Minimum number of items in your wardrobe

[way2serious]

I live in a tiny one bedroom cottage with a tiny wardrobe area and little loft space me so have been looking at how I can reduce my clothes. Today I have been reading about Project 33 and wondered if anyone has managed to reduce their clothes down to 33 or fewer items. This doesn’t include underwear, proper work out clothes or special jewellery such as wedding ring.
I would love to reduce mine down further and wondered why your wardrobe items were if you have manger this.

I definitely have 33 or less. Small London flat. Not itemised but the list goes something like this:
3 pairs of jeans
3 dresses
2 wideleg trousers
5 tshirts
3 shirts
4 jumpers
you get the picture

I think coats are where I have too many.

I couldn't manage with that amount but a wardrobe should easily take more than 33 items. What about more storage- a bed with drawers, rail in the loft, shelves, ottoman or under bed storage? If you want to have a cull fine but don't get rid of anything good or you'll regret it.

I would hate to do this and I don't think you could do it for year round, because you'd need seasonal stuff.

As a start I'd want:

black jeans
blue jeans
4 tshirts - black / black and white - both short and long sleeved
2 vest tops - black and black/white
black shirt
black silky top
white very light cotton summer blouse
white shirt
denim shorts
black biker jacket
black turtleneck jumper
black summer dress - long
black winter dress short
black winter dress long
white printed summer dress long
denim jacket
khaki jacket
bright winter coat
leopard print skirt
denim midi skirt
black jersey tube skirt - midi
printed jersey tube skirt - midi
black ankle boots
tan ankle boots
black heeled ankle boots
sandals
Converse
flat slingbacks
trainers

Ooooh, please keep the suggestions coming.
My wardrobe is bulging but I’m trying to reduce. I’m packing awsy at it.
Capsule ideas please.
I travel a fair bit.

Not packing … I meant “pecking away at it”, getting rid of stuff.

The problem with cutting down to so few is having yo replace really often because you'd be wearing/ washing each item so often that theyd look like a rag in no time. Even if you buy good quality!

I do project 333 and have done for several years. Love not thinking too hard about what to wear!
I keep the clothes I'm not currently wearing (seasonal) in a box in the attic.
I like having space, I like knowing I'm only every wearing a favourite item, and I like the rhythm of sorting through my clothes four times a year, then not thinking about it for another three months.
Suits me!

There's a phrase about how most of us wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. I think there's a lot of truth in that.

You have a good point. I'm not overly strict with it, and because I loathe shopping, if I find something I like I'll buy several (tee shirts/jeans anyway) Any extra goes in the seasonal box. Most items will cope with regular wash and wear for 3 months in my experience though.
I also hang a couple of smart outfits complete with the jewellery I'd wear with them, in the wardrobe. I don't wear them often but i like to be able to get at them readily when I have need for them.

President Obama is my inspiration: he had all his suits the same colour so he didn't have to think about what to wear.

Project 333 fan here, though I haven't ever actually counted my outfits. I also tend to buy multiple copies of the same colour tops, with two different colours of trousers and go from there.

I'm perfectly happy to wear pretty much the same outfit every day. No one has ever noticed or remarked on this.

Having got everyday clothes under control, I don't count 'special occasion' clothes in the 33, for example an evening jacket or the black jacket for funerals.

Having struggled for ages to have space for everything, my wardrobe and drawers now easily accommodate my clothes. Brilliant.

This is not what you asked (sorry) but just wondered about maximising your space (you've probably already done it), but splashing out on some bespoke fitted wardrobes with clever storage inside that make use of every last bit of space and like someone said indebted/ottoman storage for off season clothes?

Close to that is easily possible if you make seasonal capsule wardrobes. Or at least Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter. I like colour too much to go for a very minimalist black and white capsule. I find with less clothes in the wardrobe I actually wear more than when it is bulging and things are difficult to access. An Ottoman bed, with vacuum bags for items like sweaters, helps so much with storage.

I lived and traveled 2 years with a backpack which stored hiking clothes, regular city/travel clothes plus a few smart clothes for temp work. It can certainly be done. Think in terms of outfits you can make from your clothes rather than individual items; I know some people get very attached to clothes and fear they might regret decluttering something but tbh that's never happened to me.

I would think about dividing your wardrobe according to how you spend your time - if you wfh most of the time, spend time outdoors etc that will require a whole different wardrobe that going to a smart office environment and attending cocktail parties. Make sure your wardrobe works for the life you have and not the life you would like to have.

Thanks everyone for some really good ideas. Our wardrobe is already well designed to maximise storage but is just tiny. Getting a bed with drawers is a definite option as we do need a new bed so will definitely look into that. But am going to really look at what I have got and what I actually do wear and try to reduce it down. I like the idea of a very basic wardrobe that I can mix and match but it is nice to have a range of colours too.