The 80/20 Project #1

I bought a sweater dress in the sale. It was warm. It was stylish. It felt like being permenantly embraced by the sort of man who wears tweed. I wore it every day in February. I mean it. Every single day (apart from just a few - I'm not that stinky). I love that dress but - am I getting into a rut here?

I love mulifuctional fashion - the idea that one item can be worn many ways and work for all occasions but, as Nancy Mitford once said, 'I feel ill if I can't have new clothes.'. There's something of coup de foudre about any new purchase and my relationship with each item tends towards serial mongamy: intense passion followed by a cooling-off period. Then they're sent to live in my wardrobe where they have a great retirement: coffee mornings, European cruises, carpet bowls. I don't actually know what they do because, although I love to see them there hanging there in their art-installation rows, like most people I'm guilty of only wearing 20% of the clothes I own. Some of that is due to the weather or other circumstances like a bathing suit not being suitable for supermarket shopping but a lot of it is down to indolence.

OK here's the deal.

I don't buy anything new.  I don't even think about it. I wear all of my clothes - both the 20% and the remaining 80%. And, for a month, I post a sketch every day.

Narcissistic? Hell Yes, but it's also an experiment in creativity: the sort of everyday creativity we all exercise, every time we put on a pair of socks.

Please send in your  reactions: sketches, comments, photographs. I'll post anything that's not downright indecent. There will be prizes.

Let's start with the dress I've been wearing all of last month.

 

Comments

[Ammu]

What a great idea. Love this outfit - you can never go wrong with Vanessa Bruno. And I like the addition of a hat :)

[Iheartfashion]

I love this idea. And I would wear that dress every day too.

[michelle LeBlanc]

Best idea I've heard all year...live this and the sketch!

[badaude]

Thanks so much for the encouragement. Posting what you wear is more scary than you'd think. This morning I had a sudden moment of panic that it's just like a big old invitation for someone to stick an internet 'I look dorky' sign on my back. More tomorrow...

[brandon]

Oh God, I can't even imagine posting what I wear every day. Eeek, scary! BRAVO to you for this courageous endeavor!!! Can't wait to watch. And I promise, no "you look dorky" signs from us =}

[Sergey Alekhin]

I love this idea.Thx

[Miranda]

I like this a lot--looking forward to more of it. It's inspired some thinking; may blog soon about it! :)

[badaude]

Looking forward to it! xb

[Lauren]

awesome. I want you to come over and go through my closet and dress me for a month and tell me what to throw out. ok? :)

[badaude]

Playing dress-up with real dolls is the best game! But you always seem to look extremely natty every time I see you. The mystery of other people's style is eternally fascinating...

[diaphoresis]

I love the how the scarf looks like with the boots.

[Nursing tops]

love it too! this drawing is awesome, this also reminds me of my dad.*sigh* miss you dad wish you were here.