Six Items Challenge: A Wardrobe Inventory

With this post I have passed the halfway mark of the challenge.  I began with the mistaken impression that the challenge was 40 days long, but an e-mail I received on Sunday mentioned that it was just 30 days long.  The e-mail gently reminded that this is a fundraising effort on behalf of Labor behind the Label, which uses the funds to educate about issues raised by fast fashion.  At left you'll see my pledge widget, and if you're so inclined feel free to donate.

On Monday, I wore this:  the woven skirt, the reversible shell with the red side out, a huge straw bag, and a pair of authentic huraches.  I found both the huraches and straw bag in thrift stores.  The straw bag was an especially memorable find.  When I found it at the Salvation Army last summer for $2.99, I had visions of carrying it to the Farmers Market and coming home loaded down with fresh produce.  And, yet, we've not been to the market all summer!

On Tuesday, I wore this:  the white skirt with the purple shell.  I've added the fiber necklace my middle daughter gave me for Mother's Day and the antique funeral home fan I found in an antique store last January.  It's been over 100 degrees most days for three weeks running now and I'm doing my best to keep my cool.

Today, I've been grading formal poems all day--an exercise I put my literature students through simply for them to have an appreciation of the complexities of rhyme and rhythm.  It's funny though to watchi me do this as I'm often counting on my fingers and tapping my foot in an iambic rhythm.  I'm sporting a belly-dancing veil as a superhero cape in this look, but below, you can see more sedate versions of the look.

One thing this challenge has led me to do is to clean out my closets and dresser drawers and to catch up on all laundry, ironing and steaming.  For a moment, everything is neat and orderly.  Here's what I discovered I have on hand...and the "muchness" of it, is more than a little embarassing.

• 27   pair of shoes   (12 heels; 15 flats)

•  5    pair of boots

•  4    pair of flip-flops

•  4    pair of sandals

•  7    purses

•  2    backpacks

•  3    full length coats:  camel wool, khaki down, London Fog grey raincoat

•  3    winter jackets:  Icelandic wool sweater coat; Mondrian wool; shearling

•  3    light jackets:  madras plaid, orange hooded vest, paper clown jacket

•  3    nightgowns

•  1    robe

•  2    cocktail dresses

•  2    suits—charcoal grey knit; beige silk pants

•  7    dresses—3 winter; 4 summer

• 19   skirts

•   4   summer skirts

• 13   slacks

• 40    button front shirts/blouses, long-sleeved

• 17    sleeveless or short sleeved buttonfront

• 14    blazer or dress jackets

•  10   cardigans

•    8   vests

•    8   sweater vests

•  21   pullover sweaters

•    2   pair Mom jeans

•    6   pair denim jeans

•    2  pair corduroy jeans

•    4  pair shorts

•    3 pair cargo/Capri length

•  23  long sleeved tees

•  23  short sleeved tees

• 13  pair tights

•    1 swimsuit

•     2 sarongs

•   30 pair cotton undies

•     6 bras

•     1 camisole

•     3 FL slips

229 pieces—not counting thrift store contribution & items designated for E-Bay or Etsy

Do you have any idea how many separate pieces you might own?