A reflection on Project 333

It’s been a month since I finished Project 333 and I have since made some observations on how I feel returning to my full wardrobe. I had intended to review the items I hadn’t worn during the 3 months prior to reintroducing them back into my wardrobe and in doing so decided to let go of over a third of what I own.

I didn’t start with a significantly large wardrobe to begin with, only having about 60-70 items of clothing, but I realised that even that number seemed like far too much. I started to notice what things I repeatedly wore and the things I was holding onto because I was either fulfilling some fantasy self, had felt good to wear in the past or I felt some guilt for letting it go. We can sometimes attach a lot of emotional significance to things without even realising. I’m now trying to view things from a more practical standpoint and process sone of those more complicated emotions.

Admittedly I did break one rule right at the end, which was I purchased three new items with the intent to wear them once the challenge was over. These were all very much impulse buys. Although I don’t often succumb to impulse purchases, every few months I see something I just can’t seem to resist.

Another trap I’ve often fallen to in the past is trying to improve on the items I already have to satisfy the perfectionist in me.

With this new refreshed wardrobe however I intend to set a few ground rules, one being not to purchase anything new unless necessary (like replacing something that’s worn out) and to have a one in one out rule.

At the very least this project has helped me define what kind of things I enjoy wearing and helped me refine my style that bit more.