#DontSweaterBoutIt Fall Style Challenge
Aaaaaaand that sums up the Sweater challenge! It was my first time hosting an Instagram Style Challenge and I was so excited by the turnout. Thank you to everyone who participated! It was so inspiring to see all of your different outfit combinations! 💖
Here’s a summary of what it entailed, my looks for the week, and an overview of the experience:
Vision: To celebrate the versatility of this essential fall garment.
Once the cold weather hits, I have a difficult time being creative with my outfits. Sometimes, I feel frumpy when I’m rotating through the same five sweaters for days on end, so I was hoping that this challenge would inspire me (and anyone else who might’ve been interested in participating) to style sweaters creatively.
Prompts:
Day 1: All-Time Favorite Sweater
Day 2: Turtleneck Sweater/Sweater Dress
Day 3: Forgotten-About Sweater
Day 4: Statement Sweater
Day 5: My Oldest Sweater
Day 6: Ugly Sweater
Day 7: Wildcard
Day 1: All-Time Favorite Sweater - Black & White Graphic Sweater
My favorite sweater of all time is this black and white sweater! It was gifted to me by my preceptors at a high school that I was working at during my senior year in college. It’s the perfect thickness for chilly fall evenings and the simple black and white graphic lettering pairs well with anything!
Cambridge Rindge & Latin Sweater, gifted by preceptors, 2015
Lace black skirt, Forever 21, high school days
Day 2: Turtleneck Sweater/Sweater Dress - Black Turtleneck Sweater
You can’t go wrong with a black turtleneck sweater! I kept the format of this outfit simple with a black top, navy slacks, and black boots, but decided to spice things up by adding fishnet tights to the look!
Black turtleneck cropped sweater, H&M 2016(?)
Navy slacks, Gap 2016
Fishnet tights, H&M(?) not sure when
Black platform boots, Aldo 2016
Day 3: Forgotten-About Sweater - Mint Monochrome
I decided to brighten up the fall outfits by going monochrome in sea-green/mint! This forgotten sweater was literally pulled out of a box in the basement. I think it’s my sister’s but can’t be completely sure…
Sea green sweater, Borrowed From Sister(?)
Lace bodycon dress, H&M 2014
Day 4: Statement Sweater - Stripes for Days
Honestly, I feel like sweaters are pretty casual by default so coming up with a statement sweater was a CHALLENGE. This top was stolen from my mom’s closet and I thought that emphasizing the stripe pattern would make this seem more dramatic than it actually is.
Striped red, black, and white sweater, Raided Mom’s Closet
Black and white striped skirt, Topshop 2016
Day 5: My Oldest Sweater - Tan Sweater
Apparently I have an issue with boundaries because I frequently borrow items and end up never returning them. 🙈 This sweater was borrowed from a friend way back in 2012 and I’ve worn it every single winter since.
Tan sweater, Croft & Barrow, borrowed from a friend in 2012
Blue jeans, H&M 2016
Day 6: Ugly Sweater - Bedazzled Purple Sweater
Remember when rhinestones and bedazzled clothes were a thing? Well, this sweater is a major throwback. Honestly, I tried my best to make it work but I’m still not completely convinced…
Bedazzled purple sweater, Raided Mom’s Closet
Floral bird of paradise dress, H&M 2016
Day 7: Wildcard - Two of a Kind?
Apparently my mom loved the style of this sweater so much that she bought the exact same sweater in different colors. This is my wildcard interpretation. Since it’s basically the same sweater, it counts as a two-for-one, right?
Red & Green Knit Sweaters, Raided Mom’s Closet
Black Skirt, Topshop 2016
The Community
One of the best parts of this challenge was the engagement within the community. I genuinely loved seeing how other people paired their sweaters and was so inspired to be more creative with my looks. Below are some of my favorites.
(all photo credits belong to the rightful individual)
Overall, I learned that sweaters are extremely versatile and actually very easy to pair with garments other than jeans and boots. I surprisingly loved colorful sweaters much more than neutral sweaters and will do a better job of incorporating them into my closet.
Did you participate? What did you learn? If you didn’t join this time, would you consider it in the future?
G