It really is over

It is completely over with!
The final photo is taken in the same place that the first photo was taken. As for what I'm going to wear on May 1st... you're looking at it. For my birthday, Shannon bought me a new pair of pants and a new shirt. Funny, at least for one more day I won't choose my own clothing. This outfit is different though in that it doesn't have anything to do with the date. While the date associated to the clothing items of the formula was an attempt to make the outfits/days more memorable, I have a feeling that the combination for May 1st will be the most memorable of all of the things I have worn over the past year. Not because it is new, but because this was the first thing I wore after ending this insane endeavor.

Now it is time to process all of my data and start making work. This blog will survive as a record of the event and to show the progress of what is being made from it all.

Last Day part 2 (bringing it full circle)

So my review went well. A lot was discussed about what will happen next. Most of that is to be seen.
The project has proven to be an emotional test in ways that I never could have imagined. My hypothesis has been disproven, but the discoveries that have been made throughout the project are vast. While a different combination of clothes for every day of the year, will make your ensembles unique, it will not necessarily make them more memorable. What makes clothing an important part of our memories is the choice that the individual makes in response to an event or happening, that the clothing will be part of. The tie/dress that you wear on your wedding day or the favorite t-shirt that you put on to go see your favorite band, are choices that imprint with the memory. The conscious act of choosing helps to reinforce the fabric to the day/event. By eliminating the choice in what we wear, we are essentially eliminating our clothing from the day's activities. In doing so, our clothing loses their direct connection with events and run the risk of not being remembered at all.
Unless you have some sort of uniform, that you wear on a daily basis, most individuals will never discover this. That's ok. Those that are able to chose what they wear art lucky to experience and should savor one of life's simple freedoms.

Last Day part 1

So, today is the last day and conveniently I have my second year review happening right now (my committee is deliberating).   I'm really just over it all.  The sadness from the other day has been replaced by frustration and I am completely ready for the formula to be done.  

If I could, I would set fire to all of the clothes from the project, but that really isn't my style to make a spectacle of my work.  

Slightly Sad

Up until this week, I was highly looking forward to the end of this project. Now with only a few days left, I find myself a little sad to see it all ending. Not that I want to keep dressing according to the formula, but it has become such a part of my life that it will, in some ways, be missed. Perhaps it is because I am still overwhelmed by what I will wear after it is done.

Regardless, it has been a fun and highly educational run.

My clothes have done their service

Many of the items of clothing that did their time for the formula will be retired after the project is complete. They will still have a purpose in this world, but instead of being a shirt or a pair of pants to be worn, they will be made into art objects. Not a half bad second career for a retired item of clothing.

Today I began working with some of the t-shirts. I only have a few shirts that still need to be worn over the next five days, so I'm able to start cutting and repurposing. The photo is a sneak peak of four newly retired shirts and me wearing the pink (Sunday -1) shirt for the last time.

the outfit

Jeans 7 + Grey Stripe Socks -2 + Brown Belt -1 = April

(Sun) Pink -1 + Charcoal Long Sleeve T-shirt 7 + Orange and Grey Plaid 19 = the 25th

Less than a week left

It is hard to believe that I have less than a week left of this project. Overall it has been a wierd wild ride, that while I'm glad I stuck it out, I would not wish to take on this exact project ever again. I'm sure that I'll subject myself to other forms of wierd creative torture in the future, but for now, I'll just process the past year of research.

Not buying any new clothes

For some time now I have resisted the temptation to buy any new clothes. I've decided to hold off purchasing anything new until after the formula is complete. There is nothing that I can't live without and there really is no need to add further clothing to the mix.

Formula Spreadsheet

I've finally figured out how to link the spreadsheet that I created the formula in for everyone to view. Sorry this took a while. For those that may still be a little confused by how it all works, this should help make some sense of it. Those that know me well enough have seen the wallet size version of this chart that I carry with me wherever I go. Click link to see the sheet. Formula Crib Sheet

One Month Left

This is it! The last thirty days of having to dress according to the Formula.  Only thirty times left to remember to take a daily photo.  Only thirty more days of anxiety about cataloging, journaling and blogging.  Thirty days until I can wear what ever I want, again!!!

Double Month Blahs

So, as commented on in previous posts, such as "Halfway Done", the numerical patterning for clothing each month is dictated by what day of the week that the first day begins on. Both February and March began on the same day of the week (Monday), thus the patterning of clothing combinations was the same. While this isn't really an issue for getting dressed and making the Formula work, I've come to really enjoy the transition from one month to the next and the excitement of discovering totally new combinations (one of the few simple pleasures when your wardrobe is dictated for you). On top of it, both weather and practicality have been quite difficult over the course of February and the thought of doing 31 more days of that isn't inviting.

Day 300

I've hit yet another mile stone by reaching the 300th day of the project. With each 100 days it seems to go faster and faster. Hard to believe that in just over two months it will be over. Still unsure about what will happen at that point.

the outfit

Jeans 7 + Brown Stripe Socks -7 + Grey Canvas Belt +2 = February

(Wed) Violet -4 + Blue Stripe Long Sleeve Button Down 14 +Grey Cardigan Sweater 14 = the 24th

Irony of the Formula

For some time now, I've been contemplating the irony of this entire project.  The primary reason for me to even start this silly thing was to create a unique outfit for every day of the year in an attempt to make each day memorable by the clothing combination that was assigned to that date.  The sad truth is that, while the formula does give me a unique outfit for each day of the year, it has homogenized my wardrobe to the point that very few days are that memorable.  Where one would normally dress for a significant occasion, mood or just plane old day of the week, I dress to the points every day with no connection to what I might be doing. The concert I see today looks only slightly different than the dinner out last week.  I no longer wear special things on special days or reserve favorites for significant events.

Strangely, I'm ok with this.  This entire year was meant to be research.  If I knew all the quirks when I started, I wouldn't need to even do it.  There is so much that I never anticipated and has only become clear from doing it for this long of a period of time.

100 Days Left

The countdown officially begins as I now have 100 days left in the project. For some time now I have been contemplating what I will wear when this is all over. At present I have no idea of what I'll wear. It would probably be best not to try and plan something as I have been doing that for the past 265 days.

the outfit

Jeans 7 + Green Stripe Socks -6 = 1 = January

(Wed) Violet -4 + Charcoal Long Sleeve T-shirt 7 + Green Gingham Long Sleeve +17 = the 20th

Efficiency

Today I planned and packed for our trip to Belgium. By this point in the project not only am I able to dress easily for the specific date, but I am so skilled at the formula that I am able to pack a weeks worth of clothing/dates into one carry-on sized suitcase. Every item is worn at least twice on the trip. As well, I have been able to accommodate options for different types of weather.

the outfit

Jeans 7 + Brown Stripe Socks -7 + Black Belt 1 = 1 = January

(Thur) Yellow T-shirt -5 + Black Longs Sleeve Button Down -2 + Grey Cardigan 14 = the 7th

Buckeye on Friday = Rosebowl

Today I had a slight break from the formula to make it possible for me to wear the lucky Buckeye shirt during the Friday Rose Bowl Game. The points all work for the date, however the day of the week is technically the long sleeve shirt under the Buckeye shirt.

the outfit

Jeans 7 + Brown Stripe Socks -7 + Black Belt 1 = 1 = January

(Fri) Black Long Sleeve T-shirt -6 + Charcoal Grey T-shirt 7 = the 1st