“Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers.” – Charles Dickens
A few years back, I experimented with reducing my wardrobe by joining Project 333.
The idea behind Project 333 is simple: Wear only 33 articles of clothing for the next 3 months. All clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes count towards your number. Exceptions include wedding rings, underwear, sleepwear, in-home loungewear, and workout clothing. Clothing that no longer fits or becomes in poor condition may be replaced during the time period.
Originally, I decided to try it for a number of reasons:
- I needed an extra push to reduce the clutter in my closet.
- I find boundaries to be helpful in minimizing.
- The project sounded both challenging and reasonable.
- The Project 333 community seemed encouraging.
The project began on October 1 and concluded on December 31. And other than a few minor exceptions (think Ugly Sweater Christmas Party), I was able to stick to the rules of 33 articles of clothing with only minimal adjustments to my weekly routine.
It became an experiment that I valued and often recommended to others. I learned some valuable lessons about boundaries over those three months.
Consider the benefits of living life within boundaries:
1. Boundaries keep us restrained.
Artificial boundaries can keep us in check when our natural self-control does not. Over the years, I had amassed a closet full of clothes—far more than I truly need. Looking back, I am embarrassed at the amount of time, money, energy, and attention devoted to my clothes.
In similar ways, the average American carries $7,200 in credit card debt and watches over 32 hours of television per week. We are in need of boundaries. Good parents set boundaries for their children… and good adults should set boundaries for themselves.
2. Boundaries force our values.
When you are challenged to pare down your clothing to 33 items, you are forced to identify which items are absolutely necessary. You are forced to single out the most important, most versatile, and most loved items. You are required to identify the most valuable things in your closet.
Similarly, boundaries in life help to force this exact same thought process. Boundaries force us to identify the difference between “really important” and only “somewhat important”—just ask anyone who has ever been given a limited amount of time left to live.
3. Boundaries promote creativity.
Orson Welles said, “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” Limiting your clothing items to 33 items for 3 months forces art. Limiting your wardrobe to a capsule wardrobe does not rob you of personal style…it causes you to truly find it. For help getting started, try this: A Practical Guide to Owning Fewer Clothes.
4. Boundaries bring freedom.
This may sound contradictory…and depending on the exact boundaries, it may be. But in the example of clothing, I found great freedom in the project. It is a refreshing feeling to look inside a closet and see only clothes that you love. Getting ready in the morning is less time-consuming. Laundry is easier. And I saved a few dollars over the 3 months as well. The experiment granted me more time, energy, and money—the very things I was losing without it.
For me, Project 333 became something far greater than wearing fewer articles of clothing. It became about recognizing the value of boundaries. And the value of boundaries reaches far beyond our closets. It begins to spill into how we decorate our homes, the toys we buy for our children, our yarn supplies, and even how we choose to spend our time, money, and energy.
Why don’t you try giving it a shot?
You’ll enjoy the challenge. And you’ve got nothing to lose but the clutter in your closet.
Varney says
I count 14 things following the above rules.
7 t-shirts
2 pairs of trousers
1 pair of shoes
1 pair of sandals (worn during showers)
2 sweaters
1 jacket
Simple enough. Trying to wear out everything and replace with merino wool.
Ellen M. Gregg says
I’m almost “there,” but 333 will give me a nice kick in the pants to tighten up, purge a couple things I’ve been needlessly hanging onto, and adhere to this. I love the concept. :-)
mari says
I have so many things that are “just ok”, or are functional and I *might* wear someday. So I started wearing them. Usually I can tell within minutes if I really will keep wearing it or not. Usually it’s not and goes immediately into the Donate bag.
Marie-Julie Parent says
Ok! I try it !! But in Montréal, it’s will be a real challenge, winter, snow, win, cool temperature :) It will be a good exercice for me. I did a clean last year in my closet, but may be i need to clean again :) I visiting you web site since 1 month ago, and one part of my blog (in french but you can use the translator :)) is in the same philosophy! I like very much your site ! Merci! MJ
Pidgen says
I live in the North and I do 333. It’s a bit harder and I don’t count long-underwear, mittens, socks, hats or scarves as part of the 33 pieces. I also don’t count outerwear such as coats or snowpants. I just count what is actually in my closet. Still makes me feel awesome to know that what is in there is what I have to choose from in order to make outfits! I don’t get to choose if I wear the underlayers! lol.
Michelle says
I live in a sub-tropical climate so my main wardrobe is shorts and t-shirts, and I own two skirts. I even wear shorts and t’s to work! I have jackets and jeans for when we are on the Harley but my wardrobe is very basic. A large wardrobe is such a time waster, the fewer things you have the quicker it is to decide what to wear :)
Much easier to do the 33 items project in a warm climate I think.
Tori says
I agree…. Living someplace that gets all seasons, 33 per season migh be more reasonable.
Courtney Carver says
Joshua, Thanks for spreading the word about Project 333. It’s changed my life and introduced me to awesome people dressing with less.
Becky says
This challenge is the bees-knees! I’ve got a box in the trunk of my car for charity drop-off tomorrow, a sectioned away with black plastic all around so I don’t see it for
three months (most is a little too small), a few things in the washing machine that will total the 33 things! The 3 optional things are sneakers and 2 pairs of sox. I’d list my stuff here only it’s cataloged and filed away already. :-)
I am so jazzed!
Soan says
I’ve tried this challenge one or twice but never seemed to follow through til the end…. I’m going under a major physical change next week (breast reduction) Many of my clothes won’t fit anymore so I think it’s the right time to take the 333 road again! I’ve decided to change the rules a bit, I’m not going to count accessories such as jewels, bags, scarfs and the likes as part of the 33 . I’m taking the rest of January to play a keep, toss, sell and buy game with my clothes.
The people of the 21th century need to own less and live more……
Michelle says
Good luck with your surgery Soan.
My sister had the same procedure done just over a years ago, said it’s the best thing she’s ever done for herself. She is much healthier and happier and she had alot of fun re-organising her wardrobe to suit the new look :)
nancy hale says
I love the statement “own less, live more”!
Becky says
Oh I see… it’s a 33 clothing item challenge within a 333 challenge project.
OK, I’m in… 33 items of clothing for 3 months. Thanks, this sounds fun!
Annie says
I was sort of “forced” in to doing this when I moved in with the man who became my husband. We live in a small city apartment and storage space is in very limited supply. I refuse to pay for storage elsewhere because I’m cheap, (and darn proud of it!), so I had to weed out the need-nots. We extended it to the rest of our place and that has made life more enjoyable since cleaning is easier and my place is ready for guests at any time. Try a similar approach to kitchen clutter, you’d be surprised how few kitchen tools you really need and use. Before buying anything new for my kitchen I ask myself, “can it multitask, and do I already have something that serves the same purpose?”
jenn says
Yes, and the answer is usually that most tasks can be accomplished with a knife. I used to work for a kitchen store, so I know how it makes you feel like you need all these gadgets!