Project 333 Begins Today

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How on earth did it get to be October 1 already?  I've had this Project 333 marked on my calendar for a month now.  I've been dreading looking forward to it and here it is!  In Houston I really can't process that I have to choose clothes for the winter months while it has been 99 degrees here.  I don't even have my fall clothes out.

So, reluctantly yet excitedly I am accepting the challenge of Project 333.  I've been delaying it for so long but it has always intrigued me.  I'm sure you've heard of it, but here are the official rules. You can read all the details here as well as how it all started.

The Basics

• When: Every three months (It’s never too late to start so join in anytime!)
• What: 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes.
• What not: these items are not counted as part of the 33 items – wedding ring or another sentimental piece of jewelry that you never take off, underwear, sleep wear, in-home lounge wear,  and workout clothing (you can only wear your workout clothing to workout)
• How: Choose your 33 items, box up the remainder of your fashion statement, seal it with tape and put it out of site.
• What else: consider that you are creating a wardrobe that you can live, work and play in for three months. Remember that this is not a project in suffering. If your clothes don’t fit or are in poor condition, replace them.

Quick Start Guides For Project 333

First Timers

This is for those of you new to Project 333. You may have just heard about it, or perhaps you have been quietly watching others live with less for the past three months and you are ready to jump in.

1. Take inventory. I recommend the How to Make Space approach.
2. Working with your “I Love” pile of clothing, start to build your wardrobe. It will help to make a list on paper.
3. Consider signature items like a trench coat or pair of boots. Your signature item might be your sunglasses. You will find that having one well made version of something will be far better than 10 of the knock-off.
4. Once you start dressing with less, pay less attention to what you are wearing, or not wearing and more attention to something more important.
5. You are welcome to incorporate some of the bonus rules listed below, but I highly recommend starting with The Basics – listed above.
6. Get connected and ask questions. The Project 333 community is awesome! I’ve included a few important links below to help.

Don't you feel that fall and spring are like new beginnings?  I adore fall and I'm happy to have a reason to do something different.  I always miss that about going back to school.  I'm not going to lie.  I don't think it's going to be easy for me, but I'm hoping that I'll be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.  

Today I'm asking myself why I want to do this.  I mean, why??  The answer is a stirring inside of me that I have too much.  Even though I'm always decluttering, aren't I buying things too?  I wonder what it would be like to take myself out of the market for 3 months, especially during Christmas season.  I anticipate having less options and simplifying my life.  I know that both G and I would like to have more space in the closet.  There are a lot of reasons.  

However, I'm so bad that I've already been thinking of caveats, like if we go on vacation to a different climate.  That doesn't count right?  We'll see.  

Who's with me?  I know that Janet at Gardener's Cottage has been doing this for awhile and she is always gorgeous!  I'll be looking around for inspiration and seeing what others are wearing for theirs.  Maybe I'll post my list of clothes when I get it finalized.  I'll be dragging out all my clothes today and boxing up the ones that won't be needed.  Sniff.

Update:  Other bloggers participating so you can go see their lists and get ideas!

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