Minimalist Fashion Projects

Written by Courtney Carver - 155 Comments
Categories: clutter

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I am no Coco Chanel, but style and fashion is part of being more with less. We spend so much time thinking about what we wear, that I think it is time to simplify the concept of getting dressed. I’m not suggesting that we don’t get dressed, just that we stop giving it so much attention. Then again, when you stop paying attention and start wearing your yoga pants everywhere, it’s time to get yourself together. (I am speaking from experience and knew I had a problem when my daughter told me she was going to secretly throw my yoga pants away).

Eating at a restaurant with a 24 page menu can be overwhelming. The choosing becomes more important than the dining. Having too much to choose from is not always a blessing. Imagine never looking at a fully stuffed closet and thinking “I have nothing to wear” again. What if you knew exactly what you were going to wear every day?

There are several minimalist fashion projects that have inspired me to create one of my own:

  • The Uniform Project – The Uniform Project™ started in 2009 when a young woman realized she was drowning in the doldrums of an advertising career. To counter the uninspired demands of the corporate world, she came up with an unusual creative challenge; to wear the same dress for an entire year.
  • Six Items or Less – each participant gets to choose six (and only six) items of clothing and pledge to wear only these six items of clothing for a month.
  • thecardiganproject.tumblr.com/ – A fashion fast to clear your mind and simplify your life.

For me, the purpose of dressing with less is twofold. First and very simply, I want to live with less, and second, I have used clothing to express my creativity, and tell a story about who I am. Now, I am ready to tell the story myself. If my clothing is simple and more of a canvas, then I can shine instead of my patent leather shoes. (I don’t really wear patent leather shoes).

With inspiration from the minimalist fashion projects above, I have decided to start one of my own that I hope can be long lasting for me and you, if you are interested.

You are invited to Project 333

3 months with 33 items

When: October 1 – December 31

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, underwear, sleep, in-home lounge wear,  and workout clothing (you can only wear your workout clothing to workout)

How: over the next two months, outline your 33 items, by the 1st of October, 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. If you purchase items for project 333, stick with the one in, two out approach. Consider the essentials and stick to 33.

Here is my initial list. I will post the final list a few days before we (yes, we) get started…

  • 1 pair of heels
  • 1 pair of dress boots
  • 1 pair of casual boots
  • 2 coats
  • 2 pair of jeans
  • 2 skirts
  • 2 dress pants
  • 1 dress
  • 2 blazers/jackets
  • 2 white button down or dress shirts
  • 3 sweaters
  • 1 sweatshirt
  • 2 v or crew neck shirts
  • 2 tank tops
  • 1 purse
  • 1 pair sunglasses
  • 1 hat
  • 1 pair gloves
  • 2 scarves
  • 1 bracelet
  • 2 necklaces

(See my updated list here: Minimalist Fashion Project #333 Begins)

The holiday season has always been a time of spending on new apparel for parties and other events. With Project 333 happening October – December, I won’t have to worry about that. At the end of the three months, I hope to discover that I can comfortably live with fewer choices in my closet.

Update: Check out the new getting started page for all things Project 333.

What do you think? Did I forget anything? Are you in?

New to Be More With Less? Read more about what to expect, and this post with links to important posts and reader favorites.

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Tags: minimalism, minimalist, minimalist fashion, simplicity, six items or less, the uniform project

155 Responses to “Minimalist Fashion Projects”

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  1. spacer Amy
    August 9, 2010 at 8:02 am

    I love this idea! I think I’m in….

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 9, 2010 at 8:57 am

      Yippee! Amy, get your list started. I am really looking forward to this and to see if anyone notices!

      Reply
  2. spacer Meg
    August 9, 2010 at 8:52 am

    Perfect! I’ve been sorting through my closet all weekend. This gives me a goal!

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 9, 2010 at 9:00 am

      Meg, Would love to see your list! I have a feeling mine is going to change a little bit. I hope to get ideas from everyone else too!

      Reply
  3. spacer Angie
    August 9, 2010 at 11:21 am

    I’ve been staring at my Laundry and I’m totally in. This will be a great challenge!

    Reply
  4. spacer Beverly
    August 9, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    I think I’m in. My fall / winter clothes are packed away, so I’ll have to go to the basement and see what I would want to keep for the project! I love this idea!

    Reply
  5. spacer Vanessa
    August 9, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Very cool! I think I rotate between a few outfits at the moment and yet my closet is filled with clothes I rarely wear. I’ve kicked a lot of outfits out of my closet but I think there is still room for improvement. Your project sounds great and wish you lots of fun! spacer

    Reply
  6. spacer Sarah
    August 9, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    I think I am in!

    I have been having trouble (due to health issues) with keeping up with laundry.
    I’ve been thinking about how to make things more simplistic, while still being creative.
    This is going to be fun and a challenge!

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 9, 2010 at 2:26 pm

      Sarah, less stress will almost always equal better health. Feel better and I look forward to seeing your list!

      Reply
  7. spacer meg
    August 9, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    Courtney, count me in!!!

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 9, 2010 at 2:25 pm

      Woohoo!! Yeah Meg!

      Reply
  8. spacer robyn
    August 9, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    i’m in as well! i’ve been wanting to sort through my clothes and really pare down to the barest of essentials, so this will give me a goal to shoot for. i know i’ll have to do the “one in, two out” rule a bit over the next few months as make my wardrobe something full of basics that i’ll actually wear instead of random pieces i know i won’t.

    i’ll start getting my list started over on my blog, and will share more as i get going!

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 9, 2010 at 2:24 pm

      Thanks Robyn! Loved your post on becomingminimalist.com today.

      Reply
  9. spacer Stephanie
    August 9, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    I’m in. I’ve been looking for a way to simplify my closet.

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 9, 2010 at 2:24 pm

      Yippee! I will be posting more details soon! Email me if you have any questions.

      Reply
  10. spacer Sarah
    August 9, 2010 at 4:12 pm

    Thank you!

    What are your thoughts on socks?
    Are you counting them as “accessories”?

    I am thinking I will count my long knee socks that I “show off” as accessories.
    But count my other socks as “underwear”. lol

    But I would like to hear your thoughts.

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 9, 2010 at 7:06 pm

      I actually thought a lot about socks and tights/stockings and decided that they are underwear.

      Reply
  11. spacer Tessa
    August 9, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    LOVE this idea. Such a fun challenge! I just might have to give this a go…

    Reply
  12. spacer Meg B.
    August 10, 2010 at 10:18 am

    Looks like there are two “Megs”, so I’ll be “Meg B.”! Courtney, do we post our lists here, under comments?

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 10, 2010 at 12:31 pm

      Hi Meg B! Welcome. For now, leave your list under the comments but I am dreaming up a better way for all of us to display our lists and hopefully pics of our great 333 outfits!

      Reply
  13. spacer Claudine Lo
    August 10, 2010 at 12:34 pm

    I’m in, I live in canada so really if you have a great winter coat no one knows what’s underneath;) Your list is very helpful. I’m going to post it on my facebook and see if I can’t get anyone else in on the challenge.

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 10, 2010 at 12:40 pm

      Claudine! A great winter coat – brilliant. Thanks for sharing this.

      Reply
  14. spacer Lynn Fang
    August 10, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    Courtney, great idea! I’ve been thinking about minimizing my closet. I think I’m in… spacer

    Reply
  15. spacer Amy
    August 10, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    I started making my list and I’m already having a hard time pairing it down. Good thing we have a month and a half to prepare!

    Reply
  16. spacer Anita
    August 10, 2010 at 4:26 pm

    What! Only TWO pair of jeans? Whatever am I going to wear? I have no place to wear a pair of heels if I owned them, nor dress pants, nor blazers, nor office wear of any type…I base the days clothing choice on whats CLEAN. I am like many, many women I know and I work outside every single day with horses. I’m a farrier! Our list would look something like this.
    9 pair of jeans
    9 clean shirts…tanks or tees in the summer, long sleeves in the winter
    (I often dirty up an outfit even though I wash 4 or more times a week)
    2 pair nice jeans
    4 nice shirts, NOT to be worn to the barn
    1 pair of steel toed boots
    1 pair of riding boots
    1 pair rubber barn boots
    2 pair old crocks, one for the front door, one for the back
    1 pair good sandles
    1 pair walking shoes
    1 pair cowboy boots, (for getting dressed up)
    1 pair of sunglasses
    sleep naked

    Reply
    • spacer Jen Schaller
      September 26, 2010 at 10:45 pm

      Lol, I hear yeah spacer .

      Reply
  17. spacer Jane
    August 12, 2010 at 9:32 am

    We always think that others take an interest and actually notice what we wear at work daily, but truth be told, I don’t think that anyone will even notice. Everyone is too wrapped up and worried about what THEY look like to worry about what you look like. I think this will simplify getting ready in the morning, which I like.

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 12, 2010 at 9:34 am

      Jane! So True!!

      Reply
  18. spacer Lena Ohlen
    August 14, 2010 at 12:39 pm

    I think this is a great idea. I want to join. I started to read about minimalistic living as I am painting in a minimalistic style. And the more I read the more I am attracted to the concept. I think that 3 months is well enough to know if it is something for me or not. Well, I am ready to act and not only read about it.

    Reply
    • spacer Courtney Carver
      August 15, 2010 at 4:24 pm

      Yippee! Lena, you go girl! I would love to see some of your work. Do you images online?

      Reply
      • spacer Lena Ohlén
        April 4, 2011 at 7:59 am

        Oh, I have missed your question above. Yes I have some of my paintings online. lenaohlen.com And more is to come. I am working with art for an exhibition for the moment and these pictures is not up yet.

        I have just started this project333 for the 3:d time (april-june) but I am not ready with my list. It is such a problem with weather. I have read the book “The 100 Thing Challenge” (Thank you!) and my idea is to continue with just 33 things as in the project333 but make changes when weather changes. Spring is quite short here in Sweden and there is summerweather often in may. And my challenge is always 33 cloths in the wardrobe (and extras like jewellery and handbag included).

        Reply
  19. spacer Meg B.
    August 15, 2010 at 10:16 am

    I have been working on this a little bit each day ever since I first commented (the first “Meg” who then became “Meg B.”, just to give you an idea of how long I’ve been working on this.) What I’ve found out is that I have a lot of pieces…that do not go with anything. How sad that I spent that money!! I could have given it to a good cause instead. Courtney, thank you for starting this project – it’s getting me on the right track of how to dress and save money for the first time in my life.

    Reply