5PFW Challenge 2016 Update

Three months into my second 5PFW challenge, and I figured that I owed you all an update, particularly given some of the questions I received on my video on the subject. I’ve managed to pick up three items which make up part of my five, which has me feeling a little like I’m teetering on the edge of going over this ‘season’ (although I won’t beat myself up too much if I do!).

Given I am a Lover girl through and through, as soon as the new collection launched I knew I had to get a piece of it. I made a beeline for the ‘drifter mini skirt’ in navy; it has a universally flattering a-line silhouette, and I just adore the rivet and ‘rope’ detailing on the waistband. This is such a great transitional piece as it works well with tights and a big cosy jumper, but also looks cute with a little crop top for warmer days.

My second purchase was a seemingly impractical one; a pink off the shoulder dress from RUBY (I love this one from Nicholas, too). Given that we were heading straight into autumn, I was sure if a) I’d even have an opportunity to wear it, and b) if it would even be a piece I would be able to get a lot of wear out of – not too many offices are relaxed enough that you can get away with a little off the shoulder action. Turns out, I was wrong on both counts. The last couple months have been unseasonably warm, and thankfully it’s been something that I can get away with wearing to work. It’s fast become a favourite and I love that it looks great both on its own, or with a big cosy cardigan thrown casually over the shoulders.

Finally, the cooler evenings have definitely been playing on my mind as of late. I’ve been dreaming of the Acne Studios raya coatigan for some time now, but decided to go with a slightly more affordable option from Country Road. This has just the right amount of slouch, and if there’s one common theme in my closet, it’s that I’m a huge fan of the coatigan.

I also want to take a minute to talk a little about the basics that I’ve picked up too. These seem to be the purchases that fly under the radar, but I think that they’re just as important to mention as the spendier additions as they add to the overall aesthetic of your wardrobe. I also felt it was important to mention these from the perspective that I think that there can be an impetus to buy basics freely, and being upfront and honest about what I’ve picked up helps to keep that impulse in check.

Least surprising of the basics I picked up was a sheered long-sleeved stripe top from T by Alexander Wang. I managed to nab this for a steal from The Real Real and I quickly added it to my autumn capsule when it arrived. I’ve had this on my wishlist for a good three years or so now, and figured it was finally worth pulling the trigger. It’s super slouchy and I love the way it helps to loosen up a more dressy outfit, and the contrasting cuffs and hem is an interesting little detail.

The one essential I purchased that truthfully, is completely borderline, is a grey wool wrap skirt I picked up from RUBY. I owned the RUBY pixie skirt a few years back, and it was just one of my everyday go-to essentials (albeit a whole size too big…), so it felt only natural to label this as an essential – and price wise, it falls under the lower limit of what I’d usually spend on a skirt.

Finally, I have a couple of new linen t-shirts from Brandy Melville, and a few everyday basics from Everlane winging their way to me from the US; I kept it simple and went for pieces that I know I’ll get a lot of wear out of, so keep an eye out as I’ll be updating you all with what I picked up very soon.

I’ve been trying – mostly – to keep it safe this time around; last year, I found that I was leaning more towards shopping spontaneously and unfortunately this meant that a few months later, I was not longer quite so in love with what I’d bought.

For those of you curious about the mechanics of how this challenge works, the aim is not to purchase five key pieces every six months if you don’t want or need to. It’s not a goal to aspire to but rather a loose guide to how the French themselves might shop. At the end of the six months, everything you bought stays in your closet, and perhaps you might part with some old season pieces which are no longer your style, or the odd item which is starting to wear out (which is where the concept of buying new basics is supposed to come into play).

I recently shared a link on my Twitter about whether we can really shop like the French, which I think might shed a little bit of light on how their shopping habits are typically portrayed. Whether it’s an urban legend or not… well, that’s up to you to decide.