This January, it’s all about welcoming everything new with a bang. Preen is looking at the changing tides and how they sweep over us to reveal better stories and bigger adventures.
We’re here to propose a new form of wardrobe detox: the five-piece French wardrobe. In line with the annoying mentality that all things French are just so impossibly chic (of which Inès de La Fressange’s Uniqlo collaboration was not exempt), we examine the feasibility of this sartorial philosophy.
Essentially, the five-piece wardrobe dictates that one must have a closet filled with basics across the spectrum: tops, bottoms, jackets, and shoes in a particular color palette that can be easily mixed and matched. Once the basics have been covered, and the closet purged of all remnants of impulsive shopping disasters or depressing hand-me-downs, one is left with (what we hope is) a working closet.
The next step of the French trick: shopping. Before the shopaholics heave a sigh of relief—or worse—hyperventilate at the thought, we define certain parameters to the art of shopping. First, we revisit the reason why it’s called the five-piece wardrobe: You only buy five pieces at any given season just to save your ensembles from looking dated.
Closely study which new trends will work well with your body type and your personal style, and then create a grocery list of the items to watch out for. If the item isn’t on your list and you encounter a covet-worthy steal, shamefully trade that item with whatever piece you’re set to buy. It’s going to take an almost impossible amount of self-control to pull this off, but once that discipline sets in, we guarantee your bank account will be looking much fuller, and your closet will have a better curated set of pieces that won’t leave you scratching your head as you dress up in the morning. Plus, the outfit mileage is almost too good to pass off.
Click through the slideshow to see a couple of items worth adding to your basics or seasonal items list!
Photos by Carmen del Prado
Styling by Meg Manzano
Assisted by Carla Delos Reyes
Makeup by Angel Manhilot
Modeled by Zepha Jackson