This week on Flickr, Christina asked me "Deep down, do you wish you had more items? Different items? More or less of something?" The answer, really, is yes, and, no. I spent a lot of time putting together my original list. I know my style, and I like to mix and match. I don't necessarily wish for more items, but I sometimes do wish for some different ones.
I miss my jewelry. Most of it is sentimental, and I put the most sentimental (and pragmatic; my watch is a must have) on the list (a necklace Neal gave me when I lived in New Mexico; it was meant to look like a winter sky in the Northeast), and I put a synecdoche bracelet on the list (I usually like to stack 'em, and the one I kept out stands in for all the others). I am glad I didn't put earrings on the list, but now that my hair is almost long enough to put up, I would like to have my favorite silver earrings to wear. I'll be passing on a lot of costume jewelry and sharing nicer pieces I no longer wear with family members.
In embarking on Project 333, I was concerned that I would be unhappy with a limited shoe and purse wardrobe. Again, I selected the shoes carefully for their versatility and considered what I was most likely to be doing during the three months. Not once have I wished for any additional shoes. I will be paring those back dramatically, too. I only put one purse on the list, a black tote that I could use for work. It isn't cutting it. It's a great bag, but I hate carrying it when I'm not at work. It's simply too big. So in the next round, while I plan to purge many of my beautiful bags, I will have a little more variety.
Want to see this week's outfits?
(Thanksgiving break meant lots of casual outfits!)
There's something exciting on its way (finally!) to my house...all day I've been stalking the tracking for my Uniform Project L.B.D.! Starting tonight, I'll be playing P333 with 32 items instead of 31!
You can see all of my Project 333 outfits here, and if you'd like to see what fellow P333-er Drew (be sure to hop over to Drew's site. He is doing cool, cool things!) and I have cooked up, check out our weekly photo game here.
Now that I've dished about what I miss, tell me, what piece of jewelry (remember, wedding rings don't count on P333) you could not do without for three months?
Have a fantastic weekend!
:) even though I love bags, I am slowly paring down to the three for to cover most everything (one for work, one for play, one for fancy). there is a fourth for travel, but that is special considerations.
oh, you asked jewelry? my newish pearl necklace. i was angry when my loving husband brought it home... it was much fancier than the string of pearls mom gave me in high school. but it is perfectly me. he did really well. i'm looking for the proper earrings to pair with it and at all other times. the cheap silver hoops are not cutting it.
i will not give up my mother's engagement diamond that was reset into a necklace for my 21st birthday, but i do not wear it often anymore.
Posted by: penny | December 03, 2010 at 03:39 PM
The LBD will be the perfect addition to your wardrobe and I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
My wedding rings and watch are the only jewelry I wear everyday. I might miss the 25th anniversary ring, even though I rarely wear it.
Posted by: margene | December 03, 2010 at 03:47 PM
When I was 22, recently having dumped a guy who expressed his displeasure over being dumped by trying to hit me, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. And decided that I did NOT need a man in my life. As a symbol of my newfound independence, I bought myself a lovely antique diamond wedding band and had it resized to fit my right pinky finger. Rarely have I been without it in the subsequent 19 years.
Posted by: Anne | December 03, 2010 at 03:59 PM
I never take off my claddagh (sp?) ring, so I definitely couldn't do without that one. A gift from my husband the last time we were in New Orleans and I was still competing in Irish Step Dance. And in addition to my wedding band and engagement ring, Steve gave me a matching band to wear on the other side for my 30th birthday, so that, too, would have to stay, if I were playing this game! My watch gets worn sometimes, and sometimes not. I rarely wear necklaces with the kids around, too scared they'll pull them off. And I always have a stud of some color in all 4 earring holes, so I guess those would have to stay as well. What is that, 4 items just in jewelry that would have to stay? Looks like I made a good decision to not play! I do however have a LARGE bag of clothing going to Goodwill!
Posted by: Katie | December 03, 2010 at 05:24 PM
You've inspired me, and I've been "practicing" for the next round of Project 333. However that wedding ring freebie still annoys me to no end. It's a sentimental symbol; it's not required in the way that a piece of clothing would be, so I think it should count as one of the 33 pieces.
Given the weather, the absolute must haves for the next three months would be my winter kit -- snow boots, coat, gloves, hat, and scarf.
I'm learning to slowly release the power that material goods have had on me. It's been a sentimental power, but that can be a very tough thing to overcome.
Posted by: Gina | December 05, 2010 at 10:37 PM
I think this is a challenge I could master. I hate to shop and look like I stepped out of the catalog. Of course the shorter, older, uglier sister of those folks. I will just call LL Bean and be like send me 3 of these and 3 of those in different colors. I swear I'm style impaired.
I'm a hoarder in all sorts of other things - fleece, yarn, etc, but clothes (I blame it on Catholic school)... well I wear everything till it is rags and has to be pitched. I've pinned up sweat pants with the elastic blown and hoped they won't fall down. Same with my handbags and shoes - worn till they wear out. I do still have few coach ones when that leather (hard to wear out leather) was the style. I think it was a style at one time. :)
Posted by: Madame Purl | December 05, 2010 at 11:56 PM
All of this has made me really re-think my clothing. I've been purging things that don't fit perfect. And I've really been thinking about things before buying anything.
Posted by: Christina Scovel | December 06, 2010 at 11:19 AM
this post (and your blog) came to me at such a good time. i'm feeling so inundated with "stuff" and messages everywhere telling me that i need more of it. now, i *know* that i don't, but it's so nice to read about someone actually doing something like this. simplifying. back to basics. i'm going to read back a bit and learn more about this project you've taken on.
(and to answer your question: just my wedding ring, and i know that doesn't count, but it's the only one i'd miss)
Posted by: ana @ i made it so | December 06, 2010 at 07:29 PM
Since Project 333 (which I just couldn't get together fast enough to participate this time around) I've been taking a long, hard look at my closet. Once a week I pull something out that I haven't worn in a while. I wear it, and if I don't love it it goes into the Goodwill trash bag. So far EVERYTHING has gone into the bag. I have more room to move my clothes around and I LOVE IT!
Posted by: Trisha R | December 07, 2010 at 02:07 PM
What a terrific project. I'm such a plain jane that it would be pretty easy for me with most of my clothes. Shoes, though would be a challenge!
Right now it is so cold here that I seem to be wearing all the pieces I would be allowed on the challenge at the same time...
Posted by: LifetimeReader | December 10, 2010 at 06:20 AM