The Project 333 Challenge, my 33-item wardrobe experiment wasn’t a fad after all. Dressing with less has changed my closet and my life in so many ways. Join me for a new season with a tiny wardrobe.
In the summer of 2010, I began thinking about decluttering my closet and simplifying my wardrobe. Even though I had been simplifying my life for a few years by decluttering other areas of my home and paying off debt, I avoided the closet. I didn’t want to shift my simplicity efforts to my closet because I knew it would mean a big change. Still, I didn’t realize it would change everything.
I thought shopping was a stress reliever (retail therapy anyone?) so I kept buying new things I didn’t need because I was “bored with my wardrobe” or because I wanted to celebrate or drown my sorrows. Shopping for new clothes was never about the thing. It was about how I wanted to feel. Of course, I didn’t recognize that then, but it’s very clear to me now. Dressing with 33 items or less every 3 months completely redefined my relationship with stuff and shopping.
What Is The 33-Item Wardrobe Experiment?
When I was figuring out how I would simplify my wardrobe, I knew that my slow and steady approach to simplicity wouldn’t work. I needed rules for decluttering clothes, and for managing the ongoing clothes clutter. What I wanted was a fun approach that helped me dress with less. I framed it as an experiment or challenge to encourage my curiosity. I also wanted a start date and an end date so it didn’t feel like a permanent change. That reduced the stress around what could have felt like a big change.
I created the rules of the Project 333 Challenge in 2010 and started my first 3-month, 33-item wardrobe experiment on October 1 that year. To create accountability and community, I shared it with the internet. The response was pretty wild. Some people called me “crazy” and said that Project 333 was just a “passing fad” (haha). Vogue magazine said the challenge was “too extreme for most people” and the interest (positive and negative) made me really excited to see what would happen. This little fashion challenge stirred things up out there! I’ll share the Project 333 Challenge rules below but first, let me share what actually happened.
What I’ve Learned From My 33-Item Wardrobe Experiment (16 Years Later)
Project 333 wasn’t a fad. At least it wasn’t for me and the many, many people I’ve heard from about their experiences. This 33-item wardrobe is still going strong for me 16 years later. Over the years I’ve shared my 33-item capsule wardrobe lists and pictures. And during the Closet Declutter Hour, I shared my exact seasonal wardrobe list and pictures.
I’ve learned so much about what happens when you wear the same clothes over and over again, and how a minimalist wardrobe can actually make your life better. But these are the three lessons that have made the biggest difference:
1. No one really cares what I’m wearing.
In the beginning I was concerned that people would notice that I was dressing with a small wardrobe. I wish that didn’t matter to me, but it did … then. Even though there was a lot of talk online, people at work and in my day-to-day life did not notice. It made me think about what else I was doing (or not doing) in my life because of what other people might say or think.
Through the first three months of the challenge, I started to care a lot less about what other people might think. They probably weren’t thinking about me and my life’s decisions at all. And if they were, so what? It’s given me a lot of freedom knowing that I can trust myself and do what’s best for me regardless of other people’s opinions. I don’t need a committee to make a change or a choice.
2. I need so much less than I think to be happy.
I don’t need more stuff to feel happier. The temporary boost I used to get from adding something new to my wardrobe used to fade so fast. And then I’d feel bad for spending extra money or for buying something I never wore and didn’t need. The cycle was exhausting. Even though I still see things out in the world that I think would make happier, when I remember how happy I am dealing with less stuff in my life, I usually pass on the purchase.
If I need a little boost, I’ll tap into some of these happiness secrets or I’ll make sure I’m not doing things that make me feel unhappy.
3. Experiments and challenges have a lot to offer (without stress and pressure).
Whether I’m changing a habit or something else in my life, framing it as an experiment makes it more approachable. Instead of a pass/fail conclusion, I can be open to what I am discovering about myself and whatever the experiment is about. It’s also easier to shift gears and make changes when I’m not locked in to expectations about the outcome. It really is more about the journey than the destination.
Join Me For a New Season of The 33-Item Wardrobe Experiment
The rules of the Project 333 Challenge are below but here’s the quick version: Choose 33 items for 3 months. Hide the rest. Dress with less and see what happens.
1. Choose a date to start your 33-item wardrobe experiment.
The official seasons of the Project 333 Challenge are:
- October – December
- January – March
- April – June
- July – September
Choose a 3-month time frame that works best for you. The good news is that you can start anytime! If you are just learning about the challenge in November and feel excited to get started, please do.
2. Make a list of your 33-items.
It’s helpful to make a list of your 33 items and break it out by category. For instance, I usually start by identifying how many items in each category I’ll need.
- Clothing: 21
- Accessories: 5
- Jewelry: 3
- Shoes: 4
These numbers will vary per season and per person. There isn’t a perfect formula. You don’t have to count underwear, sleepwear or workout clothes. If there are clothes you use exclusively for gardening or lounging around the house, I wouldn’t count those either.
3. Hide everything else.
I recommend hiding anything you aren’t including in your 33-item wardrobe experiment. Get it out of sight for two reasons.
- Chances are you are already dressing with much less than you own but you still have to sort through everything everyday. Hiding the clothes you aren’t wearing will give you a chance to sample simplicity with fewer items in your closet.
- Removing the excess gives you a chance to forget about it and break any emotional attachment you have to it. It will be much easier to make decisions about what to hold on to and what to give away at the end of a 3-month separation.
4. Pause your wardrobe related shopping for 3-months.
This one will simplify your closet and your life. During your Project 333 Challenge, pause your non-essential wardrobe purchases. This isn’t a project in suffering so buy something if you need it, and don’t buy anything you don’t need. You’ll free up money, time and attention when you start ignoring seasonal trends and purchases. And there is so much to learn about your relationship with stuff and shopping.
My biggest tip is don’t overthink the 3-month challenge. The hardest part of the whole thing for most people is thinking about starting. I plan on continuing my 33-item wardrobe experiment and I’ll continue to share what I’m wearing and learning along the way. I’d love to hear about your Project 333 Challenge too.
Resources to encourage your 33-item wardrobe experiment:
