If you’ve been dreaming about the ease of a tiny wardrobe or just thinking about cleaning out your closet for a really long time, get ready! This article will help you finally let go of your clothes. No matter how long you’ve waited, or what has gotten in the way, let tiny steps be your friend and begin to create some space for what you actually wear.
Creating a tiny wardrobe starts out being heavily focused on the stuff; the clothes on hangers, your favorite pair of shoes, scarves on hooks, jewelry and other accessories bursting out of drawers and boxes, but it never ends up being about the stuff. The first time I tried minimalist fashion challenge Project 333 was in October of 2010. I thought my tiny wardrobe would last for three months, the duration of the challenge. Instead, because I enjoyed the benefits of dressing with less so much, I still dress with 33 items or less every three months (13+ years later).
The aha moments you’ll experience during three months of dressing with 33 items or less will be transformative. Say goodbye to decision fatigue and feeling overwhelmed with closet chaos and say hello to more confidence in your own personal style, saving money and more peaceful mornings as you get ready for the day. If you are curious about Project 333, but aren’t quite ready to jump in, here are 10 tiny steps to take towards your tiny wardrobe. You don’t have to do them all but they will each get you closer to starting minimalist fashion challenge Project 333 or closer to having a tiny wardrobe.
Why you’ll actually be able to let go this time.
There may be several reasons why you haven’t let go of your clothes yet (even the ones that you never wear). Often, the reasons come down to not enough time, not enough energy and the most popular … overthinking. Luckily, tiny steps can help with all three and others. You can work in smaller blocks of time instead of dedicating an entire day which will help with both time and energy. In terms of overthinking, by taking these tiny steps one at a time, you don’t have to figure out everything before you get started. Instead, you can slowly begin to finally let go.
If part of your overthinking makes you feel guilty for letting go because of what you spent on your items or because you don’t want to contribute to landfills, remind yourself that with this shift, you’ll be spending less and getting rid of fewer items moving forward. If you are willing to change your shopping habits and dress with less overall, this will make a positive impact on your bank account and the environment.
How To Finally Let Go of Your Clothes and Create a Tiny Wardrobe
These ten tiny steps will help. Once you get started, if you notice some resistance or procrastination, come back to the tiny steps. Remind yourself that small progress is still progress.
1. Box up anything that doesn’t fit your body or your lifestyle.
You don’t have to give it away, just get it out of your closet and hide it for awhile. You aren’t wearing them anyway, so why face the questions about why they don’t fit or why you bought them in the first place. This article calls it the No Contact Decluttering Method. When we have some distance from our stuff, we break the emotional connection and in most cases, forget why it was so hard to let go in the first place. Eliminate the physical clutter, and the mental clutter goes with it. Tiny wardrobe beginners notice a big difference when they hide the things that aren’t important to them.
2. Photograph yourself in clothes you never wear but have sentimental value.
If you’ve saved clothes to remember a person or moment, reconsider the way you are attempting to preserve the past. Something stuffed in the back of your closet isn’t serving you or honoring any memories. Instead take a picture of yourself wearing or holding the item and display it. Or, write about why the memory is important to you. Just like the No Contact Decluttering Method, taking a picture or capturing a memory in a different way is a bridge to letting go of your clothes and other stuff. Remember, this is about love, not stuff.
3. Donate anything you haven’t worn in 3 years.
I understand the arguments about not tossing stuff after a few months, but a few years? There is a reason you haven’t worn that thing in years. If there are things you aren’t sure about, be honest about why you want to hold on. Write down every explanation and excuse and see if they hold up outside of your mind. Sometimes of letting go of what we think is even more important than letting go of our stuff. Oh, and watch out for the “just in case” excuse. It’s powerful.
4. Unsubscribe from all shopping sites and stores.
They will pull you in. It’s their job. Don’t put yourself in a position to have to push back. Instead, just remove the temptation to click; the sales, points, updates … all of it from your inbox and your brain. Instead of focusing on what you need or what you want, take a look at what you have. If you want to turn your focus to letting go, check out the 10 items professionals say make your closet feel cluttered.
5. Make a list of your favorite three outfits.
If you could wear the same three outfits all the time, what would you be wearing. Make a list and illustrate or photograph the three outfits. Chances are these are the three outfits that fit the best, look the best, and are the clothes that let you feel most like you. Don’t worry about a wider range of looks or the quantity of your choices. Give yourself permission to be an outfit repeater and wear your favorite things every day. Try this for a few weeks just to see what happens. Does it make you feel lighter? Is there less to take care of? Does anyone even notice?
6. Identify your weakness.
When I told my sister about Project 333 for the first time, she said, “If I do it, I’ll have one pair of jeans and 32 purses.” She knows her weakness. What’s yours? Consider your preferences too. Your capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to look like the ones you see on Pinterest or Facebook. Wear dresses and skirts or pants and blazers. Wear solids, neutrals, stripes or patterns. You really can’t do it wrong if you wear what you enjoy.
7. Surround yourself with support.
If you want extra motivation to shop less, or to shop more thoughtfully, watch this powerful documentary about what it really costs to make your clothes. Watch how others use minimalism to create meaning in their lives in Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things. Curate your social media to follow people who create capsule wardrobes instead of people who encourage you to buy more things for your closet. Invite friends and family to join in and simplify. This is much easier when you feel supported. And for the record, I’m cheering you on!
Join me here on Instagram for inspiration to dress with less and simplify your life. You can connect with others or share your own images with the community too by searching and using hashtag #project333. Additionally, read other blog posts about tiny wardrobes and Project 333. Project 333 is on Pinterest too!
8. Trade shopping for self-care.
I used to shop for every event and emotion. Now, when I feel myself getting stressed, tired, sick, frustrated, or bored, I take better care of myself. My body and brain is telling me it’s time to make a change, not that it’s time add to cart or add to my tiny wardrobe. When I’m not feeling my best, I know my body is saying, “Take care of me.”
If you shop for every event and emotion too, make a list of other things that make you feel good. When you feel like shopping, check your list and trade shopping for self-care. My list includes:
- Take a walk
- Get on the mat
- Call a friend
- Make a smoothie
- Sleep for an extra hour
- Journal
- Take a bath
- Meditate
- Write a thank you note
9. Let go with ease.
One of the reasons decluttering our clothes or other stuff fizzles out is we don’t know what to do with our stuff. Even though you’d like everything to go to the perfect place, consider the path of least resistance. If there is an option for someone (a local non-profit or someone from your neighborhood to pick it up for free), start there. Before you decide to sell things, remember how much time and energy that takes. If there are a couple of pieces you really want to donate to a specific organization, Consider this list of where to donate things.
10. Put the Project 333 Challenge on your calendar.
If you are curious about this fashion challenge but not ready to commit, take a tiny step and put it on your calendar. You can start anytime. If you are curious, check out the rules. If you are ready, but need a little extra help, read the book. You don’t have to do Project 333 to create a tiny wardrobe, though it could help you experiment with dressing with less. The Project 333 Challenge offers a proven formula so you can escape the overthinking I mentioned earlier that may get in your way.
Creating a tiny wardrobe that you can live, work and play in for three months. Dressing with less will help you discover so much more about what you want and need in your closet and in your life. Finally let go of your clothing and create time, space, and peace of mind. If you want more support, join the free Tiny Step Simplicity Challenge starting August 18th.