Can’t bring yourself to go full-on Kondo on your closet? For spring, we suggest a more moderate but still fairly life-changing take on the clothing purge. Known among well-heeled types as the Five-Piece French Wardrobe and beloved of chic blogger types like AfterDRK’s Sabrina Meijer (you’ll find an entire tag page for the method on her site), the premise is simple enough. The ethos takes its cues from what’s now accepted as the cri de coeur of Parisian style: impeccable and versatile basic pieces for everyday wear. Chances are you’ve already got a handful of them: a great leather jacket, a blazer, a white button-down, spruce trousers, a Breton top. Pare back your wardrobe to those . . . and then comes the tough part. Beyond those staples, this wardrobe diet limits you to a scant five trend-driven buys per season. They can be whatever you please—Miu Miu’s platform boots, a frothy Erdem lace dress, a Gucci Dionysus bag—but they’ve got to mix and match well enough with your pre-existing pieces to last you all season long. Deployed correctly, this capsule wardrobe will keep your dresser in check and your look both current and classic.
Here, five ways to dip a toe into the waters of the Five-Piece French Wardrobe for spring.
