Project 333 Wardrobe Challenge

On Saturday I started Project 333: I chose 33 items of clothing, accessories, jewelry, and shoes to wear outside the house for the next 3 months.

Before: every girl needs an extra DVR box in her closet.

The idea behind Project 333 is well-documented; you can read about Courtney Carver’s capsule wardrobe challenge here and check the #Project333 hashtag on Instagram to see how I and other people are doing it. For me, the goal is twofold: to see if I can do it, and to welcome the notion that I can walk over to my closet with the guarantee that anything I put on will be something I love. No more big sigh “I have nothing to wear” moment as I stand before thousands of dollars worth of accumulated clothing. How brattily first world is that moment so many of us experience every day? Seems dumb now, and avoidable.

Only the clothes on the right, and the 5 pairs of shoes up top, are in my 33

As my friend Michelle and I went through my entire wardrobe, assessing, choosing, tossing, or storing for later, I did feel a few moments of panic. What about this item? What about that one? Will I get bored with these 33 after just a week? But really, even if I do, who cares? I can always quit.

Nobody’s forcing me to do this. But I know myself, I’ll try to stick to it because I said I would. I love a challenge. Committing to temporary challenges has been a hugely successful venture for me. Doing this has helped me:

• Get my family on a budget (Financial Peace University)
• Write a novel (NaNoWriMo)
• Calm down (Oprah and Chopra’s 21-Day Meditation)
• Write every day (April A-Z Challenge)
• Eat clean (elimination diet)
• Get stronger (2-Week workout challenge)

Wow. The more I sit and think about it, the more of these I can remember doing. Only a few of those challenges have stuck with me for good, or at least for now, but I enjoy taking them on and seeing what becomes a long-term way of life.

Recently I stopped drinking wine and cocktails during the week. I started making my bed (almost) every morning. I cut personal use of Facebook out of my life entirely until Easter.

Facebook-free March. But who’s counting?

All of these new habits and challenges to myself are meant to simplify. Get rid of stuff, appreciate what I have, blah blah. I’m not sure I expected to be successful, frankly. But here’s the thing. I think all this simplifying is working. 

I have definitely made room in my life for more positive activities and thoughts and especially for writing. As of today I have written 78,000 words in my novel’s first draft! I don’t know if my new sparse mix-and-match wardrobe will help with that, but it will certainly make me better-dressed than my usual lounge pants and fleece when I take my customary seat tonight at the library.

Project 333 Day 1 and Day 2.