AllyG: L-A and I are v. busy working on something v. exciting for the blog. Therefore, we have a guest blogger today. The lovely Jo! We’ll bring you the news of our exciting venture ASAP!

Jo: Today I am totally in love with the following …

The Uniform project…1 dress, 365 days

In May of this year, a totally fashion savvy gal by the name of Sheena Matheiken started wearing ONE staple dress. EVERY day. And she will do this for a YEAR!. Every day, she reinvents the dress with layers, accessories, and general awesomeness.

Why? As an exercise in sustainable fashion! How fun AND amazing! She calls it a daily uniform with creative license. I call it brilliant. The ultimate fashion challenge. Eat your heart out Project Runway. And no sewing required!

Sustainable fashion? Good. Fashion challenge? Good. Daily photos of said dress on display for all to love and enjoy? Soooo goooood. And as if all of that isn’t enough, The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, which funds uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums.

Um. OK…I help people too. Whatever…

This girl is so adorable, I want to carry her around in my pocket. Here are a few of my faves.

So adorable it hurts, non?

This is the kind of girl who can wear anything. I wish I was that girl. I shudder to imagine the results if I were to attempt a similar experiment. eek.

Anyway, the whole thing reminds of my lifelong secret desire to wear a school uniform. Not sure how or why a fashion obsessed girl like me would wish a fate of conformity upon herself, but it’s true.

Stop! Get your head out of the gutter. I do NOT mean this:

I mean this, the real deal. From start to finish, pre-school to graduation.

I sometimes even I wish I had to wear a uniform to work now (no, NOT my tuxedo shirt and bow tie from the movie theatre).

There’s just something about the skirt – the shape, the pleats, the plaid. The crisp white shirt. The jacket. The TIGHTS. The shoes, boots and bags, oh my…

And despite the obvious contradiction, a smartly worn uniform is like the ultimate expression of creativity, an inventive display of your authentic self. Taking a stand against ugly and making it awesome. Taking a blank canvas and showing everyone who YOU really are. You get the picture. There’s even a WikiHow to explain How to Look Good in Your School Uniform

It can be as simple as smart glasses and wicked earrings (I bet she’s wearing Chucks or something equally cool on her feet).

Look, even little Maddox Jolie-Pitt began to rock the uniform at age five during his brief stint at the prestigious Lycée Francais de New York. He could use some pointers to make the thing a little snazzier, but with accessories like Brad and Angelina, who needs a tie? Check out his cool little sneakers (and her SHOES … OK wait … focus).

Back in the motherland (AKA New Brunswick), there were a few private school girls. They came to my high school, usually from RCS Netherwood in Rothesay (or left FHS suddenly to go there … hmmm). Some were rich. Others mysterious. Some were bad … sometimes they were all three! AND they had … uniforms!

Observe how happy they look whilst wearing their uniforms:

Now, while these lovely ladies look bright and happy, they are not exactly rocking the unis here. Sweet? Yes. Cast of Gossip Girl? Not exactly …

Good news! You don’t have to be a young Hollywood starlet …

… a supermodel in a high fashion spread …

or one of Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku girls…

…to pull this look off.

I knew I couldn’t be alone in my love of the uni-look. Hoorah! Let’s observe the uniform look outside of its natural habitat, shall we?

Seriously…

Remember little Emma Watson? Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies? Well, she’s turned in her horrific scarlet and gold tie, cape and …feather pen (?) for a uniform I think we can ALL dig …

… BURBERRY! She’s the new face of Burberry’s 2009 fall/winter campaign, photographed by none other than Mario Testino.

So to recap…

DO channel your inner Korean supermodel

NOT Fergie

Accessorize

Don’t be afraid of colour

And use caution when Googling “school uniform”… it’s a little scary sometimes to see what comes up.

Oh, and this is for Ally

L-A: Awesome post! I’ve been meaning to talk about the Uniform Project for sometime now, so I’m glad you’ve brought it up. Also: Loving the uniform chic. You’re not alone, I see girls out and about in uniforms and I shed a little tear for my days a schoolgirl without a uniform. (although, jeans and Northern Reflections t-shirt might have been seen as a uniform. What? It was the early 90s in Western Newfoundland. We didn’t have a lot of options!).  Golf claps all around for Jo!