did plan out quite a few and made sure I chose items which were likely to be complimentary.

The shopping ban certainly wasn't a problem as I am not shopping for one year anyway and I managed to wear every item although some items got a lot more wear than others. What this experience has achieved is it has made me feel excited to return to the rest of my wardrobe and the hundreds of outfit options that lie within it. Would I do it again? Yes and next time I will be braver.

First 10

I was full of enthusiasm at the beginning and most of the outfits had been planned ahead of the challenge. I remixed almost all of my 30 items within the first 10 days and I should maybe have paced myself a bit in order to provide more variety towards the end.

• Hits - Day 2's green tights, Day 10's belt received lots of compliments
• Misses - Day 1's grey trousers - think they're for the charity shop bag
• Favourite look - Day 9

 

Second 10

I made a concious effort to remix in the rest of the items and realising that the original brown boots weren't going to work I made a substitution.

• Hits - Day 12's boots and the scarf on Day 5
• Misses - Day 18 and 20 were lazy looks
• Favourite look - Day 14 received a number of compliments

Final 10

By Day 20 I was starting to feel restricted by the challenge and keen to get through the last hurdle. I hadn't planned outfits as far in to the challenge as this and could have invested more time in planning th

• Hits - Day 27 's weekend look and Day 24 although this would have been better suited to the weekend rather than for work.
• Misses - Day 26 and I gave the grey trousers another chance on Day 30 and I still think they should go
• Favourite look - Day 21 as I liked the matching dress and tights
   

  

Day 51: Marching on

• Black dress: Gap
• Cardigan: Matalan
• Scarf: Bazaar, Turkey
• Shoes: Marks and Spencer
• Beads: Primark

Can you believe that we are now in to March and the end of the 30 for 30 challenge is a day away?

We had a really big meeting at work today so something more formal yet stylish was required and I think this worked well. This dress is lycra and sleeveless and fits the bill for comfort so I can last the pace sitting for hours in a stuffy meeting room. The only disappointment is that aside from the accessories it is not a huge departure from how I have worn this look before. Otherwise it was a good day for all.