5PFW Challenge A/W ’16 Update & Recap

With another 5PFW Challenge under my belt, I thought I’d share a quick recap and update on what entered my closet, and whether I’m still just as smitten with it as the day I bought it.

I ended up adding six new ‘key’ pieces to my wardrobe this time around, and a good 15 new basic pieces, at least thereabouts; proof that you can easily find yourself adding to your wardrobe with the excuse that it’s just another basic piece, rather than a replacement or a particular piece you actually need. Given that we’d had a holiday planned a good six months before I even decided to take this challenge on, I decided to cut myself a little slack, you know, on the off chance I spotted something I wanted to bring home with me on holiday.

Unlike last year, I chose not to plan out my purchases; it didn’t work out too well for me the first time around, and I wanted to have some flexibility and not feel obligated to purchase something, just because it was on my list. Given how much my shopping habits have changed over the years, this was just the right approach for me; it gave me choice, freedom, and the ability to have a little more fun with my new purchases, rather than feel bound to add luxe takes on otherwise basic pieces to my closet.

Lover drifter mini skirt – Lover is a label that I will forever go back to, time and time again; it’s been one of my favourite labels from the age of 15, and that definitely hasn’t faded over the years. When I spotted the drifter mini skirt, an a-line canvas skirt with rope and rivet detailing at the waistband, I just couldn’t say no. As much as I have loved and worn this skirt over the last few months, I recently decided to part with it – as nit-picky as this is going to sound, it wasn’t quite the right shade of navy, and second guessing has me wishing I’d opted for the slightly less practical choice of white.

RUBY vasilisa off the shoulder dress (no longer available but LOVE this one) – Hands down my favourite buy this year, and honestly it was about time that my wardrobe got a little off the shoulder action. Given that this dress launched as part of RUBY’s A/W collection, I haven’t had as much opportunity to wear it as I would like, but I love the slightly neon hue, the option to wear it belted – or not – and the fact that I can just throw it in the washing machine.

Country Road grey mohair longline cardigan – I’ve had my eye on the Acne Studios Raya Cardigan for some time now, and when I spotted this in my local Country Road, it seemed like the perfect affordable alternative. This has gotten more than its fair share of ‘air’ time, as it works just as well with a mini dress as it does with an easy sweater and jeans.

ASOS criss cross back midi dress in pinstripe (this style is also cute!) – This was a pre-holiday purchase, one that I grabbed almost on a whim, as it looked like the perfect travelling companion for 30+ deg C temperatures that we were expecting in Italy and the USA. It turned out to be one of the most worn items I packed with me, and it’s something that I suspect I’ll get a lot of wear out of here in Sydney once the weather starts to heat up. For now though, I’m planning on wearing it layered over a merino knit skivvy to see me through the brisk mornings we’ve been having lately.

Sophia Webster ‘loren’ sandals – Along with the off the shoulder dress from RUBY, these are quite possibly one of my favourite purchases of the year. I bought these as a (fancy) replacement for my Opening Ceremony black heeled sandals which I absolutely thrashed through most of Spring, Summer and then some, the last couple of years. These are a little more delicate, with thin leather straps, a beaded heel, and two baubles at the toe, but they’ve been comfortable from the get-go and pair perfectly with basically everything in my wardrobe. I’ve already managed to scuff them after trying to navigate Florence’s cobblestoned streets with a little fancy footwork, but I figure that it’s nothing a cobbler can’t fix.

COS navy asymmetrical hem t-shirt dress – My final purchase, and the one that tipped me over the goal of sticking to just five key piece, but definitely a welcome addition to my wardrobe. I nabbed this in Florence, during a spur of the moment stop in COS, and while I haven’t had an opportunity to wear this yet, I have a feeling that it’s going to become a solid workhorse in my wardrobe.

One thing I definitely found myself gravitating towards was dresses; which honestly, came as a little bit of a surprise to me given my fondness for separates. I’m definitely starting to find myself wanting to experiment again and find that playful spirit that my wardrobe so desperately seems to be lacking.

Perhaps it’s without surprise that I’ve decided I probably won’t embark on another round of the 5PFW Challenge – as much as it’s helped to shape my perceptions and decision making where new wardrobe additions are involved, sometimes, a girl’s just gotta have fun! x