July 03, 2011

EXPERIMENT | DONE Wearing The Same Dress For 30 Days

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30 days, 15 washes later...

How does it feel like to have a fixed look, a uniform, an outfit planned ahead?
This was probably the best part. It was liberating to not have had one 'clothing-crisis' during this month, not once have I pulled all my clothes out of my closet in an hysterical nothing-to-wear-moment, not once did getting dressed take more than 20 minutes. Because of the limited options you have with one garment you automatically make a quick decision about what suits the occasion best. My typical everyday outfit consisted of cut off leggings, the dress + 1 piece outerwear, usually a light sweater.

Practical question: What about washing?
I washed the dress every other day by hand, in lukewarm water. It never went into the washing machine or dryer. It was handled with more care than the washing perscription instructed.

How is the quality of this COS dress?
After two weeks I started to hate the rag that was once a structured dress which I was obliged to wear every day. Putting it on made me feel like a mess, not put together, sloppy. It became harder to make an acceptable outfit with it as the quality continued to deteriorate.

After two weeks, the fabric was completely stretched out, had lost it's heaviness and the initial shape and design of the dress were completely ruined by this. On the 16th day, one of the seems came loose and the bottom had started to fray. By this time the garment was in such bad shape that it was (already) ready for disposal.

One positive feature about the fabric was that it seemed to be imune for stains. Just to name a few things that happened to it during the past 30 days; spaghetti with red sauce, green grass marks from a picknick without blanket, a drunk spilled half a glass of beer on it, accidental pen tripes and even some blood stains from a guy that was sitting next to me who got the most insane nose bleed I've ever seen. And it is still white as snow.

How important is a large wardrobe?
Halfway the experiment I came to the sad conclusion that a large wardrobe was important to me. But later I realized that the clothes I had been missing were only a few pieces: a button up shirt and trousers. Looking back, a basic white dress was versatile enough to be worn every day to any given occasion; it accompanied me to a few gallery openings, to school, on the couch on lazy sundays, during nights out aswel as to quick trips to the supermarket.



Personal conclusion

I love clothes and honestly speaking I want to have a big collection of them. There is a but; quality wins it over quantity every time. I want to keep all my garments for life and am sad that the great design of this COS dress only lasted for two weeks. This experiment made me realize even more that I don't actually need as much clothes as I initially thought. With this in mind I can be even more critical about what I am adding to my collection. Because that is what I'd like to built: a collection of great quality, beautifully designed items.

The idea of a fixed look, a uniform that doesn't change every season but is a reflection of ones personality is very interesting, though a close to impossible thing to put together. Perhaps by the time I'm 50 I'll be done dressing up and I'll know myself good enough to be able to find an outfit that perfectly resembles my personality that I could wear every day for the rest of my life.

61 comments:

Unknown said...

Very perfect post!! Congrats!! I loveeeee it <33


xoxo*
http://ivaniadiamond.blogspot.com/

isis said...

i love that you did this. i get bored of my wardrobe quickly. i may not be able to wear the same garment for 30 days, however you inspired me to think more minimalistic and you made me re-discover basics, which was something my wardrobe was lacking.

Carolina Carvalho said...

This was such a great experiment, and your conclusions were very interesting. It made me realize how some basic pieces are important, and I'm the kind of person that always skips on basics because I find them too boring, so thank you for making me see things from a different prespective.

loulaVINTAGE said...

when i first read of you taking on this challenge i was really interested in the ways you would take it and the conclusions you would come to at the end. this really was such an interesting journey- i don't think i could stay sane wearing the same white dress for 30 days!! you've shown such creativity in wearing the dress in different ways over the time period. i loved your conclusions.. they're definitely a lesson we can all learn, and i absolutely agree- quality over quantity.
x

Unknown said...

Really interesting experiment, thanks for sharing it with us :) I´m not sure if I have the guts to do something similar but it definately gets one to thinking...

Julian said...

Whoa, is your hair violet in the first pictures?

By the way, I thought this experiment was really cool. It's too bad the material of the dress wasn't very nice after a while.

kittenmasks said...

I'm totally fascinated by this project. I'm undergoing some serious thoughts about my closet and wardrobe, trying to determine a variety of factors in my lifestyle that might need some changing. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Anonymous said...

Wicked blog Ivania.
this is such a good idea so plan on trying it this month, just need to find the right top. you also got me onto going to the hardware store to buy jewellery to create my own!! love the inspiration. e.

Lightning Heart said...

wow, what an interesting project!

NATALIA. said...

What a great post! It's so interesting to read :) P.s your hair is looking fantastic.
X

http://twentytwoblog.blogspot.com

Mille said...

You really rigth, about almost everything! And just a little question - have you dye your hair again, in a purple colour or is it just the light?

http://fashionatmosphere.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Great conclusion. Such a shame about the quality of the clothing. Like you said- it wasn't completely cheap and was not used 'roughly' by machine washing and tumble drying... A real shame.
I have loved reading through these posts.
xxx

Andrea Antoniou said...

Your review is lovely, i really enjoyed it, i may do something like this but i always strugle with with what to wear in the morning!!! xxx

natalie said...

very interesting project! and right thoughts
you are very beautiful!

http://natalieoctober.blogspot.com/

xoxo

eliza said...

This is really interesting. I'm tempted to try something similar to see how it makes me feel about my own wardrobe.

xx

s said...

looove the 3rd look ;D


Charlene de MONACO: the 2 ARMANI Privé Wedding Dresses
http://magmoiselle.fr

Violet said...

i came back to see if what you wrote about finishing the month with this dress. and i thought a pic of it in the trash would be perfect and you give me a gif! you are awesome. i love how you wrote up your reflection on this.

XX
Vi from Cali

Anonymous said...

To have a few good quality basics is good for mixing around for different looks and also by adding accesories to it.Though having it too reduced obliges one to wash garments very frequently thus more water usage and comprising any finishes, construction,and any hardware the garment has quickly. Fabric also may loose resilience, like knit tops. Then it goes to the landfill. A small wardrobe can be maintained longer by reworking into different designs, fixing clothes or exchanging them. Those "clothes swapping parties" could be worth looking into.

Thrift_Queen said...

great post:)

james said...

you are sooo freaking awesome <3

Charlotte's Frame said...

Great post! Thanks for sharing!

Gioia said...

Amazing post, really like this project!

xx

Betsan Evans said...

really interresting! i like the way youve worn the dress in the two first pictures! great experiment!x

Line Nygaard said...

I loved this experiment, thanks for letting us watch!

/ gointotheairwaves.blogspot.com

Camilla said...

this is genius.

x Camilla

intothefoldfashion.blogspot.com

Afrodite said...

Loved this experiment and that's why I featured it on my blog ^^ I think I couldn't really pull it off, but you did one hell of a great job!

I also want a qualitative wardrobe in stead of having too much clothes that I either can't wear a lot or I do wear a lot and they end up in a garbage bag...

xxxo

Emma Louise said...

Wow, what a challenge! Theres no way i could do it!

Love your hair!

steph. said...

congratulations! i've really enjoyed following along. it's great so see the conclusions you've come to as well!

Sharlxo said...

ive loved this experiment so much, really enlighting and inspirational!
deffo agree - quality over quantity.

sharlxo.blogspot.com

Halktan Biri said...

I like pictures too. Colors are pretty good too.

http://prisonerofashion.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

ontzettend tof experiment!
x

amalie said...

wow, awesome experiment! love that dress.
and your hair, amazing!!
x

Flaviana Boni said...

OMG I love your hair!

Check out my new outfit post!
MY BLOG: DRESS UP FOR ARMAGEDDON dressupfor.blogspot.com

Annalisa Babysan Laterza said...

OMG!!!! Love your hairstyle!!!!
I want pink hair!!!! <3

Baci da Babysan^^

TeuntjeVDW said...

Wat een goed experiment! Ik ben eigenlijk nog steeds verbaast van de (slechte) kwaliteit van het COS jurkje!
xx.

Anonymous said...

I am really in love with this experiment. A while ago there was such an experiment in the Grazia, but it's more fun to actually see you doing it and read the conclusion at the end. Following your blog for a while now, and I must admit; I love your style and creativity. Very inspiring!

Xx from the south of the Netherlands

Bec said...

a great experiment, i liked all the different angles to it like how important is a big closet and testing quality. i like my clothes to last forever too. i don't like to buy disposable. however, you styled everything really great. all the outfits were fresh looking.

Eline said...

Echt leuk, dit experiment!
Het valt me eigenlijk wel tegen van COS dat de jurk na 2 weken al niet meer goed was...

Fashionisaparty.com (Suz) said...

interessant om te lezen!

maar... ik zou eens proberen je kleren wat meer te luchten en minder te wassen. behalve als (erg) zweet of er vlekken in komen, is dat een prima oplossing, want ik snap wel dat als je elke twee dagen de jurk wast, de kwaliteit snel achteruit gaat.

thanks for sharing! die gif is trouwens echt super cool!

Anonymous said...

i was looking forward to hear your conclusions! it has been a while i have the idea to do the same, but in a more strict way, so dark trousers and white shirt for a period,a bit less than a month.
still i didn't because now that is summer when i go to festivals and so on i enjoy to much wear summer clothes/dresses.. probably i will do in in autumn!!
anyway, great job!!

Sasha Maria said...

Congratulations for finishing with the dress. I really liked watching this experiment unfold.

Catherine said...

Fantastisch experiment - en zo stoer dat je het hebt volgehouden al viel je kledingstuk uit elkaar. Mooie ketting trouwens op die bovenste foto's.

X
catherine-oneway.blogspot.com

Mihaela said...

that's good. very good. or great.

My blog♥mfashionfreak

Roshelle | Life Of Roshelle said...

Superpost, leuk xperiment!

2befab said...

hi there...
your blog is amazing...
if you want we could follow each other..let me know...
;)
xoxo2befab

Slanelle said...

congratulations, your challenge was really interesting, I love how honest your conclusion is, and I loved seeing the different outfits you made with this dress!

Lady Cupcake said...

interesting and very different from the normal 'what i wore' type of post!

p.s adore the hair
Love Rosie
xo

jill said...

Fascinating idea.

Just found your blog thru Pret a Porter P - brilliant. Following you now, will add you to my roll, too.

I could live in that dress - with jumpers, leggings, layers. Only one question: you didn't really throw it out did you?

What a great blog.

jill @ http://www.polkadot.tv

Rose said...

I followed every one of your posts about this proyect and never commented but I love what you did and the conclusion you came to!

You have a lovely blog!

Lindsay said...

Such a cool challenge. I'm glad you got through it and learned some lessons on what works for you!

www.blackandblondeone.com

Unfinished Impressions said...

Fascinating!! i loved reading this, and i can totally relatewith what you are saying about getting to understand your own personality and looks, an creating a wardrobe that evolves with you embracing those aspects!

Annika said...

You did a really good job! And I loooove your hair!

Emmett Katherine said...

It's a good thing I think, not having a uniform. It would take the fun out of getting dressed and hamper creativity. Such a shame your dress didnt survive your experiment, do u think many other clothes/brands would have the same result?

Mary @ Fashionbirds said...

Actually a great, brave and interesting experiment, we all can learn of it a bit.... I'll definitely have to revise my closet as well... Thanks for sharing this, it was great to read! :)

Trine said...

LOVE the looks!!!

http://alagarconne.blogspot.com/

Tash said...

I really enjoyed reading your outcomes from this. It's similar to the theuniformproject.com but your aesthetic is much more up my alley.

I agree, good cuts and fabric make your clothes more beautiful, durable and wearable. I am often saddened when I see $5 tops and dresses on sale at cheap chain stores, it just seems like such a waste that we see clothing as devoid of value.

Tash,
Milk & Mead

SMS Style said...

Haha how cool - if I could be bothered to wash a dress every other day I'd give it a go too

www.southmoltonststyle.com
xxx

Anonymous said...

Great experiment! I'm following :)

http://ascentofrosewood.blogspot.com/

Swn said...

Just a quick note while reading this 'old' post. Apparently, you often do more damage handwashing your clothes than you would washing them on a silk or wool program, 30 degrees in the washing machine. My dry cleaner once told me that.
Since then, I always wash 'handwash only' clothes on my silk program. Works perfect!
I do agree that COS' quality is very bad and I try to wash my COS pieces as less as possible. The quality, I feel, is definitely not worth the price, so I always buy in sale

Anonymous said...

very cool, i also love wearing uniforms. your blog is very inspiring.

Anonymous said...

Love the concept behind your challenge. Inspires me to take the plunge: maybe I should save it up for finals week.:) ahaha
--would certainly save more time in the morning for studying