Jessie Bush: The French Five Piece Wardrobe
The concept of French Five Piece wardrobe receives pretty regular airtime in the fashion world, and for good reason. It’s a tale as old as time, and one that still rings true; invest well in well-made classics and you’ll never have ‘nothing to wear’ ever again. The Five Piece wardrobe is as exactly as it sounds - building a wardrobe around five key pieces that will stand the test of time - but in an age where trends come and go faster than we can watch a series on Netflix, it’s not as easy as it sounds. All too often fashion girls end up adding the latest statement heel to their shopping cart, thinking it’ll be the end of their sartorial woes.
So how exactly does the 5 piece wardrobe work and how do you go about executing it (whilst discovering your inner Parisienne in the process)? First off - you don’t need to start offloading 95% of your wardrobe - the goal here isn’t to have just 5 pieces hanging all lonely in your closet. The idea is to have 5 key pieces - all of which function as the building blocks of any one outfit, any time, anywhere.
I’m not saying you can’t embrace this season’s graphic tee or swoosh around in fresh metallic pleats - but it helps if you already have the perfect white button down or timeless blue jeans patiently waiting in your wardrobe to complete the look.
It’s also important to note that the 5 Piece wardrobe isn’t some hard and fast rule. For some ladies a leather moto jacket may be the ultimate go-to in outerwear. For others, it’s a classic trench. Our lifestyles and body types all differ greatly; it’s not about creating a bunch of cookie cutter wardrobes - but buying smarter and making our wardrobe work harder.
The Leather Jacket
The leather jacket is the cool-girls arsenal. Toughen up a spring dress, or layer over a slouchy shirt for those times when a blazer feels too formal.
The perfect blue jean
This is the jean that you pull out on those days when you have no idea what to wear and it always makes you feel good. It’s the perfect shade of indigo, eternally flattering and goes with everything in your wardrobe. Consider the classic blue jean the backbone of your wardrobe; without it the rest all comes tumbling down
The timeless black bag
The timeless black bag is generally more of an investment piece and requires a bit of consideration before taking the plunge. There’s no need to break the bank, but do opt for a style that will stand the test of time.
The slick leather shoe
Men understand the power of a well-crafted leather shoe, and so should we. Whether you’re all about a pointed heel or a slick loafer is entirely up to you - but don’t underestimate the importance of investing in a beautifully classic shoe that can instantly sharpen up even the most casual look.
The perfect white button up
Another sartorial trick borrowed from the boys is the classic white button up. Wear crisply pressed with tailored trousers when you need to bring your progressional A-game, or style half-tucked and slightly unbuttoned with denim for an effortlessly undone vibe, just like the Parisiennes do it.
