Yesterday was the last day of my initial #Project333 attempt, and I’m happy to report that I stuck with the challenge for the full three months!  I did cheat in two small ways:  I borrowed a pair of gloves when I was visiting my mom because it was really cold, and I borrowed a hoodie from a friend when we spontaneously decided to spend sometime outside after brunch and I hadn’t prepared for the chilly weather.  Otherwise, I limited myself to the initial list I posted three months ago.  I replaced my black pantsuit mid-challenge, which is something I had contemplated doing before I started this because the old one was getting pretty worn (I had bought it in 2011 and worn it heavily).  Since I just replaced one black pantsuit with another that looked pretty similar, I didn’t consider that to be going outside my 33 items.  

So how did it go?  Well, dressing for essentially three seasons with 33 items was tough.  When I started the challenge, it was hot here, and I wished I had included a pair of shorts.  When I finished, it was cold and snowy, and there were days when my fleece-lined trench coat wasn’t quite warm enough for the winter weather.  I managed okay, but it would have been nice to have some gloves and a heavier coat.  The temperatures during the past three months have ranged from the 20s to the 80s, which is a big spread.  I could probably control for some of that variation by timing the three-month seasons differently, but I live in a place with a variable, unpredictable climate, so big swings in the weather are probably unavoidable here.  It may have been smarter for me to swap out some unnecessary accessories (a second pair of earrings, a thin scarf) for some more seasonally-practical items.  

I predicted that I would get bored wearing the same things all the time, but that didn’t really happen.  Whereas before I might have worn an item only once or twice a season, now I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to thoroughly use and enjoy each of these items.  I’m definitely looking forward to retiring some of them for now and wearing some different pieces, but I don’t hate the clothes I’ve been wearing.  

Having a limited selection of clothes took all the mental energy out of choosing what to wear.  Getting dressed was simple, and packing for trips was so much easier.  I’d say the ease of a simplified wardrobe overcame any desire for greater variety.  There was also something refreshing about looking at a neat, sparsely populated closet.  I used to think of fashion as a creative outlet, but honestly, there are better uses of my time and creative energy than putting together outfits.  Fewer fashion choices allowed me to focus on more important things.  

 There were a couple of occasions when I felt like I didn’t have the perfect outfit for a certain event or situation, but those instances were rare, and I think I always looked reasonably appropriate.  When I was planning my capsule wardrobe, I knew that I would be going to a wedding, so I was sure to include a dress and accessories that would work for that occasion but that I could also wear to work.  Had I not been doing the challenge, I probably would have chosen a fancier dress for the black-tie-optional wedding, but it wasn’t necessary.  At an event where the bride is the clear focus, I seriously doubt anyone was paying much attention to my attire.  

Clothes do require more frequent laundering when you wear them more often, but I didn’t find that to be a big inconvenience.  Clothes also wear out faster with frequent wear, but I’m okay with that too — it just means I’ve gotten the most out of these items and I can now feel good about replacing them with newer pieces.  I snagged one of my sweaters on a hook and ripped it a month or so ago, and rather than tossing it like I might otherwise have done, I dug out some thread of the same color and sewed it back together.  The repair job isn’t perfect, but it looks pretty good, and I’m satisfied with my resourcefulness.  In a way, Project 333 made me a little less wasteful and encouraged me to appreciate what I have.  

The challenge also made it easier for me to let go of what I don’t really need and to buy less.  If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you’ve probably seen that I’m doing the 30-day minimalism game again.  There are items that I packed away three months ago, thinking I might still want to wear them someday, that I now feel comfortable parting with.  When I consider whether to keep an item or whether to buy myself a new item, I find myself asking, “Would I want to wear this at least once or twice a week for three months straight?”  I find that to be a useful way of evaluating things.  And as I expected, I shopped WAY less during the past three months, because what’s the point of buying something new if you can’t wear it in the near future and there’s no room for it in a future 33-item wardrobe?

So would I do it again?  Yes!  In fact, I’ve already put together a list of my next round of 33 items.  I’m going to give myself a couple weeks off in between capsule wardrobes, though, to wear whatever I want.  This will give me a chance to reevaluate some of the things I’ve packed away.  It will also eliminate the need to try to incorporate holiday-party clothes into a capsule wardrobe when I know I won’t wear them again once the holidays are over (hello, sparkly red cardigan and Christmas wreath earrings).  As of now, my plan is to start Round 2 of Project 333 on January 1.  If you’re considering trying this yourself, please let me know – I’d love to hear how it’s going for you!

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