Courtney Carver - Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really Is So Much More

Advance praise for Project 333

Courtney does an extraordinary job helping us address the physical and emotional clutter that comes with our wardrobe.

Ryan Nicodemus, cofounder of The Minimalists

For me, the key to making life simple again started in my closet with Project 333. Ive learned to not let the things I wear, wear me out. Im dressing with less, and feeling twice as confident. And for that Im truly grateful. Allow yourself the possibility of life transformation by simply starting with your wardrobe.

Angel Chernoff, New York Times bestselling author of Getting Back to Happy and 1000+ Little Things

I opened Project 333 thinking I could use some help scaling down my closet. Little did I know this practical guidebook would lead me to uncover a major source of stress in my life. Within days of practicing the principles in Project 333, I began seeing my lifes clutter and excess for what they really wereunnecessary burdens that have weighed me down for decades and distracted me from what really matters. With wisdom, humor, compassion, and practicality, Courtney Carver teaches us to notice whats actually serving the life around us so we can begin making sound emotional and financial choices for ourselves and those we love. Because of Project 333, my family is discovering unlimited possibilities created by living lighter and happier with less!

Rachel Macy Stafford, New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama; Hands Free Life; and Only Love Today

Ive come to believe that simplicity, in its final form, always looks so simple and easy, but getting there is always hard. In Project 333, Courtney guides you toward simplicity in your closet with doable steps, while also digging to the roots of the problem, beneath the pile of clothes, the stack of shoes, and the mountain of frustration. I nodded my head in agreement from cover to cover. I think you will too.

Melissa Coleman, author of The Minimalist Kitchen

If youre thinking about optimizing your wardrobe, let Courtney Carver be your guide. She will show you how to let go of excess stuff so that you can bring more joy, gratitude, and love into your life. As Courtney says, Simplicity is the way back to love, and this book is full of loving advice and stories. I highly recommend Project 333!

Tammy Strobel, author, photographer, and founder of RowdyKittens.com

For me, Project 333 became something far greater than wearing fewer articles of clothing. It became about recognizing the value of boundaries. And the value of boundaries reaches far beyond our closets. It begins to spill into how we decorate our homes, the toys we buy for our children, and even how we choose to spend our time, money, and energy. This book is a must-read for those who are ready to simplify their lives.

Joshua Becker, author of The Minimalist Home and The More of Less

Project 333 is not just a fashion challenge, its an invitation to live more intentionally. Courtney takes a gentle, heart-based approach to decluttering and provides readers with plenty of support along the way.

Francine Jay, author of The Joy of Less and Lightly

Courtney Carver understands the unstoppable power of less.

Joshua Fields Millburn, cofounder of The Minimalists

an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

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Copyright 2020 by Courtney Carver

Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Carver, Courtney, author.

Title: Project 333 : the minimalist fashion challenge that proves less really is so much more / Courtney Carver.

Other titles: Project three hundred thirty-three

Description: New York: TarcherPerigee, 2020. | A TarcherPerigee book.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019027100 | ISBN 9780525541455 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780525541462 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Clothing and dressPsychological aspects. | Simplicity. | Minimal design. | Self-realization.

Classification: LCC GT524 .C37 2020 | DDC 391dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019027100

Illustrations by Emma Block

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If you require legal advice or other expert assistance, you should seek the services of a competent professional.

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For every brave, curious heart willing to ask, Wouldnt it be crazy if...

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333

When I created the minimalist fashion challenge Project 333 in 2010, I wasnt interested in creating a capsule wardrobe. I didnt want to develop a personal style. (I thought that was a lost cause.) In fact, my motives had very little to do with clothes. I just wanted some peace. I wanted a break from the excess. I wanted relief from running late in the morning after trying on several outfits. I wanted to feel good in my clothes. I wanted to stop obsessing over what I was going to wear to work, to dinner, or to an event.

I wanted to stop feeling like I didnt have enough... like I wasnt enough.

The average woman owns $550 in clothing that has never been worn. We wear 20 percent of our clothing 80 percent of the time, yet 100 percent of our wardrobe gets 100 percent of our attention, emotion, space, and time. Thats exhausting.

Dont you want some relief... a little peace?

Organizing your closet year after year or season after season is just a Band-Aid for a much larger problem. We have too much. We have way more than we need and have been led to believe that we still dont have enough. We dont have the right shoes, the trendy coat for the season, the perfect little black dress, or the latest and greatest handbag. Between constant comparing, attractive advertising campaigns, and ridiculously low fast-fashion prices, we just add, and add, and add. And its never enough.

WHAT IS PROJECT 333?