Even when what we want most is change, we resist it. When we hear about an idea that sounds interesting, but uncomfortable, the most logical reaction is to turn and walk run away. At least that’s how I operate. And after all of the resistance and walking away, I always wonder what all the fuss was about after I get started.
People often approach minimalist fashion challenge Project 333 with hesitation and resistance, but after getting started, they are thrilled with the benefits of dressing with less.
Project 333 challenges you to dress with 33 items for 3 months. You can start on your own or take the course for extra inspiration and instruction. I hope the following simple truths about dressing with less will help remove the resistance.
7 Simple Truths about Dressing with Less
1. You won’t die if you wear something two days in a row.
You can wear the same pair of jeans several days in a row, or the same sweater/scarf/shirt/insert item here _________. There are exceptions, but the idea is much less horrific than you might imagine.
2. You can buy it when you get there.
Leave your just in case items behind. You don’t need to plan and pack for every scenario. Unless you are going on a trip into the wild, you can borrow or buy what you need.
3. No one cares what you are wearing.
You think way more about what you wear than anyone else. People may comment on what you wear, but usually those comments are an effort to connect with you in some way.
4. What people think of you is really none of your business.
This quote from Martha Graham always reminds me not to bother worrying about what everyone else thinks. Don’t dress to elicit a reaction or because of what you think people might think about you. It shouldn’t influence the decisions you make while getting dressed or doing anything else.
This is your closet, your heart, and your life. No one knows those things better than you.
5. Your closet is not too small.
When you begin to dress with less, you open up space in your closet, mind and heart. Instead of searching for a bigger closet, bigger home, and bigger life, you can direct your attention to the things that truly matter.
If you are unsure about what’s important to you, don’t worry. Sometimes, to discover what matters, you have to get rid of everything that doesn’t.
6. Your style is not the latest trend.
Your style probably isn’t what’s walking down runways, featured in fashion magazines or even what your friends are wearing. When you start wearing the clothing you like the most and that fits you the best, you will naturally develop a personal style that reflects your needs, your lifestyle, and your desires.
7. Dressing with less is not a sacrifice.
A challenge to dress or live with less helps you identify what enough means to you. It also dramatically shines light on the things that mean the most to you. This eye-opening process is often fun, and always enlightening and not a project in suffering.
You will get so much more than what you give up.
If you felt the resistance while reading this post, choose one of these simple truths as inspiration to dress with less. You don’t have part with anything permanently, but putting a little distance between you and the excess for 3 months will give you the information you need to decide what to keep and what to release.
Learn more about getting started or put an end to the resistance and begin with the Dress with Less microcourse for inspiration, support, and extra fun as you whittle down your clothing choices and create your capsule wardrobe.