Project 333 rules
33 items for 3 months: what counts, what doesn't, a sample list, and how to make the challenge stick.
Key points
- 33 items, including shoes, accessories and jewellery.
- Underwear, sleep, lounge and workout clothes don't count.
- Box the rest; review at the end of three months.
Project 333 is a minimalist fashion challenge started by Courtney Carver in 2010: dress with 33 items or fewer for three months. It is the most widely known capsule challenge and a good first try.
The basic rules
- 33 items for 3 months.
- Counts: clothing, accessories, jewellery, outerwear and shoes.
- Doesn't count: wedding ring or other sentimental jewellery you never take off, underwear, sleepwear, lounge clothes worn only at home, and workout clothes worn only for working out.
- Box up the rest and put it out of sight.
For the full and current rules, see the official Project 333 site; the challenge's own wording is the authority.
How to choose your 33
- Pick the season you are entering and list what you do in a normal week.
- Start with shoes and outerwear: they constrain everything else.
- Choose bottoms in your base colours, then tops that go with at least two bottoms each.
- Use accessories as the colour; because they count, choose a few that change many outfits.
A sample 33
| Group | Items |
|---|---|
| Tops (11) | 4 tees, 2 shirts, 2 knits, 1 blouse, 1 long-sleeve top, 1 sweatshirt |
| Bottoms (5) | 2 jeans, 1 tailored trouser, 1 chino or skirt, 1 relaxed pair |
| Dress (1) | a versatile day dress |
| Outerwear (3) | blazer, light coat, warm coat or rain shell |
| Shoes (5) | trainers, boots, loafers, sandals or smart shoe, one dressier pair |
| Accessories (8) | 2 scarves, 1 belt, 1 bag, 1 watch, 3 pieces of jewellery |
Making it stick
- Count honestly; if you swap something in, swap something out.
- Replace items that wear out; that is not cheating.
- At the end of three months, open the box. Anything you did not miss is a strong candidate to let go.
