Project 333 is a minimalist fashion challenge, started by Courtney Carver of Be More With Less. I am happily managing on 33 items of clothing, including 1 handbag. Although I excluded jewellery, I am committed to wearing the same pair of earrings for 3 months. Earrings are the only jewellery I generally wear apart from my wristwatch, wedding and engagement rings.
So what has this achieved? I do all of the ironing each week as I need the items to wear the following week. This means I do not end up with a huge pile of ironing. I know what I am going to wear the next day as there are enough choices but not too many.
Realising that I can function quite adequately with a relatively small number of clothes made me consider the rest of my wardrobe and I have sent a few more things to the op shop.
I can also see exactly what I need to buy or make for the coming seasons so I am working on that. I have 2 summer tops partly made and they are in colours that will work with my existing pieces. I have a list of things to look for when we are overseas.
Although it is still well over 3 months before we go on holidays I have planned almost my entire travel wardrobe and bought a fleece jacket that I needed for the trip.
All of these things have flowed from the fact that having a basic selection of clothes has given me the space and time to really consider my wardrobe and hopefully continue to make wise choices.
By having the minimum of clothes to care for and maintain I have more time to do other things. I also find myself applying the concept of ‘enough’ to many other facets of my life and possessions.
This evening I was knitting a dishcloth and it occurred to me that I have a box full of knitting needles despite the fact that I do not do a lot of knitting these days. I will sort through the needles and take out any that I have more than one set of the same size. I can only use 1 pair of needles at a time so any excess will be given away (Freecycle or op shop) so that someone else can have the benefit of using them. It will not take up any less space as I will still have the box and I will have enough so that is all I need.
What things could you apply the concept of ‘enough’ to? Love to hear your stories.