I randomly decided to try the 10 x 10 challenge when I realized that I’ve been wearing the same clothes on rotation for a few weeks. Working from home made this especially easy since no one else even sees what I wear!
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What Is the 10 x 10 Challenge?
10 items, 10 outfits
The 10 x 10 challenge was started by Style Bee at StyleBee.ca. It’s pretty much what it sounds like – you choose 10 items from your wardrobe to create 10 outfits that you can wear for 10 days. Since it is such a small number, most people do not include accessories like jewelry or scarves, so we’re just looking at tops, sweaters, pants, dresses, shoes, and coats. Like with any style challenge, these are guidelines, not rules, so do what works for you.
How To Make A 10 Item Wardrobe
I used Style Bee’s beginner formula and then tweaked it to suit my needs.
- 1 pair of shoes (I rarely leave the house these days so no need for more shoes)
- 3 long sleeved t-shirts
- 1 pullover sweater
- 1 cardigan
- 2 pairs joggers
- 1 pair of leggings
- 1 pair of jeans
Make sure you choose a simple color palette with colors that coordinate well. I went with black, white, gray, and burgundy. If you’re new to capsule wardrobes I would suggest going with all neutral colors and then you can add color with accessories.
Create Your Core Capsule Wardrobe
This 10 x 10 challenge is a good way for beginners to create their core capsule wardrobe. Starting with these 10 items you can gradually add more pieces to see how well they fit in with the rest. These are basically the bare essentials so stick with solid, neutral colors. If you’re unsure which pieces you should start with, read my post on Closet Basics.
10 x 10 Capsule For Packing In A Carry-On
The 10 x 10 challenge would be great for packing for your next trip. 10 items would definitely fit in a carry-on bag. Before I started doing capsule wardrobes I used to pack 1 top and 1 bottom for each day of my trip. That seems like overkill now! I no longer care about repeating an item of clothing, or even an entire outfit, so 10 items would be perfectly fine for most trips. I am the kind of person who might sneak in one extra shirt ‘just in case’. 😊
Outfit Combinations
Here are 12 outfit combinations I came up with for my 10 items. As I said before, I don’t leave the house very often so less than half of the outfits include shoes and even that’s ambitious. To create your outfits I would suggest laying out the 10 items on your bed and then pairing each top with each bottom to see what works.
Shop My 10 Items
Here are shopping links for all the items in my 10 item wardrobe (or similar if not available anymore).
- Long sleeve t-shirts (black and white are in the same link)
- Long sleeve striped t-shirt
- Gray turtleneck sweater
- Gray cardigan | budget-friendly option here | I also like this cardigan but it’s more of a sweatshirt material
- Joggers (burgundy and gray are in the same link). I am literally living in these joggers, they are really good for the price.
- Black jeans
- Black leggings | budget-friendly option here
- Waterproof boots
Will You Try It?
So that’s the 10×10 capsule wardrobe challenge! Choose 10 items from you closet that you can mix and match to make at least 10 outfits and see if you can go 10 days wearing only those clothes. Let me know in the comments if you’re going to try the 10 x 10 challenge!
While you’re here, check out some of my other posts
- Striped Shirt Styled 4 Ways
- Fall Wardrobe Essentials for An Everyday Style
- Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021
- Dress For Your Lifestyle – Wardrobe Revamp Part 2
- Summer Wedding Guest Outfit for Outdoor Wedding
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