If you are working on your capsule collection for the next 3 months, or even if you are just considering it, these tips will encourage you to create something that works for you. When you choose items that fit your body and your lifestyle, you create a capsule wardrobe that helps you discover the benefits of dressing and living with less.
1. Make your own rules
Project 333 began changing closets around the world in 2010 and since then different capsule wardrobe projects have popped up with slightly different rules or numbers, but the core concept and challenge is the same … to create a small collection of clothing for a set amount of time (usually 3 months). Start with the Project 333 rules. If you need structure, stick with the rules. If you need flexibility, add your own touch.
2. Pick your favorites
Having it all doesn’t require owning it all. Take a look at the things in your closet. Are they your favorites or are they things you got on sale, or things that looked good in a magazine ad, or on someone else? Donate your duplicates, the jeans that haven’t fit in a long, long time, and those trendy items you thought would make you happy, but now reside in the back of the closet. Dress with less and wear your favorite things every day.
The following comment on this post reminded me how important it is to make room for your favorites, “An unexpected side-effect of simplifying my clothes: The other day, I went to grab a top for slopping around the house in… Stared in confusion at my options for a little while, before I realised that now I only have my favourite tops left (ie ones I would be happy to go out and be seen in), so I ended up wearing a favourite top just for sitting on the balcony and reading a book. It felt great”
3. Kick comparison to the curb
I’ve seen the perfectly dressed bloggers and capsule wardrobe collections with the colors and patterns that you would never dream of putting together. While some of them can be inspiring, many of them are completely intimidating and overwhelming. If you didn’t dress that way before, you probably won’t stick with it for very long.
Go your own way for the next 3 months. Work with what you have and take the emphasis off of shopping and style and put it onto the things that matter most to you. Ignore the trends, the advertising, and everyone who looks like you think you should look, and be happy in your clothes.
4. Identify what’s most important in your capsule wardrobe
The next season for me is winter, and the most important quality of my capsule wardrobe is warmth. I’ll still include something for the occasional warm day or room, but most of my clothing will be serving the purpose of keeping me toasty warm. Earrings don’t do that, so they aren’t on the list. Instead I’ll include an extra cozy scarf.
5. Don’t buy your capsule wardrobe
You could go out and buy 33 perfect pieces, but then you end up spending money you might not have on things that you won’t love in 3 months. Instead, figure out what you really need by working with what you have. If you need to add a piece or two, do it, but otherwise, give yourself three months of dressing with less to better understand what you need for a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.
6. Eliminate the fear
Dressing with less can be scary stuff. Not there’s a snake in my sleeping bag scary, but it can trigger feelings of fear:
- fear of not having what you need
- fear of people noticing that you are wearing the same things
- and the simple fear of trying something new
The best way to eliminate the fear is to remember that this isn’t permanent. It’s 3 months, and if you think about what you were doing 3 months ago, you’ll remember how quickly time flies.
Don’t donate your clothes yet, except for the stuff you never wear. Instead, get it out of sight so you can enjoy the benefits of a capsule wardrobe with the security blanket of your clothes hidden in a box somewhere besides your closet.
7. Think about how you want to spend your time
Once you’ve created your capsule wardrobe, you won’t need extra time to get ready in the morning, and you won’t be spending time shopping online, or in dressing rooms. You’ll naturally create more time by eliminating those activities. How do you want to spend it? Make a love list to identify how you’ll spend those precious extra minutes and create a morning routine for health, energy, and creativity.
Hello Courtney!
Thank you for this post, perfect timing – I started taking stock of my own wardrobe yesterday for the first time.
I read your ‘making space’ tips and just wanted to point out the following:
if you have clothing in bad condition, DO NOT TRASH IT ! ! ! People usually feel bad about giving not-so-nice items to charities / thrift stores [Goodwill, The Salvation Army, local thrifstores), but actually they are super happy to take ANYTHING you have (as long as it isn’t wet, mildewed or loaded with hazardous waste). They will sort through your items and decide which go to uses other than apparel – textiles get shredded and recycled for a number of applications. The more we can keep out of the landfills the better.
Hope this helps! Happy New Year!!!
Thank you for this insight. I have bags of clothes and linens and was wondering if someone would really appreciate the donation. Everything is clean but I was worried about it not being good enough as I have seen people who are getting handouts get pretty snooty. Seems like some of the needy want better than what I have. But tomorrow I will take my bags to a donation center. Thank you. You got me off of the fence! 🙂
I’ve spent well over a year now editing my wardrobe down from probably 200 items. I have also bought a lot of items this year, as I have moved into my first full time professional job in 15 years. The main ‘trick’ has been minimising my colour palette, and being very careful in buying patterns, as these were themes that emerged in the things I got rid off…patterns and colours I tired of and /or were hard to mix and match. I also realised that I need to pay more attention to fit if I am going to love an item enough to include it in my minimised wardrobe. I am using the Project 333 Pinterest board to share my 2015 challenge.
I love clothes, but don’t have much closet space for them. But even with a limited wardrobe, your post made me realize that there are pieces I love to wear (and do wear), and others, that though I like them, they are seldom worn. Hmmm…maybe time to let them go 🙂
I always go through my closet twice a year (spring / fall) donate what I have not worn, or things that are looking old and tired… It is easy to tell if an item has not been worn as I turn my hangers backwards, and after an item has been worn it gets turned around. However, I have too many things that I have been holding onto for when I get back down to that size, or just in case I gain weight back to that other size… and I own way too many shoes. Project 333 sounds like a challenge I need to embrace! Thanks for the inspiration!
Courtney, one action that has helped me the most in my now almost two years of 333 is travelling. When I pack my back for 2, 3, 5 or 10 day trip, picking my favorite items is easy and painless. It has been the way for me to identify quickly what items I really love. And each time I come back from a trip I notice that I am willing to let go of more items. Most recently I determined that I don’t like grey clothes, so I am just eliminating grey from my wardrobe — yes, it looks good with shocking blue, and is so easy to match with blacks and turquoise … but no, I’ll pass.