The attention-stealing nature of this woman was starting to escape her classroom. Murmurs would follow her around the hallways and sports fields. It seemed like wherever she was, people could not stop staring. Groups of girls would be shocked to see her in the same dress. She was simply counting down the days until that question would come, which would force her to come clean. She could never have imagined that her behavior would invite this much attention and curiosity, especially not on an international scale. But the people were not expecting the answer that she would ultimately give. Just what was so strange about this teacher?
Dress Code
Teachers are expected to follow their own form of the school dress code. While some are provided with official uniforms, others have more freedom. This entails the careful planning of one’s outfit for the day, generally the night before. Julia was one teacher who constantly made an effort to appear well-dressed, with plenty of accessories. She was her school’s art teacher and made a point of dressing vibrantly and uniquely. The dress that she brought to school on the first day was exceptionally bizarre, however, even for an art teacher.
Dress Code
Putting In The Work
Julia Mooney was 34 years old when she accepted a position at William Allen Middle School, located in Moorestown, New Jersey. She wanted nothing more than to dress-to-impress for her big debut. Julia expected to turn heads with this incredible getup, but causing a scandal was the last thing on her mind. She was about to turn the school upside-down, and not on purpose. Just what had Julia gotten herself into, and what would the repercussions be?
Putting In The Work
The Fateful Dress
Julia was overjoyed the night before her first day of employment, but she was also feeling troubled with nervousness. Being a new teacher in a school means that plenty of people will be sizing you up, both students and staff alike. She could never have expected that her dress would draw so much attention. People had plenty to say about her choice of clothing for that day, and not all of it was positive. Before the new teacher on the block could defend herself, however, she would need to realize that some things were out of her control…
The Fateful Dress
Searching For Personal Perfection
So, how did Julia even get her hands on such a dramatic dress? Like most bizarre items, she found it while doing some online shopping. She instantly decided that this was a must-have piece. Most people within a school would never expect a teacher of all people to arrive in a shocking outfit, especially not on the first day. It soon became apparent to Julia that this much negative attention could easily cost her her job.
Searching For Personal Perfection
A Teacher’s Story
Julia Mooney is not your ordinary teacher – that much you might have gathered already. She is the proud mother of two beautiful children, and called New Jersey her home, despite traveling to Moorestown to work at the William Allen Middle School. Unlike many teachers who are stereotypically regarded as mundane and boring, Julia’s life was anything but ordinary. This is the kind of woman whose role in society is nothing but a label, with many fascinating qualities hidden within.
A Teachers Story
The Maternal Side
Julia tries to devote as much of her off-time to being alongside her family as possible. She puts a big emphasis on the outdoors, taking any opportunity to take her kids out into the wild to educate them on the world outside of the classroom. Julia is also a talented knitter, and when they happened to visit an alpaca farm, she gratefully accepted a bundle of the fuzzy animal’s wool. Being in Julia’s family means that learning important life skills like gardening is part of growing up. This free spirit would run into a vastly different sort of philosophy when she walked into her new place of employment. This is where our story begins…
The Maternal Side
Keeping To Herself
Julia was mature and aware enough to know that not everyone thought and acted the way that she does, but she had to admit that she found the general reaction to her dress rather disappointing. Julia said, “I don’t really usually think of myself as somebody who really cares that much [about] what people think.” But even this rebel would find herself feeling embarrassed when it seemed like everyone around her had an opinion on her appearance.
Keeping To Herself
Cohesion
Julia started her morning off by preparing her toddlers for kindergarten, dropped them off, and then set her new destination for her new school. The young teacher fidgeted with her dress nervously as she began approaching William Allen Middle School. She was sure that she looked amazing in it, however, and was happy with her pricey $50 purchase. Julia had bigger plans for the dress than just looking good in it, however, knowing full-well that there were plenty of prettier choices out there. When she finally arrived at the school, she was in for a waking nightmare of a first day.
Cohesion
Scorching Heat
Julia was optimistic as she walked into the school property. She entered her classroom with a smile and a cheery greeting, feeling happy that everything was going according to plan. But nature would not be so cooperative, as the heat began to pump. Julia managed to position herself beneath the classroom’s air-conditioning unit, which brought little relief. She noticed that her skin was beginning to redden, and even more alarmingly, that sweat was beginning to pour down her face.
Scorching Heat
The Thermometer Explodes
Despite her mild humiliation, Julia kept it together, continuing to teach enthusiastically while trying to get an airflow with a book-turned-fan. Despite her efforts to distract herself, Julia’s mind was preoccupied with the temperature that was exceeding 90 degrees. So there Julia languished, in a seemingly eternal fiery prison. She could not help but feel like her first impression could have gone a lot better if she had not been so flustered by the sweltering heat.
The Thermometer Explodes
Time Creeps On
Julia was only halfway through introducing herself to the endless flow of children when it seemed like time had ground to a halt. Each lukewarm meeting with every young teenager only worsened her despair, to the point where Julia felt like her mind was falling to pieces. By the time that the final school bell rang, Julia was desperate to reach the privacy (and air-conditioning) of her car. But the sense of relief would disappear when she realized that the special dress she had had such high hopes for was sealed to her back with sweat. She consoled herself by knowing that tomorrow was another day while washing her dress.
Time Creeps On
The Following Morning
Things would not let up the next day for Julia, however, especially considering how she had returned that following morning in the same clothes that she had worn the day before. That was when her students realized that this new art teacher was unlike any that they had enjoyed before. By the time the school closed, a nervous buzz rang through the school as everyone seemed to be discussing this strange incident. Who was this bizarre woman, and what was her game?
The Following Morning
Catching On
Julia managed to fly under the radar for a short while, but it did not take the rest of the school much time to realize that its new art teacher was different. Could something be the matter? She was wearing the same clothes, day after day. Theories started being shared between the students. They were simply baffled as to why this teacher refused to put a new outfit on. That being said, there was one student who realized that at least this teacher was changing her shoes and brought a scarf this time
Catching On
Always There
When girls turn thirteen, they become more focused on how they look and their outfits, becoming invested in the new and popular fashion standards. This new perceptiveness made them far more aware of Mrs. Mooney’s odd style choices. But Julia would not just be wearing this dress constantly on the school grounds. It seemed like wherever she went, Julia would be strangely committed to keeping this dress that was so special to her, on weekends and while doing her shopping.
Always There
The Motivation For The Dress
Julia was certain that the difficult question was on its way, despite the constant silence being rather worrying. Still, she knew that eventually, someone would find the courage to stop speaking behind her back and do it to her face instead. Nevertheless, there were plenty of questions on a lot of people’s minds, which needed answering. But there was more than just curiosity that Julia had to deal with, as there was also the possibility that she would be disciplined for her obsessive dressing standards.
The Motivation For The Dress
A Potential Charity Case
It did not take long for Julia to become the center of attention at William Allen Middle School. The dress that she could not seem to part ways with was inviting infinite attention. People began giving their theories. And not just students, as the school’s staff was growing increasingly worried. Was there some serious struggle that this woman was dealing with? Of course, teenagers are not the most forgiving members of society, and who knew what they were capable of…
A Potential Charity Case
Sticking Out
Julia was nevertheless committed to continuing with her lessons, pretending like nothing was wrong. She was well aware of the cruel stares and amused comments that followed her around the school property. As for the teachers, they seemed content regarding Julia as some kind of pitiful girl, never being bold enough to confront her about her minimalist wardrobe. Julia was determined, however, and she soldiered on without showing a single crack. She would do her best to blend in with the crowd.
Sticking Out
The Compliant One
Julia had started something of a controversial moral debate within the school. Many considered her behavior and appearance too bizarre for a teacher. The teachers and parents alike were worried that she would soon begin having a negative impact on the students. That was when the principal decided that a meeting with the parents was due. Would Julia lose her job for doggedly sticking to the same dress, day after day? She was not going against the school’s code of conduct.
The Compliant One
Financial Worries
Had Julia come from a difficult background? It was ridiculous to assume that Julia could only afford a single dress, like some medieval peasant. Given that Julia showed up with different scarves and footwear, she obviously could afford new things. She also brought a variety of aprons to her art classes, along with sweaters and accessories. The school hoped that eventually, the truth would come out, and that Julia would eventually change things up. Or would she?
Financial Worries
Offensive Apparel
There were some individuals whose curiosity soon manifested into a disturbance. More were just plain offended by this crazy teacher’s appearance. Then some were disappointed that an art teacher of all people was being so mundane. After all, teachers were supposed to be vibrant, fun, and slightly rebellious in all respects. This was all completely unusual for any person, though. Julia had her reasons, though, ones that despite being completely enigmatic, would end up blowing everyone away.
Offensive Apparel
Face To Face
Almost a month had passed when the situation was about to reach a meltdown. Julia was halfway through week three of her time with the school when she could no longer ignore the way that people were expectantly staring at her. She could no longer keep the mystery going. But how she could even begin talking about her questionable commitment to the gray dress? What was stopping her from taking it off? She had to come clean.
Face To Face
Dress To Impress
Julia was not playing games with this dress, however. She had a solid tactic in mind that had taken plenty of planning and careful consideration to pull off. This was not something that she had just casually decided to become so committed to, and she was willing to endure all manner of nasty comments. Amazingly, it seemed like the more attention that Julia received, the more pleased she became. Whatever her grand plan was, it seemed to be working.
Dress To Impress
The Truth Leaks Out Slowly
According to Julia, “I needed to pick a dress that was going to be versatile because I’m going to be wearing it through the winter, and when we started the school year it was 90 degrees.” Eventually, the students finally came together and put that vital question to Julia. Just why had she stayed in the exact same dress for almost a month? Julia did not confess, however, instead of telling her students to investigate her Instagram account for answers.
The Truth Leaks Out Slowly
The Promise
Her students were shocked to see a post on Julia’s feed that described a ‘One Outfit 100 Days’ challenge. The caption read as follows, “For 100 days I will be wearing this dress, through blizzards, ceramics projects, whatever. It looks Boring? Sure. I would love to express myself through this dress as much as the next American. This is a challenge.” The students now knew what their teacher was doing, but why she had signed up for this ‘challenge’ was still a huge mystery. One that Julia would provide four justifications for.
The Promise
Brutally Simple
Julia finally began spilling her guts to her class, and why she had signed up for such a bizarrely extreme challenge. The first reason was that this was a fantastic way to save time, given how hectic it was caring for her children while working. When she decided to erase the time-wasting chore of putting outfits together daily, she could now be with her family for longer. But there was a larger objective in her mind, one that had something to do with consumer awareness.
Brutally Simple
Committed To Real Clothing
Julia is part of the slow fashion movement, which is an opposition to fast fashion. What is the difference between the two? Fast fashion is the endless purchasing of budget but trendy clothes that will fall to pieces in no time at all. Take Forever 21 for example. Julia described how the mass consumerism of unsustainable clothing results in people around the world being forced to work in sweatshops without any kinds of rights. Slow fashion, on the other hand, emphasizes premium quality clothing that is made ethically.
Committed To Real Clothing
Protecting The Proletariat
There are plenty of businesses that will happily employ teenagers within their sweatshops, where enormous piles of garments are created for the global need for tons of affordable clothing. These are the kinds of places where ‘employees’ are not covered by fair practices. If everyone became committed to slow fashion, then this abusive global practice would end. This was Julia’s main motivation for her wearing the same dress constantly, but there was more to be revealed.
Protecting The Proletariat
Environmentally Concerned
Julia wanted to become a conscious consumer, one that does not tolerate the destruction of our planet by the fashion industry. With so many billions of people needing clothing like never before in human history, it is not surprising that the planet suffers as a result of this reaping of its essential resources. Julia would not become another number in the scheme, choosing a hemp dress made with fair-trade practices from a business called ‘Thought’ based in London. Now that the cat was out of the bag, how did people react?
Environmentally Concerned
Backlash
Most people did not consider Julia’s heroic motivations, simply being horrified at her perceived lack of hygiene and self-respect. Julia would keep her head held high in response, responding by saying that hygiene is the last thing on her mind with this mission, even though she cleans her dress daily. She compared herself to someone who wears a uniform, who is not judged as being unhygienic. But there was one final mind-expanding purpose of Julia’s Instagram challenge.
Backlash
Chew On It
“Do we really need so many new outfits? Are we just perpetuating a culture that defines us based on what we’re wearing rather than what we’re doing? What if we spent our energy trying to BE good, interesting humans instead of trying to LOOK good and interesting?” Julia’s rousing speech was enough to finally gain her some supporters, and not just locally. Individuals internationally were showing their agreement and empathy with her values and challenge.
Chew On It
Julia’s Team
Out of nowhere, Julia’s Instagram account started receiving thousands of Instagram follow requests, amounting to more than 6,500! One particularly passionate new follower commented on one of her posts how they were all for including sustainable ways into their daily life thanks to Julia’s efforts. 17 teachers also signed up with her movement, not to mention Patrick, her husband and fellow teacher (of history), who became committed to keeping the same shirt on. Incredibly, Julia would end up inspiring her students to follow in her footsteps. It did not take long for nearby news agencies to become interested.
Julias Team
Sticking To Her Guns
Julia knew that plenty of people would not be interested in her altruistic motivations, coming up with their own beliefs for this teacher’s strange behavior. It did not bother her greatly, however, knowing that everyone thinks differently, and that this was no reason to stop being friends. Julia did have a lot of good things to say about hemp, however, stating that it is a leading fabric. She also adores her ‘deep pockets’ and believes that every dress should have them.
Sticking To Her Guns
Consumer Onus
Julia simply wants people to reconsider the way that they buy their clothes, and how long they actually wear them before being thrown away, and a new item must then be purchased. Should second-hand clothes be seen in a new right? Julia wants people to be more responsible with their consumerism. No one needs a lot of clothes, and people should not derive pride or identity from the clothes that they wear. People should derive self-esteem from their actions, rather.
Consumer Onus
When The 100 Days End
Julia continued by saying that once the 100-day challenge ends, she will indeed change her clothes, but she will not be preoccupied with fashion the way that she used to be. She will be conscientious about her shopping. Julia will be keeping her values close to her heart and never stop believing in change through action. One person can do so much, no matter how small life makes us feel. That is her main takeaway from this movement.
When The 100 Days End
Ending Strong
It was on February 13, 2019, that Julia finally completed her 100 days of awareness. She then uploaded a picture of herself alongside some staff members who joined her cause by keeping the same outfits on for the remaining three days of Julia’s challenge as a sign of solidarity. Julia was so happy and impressed to receive this support, especially after all the animosity, and this was a fantastic way to end her lengthy mission.
Ending Strong
Harsh Words
But Julia’s good work did not end there. She chopped up her dress and made whole new garments with the pieces, describing how much she had grown from this period. It was time to make the most out of her courageous activism. Speaking of activism, Julia had this to say regarding people’s reactions to protests, “In the face of criticism, petty or otherwise, constantly challenge yourself to respond with equal parts grace and hard evidence. Never get defensive.”
Harsh Words
Upcycling
Julia is adamant that people should mend their clothes more often. While this can seem like a waste of time given how low quality so many of our clothes are to begin with, it is a real tragedy that mending clothes has all but disappeared in modern times. If people did fix their clothes when they tore, instead of just throwing them away, they could get so much more out of them. Of course, clothes that have been made from good materials, in a loving and fair way, are far easier to repair.
Upcycling
Taking The World On
Julia communicated how much she loves to express herself through her personal fashion choices. People judge you intensely on your choice of dress, and when you stop changing, that judgment becomes even more intense. It is almost like people cannot process what you are doing. Would you be willing to endure this much scrutiny and possible humiliation for a cause? It would certainly be extremely difficult to only wear one outfit for 100 days in a row!
Taking The World On
Another Heroine
We now want to look at another woman, called Elizabeth McCarthy, whose views echo those of Julia’s. Beyond keeping the same outfit on for 100 days in a row, however, Elizabeth also made a thorough video explaining her beliefs. She described how anyone can go through what Julia and she did and grow so much from the experience. Elizabeth aimed to become more aware of her environment by taking into consideration the frequency that she wore certain clothes.
Another Heroine
The Single Item
Rather than purchasing new pieces, Elizabeth wished to make each clothing item last as long as possible within her possession. She landed on a dress that she believed she could stand wearing for 100 consecutive days. Elizabeth took some time deciding on the ideal garment that would suit all her needs and make the lengthy challenge manageable. The dress had to be made of a fabric that would suit that much endurance. What did she land on?
The Single Item
Nothing Fancy
To begin with, Elizabeth decided on a modest tank dress which she acquired from a company called Wool&. It was meant to be styled in a variety of ways, such as in a crew neck form, like a V-neck, and could easily have a belt attached. She could also dry this piece speedily after being washed. She considered the materials that it was made of: 18% nylon, 49% ultrasoft merino wool, and 33% Tencel™. She was ready to rock!
Nothing Fancy
Weatherproof
The dress would be perfect for all seasons, being light enough for the heat of summer while being easily pairable with warmer jerseys and the like during winter. This was a dress that was sturdy enough to make it through the days. When Elizabeth had finished with her 100-day challenge, she was amazed to see that it had remained in perfect condition. Interestingly, Wool& initiated their own 100-day campaign, challenging women to wear their dresses for the full duration of the project. They delivered 50 complimentary dresses to the first volunteers.
Weatherproof
Cruising
Elizabeth did not report much in the way of challenges. She was one of many women who had put their names down for the phenomenal project. The main point of this campaign was the influence women to appreciate what clothes they have and make full use of them. Elizabeth echoed Julia’s criticisms of the disposable world that we live in. People are obsessed with boosting their wardrobe, even when they know how much damage the clothing industry is doing to the world.
Cruising
A Costly Result
There is no doubt that the excessive buying and disposing of clothes is a terrible problem in the world. These ladies decided that it was time to make a stand and change their relationships with clothes. We all need to take their advice and wisdom to heart and change our shopping standards. But how do we go about doing all of this? It all starts with changing your mindset and behavior. This was why the 100-day challenge was started, so that people could emulate those that participated.
A Costly Result
The Mission
If Elizabeth found it difficult to wear the same dress constantly, she did not show it, appearing to be completely comfortable. As you can see from the pictures of her, Elizabeth was taking her dress on plenty of adventures! No matter where she is, Elizabeth makes her dress work for the given climate and geography. She could easily roam through forests and explore sprawling cities in that same blue dress. Elizabeth quickly realized that you can do so much with so little
The Mission
Definitive Pleasure
It was almost like Elizabeth’s dress was part of her skin. She adored customizing it with warm options when things got chilly, while staying fresh and comfortable during the hotter seasons. While you may not be interested in going through what Elizabeth and Julia did, you could certainly begin appreciating your best clothes more so and start shrinking your wardrobe. Elizabeth was able to do this due to the investment she put into the pieces that truly matter.
Definitive Pleasure
Spring Cleaning
“If you’re thinking about ways to build a more minimal wardrobe, the Avery Tank Dress from Wool& provides both versatility and durability across the seasons. In a time where sustainability and waste is a hot topic, the ability to get more value and use from the items you own is of the utmost importance.” Elizabeth wrote in a related article for her blog. Beyond being gifted a dress if you sign up for this project, the successful completion of the challenge earns you a $100 voucher!
Spring Cleaning
Cleaning
Of course, one of the main barriers that stops people from joining this initiative is the thought of being stuck in a dirty dress for 100 consecutive days. In real life, if you choose a dress that is mostly made from wool (like the one that Elizabeth did), you actually do not need to clean it as often as you would think. It all ultimately comes down to how comfortable you feel in the item and how regularly you feel it needs to be washed. Let’s see what else makes such a dress so essential.
Cleaning
Material Love
Unlike other more synthetic materials, wool does not need the same rigorous washing standards. You can bet that your laundry costs will be a fraction of what they used to be if you opt for woolen pieces. A beautiful and dynamically designed dress can be styled in a variety of ways. Of course, no one is asking you to do the 100-day challenge, but you can put your clothes to a far greater use. There really is no need to buy so many pieces when you get creative.
Material Love
Life Improvement
The main takeaway of this campaign was to make women realize that they are overspending and overbuying. A person truly becomes an individual when they actually start wearing their clothes, rather than the other way around. You can establish a truly unique personal style when you stick to just a few personal pieces. Just think of how much you could do with money not spent on an abundance of clothing! You could be more charitable, and visit your dream destinations.
Life Improvement
Improving The Environment
If we all revered our consumer practices, the environment at large would begin to recover, and the effects of global warming could be lessened. We would begin to see so much of what we own as completely useless. Rather, you could establish a premium and intimate collection that you actually adore and enjoy wearing. Certainly, ensuring that all your garments match each other is important. It will not take long for you to start saving your money for more important needs.
Improving The Environment
The Opinionated Crowds
While Julia had to suffer her fair share of gossip, comments, and odd looks, most women who completed the 100-day challenge did not report much in the way of alienation or animosity. Rather, they freed themselves of the small worth and identity that an extensive closet brings people. If you want to deal with your self-esteem issues, then this is one of the most progressive and freeing attitudes to build. Just give it all some thought!
The Opinionated Crowds
Liberating
People need to stop judging each other based on what they wear. Someone could easily just be pretending to be, for example, far wealthier, smarter, or cooler than they actually are. It all comes down to our behavior at the end of the day. How people interact with each other in a human and considerate manner is so important. While each woman gained something incredible from this challenge, a lady called Ginny found the simplicity that she so desperately needed.
Liberating
Less Clutter
Ginny aimed to compact her wardrobe to make her global adventures properly convenient. Then there was Nancy, who had always kept a minimalist wardrobe, with incredible items like her Burberry coat having been by her side for more than two decades. And you can bet that it was always trendy! Incredibly, some women described how people did not seem to even notice that they were arriving to work without much change in their clothes and general appearance.
Less Clutter