Welcome to Project 333 Style Stories, a series featuring real people dressing with less. Your stories are so important and will inspire people to try Project 333 and discover the benefits of dressing with less. Send me your style story for consideration with 3 images of you and your 33 and answers to the questions below.
Tell us a little about yourself like what type of climate you live in, and what a typical day is like for you.
I live in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. Summer time is very hot and humid, while winters are notoriously cold and snowy. I chose to begin project 333 in the summertime to eliminate the need to include many bulky sweaters and coats that will be needed come wintertime. I’m a mom of two young, busy kids and days for me typically include chasing after kids, playdates, household duties, running errands, as well as working on our business from home. I also love working out so I spend a few hours each week running outside or going to the gym.
Why did you start Project 333?
I initially started it by accident. Since beginning to work out more intensely I lost weight and changed my body shape so much that I was fitting into less and less of my clothing each week. Despite not wearing them anymore, I had trouble giving away things I did previously wear and enjoy. I started getting interested in minimalism and in researching it came across Project 333. It seemed drastic at first but once I began to go through my clothing and get rid of things I no longer fit or enjoyed wearing it became fun to choose my “favorite” things to keep and wear!
What’s in your 33?
4 pairs of shoes (1 flip flops, 1 wedge sandals, 1 pair leather boots, 1 running shoes)
3 dresses (LBD, striped A-Line, blue A-line)
1 white skirt
2 pairs blue jeans (skinny patterned, flared dark wash)
2 shorts (denim cutoffs and bright athletic shorts)
2 sweaters (patterned and grey cardigan)
5 tank tops
3 T-shirts
2 blouses
1 patterned scarf
2 purses (white leather and patterned floral)
1 pair sunglasses
2 jackets (red leather and denim)
1 skinny leather belt
1 silver delicate necklace
1 gold statement necklace
This selection is versatile enough to transition from summer to fall. It also allows me clothes that are comfortable for playing with my kids but can also be dressed up for other occasions. As you can see I’m not afraid of pattern and color but with some basic denim pieces and a solid skirt it balances out and allows the clothes to work well together.
What have you discovered as a result of dressing with less?
I don’t miss my old clothes, that’s for sure! Mornings are hectic enough trying to get two young kids ready every morning so not having to waste 10 minutes staring at my closet every morning is amazing! I’ve also started applying the principle to my children’s wardrobes too. My daughter practically wears the same 3 dresses every day anyway so she hasn’t minded at all. My kids each have 2 pairs of pajamas and since I am doing a load of laundry daily I haven’t needed more than that. It has been so freeing to be able to grab clothes that fit me well, and I enjoy wearing. And those I’ve shared my excess clothing with are in support of Project 333 as well!
Cheryl is passionate about simple living, fitness and minimalism and writes about it here: http://revivers.ca. You can find her and say hi on Twitter.
