Nov. 18: 75 Hard Style Challenge in These Foolish Things

You may or may not know this about me: I LOVE a good challenge! I started 2024 by doing something called 75 Hard, which is a “mental toughness” challenge (that includes a lot of diet and physical activity, mind you) that honestly changed my life. It really jumpstarted a major change in my life - I lost a lot of weight, gained muscle, adjusted my eating/drinking habits; changed my whole body and mind for the better!

So when I discovered that someone had created something called the 75 Hard Style Challenge, where fashion and my own wardrobe is involved, I was very excited! Not that I was looking to change my wardrobe or anything - the idea behind this challenge is to get to know your own personal style, review what you gravitate towards most, pump things up a little bit, and try not to purchase any new pieces. Oh, and POST daily pics of yourself on socials! Simply a photo-a-day to show the outfit you put together that day.

So I started it in September, knowing that the seasons were going to change while I was doing this challenge, and also knowing that I’d be traveling a little bit during this challenge as well. That’s one of the points of the challenge: figuring out HOW you’re going to pull this off! I did it during 75 Hard, and I did it during this style challenge.

It WAS a challenge! And it was fun! And I think I want to do it again - just like I want to do 75 Hard again.

Things I learned from doing the 75 Hard Style Challenge:

• It was HOT when I did this challenge! Even though I started this challenge in September, when the weather normally changes and gets at least a little cooler, it was just not happening this year. So I couldn’t do many fun layers and wear my fun boots (favorite footwear) until like the last couple of days! One of the whole ideas of this challenge was to figure out how you can make pieces you already have in your wardrobe work together in new and different ways. When it’s super hot in the summer, I DO NOT want to layer on pieces over other pieces, so it was all I could do to even put on something other than a super light cami and a lightweight, flowy skirt (which I tend to do anyway).

• As you know, I work from home. This challenge helped me in TREMENDOUS WAYS. Every day, I pushed myself to get dressed and put on makeup and do my hair as if I was going to an office (for the most part - there are a lot of things I would have changed if I had super important meetings in the office. So I’d say that my daily posts were more about “casual office days” rather than “important meeting days”). Honestly, getting dressed and even lightly made up does wonders for my self-esteem. In fact, today, the Monday after the challenge ended, I have no Zoom meetings and I’m dressed very slouchy, my hair is pulled back into a messy bun, and I have no makeup on. And I feel every bit as frumpy and rumply as I sound. I hate this. I need to start the challenge over since Fall is finally here! Would it be weird to start over again fairly immediately?

• I observed that I gravitate towards pretty simple basic apparel choices and then definitely jzhuzh things up with my accessories. I tend to wear a lot of the same accessories, too, so I could stand to change things up a bit. Funny enough, I wore my Apple watch every day except for one. And on that one day, I wore my Rolex. I used to think I was suuuuuuch a badass for wearing a Rolex watch (do you remember, I traded it my engagement ring in a panic for this Rolex watch…there’s a whole story around it), but now I’m almost embarrassed to wear it. It feels so bougie. I mean, it’s a gorgeous timepiece, but if truth be told, Rolexes don’t tell time well, and mine doesn’t at all. I can’t get it to keep the correct time, and of course, Apple watches are ALWAYS showing the correct time!

• I love a hat! In fact, I need MORE hats since I tend to wear one particular hat over and over. The good news is that hats are trending - especially Western Wear type hats. I love them and I need more in my life!

• I clearly love the brand Free People, as so many of the brand shout-outs I gave in my posts were to Free People. The brand skus a lot younger than my actual age, but I can’t help it. I love them and their momma, Anthropologie, too. Sue me.

• I got through my dad’s medical treatments during a week away in an Airbnb that had NO full length mirror! It wasn’t easy to pack for this event - I ended up packing very wrinkle-resistant, packable dresses and even ended up with some back ups! I’d call it creative dressing, but it was actually extremely simple dressing that did the trick. Outfits that can roll/wad down to nearly nothing in a weekend bag. Simple sandals that I wore a couple of times. And cute Adidas sneakers. Boom.

• I got through all of my own medical testing the following week, staying at another Airbnb and then my friend Marce’s place. Now that was more creative dressing (and I think I even packed more) because I wanted to be a little more social and creative. I also bought a hat (which was against the rules, but oh well) because I spent the day in the sun at the fair celebrating my 3-year cancer-free milestone and I fucking deserved it! And cowboy boots. Cowboy boots will forever be a staple in my wardrobe. Love them!

• I posted during my wellness/birthday weekend. I wanted to look and FEEL super cute on my birthday so I wore an adorable dress that wasn’t packable at all. And who cares? It was full and flirty and I wore it to be around a bunch of women. I was honestly glowing. The highlight of that day was when a total stranger came up to me and said, “Iooking at you fills me with JOY!” Ain’t THAT something?!

• I posted my Halloween costume on Halloween! And my friends came to visit during Halloween weekend! They actually had fun getting into the action for one of my posts. How fun is that?

• My friends and I went shopping during their stay. And they talked me into making a couple of purchases - - BUT they justified those purchases because they were bought at a vintage store! These items were pre-loved! Wen and Lis both told me that I coudn’t leave the store without buying a dress, a fringe vest, AND a stunning vintage statement bracelet that were perfect for me. Yes, it was a splurge, but it reminded me that you can find spectacular second-hand finds. And that brings me to a challenge that I think I want to do for all of 2025. I’ll expound more, but I’m thinking that I only buy secondhand, thrift, vintage, pre-loved next year. Whadda think?

• Even on my weekend errand-running days where I’d normally not think about what I was putting on turned out to be an interesting and fun challenge. How do I make my leggings and a tee look cute? How do I accessorize? How to style a baseball cap?

• I learned that getting dressed is SO MUCH MORE than putting on clothes. It’s a daily event and it’s your communication to the world. It says almost everything about who you are without saying a word.

I loved this. So much. I want to do this every day.

xox,
GS