Project 334 - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Project 334

shiny

Veteran

... not counting shoes and accessories, I have 34 items for next three months.

I actually have more than this, but I've moved everything else out into another section of my closet for now. Still accessible, but I'm striving to make these 34 pieces be the core of my wardrobe the next 3 months.

This does not include loungewear. Or dresses. Or casual tee shirts.

I feel like this is a lot, but I did a recent refresh after not buying much at all for a long time.

I also have no idea what to do about handbags. Because my life has changed so most of my handbags don't work anymore. I need cross-bodies and totes that can 1) accommdate a Mac Air and 2) pack into a carry-on without getting ruined.

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Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Anonymous

I applaud this, after doing a 30/30 in the spring and now thinking of doing another I know how hard it is to put away items that I could be wearing. Wishing you lots if fun and revelations.

Jane

Veteran

Well done! Very sorted and organised. Good luck with your mission, it will be good to see how you get on. I would think if you can dip in and out if you need to, with dresses and t shirts, it should be fun.

How about a stylish back pack for the bag situation? And just thinking, that besides the gorgeous print shoes, there are very few patterns / prints.

shiny

Veteran

Joy, this is less hard and more hard because I was living last year this time out of two suitcases, one causal one business, as we were renovating. Now that we're done renovating and I have an awesome walk in for the first time in my life, and I missed my other stuff, it's so hard to whittle it all down. Yet I went and bought new stuff anyway, realizing I'm bored with the stuff I'd packed away...

Not all of it, hence why I have the 34 in one section and the other stuff in another section....

I have been slowly decluttering the last few months, filling bag after bag,

Handbags right now are the next category to tackle, I feel like I could get rid of 80% of them. I already went through my clutches. A lot of them survived the cull, because I do use them with the new life. I just need more cross-bodies and a killer tote or two. Then I could let go of 80% of the handbags, I think.

I've realized I hold on to stuff way past their prime because I'm waiting for the perfect replacement. But the past few months, every time I've finally let go... the perfect replacement has found me. So there's that!!

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

I see a very cohesive mix-and-match capsule that nevertheless has a lot of interesting elements. Wishing you well on your mission!

shiny

Veteran

Jane, I have two backpacks, white and black. I'll probably keep them both. What I need is a tote / laptop bag, and maybe one cross body.

I do have a lot of patterns not shown in the 34. Including clutches (which I use a lot for work) in every color/pattern. And a pile of blouses, but for the next 3 months (fall/winter) I don't wear blouses as much. More sweaters. I do love pattern hence the leopard shoes and the floral oxfords.I also have a huge pile of scarves, not just the one shown. That one is just the new scarf for the new season! I always add one new scarf for the season.. which is why I have probably too many scarves...

shiny

Veteran

Also the half pants image is LOFT marisa micro-check trousers in navy/black... a pattern. Super cute and comfy!

Style Fan

Veteran

Great capsule. I love leopard print footwear. A great tote sounds like a good idea here.

Sisi

Veteran

What Emily K. said ! May I ask the reason of doing this? ( I am trying to follow P333 because at a certain point I realized that I am happier with a moderate wardrobe. Too many clothes and shoes make me feel overwhelmed).

Anonymous

I am really excited for you. Your wardrobe looks coordinated and comprehensive. The color scheme is fresh and perfect for the upcoming season.

I am secretly relieved that you have a lot of bottoms because someone recently told me that all a person really needs is four bottoms for 90 days. I freaked at the very thought of four bottoms!!

I so look forward to future posts. I know I will find them fascinating.

shiny

Veteran

Sisi, I'm doing this for a variety of reasons. Because a walk-in closet is both a blessing and a curse, as it encourages me to pack it so full I can't find anything. Choosing an arbitrary number (like 34) is a way for me to set a baseline for the season and see if that's the right number for me.

Also it's helping me to cull down my wardrobe. As I mentioned, I tend to hold on to stuff for a long time, frequently as placeholders waiting for the perfect replacement. And also because I loved the item once, even if I no longer wear it. I guess I'm learning I get really attached to clothing!

Finally, having it all "on paper" like this is enabling me to shop more intentionally. When I first did the audit a month or so ago, I realized despite all the clothes I had, I had a serious sweater gap. And shoe gap. So that's been my primary shopping focus this Fall.

Sterling, I normally don't have this many pants! Because they are the hardest to fit item for me. Usually I wind up living in the LOFT 5-pocket ponte knit pants, which I haven't been able to find this year. But I really lucked out at LOFT with the denim leggings -- fit me so well -- I duplicated in olive, plum, and two black pairs. I've already worn each of them multiple times, so I am very happy! I also got Marisa micro-check trousers there, and the windowpane slacks are from a past season of LOFT. The jeans are Wit & Wisdom.

So I now have these 34 items hanging in the section of my closet that is most "front and center." I've got them hanging in order of color from white to plum, with toppers and sweaters mixed with blouses and tops. Meanwhile I've moved Spring/Summer items to a different, less accessible section, along with about 30 other tops that I'm on the fence about keeping (and come to think of it, most of these are patterned!). If I don't reach for any of those 30 this season, they're out.

Style Fran, suggestions on a color for the tote? My initial thought was black, as boring as it is, as it would be practical for work (goes with everything). But then I spotted one in a rich dark navy... what do you think?

Laura G

Veteran

I've done this once and I loved it. There's something very freeing about walking into your closet and seeing your tiny handful of garments with all that space around them.

Anonymous

I love these capsule plans and do them myself throughout the year, albeit not as perfectly organized as yours is

Can you please just box this all up and send it to me? I have NOTHING I want to wear right now and no idea what it IS I want . Ugh.

Liz A.

Veteran

Do you have a Le Pliage Neo tote? Sound like it would do the trick.

anchie

Veteran

Really nice capsule with lots of mix and match possibilities. Especially love the shoes. Do I spy Angie's oxfords?

karen13

Veteran

I really want to see this in WIWs and progress reports! After a 18 months of YLF, I am entering a new phase of learning from all of these capsules and 30x30s, but I haven't yet gotten to the point of actually implementing. Thanks so much for posting this. It looks really cohesive

shiny

Veteran

Liz, Thanks for the reminder. I've always intended to get a Neo. It would work well for travel.

Anchie, yes those are Angie's oxfords! The 36 fit just fine (and my full volume feet are on the wide-ish side compared to Angie's). They do squeak a bit, but that disappears when worn with socks. I suppose they are comfy enough to wear without socks, but I'll probably wear them more often with socks. Also this is about as much floral as I can stand..... floral is not really my thing! But these shoes are adorable.

Karen, I haven't been doing many WiW's because I am a horrible photographer with zero patience/desire for upgrading my skills. But I am documenting my outfits in PPT so I know what I've worn. However, we've hit a warm spell / Indian summer here in Boston ....... so haven't worn much in this capsule! Still in the summer capsule! But I'm ready! Bring on the cool weather...

Lyn D.

Veteran

I love all your pieces Shiny!
Although it may seem compact to you I see lots of lovely outfit combinations here.
Your shoes are Fab!

lyn67

Veteran

Ah, would like to see that walk in nirvana, too!
Otherwise, I was also wondering for how so many pants (and smiled about NOT including dresses:-)) -but got my answers in the comments above. These weekend I am also excited about moving my clothes in a new but more spacious closet(only:-)) and see how many items are needed without overstuffing, so loved to read your how-to!:-)

Ah, and forgot to mention how fab a shoe collection did you include!!!

RobinF

Veteran

Wow, what a beautiful mix and match wardrobe! I like that you found pants that fit and got them in multiple colors. I have a hard time getting pants that fit well and always say I will do that but then I don't. I did wonder about the lack of pattern but see in your comments that you have more in other items. I will be interested in hearing how this works out for you.

shiny

Veteran

Your comments re: pattern made me go back and assess what I have hanging in the "holding" zone section that didn't make the cut: there's about 14 tops (blouses/tee shirts) that have patterns. Interestingly, pretty much EVERY top I put in holding section is patterned. Go figure!

Specifically:

LOTS of them (half of them?) involve white and black stripes (vertical and horizontal), or grey and black stripes (3).
There's a smattering of light-blue based or plum based "others." Including one paisley top (I've always loved paisley).
And there's one floral grey/black tee I've had for eons. (Jcrew I think)
And one white/black mini polka dot which I like but it gets so staticky it's annoying to wear.
And one plaid top that I bought specifically for a trip to Nashville, and have barely worn since. Plaid is not my thing, except in scarves. This one came really close to going in the donation bag-- then I reconsidered because who knows maybe I'll have another trip to Nashville, or some other plaid-loving town? But when I look at it hanging in my closet, it looks like a real outlier, and it just screams "this isn't me" .. so yeah I think I'm deleting it!

None of these tops are new, and in some cases, several years old. They do get wear, but not as much. I may simply be thoroughly bored with most of them.

Or maybe I am just hankering more these days for solid tops, with the pattern brought in with the shoes, belt, scarf? I do have a ton of pattern scarves.

I do feel like I used to embrace patterns more than this. But then again now I've got pattern and color in the bottoms which is new for me.