day one hundred eighty-one...the final day!

yay! i made it! today marks the end of a long six-month journey. what started off as a fun and slightly frivolous project turned into more than i ever could have expected. i've definitely stepped out of my comfort zone more than a few times...

if you take a look at the total box, you will see that wardrobe dresstruction raised $1305 for almost home! a special thank you so much to the person who pushed me over that last milestone today...amazing! i will be heading to kingston very soon to give them the grand total.

a final thank you again to everyone out there who supported this project with money, clothes, interviews and encouragement. you kept me going and showed me that what started out as a little project could turn into something amazing.

and i have to say an enormous thank you to everyone at almost home - the reason why i started this project in the first place. you provided a home for me when i needed it. you provided comfort, necessities and a place of warmth and generosity. what you do is amazing. i will never be able to fully thank you enough. i hope this project will help towards keep it going for others when they need it most.

you never know where life will take you.

and now - at last - time to get un-dressed...

*****

today's look while saying a final farewell to my dresses:

it doesn't really matter what i'm wearing or what it costs...

day one hundred seventy-nine

you people are amazing! the total just keeps going up and up! thank you so much to the person who contributed today. you guys are just making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. i could never have done this on my own.

i can't believe it, but there are only two more days left if you want to contribute. yes, i've already surpassed the goal, but every bit really does make a difference. almost home is an incredible place that's obviously close to my own heart, but i want them to be around for all the other people who will need them in the future.

*****

today's look while asking for a last-minute boost:

t-shirt over dress: secondhand (free)
jeans: liquidation world, a year old ($3)
orange beaded bracelet: donated by my friend vanessa for this project - thanks! (free)
brown sandals: aldo, about four years old (about $80)

grand total:
about $83.08

day one hundred seventy-five

it's been a little round of interviews here in the past little while! today, my interview with the perth courier newspaper was published. click here to read all about it...and look at the beguiling face of tenzin.

yes, he wears the pants in this family.

i can't help but repeat how grateful i am to everyone who's supporting this project. you keep me going. we should get together sometime soon and sing a round or two of kumbaya. the countdown's on...only six days to go...

*****

today's look while getting my message out:

grey t-shirt under dress: donated by my sister for this project - thanks! (free)
necklace: donated by my friend vanessa for this project - thanks! (free)
silk liberty of london scarf worn around waist: donated by kimberly's deja vu boutique (details below) for this project - thanks! (free)
brown sandals: aldo, about four years old (about $80)

grand total:

about $80.08

kimberly's deja vu boutique

sommerville centre, 6835 highway 62 north (1 mile off the 401)

belleville, ontario k8n 4z5
613.966.3352

day one hundred seventy

i am beyond words...check out the new total! this one was an extra-special donation in that it clinched my goal with just under two weeks to go! thank you so much to the person who donated today. i am amazed and grateful to everyone who is helping keep me inspired on a daily basis. there are lots of you out there.

now, there's no limit. i'm just gonna see where this goes from here...

*****

today's look while getting butterflies:
blue t-shirt over dress: liquidation world, about a year old ($10)
jeans: liquidation world, about a year old ($3)
bracelet: handmade by me out of recycled zippers (free)
brown sandals: aldo, about four years old (about $80)
purple headband: made out of a recycled t-shirt (free)

grand total:
about $93.08

day one hundred sixty-six

do you see the total growing over there in that box to the right? people, you are coming through for me once again! the final push to the finish line is nearly here! i received another amazingly generous cheque in the mail tonight. thank you so much to the person who sent it through. (and word is, there's another one on the way...)

again, my goal at this point is to raise that number up all the way up to $1000 in the next two weeks. if there is any way you can help me reach it, i would be more than grateful. you know, you could be like one of my best friends or something.  no amount is too small and it's all for an absolutely amazing cause...

*****

today's look while getting exceptionally excited:

flowered top over dress: handmade by my sister (free)
jeans: donated by kimberly's deja vu boutique (details below) for this project - thanks! (free)
black flats: payless, about two years old ($20)

grand total:
about $20.08

kimberly's deja vu boutique
sommerville centre, 6835 highway 62 north (1 mile off the 401)
belleville, ontario k8n 4z5
613.966.3352

day one hundred sixty-three

i want to tell you about something i didn't know about until now. one of my friends, elizabeth, brought it to my attention, and i'd really like to share it with you in case you haven't heard of it either. elizabeth has a friend who urgently needs a bone marrow donor. you can read more about this in a letter she wrote to the local ottawa newspaper here: http://tinyurl.com/38srjfx

she is trying to get the word out about onematch - a canadian registry for blood, stem cell and bone marrow donors. full disclosure: blood and blood-related topics usually get my stomach a little churny. but then i thought about it from the perspective of someone who is in actual need of a donor.

i've signed up and am waiting for my swab kit. for elizabeth's friend and all the other people out there who are relying on the kindness of strangers, please consider doing it as well. you never know, you might just save a life.

*****

sweatshirt over dress worn as a skirt: value village, about ten months old (about $10)
grey t-shirt underneath: stitches, about four years old ($5)
black flipflops: old navy, a year old ($1)

grand total:
about $16.08

day one hundred fifty-nine

dear tenzin,

today you turned two.

it's been 730 days since i first met you. 730 mornings that you have made me smile. 730 times we've said goodnight. 730 days where my heart has nearly burst straight through my chest.

i love it when you wave. when you smile. when you run. when you're free. when you hug me. when you learn. when you try.

you have grown from a tiny newborn to a little boy. you have challenged me. you have made me proud. you have amazed me. you have changed me. you have shown me another side to this big strange world. you will teach me more than i will teach you. you inspire me in so many ways. you mean the world to me.

you are small, but you are strong. you are young, but you are wise. you are quiet, but you take it all in while the big world spins around you.

you have changed. you are changing. you will always change.

i love you for being you. i wouldn't want you any other way. happy birthday, sweet boy.

xo,
mama

*****

today's look while lost for words:

black cardigan over dress: fairweather, about two years old ($15)
butterfly print scarf worn on head: donated by kimberly's deja vu boutique (details below) - thanks! (free)
silver bracelets: secondhand (free)
jeans: liquidation world, a year old ($3)
brown sandals: aldo, about four years old (about $80)

grand total:
about $98.08

kimberly's deja vu boutique
sommerville centre, 6835 highway 62 north (1 mile off the 401)
belleville, ontario k8n 4z5
613.966.3352

day one hundred twenty-eight

i'm always excited to hear about new music. this post is for my sister. i agree with her 100% about early tracy chapman. classic. here's a small sample of what i'm currently into:

* band of horses: i love love love this band. they are one of my absolute all-time favourites. i love the sound, i love the lyrics. i love that you can hear the lyrics over the music. one of my pet peeves is when you can't actually decipher what the lyrics to a song are. this music takes me to another place. perfect for daydreaming. i am beyond happy that they have another album coming out this month.
* she and him: love their sound and, again, the lyrics. perfect saturday afternoon listening.
* gnarls barkley: great albums. original sound.
* fleet foxes: they sing about squirrels. they sing about goats. never heard anyone like them before. these boys can sing.
* adele: one of the best female voices ever.
* feist: she's canadian (you should know by now my love of fellow canadians). everyone's heard of her by now, but i still love her sound. i listened to her a lot when i was pregnant.
* broken bells: i was recently introduced to their sound and really dig it.
* meiko: mellow music. the album we have isn't long enough.
* brad sucks: the original one-man band. extremely talented.
* the eels: i like them so much, my son is named after the lead singer. some of the best lyrics around..
* esthero: another canadian. she's original. great voice. one of the few concerts i've gone to. the whole time i was saying 'this is my favourite esthero song' until she'd sing the next one and the game would start all over again. waiting for a new album - it's been way too long.
* the mummers: their music makes you want to run away and join the circus.

also, tenzin started singing along with me tonight when i was putting him to bed. he's one of the best singers i've heard in a while. you can't help but smile when you hear him sing, so he deserves a special mention on my list.

*****

today's look while movin' and groovin':

green top under dress: gift that my sister made for my birthday last year (free)
jeans: donated by kimberly's deja vu boutique (details below) for this project - thanks! (free)
green crocheted hat: value village, a year old ($4)
brooch worn on hat: jacob, about four years old (about $15)
brown boots: zellers, about six months old ($20)

grand total:
about $39.08

kimberly's deja vu boutique
sommerville centre, 6835 highway 62 north (1 mile off the 401)
belleville, ontario k8n 4z5
613.966.3352

day one hundred twenty-three

if there was such a thing as an internet psychologist patrolling the internet, i'm fairly sure they would diagnose this site as suffering from a bit of an identity crisis. i suppose it's technically a bit of a fashion blog since it revolves around my two-dress project, but i don't consider myself very fashionable and the only reason i'm taking my picture every day is because i have to as proof. but then i go and write about life stuff even though it's not really at all related to what i'm doing. to top that all off, i went and got myself a nice bout of writer's block, so i've decided to take sngz's great suggestion from the comments yesterday and write about sites that inspire me. some i check daily, others i like to save up and catch up every week. hopefully you'll return the favour and tell me about your favourite inspiring sites so i can get addicted to them too and kill a couple more hours that i don't really have checking them out. here goes...

the recent leader of the pack with her own paragraph, the gold star of websites on my must-see daily has to be awarded to the uniform project. sheena is hands-down the master of creativity and fashion. she inspired me beyond belief with her year-long dress project - which sadly ended just this past friday - but she has great plans up her fashionable sleeves, and i can't wait to see what's in store next. luckily there are plenty more inspiring people out there...

here are the rest of my must-reads (with links) in no particular order:

fashion/crafty types:
makeshift: i've written about her here before. this fellow canadian is handmaking all of her clothes for an entire year. truly intriguing.
new dress a day: i've also mentioned this site here before. this girl is making also making a new outfit every day for a year...on a strict budget of $365 for the entire year.
grosgrain: so many talented seamstresses out there! this lady sews an abundance of beautiful outfits and literally gives them away for free. i haven't been lucky enough to win one yet, but hopefully someday...
katie did: again, beautiful handmade things of all kinds can be found here - usually modeled by her beautiful children.
forty-sixth at grace: amazing photography, poetic site.
angry chicken: this lady sews, cooks, writes, she does it all. and is entertaining to boot.
made: another amazing sewing site full of modern ideas.
the purl bee: the nyc shop's site that i am dying to buy some wool from sometime in this lifetime.
brooklyn tweed: he's a man and he knits. what could be cooler?
the sartorialist: the master of fashion photography. captures everyday street fashion in a way no one else can. his images make you want to move immediately to paris. or new york. or wherever.

interesting individuals:
the end mark: got to give a shout-out to steve who inspired this post! i really like his laid-back style and his writing. plus he's a big fan of canadian musicians! (sorry, forgot for a moment that you hate the exclamation mark...)
the girl who: i've followed her for years. she is also a huge inspiration. she's another reason i'm doing this dress project. she's just all-around amazing and one of my favourite reads.
thunder pie: husband of the girl who. i've never read writing like his anywhere else. this man needs to write a book books.
dooce: call her a mommy-blogger, love her or hate her - i think she's great. she says it like it is which makes her alright in my books.
city wendy: a fellow redhead with a knack for making everyday life interesting.
the bloggess: too funny for words. the kind of girl you wish you could hang out with for a few hours.
judysquared: i introduced her to you when she won my contest. this girl is seriously talented when it comes to textiles. that, and aren't blogs just that much more interesting when you actually know the person behind the writing?

foodies:
smitten kitchen: i don't check out food blogs as often as i used to since The Husband has morphed into a gourmet chef over the past couple of years. but smitten kitchen can always be counted on for great ideas and gorgeous photography.
sweet fine day: see above. this site is drool-worthy.

that's not even the half of it! i spend a good portion of my free time poring over strangers' lives. again, please let me know who your favourites are. spread the love!

*****

today's look while giving few people some well-deserved recognition:

white t-shirt under dress: smart set, about three years old (about $10)
white skirt under dress: the dump (free)

grand total:
about $10.08

day one hundred four

the other day, i introduced you to this website. i am now officially obsessed with these types of endeavours and have discovered yet another fascinating project: www.makeshiftproject.blogspot.com. this fellow canadian (yay!) is making all of her clothes for an entire year. "all of her clothes" means exactly that: she is hand making everything down to her underwear, socks, and shoes. yes, shoes. i would love to be able to actually make my own shoes.

she has an amazing unique style which is somehow all the more interesting knowing that she handcrafted each and every piece that she is wearing. but still, shoes? i must learn more about this.

now i just need to find a few extra minutes hours in my day to catch up on all of these amazing sites...

*****

today's look while having not made a thing i'm wearing (but glad that someone else did):

blue turtleneck under dress: donated by kimberly's deja vu boutique (details below) for this project - thanks! (free)
blue silk scarf worn around waist: also donated by kimberly - thanks! (free)
black tights: ($8)
brown leather boots: aldo, about three years old (about $125)

grand total:
about $133.08

kimberly's deja vu boutique
sommerville centre, 6835 highway 62 north (1 mile off the 401)
belleville, ontario k8n 4z5
613.966.3352

day one hundred two

since i started this project, i've been paying attention to other creative things people are doing with their own wardrobes. one of the most interesting concepts i've come across is this site: http://newdressaday.wordpress.com.

this girl is seriously talented. she is doing 365 days on a $365 budget and is making a new outfit each day out of secondhand items she finds for dead cheap. she trims, she hems, she reinvents, she dyes, she embellishes, she simplifies. she turns muumuus into cute dresses. she turns 80s dresses into great tops. she chops old things up that not many people would give a second look at and turns them into funky, wearable modern pieces.

i really need to learn how to sew.

*****

today's look while having a swing:

brown t-shirt under dress: secondhand (free)
green tank top over dress: donated by kimberly's deja vu boutique (details below) for this project - thanks! (free)
jeans: stitches, about four years old ($30)
black platform shoes: aldo, two years old ($125)

grand total:
about $155.08

kimberly's deja vu boutique
sommerville centre, 6835 highway 62 north (1 mile off the 401)
belleville, ontario k8n 4z5
613.966.3352

day ninety

the well-known saying is that march comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. here where i live, this year march decided to stick its tongue out at tradition and rather came in like a lamb, had a twist of lion, and morphed straight back to lamb just in the nick of time. as the last remaining hours of march float by on a mellow spring breeze, i am wondering to myself where in fact march went. it flew by so fast, it's all kind of a blur. luckily, i've kept some records. this month, my dress and i:

* announced the winner of my first-ever contest and put her name in lights for an entire week
* went shopping - but didn't break the rules
* got some unexpected media attention: listen here, read here, and see here
* tried to stir up some excitement about the pale trend i plan to start this summer
* met a fantastically generous shop owner who hooked me up with practically a whole new wardrobe
* stopped breathing
* inherited a monkey

i am also happy to report that i received a record-breaking five extremely generous monetary donations this month which i am so grateful for. thank you to everyone out there who is helping out in any way with this project. if you're new to the site, i am raising money for almost home in kingston. again this month, i'm asking if you could please do me a favour and email/facebook/twitter my website to just a few of your contacts? i'm already amazed at how far my message has travelled and want to raise just as much money as i can for this amazing charity.

and finally, today marks my halfway point of this project! so far, i've worn 90 different looks using my two dresses, written 90 blog posts, taken 90 self-portraits, and received countless words of encouragement, donations, and unexpected gestures of kindness. thank you to everyone who's supporting me! you're keeping me inspired.

*****

today's look while crossing over the halfway mark:

pink sweater over dress: donated by kimberly's deja vu boutique (details below) for this project - thanks! (free)
brown pants: secondhand (free)
brown socks: secondhand (free)

grand total:
8¢ (just the cost-per-wear of the dress today!)

kimberly's deja vu boutique
sommerville centre, 6835 highway 62 north (1 mile off the 401)
belleville, ontario k8n 4z5
613.966.3352

day eighty-four

in addition to my cbc interview, a couple of weeks ago i was also interviewed by the local newspaper. my story made the front cover which was a fun surprise! here is a copy of the article.

*****

Giving back with some fashion making do

By Margaret Brand
The Review-Mirror

This winter and spring Christine Chu is learning to enjoy the clothes she already has so that she can give back to one of her favorite organizations.

The money she would normally have spent on clothing, and haircuts she is donating to Almost Home, a centre in Kingston which provides daily accommodation and respite for families whose children are receiving medical treatment in Kingston area hospitals.

Chu's self imposed discipline for January to July includes wearing one of two brown dresses every day and making do with the clothes and accessories she already has as well as items she is given.

In June 2008 Chu spent three weeks at Almost Home after her son Tenzin arrived too early and had to spend time in the neonatal ICU before going home to Althorpe with his mother.

“I always wanted to give back to them in some way. We didn’t really have the financial means,” she said.

Chu is donating the money she would have spent on clothes and haircuts to Almost Home.

She got some inspiration from “The Uniform Project”, a New York City based project which is raising money for an education project in India. A woman has been wearing the same styled black dress for a year. The project has raised over $56,000 over the last ten months.

Every day Chu takes a photo of her outfit, outlines the price and provenance of what she’s been wearing and posts it on a blog at http://wardrobedresstruction.blogspot.com/

The blog has become a constant for Chu, a stay at home mum completing distance education to pursue a career as a medical transcriptionist.

“It’s taught me about the generosity of other people. I’ve gotten donations I didn’t expect,” she said.

Almost Home relies entirely on the generosity of private and corporate donors, as well as fundraisers, to obtain the $250,000 they need to keep the home operating.

The eleven bedroom home was purchased n 1992 after a capital campaign by a group of citizens who saw a need in the community for support for families whose children were receiving treatment at area hospitals.

The building they purchased on Williams Street was converted back into one home, which now includes eleven bedrooms and a small apartment in the rear for a night manager.

Information on Almost Home, as well as the ability to donate online is available at http://www.almosthome.on.ca/

*****

today's look while taking a few moments to relax:

blue t-shirt under dress: donated by kimberly's deja vu boutique (details below) for this project - thanks! (free)
blue silk tie around waist: also donated by kimberly - thanks! (free)
brown tights: (about $12)
black fishnets worn over brown tights: the bay (about $10)
black ruffled platform wedge sandals: if footwear, about ten months old (about $110)

grand total:
about $132.08

kimberly's deja vu boutique
sommerville centre, 6835 highway 62 north (1 mile off the 401)
belleville, ontario k8n 4z5
613.966.3352

day seventy-six

i am sitting here with a big smile on my face. i received yet another amazingly generous donation today! actually, i got both a monetary donation and an offer of some clothes which i am very much looking foward to.

they always come as surprises, these bursts of generosity. it seems like i'm just going about my business every day, taking a bunch of pictures, writing something silly or thoughtful or willy-nilly, practically forgetting that there are a few people out there who are actually paying attention. and then, bam! generosity presents itself in the form of a cheque, some secondhand items, or some amazing, kind words of encouragement. i never expect these things to happen. people are surprising and good that way.

it all makes me think about how generous i am or have been as a person. i like to think that what goes around comes around in the best of ways, so while i would like to consider myself a generous person, it's something i will continue to work at.

if you are feeling in a generous mood, i would be so grateful if you could just tell at least one person about this project. i'm already amazed at how this is taking on a life of its own, and i'd like to see just how far it will go.

this is where i'm at today at seventy-six. a sincere thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you out there who are paying attention. you keep me going.

*****

today's look while sitting in the sunshine with a smile on my face:

grey t-shirt under dress: donated by my sister for this project - thanks! (free)
green nightdress under dress: value village, about a year old ($20)
green tie around waist: also donated by my sister for this project - thanks! (free)
green crocheted hat: value village, ten months old ($4)
brooch worn on hat: jacob, about four years old (about $15)
black platform shoes: aldo from two years ago ($125)

grand total:
about $164.08

day seventy-one

i have a dual personality. i swear, i am two different people. one lives here on earth and one spends her days in la-la-land. and also, one of me is very quiet and shy and awkward while the other one doesn't quite know when to shut up. depending on how well you know me, you probably know one or the other. chances are, when you first met me, you met the quiet, shy one but as you got to know me really well, over time you thought, oh, this isn't quite the christine i first met and silently wondered if i'd stop rambling on about random topics. while perhaps repeating myself one or five times in the course of our discussions.

well, in the past week, the shy me has done a few things out of my comfort zone. as you know, i contacted the cbc on a total whim and ended up scoring an interview. boy, was that awkward. fun but awkward. so fairly awkward but at the same time happy that i was doing it. i was fine until about an hour before i went to air, and then my cheeks turned pink and went up a few degrees in temperature and by the time i was live, i don't even know if i was coherent or not. it's all a blur. i know for certain i giggled a lot, since that's one of my irrepressible habits that rears its head when i'm nervous, and i feel as though i may or may not have stepped up the decible level in my voice a notch or two.

but then, out of that interview came another interview today - this time for a local newspaper. they heard me on the air and have decided to write an article about this charity project. so the decibel level and the giggling shouldn't be as much of an issue hopefully. and there is also a third interview sitting in the wings that i am just awaiting details on.

and then this week, to my great surprise, one of my inspirations for this project, the girl who, whose writing i read faithfully, featured this little website in her "currently digging" series. what the? the girl who - writer of candid, honest prose whose sincerity is second to none. the girl who, who actually responds when i once basically spilled my guts out to her over the internet every few months.

so i'm stepping things up a notch. my goal is to get the word out and raise just as much money for almost home as i can in the time i have left. and i have to say, even the shy me is a little happy to be out of my comfort zone just this once.

*****

today's look while accessorized from the dump:

black t-shirt under dress: next exit, about seven years old ($45)
black dress under dress: smart set, about two years old ($30)
beaded necklace: the dump (free)
grey clutch: the dump (free)
grey tie around waist: donated by my sister for this project - thanks! (free)
green crocheted hat: value village, ten months old ($4)
brooch on hat: jacob, about four years old ($15)
bracelet: made by me out of old zippers (free)
black tights: gifted (free)
black ruffled platform wedge sandals: if footwear, about ten months old (about $110)

grand total:
about $204.08

day sixty

we have a winner for my first-ever wardrobe dresstruction contest! i am so excited to announce that judith witty has won for largest donation of the week! this will be a very special week for judy. as promised, she will get her name/cause/message to the people in lights for one whole week starting tomorrow.

full disclosure time: judy is my amazing sister. but i promise this has in no way influenced the fact that she won this contest - it's completely 100% legit. she has been one of my biggest supporters since this adventure's inception. not only has she just donated a generous sum of money, she has also donated numerous items of clothing and accessories to the project. also, she is beyond talented and is the designer / creator / seamstress of my two brown dresses (which she literally whipped up within about an hour one day around christmas)! so i think it's very fitting, so to speak, that she won. congratulations, sis! mwah!

*****

today's look is in honour of lbd day over at one of my favourite spots, the uniform project. i've got on one of my most favourite and most worn little black dresses under a few layers of others. today is a fun crossroads of fashion for a cause:

black dress under dress: smart set, about two years old ($30)
purple dress: liquidation world, about seven  months old ($7)
blue beaded necklace: value village, about five years old (about $10)
silver and blue bracelet: donated by my friend vanessa for this project - thanks! (free)
pink tie around waist: refashioned by me out of an old t-shirt (free)
black tights: gifted (free)
black ruffled platform wedge sandals: if footwear, about nine months old ($110)

grand total:
about $157.08

day fifty-nine

two months down...four more to go! so far, this adventure in dressing is living up to its name. this month, my dress and i have:

* been heckled
* stayed up way too late
* squinted a lot
* been inspired
* held a contest
* sent birthday wishes
* redesigned the olympics
* made dinner

and once again, most importantly, i received three generous monetary donations for almost home which is why i'm doing this adventure in the first place! thanks so much again to everyone who reached into their pockets for this amazing cause. just a reminder, i stayed at almost home for three weeks while tenzin was in the nicu. they are not part of any hospital and don't receive any united way funding which is why every little bit i can raise for them will go a long way.

i have high hopes for march to hopefully raise even more money for this amazing place. could you please do me a favour and email/facebook/twitter my website to a few of your contacts? i need help getting the word out since there are only four months left to go!

and last but not least, please don't forget about my contest! how could you? i've been bothering you about it non-stop for nearly a week...which means that there is only one day left to enter! i will be choosing the winner tomorrow by 6:00 pm - the largest donation of the week wins their name in lights! will it be you? check back tomorrow to find out...

*****

today's look while ripping one more month off the calendar:

black sweater over dress: fairweather, about two years old ($20)
brown tights: (about $12)
striped socks: zellers, a year old ($5)
black platform shoes: aldo from two years ago ($125)

grand total:
about $162.08

day forty-seven

so where did the idea for this adventure come from anyway? allow me to introduce you to the amazing sheena matheiken over at the uniform project. she is wearing her little black dress for an entire year and that year is up this april. every day, she creates amazing, daring, artistic masterpieces (that often only she could pull off!) out of one simple black dress and one-of-a-kind accessories. through her project, she is raising money for the akanksha foundation which will go towards the education of underprivileged children in india.

i had the privilege of chatting with sheena a couple of months ago before i started my own project. she was amazingly sweet and supportive and an absolute inspiration. as of this moment, she has raised a whopping $54,837 which translates to 152 kids in school! it just blows me away how much good she has done in such a short time.

realistically i know that i will never be as fashionable, as connected, or anywhere near as successful as she has been with her project, but it's not a contest. her positive, sincere attitude and encouragement keep me going every day to continue on my own quest to raise money for almost home and to do my best to succeed. i have a strong dedication to my project thanks to her as my inspiration.

so thanks, sheena. i can't wait to see what you have up your fashionable sleeve next!

*****

today's look while continuing on my quest:

brown long-sleeved t-shirt under dress: value village, about a year old (about $4)
embroidered tie around waist: refashioned from a t-shirt my sister donated for this project - thanks! (free)
green crocheted hat: value village, nine months old ($4)
brown knee socks: sears ($8)
brown leather boots: aldo, about three years old (about $125)

grand total:
about $133.08

day forty

from the moment i first discovered vivienne westwood years ago, i have always been a big fan. hmmm..maybe it's the red hair? there are many, many reasons really, but when i read this, i swooned a little. not buy any non-essentials for six months? holy crap, it's as if she read my blog.

a far-out wish, for sure, but i think it proves we redheads have a certain special connection.

*****

today's look while drooling over fantastical creations i'm not allowed to buy (and could never afford anyway):

white sweater: can't remember where bought, about five years old ($40)
green sequined t-shirt under dress (not visible): americal eagle, two years old ($15)

jeans: value village, about six months old ($20)
brown socks: zellers ($3)

grand total:

about $78.08

planning stages

the new year is approaching and a new challenge is about to begin! there is much to tell. a curious adventure is about to commence...

after reading about several such challenges online, i am excited to launch my own version. based on the girl who's little black dress challenge, the uniform project, the brown dress creator, and other experimental dressers out there with a cause, i am about to embark on six months of wearing the same dress (maybe a year...let's just try this out for a bit, though, and see what happens). day in, day out, for six whole months, i will mix up what i already own, beg and borrow from others, and have a bit of fun and a challenge along the way.

...this from a girl who has been known to change outfits several times a day since i learned to dress myself...

so why would i do such a thing? for my own sense of adventure, but i am also hoping to raise money for charity at the same time. by getting people to sponsor my little experiment, i am hoping to raise money for a place close to my heart: almost home in kingston, ontario.

here is where you can (hopefully) help me out. i would love it if you could take a couple of minutes and look through your own wardrobe and perhaps consider donating an unused item or accessory that i could use to embellish my simple dress. i will be documenting the results on this blog and it would be more than a little boring if i only wore the same dress, day in and day out. this way, we all win - you can re-gift an old item that's just sitting in your closet anyway and i can get some enjoyment out of it. similarly, if you or someone you know are handy or crafty, perhaps you'd consider making me a fancy accoutrement and i will absolutely be more than pleased to give you full credit here.

so whether you are able to donate a little money towards this project, a wardrobe item or accessory, or just a few words of helpful encouragement (or even some good-humoured taunting - i'll take whatever i can get), it would really be appreciated. it would also be great if you could pass this along to anyone you know who might be interested in my cause. it's just my lighthearted attempt at having a little fun, saving some money, and helping others out a bit at the same time.

wouldn't life be boring if we didn't take any risks along the way?