So, remember how I was posting photos of all the shirts I wore last summer [in my "My summer in shirts"] and I said I was going to post more clothes, but wouldn’t quite do the same thing I had done with the summer shirts?

Well, once again, time and my posts got away from me, and I kept forgetting to photograph my clothes. I think I might have also been a little tired of the posts…but now, they’re back!!! In a slightly different form, but back.

You see, the summer shirts post started because I wanted to document me wearing all of my shirts without repeating…and it was about 90 shirts as it turned out. I do have a lot of cooler weather shirts, but I tend to gravitate to the same ones (I have one red sweater that is my go-to winter weekend wear), so a “this is what I wore today” really wouldn’t work and I didn’t want to challenge myself to no re-wearing. But, I thought it would be fun to periodically give highlights of what I wore.

And now, here we are!

I love sweaters when the weather gets colder and have a number of cardigans. Three examples for your pleasure.

black and white–one of my favorites

I also like this color combo and the sheer fabric with ties at the top.

The collar fabric is a little hard to see. The first time I wore this at work, a colleague commented on how I’d been able to find an exact match blouse to wear under the sweater and I had to explain that it was attached. This sweater also has a “hmm, this is kind of weird looking on the hanger, but intriguing, so I’m gonna try this on” appeal. It looks really nice on.

will it shock you if I say I like the colors? and the pattern

And, even more color, this is a skirt I love to wear in the autumn.

a plaid definitely has its place

I usually wear this with everything else monochrome (usually black)

Although I have some high heel boots, I thought it would be good to get some flatter boots this year. When I wore this skirt and another skirt in the last few weeks, I went for the boots over black tights,.

these are my boots (well, my legs in boots)

I also love patterned tights.

At any rate, I realized that my feet might get cold, so I decided to take advantage of the fact that the boots are high.

only I knew about the pumpkin socks!

I definitely enjoyed the extra warmth on my feet!

What are your preferences for sweaters, tights, and boots?

So, I hinted about it in my previous posts…and it’s true. I finally came to the end of my great “going-to-wear- my-summer-shirts-and-not-rewear-until-I’m-done-(except-for-if-I-travel)” experiment!

And, per usual, the reminders…posts 1 through 7.

Installment 1
Installment 2
Installment 3
Installment 4
Installment 5
Installment 6
Installment 7

And on to installment 8.

days 87 and 88. brown and white, floral, button-down short-sleeve shirt; black, white, and cobalt dress

You might recognize the dress from day 79 since I have a top in the same pattern (could have spaced them out better, I guess!)

days 89 and 90: white short-sleeve top with eyelet neckline detail; blue and green denimy sleeveless top

The white shirt is totally lost in this photo, isn’t it. I call the blue-green one my “farmer’s wife” top (shame on me for not just saying “farmer’s top”).

days 91 and 92: black chiffony top with rose detail; red short-sleeve “open” (only a button at the top) sweater

The roses are hard to see..they’re a little 3d (layered on top). I wore a camisole under the sweater!

days 93 and 94: red short-sleeve t-shirt; white chiffony top with rose detail

Yes, the white top is the same as the black top in 91…and the fact that I wore neither of these till day 90something meant something. I ended up putting the white one in the donation pile….I felt more comfy/happy in the black.

days 95 and 96: deep lilac/lavender/pink short sleeve top with tiered sleeves; white top with neckline detail

day 97: black sleeveless tank with center ruffle

And the shirt on the right? You might recognize it from installment 6′s day 64….my first official/not cause I’m traveling rewear. Worn on September 22.

So, wow. Right…97 days…minus 2 rewears (from my San Diego trip in installment 5)…is 95 tops. There were actually a few more I didn’t wear (they’ve gone into the donate pile). Also, a few of them maybe 4-5, were actually dresses…so let’s say 90.

Believe it or not, I learned some stuff from this. First, I rediscovered some clothes I hadn’t worn for a while and realized that I really liked them. Second, I realized there were a few pieces that either didn’t do anything for me or I just didn’t want to put on for some reason. These went into the donate pile as well. Aside from the white rose shirt in this post, other things you’ve seen that I no longer own are day 27 (installment 3), day 16, part 1 (installment 2), and day 86 (the sweater, installment 7). Also, I had 3 plain black t-shirts, so I donated one of them.

Although part of me is shocked by the number of tops I own, I have to say, I like most of them. Looking through them in these posts (even when they photograph poorly). Also, I know that I’ve gotten these tops over many years. I haven’t really changed size for the last 12 years…and some of these shirts are definitely seven years or older. So, that helps mitigate some of the shock. Maybe the fact that I know a lot of them were accumulated from clearance racks plays a role. But, there’s definitely a “clothing pack rat” element to my collection. It’ll be interesting to see how I wear them next year…and I’ve already started thinking if I can’t incorporate more into my winter wardrobe (under a sweater or blazer..).

The question has come up as to whether I’m planning to continue these posts…he answer is yes and no. You’ll be seeing more of my clothes..but I won’t be trying to document them in the same way. I’ll explain when I start that “series” (ooh…teaser!)

Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed my “shirts of summer” summer in shirts!

How many summer shirts do you think you own? How do you decide what goes into the donate pile?

Can you believe there’s a part 7 to this…?

Once more…I realized I had a lot of summer tops and decided to try to see how long I could go without rewearing (except for when traveling). Although summer is now officially over, we’re still in mid-August where these shirts are concerned.

The first six installments:

Installment 1
Installment 2
Installment 3
Installment 4
Installment 5
Installment 6

And now….drumroll please….installment 7!

days 74 and 75: long sleeveless orange/navy blue shirt; sleeveless flowered shirt

The blue/orange shirt is actually two layers. The blue has cutouts showing the orange shirt underneath. Also orange plasticky embellishments (the bigger circles) on top. The floral shirt was something my mother got for me when she was in England last year. The funny thing was I tried it on early this year…after I’d eaten my weight in cookies over the holidays..and I found it confining. Less cookies and a few 10 mile runs…when I wore it this time, it fit nicely and was comfy.

days 76 and 77: white eyelet sleeveless top; brown top with cutout neckline detail

The white top was given to me by a friend who it didn’t fit anymore (unfortunately, the flash bleaches it out..)…it worked out really well! The brown top is nice and soft, but requires a strapless bra because of the cutouts in the neckline (hard to see) which lets straps show.

days 78 and 79: black and white vertical stripe sleeveless top; black short sleeve top with “jeweled” neckline detail

Both these tops are very versatile!

days 79 and 80; black, white, and cobalt sleeveless crossover/faux wrap top; gray t-shirt with purple and spider web detail

I also own the black, white, and cobalt in a dress…

days 81 and 82; black and cream stripe short-sleeve top with drape neckline; button down turquoise shirt

I got the black and cream on my last trip to England in May. I am fairly certain the one on the right was bought using Kohl’s cash (Kohl’s cash is to blame for a lot of my tops [Kohl's is a store where they often run a promotion where you get 10 dollars in Kohl's cash for every 50 you spend...when done correctly, a little Kohl's cash goes far..]).

days 83 and 84: black button down sleeveless top: black short-sleeve top with gold floral pattern

I love how the black top has white buttons. I usually don’t wear a lot of gold, but I liked it in this top.

days 85 and 86; oversize white button down with red, orange, and yellow floral pattern; brown short sleeve sweater with orange/pink camisole

And there you have it. I can tell you that there will be one more installment of my summer in shirts…which I’ll probably do next week just to get it wrapped up. It’s definitely been fun.

Have you ever gotten more than one piece in the same pattern? Do you ever give clothing to or get clothing from friends as a result of it not working for you/her?

Yes, I’ve made it to installment 6. The clothing worn here is from mid-August…

A quick recap. I realized I had a ton of summer shirts and decided to wear them without repeating (except when traveling). How many? Well..

Installment 1
Installment 2
Installment 3
Installment 4
Installment 5

And into 6 we go.

days 61 and 62: blue/purple shirt with neckline detail; white button-down sleeveless top with ruffled collar

Agh. These look so wrinkled. I love the white shirt. The collar always stands up the way it’s supposed to but doesn’t feel too close to my neck (I don’t like really high necklines because I feel constricted).

day 63: dress on the left, black with flowers

You may remember this picture since I wore the other dress on day 38. They’re photographed together but each has been worn once. I was walking down street the other day and realized a woman walking towards me was wearing the dotted dress under a black blazer.

days 64 and 65: patterned short sleeve, purple with blue flowers; black short sleeve with white trim

I find both of these tops really flattering.

days 66 and 67: white, short sleeve, with purple and blue paisley pattern (asymmetrical); orange short sleeve with satin neckline trim

Wow…hard for me to get past the wrinkles again!

days 68 and 69: white, short sleeve with neckline beaded floral detail; studded black short sleeve shirt

You may remember that I have the black shirt in gray and wore it on day 16 (second installment).

days 70 and 71: khaki sleeveless button-down dress; green striped t-shirt

I got the khaki dress on sale for about 20 bucks at Ann Taylor last year. It has one of those belts that is way long, so after you fasten it, you have long ends hanging off. I try to be creative in my tying.

days 72 and 73: pink stripey tank; plain black t-shirt

The tank is another recent purchase (too cute to resist). I have 2 or 3 plain black t-shirts and think this is the first one I’ve worn this summer.

So, these were worn mid-to-late August. As I type on September 9th, I still haven’t reworn (although I am starting to want to wear things I already wore..)

What types of necklines do you prefer? Do you have any stories about seeing someone wearing something you own?

After doing prepwork to ensure that I’d have posts going up while I was in San Diego, wouldn’t you figure I’d end up taking some time away once I got back!? But, I’m back…and I’ll be back to commenting on your blogs as well!

But now it’s time for the next installment of my summer in shirts!
Here are the first three installments.

Installment 1.

Installment 2.
Installment 3.

day 38: dress on the right, white with gray and black circles.

So, far I’ve only worn the white dress, but I had taken this picture of these two dresses the day I bought them (at Target, on sale for about $12.50 each…). Consider the black/flowered one a bonus pic!

days 39 and 40: black and white rose short-sleeved cardigan; black sweater with crochet detail at top

I love black and white and am always drawn to floral prints, so I love my cardigan. I wore it with a navy camisole.

days 41 and 42: light green sleeveless shirt with button/beading detail; basic black short-sleeved

days 43 and 44: two-toned blue tank top; black and white and red crossover tank

The one on the right has the empire waist effect, so it billows under the chest…I have several tops like this. I know they confuse people in general since the billowing makes it look like maybe the wearer is pregnant!

days 44 and 45: purple ruched top; green and white patterned top

I love the colors of these tops!

days 46 and 47: navy blue short sleeved top ; black and off-white safety pin top

I got the safety pin top at an H&M in England…they probably sold it here in the States too, but I decided the safety pins were punk rockish, so feel it is more appropriate to have gotten it in England.

What are your good (like $12.50 for a dress) bargain stories? Do you have any clothes that you feel *where* you bought them is part of the story?

Once more, it’s time for my summer in shirts (trying to wear my shirts without repeating because I realized I have a lot). Third installment!

In case you missed the first two installments.

Installment 1.

Installment 2.

days 25 and 26: multicolor dot shirt; purple sleeveless button-down shirt

It was the first time out for the purple shirt, and I really loved it. If I were trying not to repeat, I’d be wearing that a lot more!

days 27 and 28: green sleeveless; gray with pattern

I would like to tell you these shirts weren’t so wrinkly when I first put them on….but they were. I think these were weekend days (ie, I didn’t wear massive wrinkles to work).

day 29: orange with white polka dots, round collar, sleeveless button down

This shirt is on its own because I hung it up after wearing it and forgot to pull it out again for its photograph. I knew I had worn this shirt, and I knew I had worn 28 on a Sunday and 30 on a Tuesday, so it was clear where 29 could be found.

days 30 and 31: purple patterned top; brown asymmetrical sleeveless top

The brown one is the one I have a purple/white version of, shown in the part 2 post.

days 32 and 33: red top with buttons; blue with white flowers and ruffle sleeveless top

The ruffles on the shirt on the right tend to “flip” (as you can see in the photo). I found a piece of double stick tape on this from the last time I wore it and tried to fight the “flippy ruffles” battle.

days 34 and 35: black and white sleeveless shirt; green with red flowers shirt

I’m a big fan of black and white. This is one of several shirts I seem to have that have an…NSFW (not safe for work) issue with the neckline. It’s not too deep, but I end up tugging at the neckline a bit  thanks to the wrap/V effect. I hadn’t worn the green t in a while and sort of “rediscovered” it as a wardrobe choice. I wore these on a weekend.

days 36 and 37: purple shirt with pink flowers; beige striped white shirt

Hmmm..the shirt on the left doesn’t show the print so well. The one on the right is a version of a white with black striped shirt in post 2.

Under what circumstances (necklines, flippy ruffles) do you “fidget” with your clothes?