Project 333: January 1 – April 1; The 33 Pieces I am Wearing for the Next 3 Months
When I sold my house without knowing what I was doing next I knew I needed to minimize my wardrobe. I had heard of Project 333 before so I decided to brush up on the challenge’s guidelines and plan for a 3 month capsule wardrobe. I loosely planned 33ish items to last me from October 1st to December 31st. Undergarments, workout clothing, pajamas, and sentimental jewelry worn daily (wedding ring) don’t count, but everything else does. Check out more of the rules here!
I went into this “challenge” of having fewer clothes in my wardrobe thinking it would primarily make the logistics of moving easier and help me downsize into a smaller space. I have been caught in the limbo of not having stuff I wanted with me before and it felt like my life was stuck, so I was determined not to let that happen again. I didn’t set out to freeze purchasing any new clothing during those three months, but I didn’t feel the need to and didn’t. Ultimately, there were more benefits to saving money and space than I realized.
Saving Time and Energy
I never spent too much time fussing over what I wanted to wear in the mornings before, but with Project 333 underway I didn’t spend any mental energy on what I would wear for the day.
Less Laundry
I had a lot less laundry to do. It seems counterintuitive, but because I had fewer clothes to manage, I took better care of my clothes and simply folded them and put them away after most uses. I’ve developed a ritual of putting my clothes away (a completely unimaginable thing?!) and have genuinely found peace and joy in the chore. I now only wash my clothes if they are truly dirty and I will let you in on a dirty little secret of mine— I have NEVER washed any of my handmade sweaters and they all smell fine. That’s the value of real wool and a slight fear of unraveling!
A Newfound Confidence
The biggest surprise benefit I gained from my first 3-month cycle of Project 333 was I felt like I was dressing like myself every day. I only had the clothes I really liked—ones that fit me well or that if somebody complimented me on them I could say, “Thanks! I made this!”. For the first time in my life, I was consistently confident in my outfit choices!
All of this outfit confidence and this challenge admittedly sounds foolish to me and it might to you, too. Like, who cares? There are bigger problems in the world! I get it. I really do. BUT I feel like I am reaching the top of the pyramid in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in different parts of my life and as I realize how I want to dress, I can’t help but think that pairing my wardrobe down to less has helped me to do this. My wardrobe is on the verge of achieving its full potential, and that feels so incredible!
It might go without saying that I’m eager to give Project 333 another go for January, February, and March. This time around I am taking the rules a bit more seriously.
Finding My Personal Style
I am also simultaneously taking my personal style development a bit more seriously.
- I am using Indyx to virtually catalog my clothes and going through their Personal Style Workshop. I already took their quiz to find 3 words that guide my personal style. My words are relaxed, classic, and minimalist (the descriptions made so much sense to me and they even paired brands that I have leaned towards for years! Turns out I have had a little bit of “style” all along!!).
- I’ve also made a Pinterest board of clothes I like, which has also been very helpful to me (I have a separate board for DIY clothes and whatnot to keep myself organized when referencing images in case you are curious to take a deep dive into my brain). The importance of the way I dress and present myself to the world is starting to make sense to me! Who would have thought that having fewer clothes would bring me so much clarity to what I value regarding clothing, which transcends beyond the closet? Amazing!
Winter 2024 Capsule Wardrobe
Curious what’s in my capsule wardrobe for January 1- April 1?
I am proud of this list because almost every item has a little story that goes with it. Sustainability is really important to me so I tend to choose items that are high quality that will last for many years. I try to shop brands that I know use ethical manufacturing procedures and am happy to say that most of my wardrobe passes my test or is moving in that direction.
- black skinny jeans- ethically manufactured
- golden wide leg pants- ethically manufactured
- wide leg jeans- ethically manufactured
- skinny jeans- unsure of manufacturing but have had for at least 5 years
- black leggings (I work out in them but also occasionally wear them in public- forgive me!) – ethically manufactured
- yellowish sweater- me-made
- speckled cardigan- me-made with locally made yarn
- black speckled turtleneck sweater- me made over 6 years ago
- tan turtleneck sweater- me-made
- white sweater- unsure of manufacturing
- long black plaid sweater coat- unsure of manufacturing
- overalls- me-made
- tan jumpsuit- me-made
- black cardigan- ethically manufactured
- black t-shirt- definitely not ethically manufactured. At least 3 years old
- green tank top- unsure of manufacturing
- burgundy turtleneck- unsure of manufacturing
- striped t-shirt- ethically manufactured
- striped long sleeve shirt- ethically manufactured
- Thorogood boots- ethically manufactured and made locally! A super favorite of mine!
- Chelsea boots- handmade and purchased locally when living in Spain 5 years ago 🙂
- Nike Blazers- unsure of manufacturing ethics
- Black heeled boot- unsure of manufacturing
- Snow boots- unsure of manufacturing
- Black Parka- ethically manufactured
- Backpack- ethically manufactured
- Headband- ethically manufactured
- Sunglasses (mostly for sports)- sustainable forward brand
- mittens- unsure of manufacturing
- pearl necklace- over 25 years old
- tortoise hoop earrings- unsure of manufacturing
- **indicates my me-made pieces, which I am pretty proud of 🙂
Looking Forward to My Spring Capsule
I’ve already started thinking about what my April 1- July 1 capsule might look like. I’m in my “shopping” phase which is essentially me trying to purchase something, not finding exactly what I have in mind, and thinking I can just make it instead. I’m planning a 5-7 piece mini capsule that can be worn in a mix-and-match way. The good news is that I won’t have to go through the trouble of sourcing ethically manufactured clothing!
Would you try Project 333? Less stress over what to wear, less money spent on clothes I don’t wear, less time spent on laundry, more open space in my closet, more time and energy to spend elsewhere, and more confidence. I wish I would have done it sooner!
