Life lessons from wearing the same dress for 100 days
Julianne Bateman Kravetz wore the same dress for 100 days.
She paired it with leggings for work at the University of Kentucky’s College of Pharmacy and black tights when she played violin.
She accessorized it with a red scarf and Santa hat for a Christmas portrait.
She topped it with a jacket for a hike along the Sheltowee Trace Trail.
Julianne, 61, was shopping online when she came across a challenge from a clothing company that promotes wearing clothing made in an eco-friendly way, buying fewer pieces, wearing them more often and recycling them.
She was intrigued. Wearing the same dress would mean one less daily decision.
She paid $138 for a long-sleeved black dress made of merino wool that regulates temperature and resists wrinkles and odors.
She had to wear it eight hours a day and post pictures on social media. At the end, she’d earn a $100 gift certificate. Julianne would learn more than that. She started Dec. 2, 2020.
“I just rolled out of bed and put on my dress,” Julianne said. No more standing in her closet, pondering what was clean.
She explained what she was doing when asked, though few people noticed.
“It helped me take a stand on sustainability,” said Julianne, who’s from Mesa.
It also made her more mindful of the consequences of her decisions.
“We can live more simply and devote our time to things that matter, making memories with friends and family,” Julianne said.
In 100 days, she washed the dress six times, hanging it up to dry.
She donated five bags of clothing and let go of other things she didn’t use.
“I don’t want my clothing to be memorable,” she said. “I want me to be the thing that is memorable.”
She focused on what truly defined her. “It’s not my clothes.”