5 Clever Ways to Layer a Cardigan

I don't know about you, but corona-time has provided me with an honorary degree in getting-the-most-outta-what-I-got. 

Before corona...

• the second I ran outta strawberries, I'd run to the store and buy more strawberries.

• the moment my dishcloths started to spring leaks, I'd take a trip to Target and buy another pack.

• and when I started feeling bored in my closet, I'd hit the thrift store and buy myself a treat.

Nowadays...

• I go without strawberries until "grocery day", and eat something else instead. 

• I make do with ratty dishcloths, because though they may be homely to look at, and it's kind of a pain when my fingers get stuck in the holes, they clean the dishes just fine.

• I find NEW ways to wear the same old clothes, which I gotta admit, makes me feel clever and resourceful and downright corona-creative.

Just last week I challenged myself to wear an old cardigan sweater 5 DAYS IN A ROW... as an under layer. 

#5DayChallenge
#YesISaidUNDERLAYER

You and I both know that cardigans are "supposed" to be worn OVER things, like tank tops, t-shirts, dresses, and button-down shirts. 

But 5 weeks into lock-down, I needed to break outta the confines of everyday livin', disrupt my old patterns, and flip the dang formula!

Because when you can't leave the house, you gotta bring the wild-hearted adventuring HOME.

Day 1. I wore my cardigan sweater UNDER a button down shirt. This is a move I learned from Style Sister, Ursula, and I gotta tell you, it's a move that I'm going to put into heavy rotation. I LOVED IT!

Day 2. I wore my cardigan sweater UNDER a blazer. As soon as I put this combo together, tears came to my eyes because it felt THAT congruent. The next time I have a speaking engagement, I'm wearing THIS on stage. Thank you, corona, for the inspiration! 

Day 3. I wore my cardigan sweater UNDER another sweater. Again, this is a move I NEVER would have thought of if it weren't for this challenge. You can't really SEE the cardigan much in the photo, but in real life, you could see the lacy-texture THROUGH the other sweater, and it felt pretty darn "whiskey in a teacup"! 

Day 4. I wore my cardigan sweater UNDER another cardigan. DOUBLE cardigans? Yes, yes I did, and it felt every which way to fabulous, and not one bit frumpy.

Day 5. I wore my cardigan UNDER my denim vest... and OVER a tank top. That right there was a double-move. Something special to wrap out the 5 day challenge, and an outfit you'll definitely see me in again, because I LOVED IT!

And you know what's wild... nobody in my family noticed that I wore the same cardigan 5 days in a row. In fact, if you had seen me in town (which you wouldn't, because there's no such thing anymore), there's a darn good chance you probably wouldn't have noticed either.

I used to have this "what will people think" voice inside my head when it came to wearing the same thing over and over and over and over... and OVER again, but after this?? Puh, I can put that thought to bed.

It's not like I was out there sneezing on people for goodness sake. 

Maybe you haven't gotten dressed in 6 weeks. Maybe you've gotten dressed, but haven't put in any effort because "nobody's gonna see me anyway". Maybe the overwhelm has gotten to you, and getting dressed with intention has felt like one-more-thing. 

I get it. I get all of it. And if that's where you're at... that's okay.

However, if you've had ENOUGH ALREADY, and you're ready to FEEL SOMETHING DIFFERENT, then how about making a change. You can't expect to feel something different if you're doing the same old thing, day after day. 

Grab ONE THING in your closet, and see how you might CHALLENGE YO'SELF to wear it differently, 5 days in a row. 

A bunch of gals in the SSS alumni group have been giving it a go, and the results have been FANTASTIC!

Check out what my gal Elizabeth (SSS19 Amelia Squad) did with her red pants!? Is she fantastic or WHAT?

And check out how Liz (SSS19 Rosie Squad) wore the same shirt 5 days in a row... over, under and even AS A SCARF!! 

Both of these gals are wearing smiles that could light up a room. Why? Because they're feeling clever as heck, super resourceful, wicked creative, and downright HAPPY to be challenging themselves to a challenge they can't lose! They can only WIN! 

How about you? Wanna give the ole #5daychallenge a try? Just for funsies?

(If you're in the SSS alumni group, hop on in and join the #5daychallenge party!)

I'm starting the #5daychallenge over myself... with a cut-up sweatshirt that I sometimes wear for fancy, and sometimes wear as pajamas. Today was Day 2, and I'm gonna go another three days, and see what I can come up with. If you're not following me on Instagram, you outta, because that's where I'll be showcasing my corona-creations. And they ARE creations I tell ya! 

xo Stasia