Have you heard of The Project 333 Challenge: Reduce your wardrobe to 33 total items?
The system consists of paring down the clothes in your closet to the items you love the most, fit the best and go together well. Now that’s a sensible idea! Courtney Carver, the mastermind behind Be More With Less, recommends 33 total items including footwear, accessories and jewelry. Workout clothes, pajamas, and sportswear are exempt.
Why would I pare down my closet to 33 pieces?
I like to try new things. Ever since my 50th birthday, I’ve tried something new every single week. This practice helps me stay open to whatever life throws at me. So “new” I’ve got down.
It’s “letting go of the old” that’s my problem. When my husband and I lived in California, we had a house with a 3 car garage, 4 bedrooms, an office, 7 closets and a huge pantry. When we bought something new, we never had to get rid of anything. Can you relate?
Even though we live in a smaller space now, my closets are still stuffed. So I figure the problem must be me!
How did I do? Well, it was pretty tough I have to say. I failed: Thirty three items is an itty bitty wardrobe. So I modified (as Courtney suggests) and ended up with 44 pieces (not including jewelry and shoes) instead. Though I pared down to a much smaller wardrobe, not a tiny one, I am never going back and you shouldn’t either.
Don’t worry, you don’t just throw things away. You pack up the other season’s clothes in boxes. I did toss some things, sold a few, and gave the rest to St. Lawrence Thrift store.
Here are 5 unexpected things I learned and changed immediately in my life (and you can, too):
1. My clothes don’t fit but I keep them anyways.
How lame is that? I had 7 pairs of work slacks and only a few of them fit well.
What am I doing about it?
Fashion show time. I tried them on one at a time for my husband and we rated them. I kept three, sold one and gave away the rest.
Why was I keeping pants that didn’t fit well and I didn’t like? I have no idea! But they are gone now.
2. I keep things I don’t like.
My closet was packed with pants, shirts, and sweaters that I don’t really care for. I’ve done that all my life. (Please tell me I am not the only one.)
What am I doing about it?
Selling on consignment. I sent them to ThredUp. This online consignment shop sent me a “send in your stuff bag” in the mail. I filled it with cute dresses, sweaters, and “on trend” tops to sell for cash or ThredUp credit. I’ll let you know how that goes.
(Have any of you tried it? I’d love to hear your experience with online or physical consignment stores.)
3. There are hidden items in my mess.
Things I found in my closet:
10 pairs of gym socks (who loses 10 pairs of gym socks?)
2 pairs of black leggings – wearing one right now
Several cute scarves
10 ball caps (who needs 10 ball caps?)
2 pairs of awesome Fabletics yoga pants
A back massage “tapper” from Sharper Image (putting to use right now)
You can’t wear what you can’t find.
Biggest find: my purple Smart Wool ski sweater in the bottom of my sweatshirt bin. I’ve been skiing and snowshoeing 8 times this season. I seriously could have used the sweater.
What am I doing about it?
I pared down to 44 things. These little gems of mine hang in my closet or are stored in my line of sight in clear plastic bins. The clothes from other seasons are labeled and boxed up, waiting for me to open them when the weather changes.
4. I am not wearing my favorite clothes all the time.
My biggest take-away is that as a grown up, I can wear what I want! Why wouldn’t I wear clothes I feel great in? My friend Sheri asked me how the challenge was going and initially, I told her, “Not well. I think I am a hoarder!”
What I didn’t tell her was I feel like I need a series of meetings with a psychologist or to read a book titled, “You Are What You Wear.”
What am I doing about it?
Wardrobe capsules. I set up separate wardrobe capsules for work, home and date nights. I organized my outfits around my absolute favorite pieces of clothing.
I’ll put together several outfits based on a favorite anchor item. For example, my favorite skirt is a super classy black textured pencil skirt from Express. The skirt pairs well with a cream colored polka dot shirt and a black suit coat. To make this a wardrobe capsule, I keep the skirt as a base and change out other pieces adding a statement necklace or accessory.
Now when I am heading to work, I’ll have at least 4 outfits pre-planned that go well with my favorite skirt.
I’m envisioning some happy mornings in my future. What a difference in my attitude when I look in the closet in the morning, instead of thinking “nothing fits, this doesn’t work, and I have nothing to wear.” I’ll be thinking, “awesome, I love this skirt.”
5. I have everything I need.
How amazing is that?
By going through my closet, purging, and then putting everything back together in an organized way that works, I realized, I don’t need anything else. In fact, I even have enough to give away.
Going forward, if I pick up a piece of clothing, it will be something I absolutely love, of great quality and goes with everything.
Now I have a question for you. How does your closet look and what are you doing about it?
Check out Courtney Carver’s blog, BeMoreWithLess.com and TheProject333.com