Patterned skirt challenge, aka #4

Grey tee: Target
Black cami: Jockey
Patterned skirt: Target
Gladiators: Chinese Laundry (remixed)
Earrings: No idea
Belt: Target
Headband: Scünci via Target

So part of my30x30 challenge was to get some more use out of items I like a lot but rarely wear. The tee and skirt above are prime examples. I'll admit that I have only recently started wearing prints, and to be honest, most of my wardrobe is made up of solid colors - mostly neutrals. It's nice and safe. So I've got this skirt and it's got this wild print, it's full, and it has an elastic waistband. These are three of my challenges when it comes to styling it. Most of my tops are too long to wear untucked with a full skirt and you know how weird it looks to tuck something into an elastic waistband? So I rarely wear it, but I look at it in my closet and think, "It's so stinkin' cute! I love the pattern and the colors, so why aren't I wearing that skirt?"


So I threw it in the 30x30 pile and now I have no choice but to wear it. I decided to wear this grey tee with it, which would've felt like a huge stretch not too long ago (grey and ORANGE?!), but it doesn't feel too wild now.


I tucked the shirt in and hid the elastic waistband with a belt. Hello, waist definition!


Yellow gladiators and a tortoiseshell headband finished it up nicely. I'm convinced these gladiators go with EVERYTHING without being too boring.


So far the remixing isn't too bad, though I'll admit that I did not really plan outfits with the pieces I chose besides my "I heart Germany" ensemble (*tear*). My brain just doesn't work that way. I kind of do the same thing when I'm traveling: I pick out things I like and figure I'll just make them work when I get there. So that's what I did with this 30x30 challenge. We'll see if I regret that later.


I'm curious to know if others planned outfits as they were choosing items or if, like me, they picked a bunch of stuff, crossed their fingers, and said to themselves "Make it work" (you've changed my life, Tim Gunn).