You don’t need to make teeny pictures in order to create a Project 333 capsule wardrobe for yourself; a list will do just fine…
It would, of course, be possible to print these images and then “check them off” as each ensemble was worn. But the point, ultimately, is NOT to have an infinite number of different outfits, but rather to have just enough choices to be able to quit shopping and move on to more rewarding activities!
And of course, 208 is NOT exhaustive… but it would get me well into July, so I just plain quit finding new combinations. I think after 6 months, I will be ready to ditch cashmere, tweed and velvet!
Wonderful!
Ok, I'm in for 2013. This is goings to be a fun challenge.
You are talking me into it….. I think…
You are doing such a great job on this. I am so inspired. I don't think I can get rid of anything, and I like mixing up colors. The color scheme might get a little stale for me, but I love the concept and if I really give it a go it may just work and not be stale as I imagine. It would be simple and I really need to try! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration.
Quite convincing!
I'm curious, how would you alter the ratio if you wanted to include more dresses? Would you count them as tops?
So great to see this visually! Your posts have helped me so much! As for creating a page like this and checking them off as you wear them (the possibility just seems like fun to me), what do you use to make the images? Do you do this with Polyvore, or do you have a photo editor like Photoshop?
Nope, I do all of this in PowerPoint! Microsoft office, at it's most basic and easy to use… and it has functionality for resizing, removing backgrounds, cropping, etc. etc.
Looking at this it seems possible to 'make do' with a hundred items of clothing and get through the year just fine. Food for thought.
It's nothing short of mind-blowing, the possibilities of outfits with relatively few clothes. Thanks for showing us how to do it.
Janice, what do you think of the new fashion color for 2013, emerald? First of all, what I saw is not my definition of what I thought emerald was…I think of emerald as being a clearer, brighter green. Panettone (that may be spelled incorrectly) is showing it as a softer, minty green (like an Easter egg color). I loved last year's tangerine.
I salivate over green colors but I continue to be wary. Over the years, I've read many times that it's not a color which is flattering to a woman's face, especially the chartreuse yellow-greens. When I was defined a "winter" in the 1970s, ivory skin with dark brown/black hair, I could pull off my definition of emerald/clear (kelly?) green but I haven't worn it in awhile. The sage greens gray me down somehow. I'm thinking of coloring my hair in more of the red/browns, and I never saw a redhead who couldn't wear green beautifully…omygosh, makes me think of a school friend I had in the preteens, whose mom bought her a gorgeous ensemble for the start of school after shopping in The City; the pretty and true-green pullover sweater seemed like a lush blend of cashmere and mohair, crisp white blouse; two lovely wool plaid and pleated skirts with blends of the green, creams and tan…and there was a soft and luxurious cardigan to match the tan. I'd never seen anything so wondrous for my young years. My friend did indeed have a mane of straight, thick, rich, blazing-red hair and the true green was a perfect complement to her coloring.
I'm on eof those people who would like and use the check off sheet :) Your blog is so inspirational!!
Hi,
I love your blog and all the great inspiration you provide! Thank you!
I do just have a tiny query though. For me, it doesn't seem like 33 items of clothing is a small amount. Is this cultural? Do Americans really consider 33 items to be cutting down? How many is normal? Interesting!
Thank you again for the fantastic ideas!
Seonaid
Well, yes, at least in the United States, having a lot of clothing seems to be normal. I know people who buy 2 or 3 pieces of clothing EVERY week. I know someone who owns over 100 pair of jeans. I know someone (a different someone) who owns over 200 tee shirts. 100 pair of shoes is not all that rare. This level of consumption, and the economic and environmental effects of it, are one of the primary reasons I blog. Imagine how much economic influence women could have in the world if they bought shares of stock, instead of sweaters?
It is definitely considered a small wardrobe here in the U.S. We shop differently, I think–many people (myself included) were never taught to shop for a small selection of quality, versatile clothing. Instead we shop for complete outfits or for pieces that go with a single other piece, and we tend to shop when an event on our calendar draws near, instead of looking year-round for dresses we can wear to many events.
I'm learning. :)
To change the subject, is anyone else having trouble with the new format for the blog? I often read on my tablet (7" Android tablet running Firefox) and the blog is difficult to navigate and I cannot see comments at all. I really do not want to give up reading this blog! Has anyone found a workaround?
Janice, I just LOVE what you said about buying stock instead of sweaters. I am an example of that. I am an immigrant. My mom, though she loved clothes and was always well dressed, believed in a few good pieces, not a ton of variety and savings were always a priority. I grew up with that notion. Then, as an adult, I discovered Coach bags. OMG !!! How I loved them. But I couldn't bring myself to buy one at those prices. So, fifteen years ago, instead of a bag, I took $450 and I bought stock. Over the years, I bought a little more here and there. Then I got married. After 9 years of marriage, we paid off our house, in toto, with the money we made on the stock. We have no debt whatsoever. Ann Taylor helped pay for both of our cars. We own them outright. Today, we have a healthy portfolio, an emergency fund, college savings for my kids, two Prius', 4 Coach bags and some damn, nice shoes !
You know what you are talking about , girl !!!!!!
Seonaid, remember that this is 33 items of clothing for just 3 months – so for a year you could have over 100 items! I hate to say this, but it's a British thing too! I have been doing project 333 as well, and it is quite eye-opening. Going through my wardrobe, several times I wondered what possessed me to buy certain items in the first place! Like many women I kept clothes "just in case" – particularly "just in case I lose a bit of weight!" Those have now gone out – and more clothes will go out when I look through my summer wardrobe.
Janice's selection is inspiring. My aim is to emulate her. In future I will spend money on better quality clothes and any new purchases will have to fit in with my existing wardrobe. Plus for every new purchase, at least one item has to go out!
Thanks to you, Janice, I really did a review of my wardrobe of too many item and found that i ad a core of two neutrals already!that i like- navy and taupe/brown! Surprise! i donated many other "neutral basics especially black which doesn't flatter. Now I"m paring down the rest to my favorite turquoise, aqua and yellow accent colors. It is fun and so freeing. Anything new I get must be necessary and must coordinate with this plan. It makes everything so easy! Dressing, storing, and the increasingly rare shopping. Thank you so much for this! Now i need to learn more from you in how to accesorize with jewelry and scarves, etc.. But I'm learning.
Could you please show us how you will be wearing your new butterfly scarf purchased in Paris?
Thanks again.
I need to figure out how to do this in Florida. Am assuming this does not include accessories, "gym" clothes, evening or cocktail dresses, or bathing suits?
Janice, is there a trick to ensuring that a given top goes with 3-4 different kinds of skirts and pants? I keep getting stuck with proportions — the T-shirt that works with skinnies looks all wrong with a pencil skirt, and the one that works with the straight skirt doesn't seem to play as well with the flared full skirt… Am I just being too persnickety, or am I picking indifferent tops to start with?
Well, I tend to buy things in the most basic, neutral silhouettes available, so I think they're more versatile. And maybe I'm just not that picky? But one thing that I do try to do is THINK about how many different way I might want to wear something before I buy it, so the versatility is built into the purchase. It's an acquired skill, and it isn't always perfect. Remember, this is a process; we all learn how to do it better each day!
I am always amazed at how many outfits one can get from the right combination of mix and match clothing. I've started creating my own remix lists with my clothes and use that to put together outfits for work. So helpful!
Wow. Just WOW. I went through my clothes yesterday and I took out 20 pieces. I had dropped off two bags worth of clothes at the Salvation Army two weeks ago also…….and I still can't get down to 33. I don't know what my brain block is. Maybe I need to go to 33 for a month and see how that goes and to kinda stick my toe in. There are just so many things that I own that I love. UGH. I guess that I am afraid that if I do just dress my lifestyle, al l will have are jeans and flannel shirts ! LOL !