Be More with Less

simplicity is love

Project 333 is Forgettable: A Fashion Confession

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Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Laura of smash your t.v. and have adventures.

I discovered Project 333 two days after the first phase started. Project 333 seemed incredibly radical yet practical. It was something I really wanted to be a part of but a little afraid to do.

I already thought I had a pretty minimalist wardrobe since I’m not a shopper or fashion addict, but the number of items in my closet still far exceeded 33 and I wasn’t sure if I was up to the challenge.

That, combined with the fact that two days of phase one had passed and I needed time to sort through my clothes, kept me from participating in the first round. I spent the next few months slowly donating clothes to Goodwill and selecting items for phase two. But by the time January 1, 2011 rolled around, I was ready.

A bit daunting in the first few days, Project 333 ended up being easier than expected. I wasn’t overwhelmed with outfit options, I was less picky about what I wore, and I was comfortable all the time. I also had a few pieces of unworn clothes during those three months.

Before April 1st arrived, another set of clothes had been selected for the next three months. Theoretically, the spring months would be harder with an extreme temperature range, different types of weather, and the need to dress up for my internship – I’m a jeans and t-shirt person.

Fast forward to now, six months into my personal Project 333. How is it going for me? Well, I have a confession to make.

I forgot about it.

You’re probably thinking that I cheated and started wearing clothes that aren’t on my list of thirty-three items. Actually, no. I forgot about it because now I just do it without thinking. It comes naturally. The clothes I’ve boxed up and packed away are out of sight and out of mind. They don’t exist. They’re not options. And I’m doing just fine without them.

I no longer worry about people looking down on me for wearing the same clothes, week after week. I no longer feel the need to explain why I’m wearing the same clothes anymore. My brain has been wired to believe I don’t own more than five pairs of shoes. My gray cardigan is a staple that is comfortable and goes with anything. I take little time getting ready in the morning. I forgot that I had two bags of clothes in the basement.

Having fewer clothes is a mindset for me now. It’s not a challenge anymore, it’s normal. The clothes I do use are comfortable and satisfy every purpose I have for them. That’s what clothes are to me: a purpose, not a fashion statement. And can I tell you how much I love that everything fits in a small closet?

Project 333 has also changed the way I shop for clothes, on that rare occasion that I step into a store. Instead of finding a different article of clothing for varying purposes, I search for one item that can do it all. My two current favorite items of clothing in my closet were actually purchased for the project:

  • Gray cardigan sweater. It replaced a few zip-up hoodies, colored cardigans, and some long-sleeved shirts. I wore it almost every day during colder weather.
  • Black flats. I love this pair because it can be worn with or without socks and with jeans, dresses, or leggings as a casual or dress shoe. It has replaced several pairs of shoes in my closet.

I love that two things can do what too many things used to do.

Now when I do remember Project 333, I consider how to eliminate more clothing from my collection or pick a year-round wardrobe. I want to challenge myself more. I want to pare down my clothing so there are no extra bags of clothes in the basement. I want to make sure that every item I have is versatile and purchased mindfully. I want people to focus on me, not the clothes I’m wearing or the labels on them.

My clothes do not define me. Your clothes do not define you.

What is the best thing about Project 333 for you?

Read more from Laura at smash your t.v. and have adventures, or follow Laura on Twitter.

If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to Project 333 and connect with me on Twitter. Check out courtneycarver.com for simple inspiration in life and business.

Comments

  1. I agree wholeheartedly 🙂

    I thank Courtney for such a brilliant idea that helps people realize for themselves that they don’t need so much clothing. I didn’t know about P333 during phase 1 and participated fully in phase 2 and then, on purpose, didn’t participate in phase 3. I feel like I sort of “graduated” from the program after one phase. I don’t have 33 items, but after the initial purge to get into phase 2 I was pretty close to just the basics for me, no matter what temperature it was going to be outside. I think I have about 65 items total right now and I find myself weeding out a few things here and there every week or 2. Stuff like t-shirts not fitting as comfortably as I remember, socks that fall down on my ankle and bug me, dress shirts that don’t fall to my wrists like I like them. Things like that will get me down to about 45-50 items total and I think that’s a good number for a 4 season wardrobe for me.

    Cool title for your post too Laura!

    • What I especially love about this challenge compared to other fashion projects (ie: The Uniform Project is the flexibility of having options within the restrictions. 33 is actually quite a large number when you consider how many ways several clothes can be put together; yet, it reminds us that we don’t need as much as we think we do.

      A reduced year-round wardrobe will be my next step, as well.

      Thank you, Craig! 🙂

  2. You’ve expressed my experience, too! The best thing about P333 is knowing that the clothes I have fit well, suit my style, and work well together. I feel pulled together every day, and I rarely dither about what to wear!

  3. One of the things I have enjoyed about this project is realizing that I didn’t have to go out to get things to make my project333 wardrobe look more adult. I am a very petite woman and the VAST majority of appropriate adult clothing is miles too big for me. As a result I’d been a bit forced to stay in the juniors section, and a lot of the choices reflect the age group – a good ten years younger!

    It was extraordinary to go through what I had to find that it was grown up!

  4. I participated in the January 2011 333 as well, and at the end, I informed my 20+ fourth graders about the project. Nine and ten year olds notice everything, so I was a little surprised to hear from them that they hadn’t really noticed that I’d been wearing the same three pairs of pants for months on end. “I just figured you had better things to think about,” said one darling child. I hope that’s the impression I leave with everyone.

    • I spend my time around children (I’m a special education teacher), and I’m not surprised to hear your kids hadn’t really noticed or cared. If you look at what they wear, you’ll notice they wear the same outfits repeatedly, too (especially the younger ones)!

      I love what your student said. That’s how everyone should think – we have better things to do with our time than constantly worrying about what to wear. Thank you for sharing that!

  5. Funny, as I’m reading this I’m wearing a gray cardigan and my trusty black flats. I haven’t participated in P333 but am constantly culling my wardrobe down to just the basics with a few special pieces. Hopefully one day I’ll get to 33 items on accident! I find all minimalist practices tend to be very mindful in the beginning and then simply become habit. Great post 🙂

    • Aren’t those two items great for almost anything? The fact that you’re wearing them right now just reassures me that I made a good choice! I hope you will think about joining the project during the next phase!

      “… minimalist practices tend to be very mindful in the beginning and then simply become habit.”

      That is so true! I’ve discovered the same thing in my simple living journey over the past year.

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

      • I’m a lover of the gray cardigan (mine is a cardiwrap for even more variation) and black flats, too! They see a lot of action in my wardrobe. When I was buying the items I needed to fill in the gaps in my wardrobe, the idea of versatility in my wardrobe was front and center. Almost all of my items go with the other items, giving me hundreds of different outfits with those same items.

  6. “Having fewer clothes is a mindset for me now. It’s not a challenge anymore, it’s normal.”

    Need we say anything more. Thank you for such a great post. I have thoroughly enjoyed the perspectives and experiences of all my P333 friends!

  7. I haven’t actively participated, but I have been downsizing my wardrobe. This year, when I opened my tote of summer clothes, I was actually very disappointed to see all the clothes I had. Now that was a first. I’m trying to downsize all the extras now. Quite a different mindset for me, I’ll tell ya.

    • When I opened my summer bag a few months ago, I was disappointed to see how many clothes I had too. Needless to say, it was streamlined immediately and most of the summer clothes I have are being used right now. I think it’s great that you are mindfully downsizing your wardrobe! Maybe you will participate when the next round starts in July?

      Thank you for stopping by! 🙂

  8. Love this and l love those two items, graey cardigan and black flats. I have two Ralph Lauren zip up sweaters that are still lookin’ good after 4 years. And if the weather is cool I have one of them on.

  9. I found project333 a few weeks ago when I was researching capsule wardrobe collections. The reason for this is that I am changing jobs and moving into a B&B whilst I relocate, I could be there for a few weeks or several months. Most of my possessions are going into storage which has made me re-evaluate everything I own because I want the things I need and treasure with me (where possible).

    The big move is tomorrow and I have got my clothes down to a large backpack, a small rucksack and a medium suitcase. I have no idea how many items I am taking but I know that in the boxes I am storing there are over 80 items.

    I was wondering how people who have limited wardrobes deal with their clothes being dirty? Sure everything works with everything else, but with so few items being worn constantly washing has to be turned around very quickly and I would imagine lots of half loads and handwashing is required.

    I love the idea of cutting back but think that the logistics of doing so will have a negative imapct on my lifestyle (i.e. I will always be trying to keep on top of washing and ironing, but worst of all getting things dry!).

    How has everyone else coped with this aspect?

    Emma

    • I understand your concerns. When I started Project 333, I lived in an apartment and had to pay $3.00 a load (in quarters) each time I did laundry. it adds up! However, my whole life, I’ve worn jeans many times before washing them, and I can do the same with pants, skirts, and dresses. My shirts usually go two before I feel the need to wash them, although I’ve stretched some out a week. Before Project 333, I did laundry every two weeks. During Project 333, I still did laundry every two weeks. My clothes don’t really get dirty unless I’ve been playing in the dirt, working up a sweat, or had something spilled on me.

      So, clothes aren’t really as dirty as you may think they are. Hand-washing is a great option, and quick when there’s only a few articles. Usually, clothes are dry by the time morning arrives. You could also look into a Wonder Wash.

      Does anyone else have any input on this?

      • Same here – I wash when needed, not after every use. Some items get two or three wears between washes. The only things washed after each wear are undergarments, socks, and workout clothes, which just aren’t fresh enough to rewear.

        • I’ve enjoyed your article, Laura. I have not participated in this project, but would like to. I wanted to comment that I have been paring down my wardrobe drastically (I had a LOT of clothes)! On the top of my list is comfort and versatility, followed by the LEAST amount of time and money caring for said clothes, with taking up less space (for travel) in forth place.

          Many wonderful wardrobe staples can be found at fine sports stores, such as R.E.I., with well-made, comfortable fabrics that hand wash well (if a washer is not available) and dry, sometimes within an hour or two! The cost may be a little more, but these clothes will last years longer than most off the rack items in department stores.

          I invested in a 3/4 length black jacket, with great styling, that works for three seasons, maybe even winter with the right layering, and was able to get rid of four other jackets. Even good in wind and rain. Can’t beat that for flexibility!

  11. Stopped by the P333 website, as I realized a new 3 months just started, and saw this post. P333 *is* forgettable, and that’s part of why it works as a stepping stone – I had been wanting to live a more minimalist life for some time, but had difficulty emotionally parting with objects. I participated in the 1st and 2nd phases of P333 and, beyond being awesome in its own right, not missing the clothing I boxed up made me start lessening my grip on other sentimental (because to me, my clothing was full of memories) objects as well.

    I didn’t do the 3rd phase of P333, but in a way, I did something that was even better for my lifestyle – I donated most of the clothing I’d boxed up. I probably have 50 items now, but that counts EVERYTHING for all four seasons. It is a small enough number that it fits comfortably in my half of the closet (my husband and I share a closet) and I didn’t see any point in boxing up winter clothes during the summer or vice versa.

    Maybe 50 sounds like a lot to some of you…but it works pretty well for me and is a significant change – I wish I had counted how many items I had before P333, as it was probably close to 200 (some of which didn’t fit). I could probably pare down further, but I’m more interested now in putting energy toward tackling other parts of the house – I’m making great progress with photos and old papers! Then I’ll probably revisit and pare down the clothing again.

    Also, a tip that has been great for me in terms of simplifying clothing is that I purchased simple, mid-weight black socks that work for pretty much everything. They are all exactly the same, so now I never have to think about matching or pairing socks. Sounds like a small thing, but I realized that even spending 10 seconds thinking about socks in the morning was an unnecessary waste of mental energy!

    E

    • That’s fantastic!!! That’s also my next goal – paring down everything to about 50 items for all four seasons. We will be moving into a tiny home within the next year and won’t have as much closet space as a typical home or apartment. Great tip on the socks – I’ll keep that in mind as I finalize the wardrobe. Best of luck with tackling everything else in the house!

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