Posted on August 2nd 2014 by
In a recent article published on Fashionista.com, the question had been raised — could we collectively max out on minimalism sooner than we expect? Let’s be honest here, but how many perfect t-shirts and pairs of pleated mannish trousers can we pack into our wardrobes? Speaking for myself, that’s the basis of what’s in my closet and I can’t get enough. While there’s always a market for basics — not to mention a contingency of diehard minimalists, there’s a fine line between simple and just boring. While shirt dresses, wide leg trousers, and slip dresses are current must-haves that nod to minimalism, but brands need to offer something different in order to compete. If you can buy the same piece from almost every designer and even on the high-street, how special is it? What it’ll come down to is the hardcore styling and the refusal of brands to not directly play into trends. Most importantly minimalism shouldn’t be viewed as a moment but instead, a way of being.
Now, I can only speak for myself but I know that many of you out there will agree. Over the course of the past few months, it seems as though all I want to wear are a combination of a white mannish shirts, trousers, and boyfriend jeans paired with a tennis trainer or Birkenstocks. As I mentioned in the previous post on the Chicest Degree, where we discussed thoughts on uniformity and outfit repetition. I’ve noticed recently is that the way in which I get dressed, and more specifically the variables that force its evolution, have become increasingly less interesting. The wardrobe top rotation items remain the same and are most unlikely to change. You know what they say, sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to find. Discovering those simple pieces that are currently missing from your wardrobe – a white shirt dress, Parisian like long silk tank, and cropped cigarette pants just to name a few, take time to find but once you do, you’ll wear them far too often.
Let’s get back on topic here, folks. Many high-street retailers like Zara, COS, and other startup labels have followed in minimalist emporium The Protagonist‘s path by promising elevated wardrobe basics: the perfect black blazer, the perfect white t-shirt, the perfect pair of jeans, the perfect white sneaker. Perfect, perfect, perfect. Even the most anti-fashion NORMCORE observer has surely noticed this shift toward the spare. It’s been mentioned before that with the overwhelming trends, bloggers, and over-dressed looks that it’s refreshing to go back to basics. That’s what seemed to be the aesthetic for designers collections these past few seasons, the minimalist crave even trickled up to the runways of Couture.
Why do we all want to look simple so badly? The answer to that question can go in many different directions. We can’t deny that its inspired by Céline’s Phoebe Philo, as well as Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen of The Row, and Raf Simons when he was at Jil Sander, this flavor of minimalism is less severe than what we saw in the 90s. Yes, the clean lines are there and color scheme is monochromatic sartorially speaking. Which might be the reason why it has become such a popular look.
How much is too much minimalism? Tell me everything, leave nothing out.
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Hi Chloe, I live in the greater Boston area and found your blog somewhat recently. I love what you said here: “Most importantly minimalism shouldn’t be viewed as a moment but instead, a way of being.” A lady after my own heart. Glad to have found you! -Rachel