Considering the fact fashionistas everywhere admire the simple elegance mastered by Parisian women, it’s no wonder the so-called “Five Piece French Wardrobe” is taking the Internet by storm.
The concept is centred around the idea that less is more, and that our wardrobes should be made up only of quality pieces that we actually enjoy wearing. Though the thought of throwing out our favourite jeans (terrible as they may be) is a bit daunting, we were intrigued … particularly by the fact that the FPFW model requires you to purchase five new pieces each season to enrich your wardrobe and, hopefully, encourage selectiveness when shopping.
Thanks to the help of experts, this wardrobe hack might be just what we need to spring clean our closets. —Johnnie Smart
urge to purge. Organizational guru and co-founder of Harmony Sense Interiors Anna Cumming says that “hanging onto clothes you never wear” is the main culprit for a chaotic wardrobe. According to Cumming, the journey to organization starts with removing every single piece of clothing from your closet to decide what pieces to hang onto and what pieces to toss or donate. “Be critical! Ask yourself: do you like this piece? Does it flatter you? Does it fit? When is the last time you wore it?” Once your closet is empty, she suggests vacuuming and dusting so the space is clean and placing only the chosen items back in the closet—by colour for maximum functionality. Suddenly have the urge to clean? Read the complete step-by-step process here.
keep the classics. Not to worry, you don’t have to throw everything out! Cumming recommends keeping the classic pieces by examining the material makeup of your clothes (read those labels) and keeping the pieces that are good quality. Natural fibres, she said, last and perform "much better than any synthetic materials and are worth investing in."
what to buy. Now for the fun part. When it comes to purchasing those timeless, good-quality pieces to make up your FPFW, Nordstrom style expert Michelle Addison recommends investing in basics that are versatile and will build the foundation for our wardrobe. “I always recommend looking for quality, good tailoring, solid colours," she said. "You are looking for timeless pieces that have a classic look.You may not have a different top for every Friday night but you will have a top that you can wear with a blazer, a skirt and a pair of jeans."
Among Addison’s top picks:
> summer-weight trench. "The trench you can never go wrong with. It goes from day to night and dressy to casual. You can also wear it year round. I would recommend either black, navy or tan." Burberry Sandringham Long Slim Trench Coat, $1,356
> a great white blouse. Nothing says elegance like a beautiful silk blouse. This is an item every women should have in her closet. From work to evening events, it adds a chic elegance that you simply can’t get from a T-shirt. Vince Stretch Silk Blouse, $419
> carry-all tote. A great bag is also a worthwhile investment. It adds a finishing touch to your outfit that is essential to making an impression and completing your look. Longchamp Roseau Leather Shoulder Tote, $744
> an everyday flat. Valentino flats are the epitome of chic: a safe bet when deciding what to put on your feet. Not only comfortable, they add a bit of bling to a work weekday. Valentino Rockstud Ballerina Flat, $1,056
> classic sunnies. Sunglasses are a must-have in building a good wardrobe. Ray-Ban is another brand that has a style that always stands up to the face of changing fashion. Iconic in its design, and a street-style show stopper to boot. Ray-Ban Highstreet 54mm Round Sunglasses, $248
the final touch. Once you have built up your wardrobe based around these basic pieces, Cumming suggests slowly adding the occasional High Street item—not worth investing in, per se, but meant to be affordable and fun—to keep your style up to date.
Though the FPFW might be a stretch for our inner shopaholic, the feeling of loving not only our clothes but also how we feel in them is definitely worthwhile!
share:
Be the first to comment