Hear me out! There’s a minimalist clothing challenge called Project 333 where you choose 33 items from your wardrobe (including shoes, outerwear, and accessories), and dress yourself with only those items for 3 months. I don’t know that I ever would have agreed to this until I realized that I had inadvertently accepted this challenge while I was pregnant. When you’re expecting, clothing options are limited to say the least. Here are my biggest takeaways from this experience:
1. Less options = less stress (we make thousands of decisions each day, so it’s nice to not let trivial ones, like what to wear in the morning, sap our energy)
2. No one cares/notices if you wear something more than once
3. Quality > quantity (so-so items need not apply)
4. As an artist, I value creativity. It’s amazing the number of complete outfits you can put together with so few items. Don’t you remember permutations and combinations from high school math class?
My ‘capsule wardrobe’ consisted of 5 tank tops, 1 t-shirt, 6 long-sleeve shirts, 1 zip-up, 3 sweaters/cardigans, 2 pairs of tights, 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of runners, 2 pairs of boots, 1 bag, and 2 jackets. I was actually under the 33 items.
After I gave birth to my second bouncing baby boy, it was time for my body to bounce back as well (ha! Like it’s that easy...) If you’re one of the few that do return to your regular size, you might be looking forward to wearing whatever you want but if you’re a nursing mama, think again. Nursing requires special clips, retractable pieces, zippers, etc. to allow for easy access for baby. Project 333, bring it on (again)!
Even though I’m no longer pregnant or breastfeeding, you can bet I continue to choose a new capsule wardrobe before each season.
There are many other benefits of participating in Project 333 such as saving money, being more eco-friendly, and so on. However, the biggest reason this works for me is because decluttering my closet declutters my brain. Life is hectic and making seemingly simple decisions can take up much more mental capacity than you'd think. On a related note, what I wouldn't give for someone to tell me what to have for dinner every day.
If you want to learn more about Project 333 and the ‘rules’, visit https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/. Heck, during the pandemic it feels like I've been participating in Project 33 (i.e. the same 3 items for months on end).
- Michelle
About the Author:
My name is Michelle Alexander and I'm a Canadian artist with a sweet tooth. I started MishiMoooDesigns in 2020 and specialize in combining my love for junk food with everyday objects in unusual and often 'punny' ways. If this sounds interesting to you, I'd love for you to check out my Gallery and/or follow me on Instagram @MishiMoooDesigns.
