Hi everyone!
Since my last post, I have
dedicated my time fully to the book, but I am happy to say that I completed my
manuscript and I am back to blogging! Thanks so much for your patience for the
past four months (I can't believe it has been that long!)
The shirt experiment sure was
a fascinating and wonderfully creative project. Many of you were skeptical about the idea; I was skeptical whether I could come up with 50 different looks, but I did it and I had so much fun doing it! For those of you who do not use Twitter, here is a recollection of all the looks that I wore. And below are my answers to the questions you asked!
Why did you feel the need
for boots and platforms?
As explained on my
previous post, I went from cold and rainy weather to very hot and dry weather.
I also needed different shoes to dress the shirt up and down so it could take
me from a fancy restaurant (thanks mom) to a hot sandy beach. I did not regret
taking my selection of shoes. I put them to use equally.
Was there any cutting or
sewing involved?
No sewing or cutting involved, if it isn’t for removing the
shirt’s labels (to be able to wear it inside out) and two button holes that I
added to the bottom front of the shirt for maximum versatility.
Did you wash your leggings
in between laundry days?
My leggings and/or shirt would go into the laundry at
the end of the week and/or when my mom had a full machine to run.
Do you not ever sweat or
get dirty?
I am human, I do sweat. However, I am careful about not getting
dirty. I am one of those people that will paint a room, wearing my regular clothes
and not get them stained.
How did you retain the
brightness on the color of the shirt?
I wash the shirt as with most my laundry
in cold water.
Did you get tired of wearing
black?
Since I changed looks every day, I got bored with neither the color of the
shirt nor the shirt itself. I do however regret not packing my pair of shorts for
the hot days that I wore the shirt as a top.
What about packing
exercise clothes for working out?
I am an active individual. I do not go to a
gym to “workout”. I hike, ride my bike everywhere and wrestle with the kids: These
activities do not require special clothing.
Did you find some styles
to be too fussy?
I personally enjoy dressing up on a daily basis and mixing
dressy clothes with casual ones (I like that contrast). That said, some of the styles
were more comfortable to wear than others.
Will you be including
instructions for all this folding and twisting of a shirt in your book? Unfortunately
my upcoming book will not include instructions on how to wear the shirt 50
different ways, it is already filled with a multitude of how-to's! But I am already considering this subject for a subsequent book!
Will you be sending your
shirt to the Smithsonian? ;) I am not ready to surrender the shirt, it is the most versatile piece of clothing in my closet and I wear it on a regular basis!



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Oh, to be thin enough to pull this off! Really cool and creative combinations. I'm impressed, Bea! There's a company called {r}evolution Apparel that's selling a sustainable clothing item called the Versalette that works in much the same way as your shirt...at a much higher price. Still, I love the idea of such a versatile piece!
ReplyDeleteHa! I had the exact same thought... I wonder what fraction of a percent of this country's women have Bea's amazing size zero figure - I fear most of us wouldn't look quite so... um... "fashionable" in those designs!
DeleteEven if I get down the 6 sizes to size zero (which I have no intention, 2 sizes would be natural, sizes after that reflect starvation for my body), my bust (never been under DD since high school) would prevent a lot of the options. Pity, because all looks are great, and I like backpacking. Taking 1 shirt would be very nice packing!
DeleteWonderful post! I loved seeing all your different outfits.Thanks for all the helpful tips. I am a college student and very interested in living zero-waste--I try to be so as much as I possibly can, though I still have a very long way to go. Your blog inspires me all the time. Being in college has its own unique challenges to being zero-waste-some things are easier (dining hall meals with a dining hall that composts!) but others are harder (on-the-go lifestyle, living out of a backpack, money). My biggest question for you right now is: how do you remain zero waste at parties and public functions? I am often presented with the opportunity for free food (that's great for a college student), or I eat dinner with friends who don't care about being zero waste, but am given to use very unsustainable tableware(plastic everything). It's extremely distressing. What do you do? How would you suggest coping with this, and problems like this?
ReplyDeleteThat was an amazing photo essay of a shirt in 50 days. Thanks for sharing that!
ReplyDeleteWow. Your creativity is awesome! What a great way to show the results of resourcefulness!
ReplyDeleteHey, was just thinking that you should write a book. That's great, your book will really make a difference.
Bea! We are very happy to have you back! Loved following the shirt transformations this summer.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you and welcome back (Sorely missed!). I would, for get bored (but that says more about me than anything!) and you were very very inventive!!
ReplyDeleteBea - I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your posts over the summer on your shirt adventure! The resulting look book is fabulous and it has got me thinking: there must be scope for someone (you?!) to come up with a basic clothing item that would enable this idea to work for all kinds of sizes (and heights!). I too have heard of [r]evolution apparel, but it still seems rather limited in what it can do, compared to your adventures!
ReplyDeleteLike many others, I'm sure, although I can't emulate what you've done this summer, it has got me thinking about creative ways I can enrich my own wardrobe - and life!
Glad you're back Bea!
So wonderful that you are "back" - I really missed your posts - I don't "do" Twitter or Facebook.
ReplyDeleteYour talent in making the one black shirt into so many styles is amazing! Alas, I'm a full busted woman and couldn't wear most of the styles, in fact, I cannot wear any button-down shirts, but I really appreciate and LOVE the versatility you have shown wearing ONE shirt.
Just so you know, you do not need a twitter account to see anything people post on it :)
DeleteI have my Twitter feed to the right on this page. If you come to the blog you can always see my tweets.
DeleteBea, this is AMAZING. I can't believe it's the same shirt in all the outfits!!
ReplyDeleteCute, creative and so totally works for someone who is slender and young. Not so great for a 50-something pear, but, hey, it's a start and an inspiration. I would miss color -- I love color -- and I can't wear black. Plus, I love sewing. I'm glad you are back. Missed your posts.
ReplyDeleteBea's back!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you did all that - with no sewing to boot! WOW!
I was hoping that your absence from blogging meant a great post when you got back and I'm not disappointed!
Can't wait to read your book and looking forward to lots more blogging.
This is amazing!!! I am totally inspired. Not nearly creative enough to pull this off.
ReplyDeleteI don't do twitter and so have not heard from you in months and have missed your posts. Frankly, I was getting worried you were gone forever! So happy to have you back, and happy to hear that your book is happening! Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get your black shirt? I love your blog! So glad you are back:)
ReplyDeleteShe got it for .99 cents at a thrift store if I remember correctly!
DeleteDitto to other's comments - wonderful to have you back :) Question: I noticed some changes to your website layout and cannot find your previous posts - are they gone forever or is this just a glitch? I refer to them constantly and am getting ready to give a free-of-charge zero waste workshop where I refer to your site, in particular all your 'how to' blogs.
ReplyDeleteI think a series of youtube videos about how to wear this shirt so many ways would be very informative! Welcome back to blogging!
ReplyDeletewow, and you looked good in all versions.
ReplyDeleteCatherine is right...
or a booklet one can buy that has the look and the steps to get the shirt in that look...
I'm ready to throw out all but one shirt just looking at this!!
So great to have you back blogging! Been missing the posts dearly! While you've been gone, I've been working on my own challenge. My blog is coming along nicely, but it's so hard to find time to write when I have a part-time and am a full-time student. I'm also too hard on myself when I make mistakes. But I hope to be at your level by time I graduate ;)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the book! Hoping I can get it on my Kindle.
First off, you could be a model! Or at the very least Gisele Bundchen's stand in. Secondly, I own probably 50 shirts, and couldn't come up with this many looks. Bravo Bea, and all you do to show us that living zero waste doesn't you can't maintain personal style. I am so very impressed. xx
ReplyDeleteAgreed -- the lookbook is great! I would like more details on how you did all of this. Inspired by your first "50 Ways to Wear a Men's Shirt," I grabbed one of my husbands shirts and attempted some of the styles. I usually felt (and was told by my 14 yr old daughter) that it still looked so much like a men's shirt. Your shirt, at least in the photos, doesn't necessarily look like a shirt. Did it take you some time to figure out the various looks? I am looking forward to the book and more blog posts in my efforts to move toward zero waste!
ReplyDeleteWhat were your favorite "go to" styles that you found yourself wearing over and over?
ReplyDeleteGreat post-you are truly amazing! So glad you are back!
ReplyDeleteBea, I cannot see the former blogs you posted previous to this one. Did you change the settings? They are no longer listed along the side by month--they are not there at all, or at least invisible to me. Is anyone else having this problem? Could you fix this possibly? I love referring to them and rereading them! They continue to inspire me and help me organize and plan my zero-waste life.
ReplyDeleteI noticed they were gone as well. I wonder if she compiled them to create the book. Perhaps she took them down to facilitate the purchasing of the book.
DeleteI did notice that you can still access some through the tips webpage. It is possible that she has just reorganized them.
just click on older posts at the bottom of the page .
DeleteSorry guys, as you might have noticed, I reorganized the blog last week and cleaned up the layout... maybe too much because I inadvertently removed the archives! ;) I just added tags instead. It makes it easier for newcomers to navigate the archives. Hope that helps!
DeletePerfect! Thank you......the tags are easier to navigate.
DeleteSo cool! I can't believe that wasn't sewn. Holy cow you are amazing.
ReplyDeleteHi Bea, this is amazing!!! Can't wait to see the how to of those 50 ways.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is so amazing and inspiring! This year I've tried to only buy second hand clothes so I'm 1. personally recycling used goods and 2. not financially supporting sweatshops by buying new clothes. I'm nowhere near as close to you with cutting down my waste, but discovering this blog has really helped me along!!
ReplyDeleteglad your back:)
ReplyDeleteBea - some of your shirt photos show some skinny straps. Shirts don't have skinny straps. How did you do that with no cutting or sewing? - Jan
ReplyDeleteThe "skinny straps" are twisted sleeves.
DeleteHi Bea,
ReplyDeleteI am so inspired by your post and photos. I had seen a few youtube videos a while ago demonstrating some similar looks but your designs are much more beautiful and creative. When I attempted this using one of my husbands old shirts I had some problems with the buttons and the fitting. I am wondering if there is a way to determine what men's shirt size to get, using a woman's measurements?
Thanks,
Ali
The bigger the better. It provides more design freedom. I could not use my husband's shirts either. They were too restricting in the amount of designs I could come up with. His shirts were to short for example and I could not wear them as dresses. I purchased an XXL shirt instead.
DeleteYes, where are your previous posts? I also reread them and refer others to your website. You have inspired my son, granddaughter (age 16), various neighbors and friends...and I am obsessed with your ideas. Glyna
ReplyDeleteSee my reply above for explanation.
Deleterefer to older posts at the bottom of the page
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the Twitter updates but am happy to have you back. I look forward to reading your book.
ReplyDeleteYAY!!! You are back! You've been missed...
ReplyDeleteI am so thrilled that I found this post, You look amazing! Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteHi Bea , was your recent thrifting trip successful?
ReplyDeleteIt went fantastically well. Hope to blog about it. Thanks for asking!
DeleteGlad you're back, and excited to hear that you've been working on the book so much!
ReplyDeleteI'm astounded by the variety of looks you managed with one shirt! Fantastic. :) Could you post an image of what the shirt looks like all by itself? I'm guessing it's quite large, right?
Ooh, my first time to comment after much reading . . .
ReplyDeleteSo I bought my Klean Kanteen, my Dr Bronner's, my metal spray bottles, my glass jars (I use Bernardin), my bulk funnel. I gave up trash can liners, which means I take my food scraps and unavoidable plastic bits in a bucket and dump in the compactor twice a week (apartment dweller, best I can do for now).
Will your book will be available as an Ebook?
I have a great source for silk bulk bags - www.etsy.com/shop/kootsac - they dry in minutes.
I've even got my 60-something parents trained to refuse straws, sweet validation.
Thank you for the instruction on how to do this, Bea, I would have wasted a lot of money without your product suggestions. I hit a link to your blog one night this July and the next day I took a ceramic mug on the plane. Been talking about Bea, Bea, my hero Bea, for the last 3 months. Just finished reading the entire blog today.
Sam from Toronto
Welcome! Now that you've read the entire (!) blog, check out the Forum.
DeleteSecond the recommendation for Kootsacs!
Wow ! impressionnant ! quelle imagination!!! oui on veut un guide de poche sur les 50 façons de porter une chemise! :-)
ReplyDeleteJulie
This is inventive! Some of these looks are awesome, some aren't, but the sheer guts it took to attempt this is amazing. BZ! No sewing? Another BZ!
ReplyDeleteAnd now, to go pilfer my beloved's closet. I already stole one shirt to refashion into a skirt (new sewing machine!).
Was doing some bulk shopping research, and found this amazing store in Austin, TX. Wish I lived there so I could shop here! This is perfect for zero-wasters.
ReplyDeletehttp://in.gredients.com/
I agree: Who would have thought there were 50 possibilities to wear a shirt? Thank you for providing this.
ReplyDeleteAn idea similiar to yours can be found on theuniformproject.com. Sheena decided to try wearing a Little Black Dress for a whole year, but changing the look by wearing and accessorizing it differently each day, only with thriftshop-goods and things she borrowed from or was given to by friends and people following her blog.
She did this challenge to demonstrate sustainable fashion and to raise money for children`s education in India.
On her homepage there are not only all the pictures from the different looks (very inspiring) but also a pattern to sew the dress.
salut bea,
ReplyDeletepeux tu nous donner plus dinfos sur les differents design que tu as créé ? jaimerai beaucoup refaire certain de tes tshirts mais je ne compends pas comment les faires.
merci
I love seeing someone be fashionable and sustainable at the same time. It is very inspiring to see that you don't need to buy all of the new trends to have style. You just need creativity:)
ReplyDeletewe all love fashion, you give me a good idea how to wear fashion clothes,thank you .
ReplyDeleteGood job!!! I'm curious to know the fabric content,...t looks to be a washed linen or soft cotton? Rayon? Just curious. The shirt fabric has nice movement to it opposed to a crisp cotton.
ReplyDelete