INSPIRATION: the uniform project

Okay, so I know this has been around for a while. (176 days to be exact.)- but the video is new! I had come across this blog before and then couldn't quite remember where I had stashed the link. I suddenly thought about it today while browing blogs and looking through many girls' daily outfit posts and changes, realizing how many of them didn't quite reuse many of their pieces, but instead always show what pretty new things they've bought.

If you haven't heard about The Uniform Project, it is an exercise in sustainable fashion by Sheena Matheiken. She is wearing the same little black dress (with 7 copies) every day for a year, changing up accessories, footwear, and various layers to keep the looks fresh. She is doing this with minimal additional spending, instead reusing, rethinking, and repuurposing things she either already owns, or with items donated by her supporters.Ultimately, the daily blog is serving a higher purpose, and for every day that Sheena doesn't buy new clothing or accessories, she puts that money towards the Ankanksha Foundation, a grassroots organization built to raise edutcation funding in Indian slums. Her mission statement can be found here.

the dress by itself

for the coney island mermaid parade

dainty vintage

love the headscarf and sleeves

one of my favorites. so subtle and feminine but clean and unfussy.

today. adorable Sheena of the uniform project, with etsy-designer donated accessories
pictures and video credits: the uniform project

I really appreciate this attitude toward fashion. It takes away the disposable nature of modern clothing and instead makes wearers think creatively and indirectly makes a statement about longevity. (even with 7 copies, if each dress is washed per wearing, it needs to stand up to 52 washings- take that F21!!!)  In some ways, this is actually more difficult to do than simply going out to buy whatever it is you might need on a whim. I came across another blog, CAGreinvented, who was also smitten by Sheena's project. So smitten, she took her on in a Little Black Dress Showdown. It was interesting to read how CAG was wiped out by the end of the challenge- it takes a lot more creativity and thought to rethink and re-purpose an item- fashion or not- and is something we should all do more of.

Over the past year I've been purging myself of any extraneous clothing, shoes, and accessories that are not necessary or haven't been used in a while. Though it feels refreshing to have less, it is also a contradiction- as a stylist, you never know what gem you'll dig out that will finish off a killer look. Guess that's the chance I'll just have to take...