I'm going to try the 333 project: 33 items for 3 months. I've been trying to minimize my possessions for the last month or so. I have donated about 10 boxes of clothes that I no longer wear and no longer fit me (I still have 3 Rubbermaid bins of the same, though). I've donated several boxes of books, and am close to only having those books that I actually reread - which is still a massive amount of books. I've even given away fabric and craft supplies that I know I'm never really going to use, keeping only that for which I already have plans.
Finally, at an effort to minimize my internet and tv time, I spent Christmas week offline. No TV (which I watch through Netflix), no Facebook, no Pinterest. I gave myself about 15 minutes to check my email for jewelry orders and that was it. It was a great week! I had the whole week off from work, and I was exceptionally productive, making dinner each night and keeping the house clean while finding time to work on new jewelry designs and read several books. Phew! Now that I'm back to my regular job (and my irregular teaching job), and I'm back online, I find it a lot harder to focus on single tasks, trying to multi task all day long.
In an effort to reclaim some of my motivation for minimalism (or "new minimalism," technically), I'm participating in Project 333. I'm hoping that by limiting my wardrobe I am encouraged to minimize other distractions in my life.
Here is the list of items I am going to wear for the next three months. Being a jewelry designer, it was hard to just pick 5 pieces, so I picked my favorite pieces that I've designed for myself, and one fun statement necklace that really livens up my more neutral outfits. One thing I've noticed is that there isn't a lot of neutral in my wardrobe! I think this may be the most colorful wardrobe I've seen in 333, but I love color. I don't have a lot of statement pieces (one of the skirts and the gold flats), and there are only a couple people who see me every day (Most of my friends and colleagues only see me a couple times a week), so I don't worry about wearing the same outfits every week or so.
What is great about this wardrobe is that all of the shirts can be worn with the black skirt, and all but one go with the pants (the grey wrap shirt is shorter and fitted, so it doesn't work with the skinny jeans). Most of the shirts can be worn with the statement skirt, and the jackets go with nearly every outfit (puffer jackets are a requirement in Idaho winters). Ditto on the jewelry. I love that I can create a wardrobe so full of color that is still a very cohesive look. You can tell I pretty much wear blues, greens, purples and black, with a few variations. The statement skirt is super flattering and has blues, greens, orange, yellow and very dark brown (black works with it). I am pretty excited for the next three months, and at the end it will be getting pretty warm here, so I'll swap some of the items for my summer stuff. Can't wait!
2 skirts - one black, one multi colored
4 pair pants - skinny jeans, black boot cut trousers, grey hiking pants, knit pinstripe dress pants
2 dresses - one knit black/grey striped, one navy ponte
2 sweaters - one orange chunky, one purple lightweight wool
2 cardigans - one hot pink, one plum
4 t-shirts - (all can be dressed up) green, cerulean, plum heather, black.
2 long-sleeved shirts - one grey wrap shirt, one black v-neck
1 green purse
1 backpack
3 jackets - denim, pink puffer, blazer
4 pair Shoes - harness boots, gold flats, pink tevas, brown sneakers
5 pieces Jewelry - jade necklace, turquoise necklace, mint bib necklace, green triangle earrings, yellow stone necklace, copper disc necklace, long leaf earrings
1 black circle scarf
Total items: 33
Not included in total: jewelry I don't remove (4 rings, 3 stud earrings, 2 toe rings) leggings, underwear, tank tops, choir clothes, pajamas.
