The Parisian Way to Create a 5-Piece Capsule Wardrobe

French-girl style is undeniably fascinating, so with the current trend for decluttering your closet in the air, one compelling concept comes to mind: the five-piece French wardrobe. This is a movement that gained traction in 2014, but it feels especially de rigeur when downsizing, streamlining and making your day-to-day life an altogether more enjoyable affair is of the utmost importance.

The guidelines are simple: First, make sure you have quality basics across all categories of clothing, and eliminate pieces that you don’t wear or love. Buy new staples to fill any gaps you may find—and remember, quality over quantity. Second, limit your new purchases to five non-basic items per season to refresh your look and add personality. Intrigued? Scroll down to find out how you can implement it.

Consider this a jumping-off point for finding what’s right for your wardrobe. As for what counts as a basic, the blogger behind AfterDrk listed out these helpful guidelines:

A basic is something that…

I can wear this over and over and over again until it falls apart.

Goes with everything I already own.

I pretty much can’t live without it.

Is the glue that helps me keep the rest of my wardrobe together.

Is made of a good material that will last for a very long time.

Our suggestions are below, but, of course, these will be personal to every girl. Don’t like tees? Then stock up on more shirts. Hate flats? Don’t worry; just opt for understated heels and you’ll get plenty of wear out of them.

This is where the fun begins. After you have your closet narrowed to the essential basics, thoughtfully consider which five pieces you want to add each season. Below are the trends we would buy for this season… 

Up Next: 6 Golden Rules to French-Girl Style (That You Don't Know Yet)

This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.