It’s simple really; at the start of the cycle you choose just 6 items of clothing. 3 shirts + 3 skirts for instance. Or 3 tops + 2 pairs trousers + 1 dress. And then, once you’ve selected your new ‘wardrobe’, you wear those items, and those items only, for the whole of the month’s Challenge. Which is where it gets interesting. And as you’re counting down the days, we want you to tell us how it’s going by taking photos of your outfits, and posting blogs on the site about your experiences.
You are allowed some exceptions – your “6″ doesn’t include any underwear, socks, shoes, accessories, performance or work-out clothes (cycling gear etc.), work uniforms, or even pajamas, that you need. And in the winter, you can also pick one coat as an extra item. Work uniforms can also include a suit/white shirt etc., if this is required by your employer.
And of course you’re free to customise, accessorize, and stylise each item as you go along. So when you’re bored of an item, just get out the scissors, the sewing machine and the thread, and create a new look. You never know; you might find the inner fashion designer you’ve always wanted to be. And once the 30 days are over, you might never go back!
This is a great idea, but in this cold weather (& with a draughty and underheated house) I wear more than 6 items at a time just to keep warm – and that doesn’t include underwear!
Yup, I’m with Helen – I’m in north-western Europe where it isn’t even *that* cold, but on colder days I also wear more than 6 items, in part because I don’t want to have to have the heating up too high for environmental reasons. I think the challenge is a great idea, but I think it needs to either be a summer challenge (which would obviously be at a different time in the different hemispheres), or the number of items needs to be upped for winter.
Coincidentally, youtuber Alex Day just posted a video about the things he owns, which includes *very* little clothing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vbN5a2oG0A&list=UUqyku6Kofy1nV86yh9R8n8A&index=1&feature=plcpI like his philosophy: since most people have one or two favourite pairs of jeans, and a couple of favourite shirts, why not *only* own those favourite items and nothing else?
I would love to do this, but I too am usually wearing at least six items at once to keep warm, and usually leave my hat and coat on when I get home at this time of year. Sometimes I wear two coats!
Ok I don’t feel the cold as much as other people as I have a fair layer of blubber but really 6 items at once? Name them. In my really cold ex-house I would wear two pairs of socks, (item count 0) thermal leggings and long sleeve vest, (0) t-shirt, thick shirt, thick cardi, (3) cargo pants, (total 4) I would also wear a hat and a thin scarf under a thicker shawl or pashmina. So then for my 6 items depending on if I had a special night out coming up or wanted to look smart for something (other than those things excluded by the rules, like work) then I’d add a dress or smart trousers. If not its spare cargo pants/or jeans if that is your thing, and toss up between another tee or fleece as a change for the shirt and cardi.
Pity I found out about this too late, might try and start next Tuesday.
PS I think my boyfriend does live pretty close to this, he does only have 3 pairs of trousers and two sweaters.
Socks(0), woolly slippers (0), vest (0), t-shirt (1), jumper (2), fleece (3), bodywarmer (4), leggings (5) trousers(6), fingerless gloves (6). Guess it comes in at 6 and if I swapped the leggings for thernal long-johns I could count them as underwear – though have been known to add another jumper! Just felt that there was an implication that 6 items would allow for plenty mixing and matching whereas for me on many winter days (usually when I’m working at the computer and not moving around much) they would be needed all at once for warmth, and allow for very little variety (or washing)! There’s not much fun in deciding whether or not to take your bodywarmer off or drape another blanket over your knees! Don’t think that this would put me off doing the challenge, (though as I’m already doing a different challenge this Lent I won’t do it this year) I would just adjust the numbers of items allowed to take into account my indoor and body temperature. Find that fashion is not only fast but flimsy, and not actually intended to keep people warm – instead there’s an implication that the central heating – despite its associated carbon emmissions – will be doing that job.
Well, everybody will be pleased to know that the Six Items Challenge will be running again in the summer, around May/June – by which time the British weather may have sorted itself out into a summery temperature! So, no need for thermals and extra jumpers then!
True about central heating, when I lived in my unheated farmhouse I would be amazed at how visitors would be dressed. My Mum soon got used to turning up in thermals with layers of jumpers, hat and scarf but others would sit there in their coats with only a v-necked top underneath and complain about the cold. If they wanted to light the fire they could go and chop the wood, I wasn’t going to put myself out for someone who couldn’t dress for the winter instead of fashion. I’d happily lend them a jumper but I soon got out of the habit of lighting the fire just because the social worker was visiting. Likewise I’d lend hot water bottles for those who had come to stay, some would remember to bring their own, and a tracksuit to sleep in, instead of a cotton nightie.
I think you could see what a hat and scarf does for your temperature, might be able to take off a jumper, I’m also thinking ‘Slanket’ but maybe you could make something out of blankets you’ve got rather than buying new. At least fleece and felt don’t need hemming. Bit of primtive embriodery could look very cool. Might do that myself with some army supplus blankets that are under the bed, MMmmmmm.