Minimalist Fashion for Beginners
Although minimalism fundamentally extends to all aesthetics of life, fashion makes up a substantial part of it. We accumulate unnecessary and low-quality clothes every season and forget about them the following month. We buy the trendiest items, but never really know how to integrate them into our personal style. It all just gets very messy and, more importantly, very expensive. Minimalism offers a way to get rid of the excess in life, and concentrate on the beauties of what's at hand. Blogger theclassysimplelife describes this approach quite elegantly in her guide to minimalism:
"Minimalism and simpler living has helped me focus on abundance instead of lack, gratitude over fear, and quality over quantity."
The movement originated as a post-World War II Western art movement, mostly prominent among the American visual artists in the 1960s and 1970s, though it has since extended to other domains such as architecture and literature. For all fellow history-lovers: minimalism has been used to describe the plays and novels of Samuel Beckett, the films of Robert Bresson, the stories of Raymond Carver, and the automobile designs of Colin Chapman, and surely, Kasimir Malevich's Black Square.
Minimalism has its perks. Not only does it enable you to spend less time deciding on outfits given that every single piece is easy to mix and match, but you'll also spend less time shopping - only buying quality clothes that you are actually willing to wear. I'm not claiming that everyone should only own two pairs of jeans and five tees or anything, but an effort to target basic and quality pieces ultimately saves a lot of time, and enhances your overall style with minimal effort. Ideally, one would have a capsule wardrobe with items to match for any occasion, and a few statement pieces that can be very individualistic and personal when worn. Sounds enticing? Here are 5 essential pieces to start off your minimalist capsule wardrobe, and some outfit inspiration from my favourite female bloggers inspired by the minimalist style.
Denim Jacket
Denim jackets are great because thrifting them is super easy. It is not uncommon to find a vintage Levi's jacket in a simple thrift store for only 30 bucks. The versatile jacket can instantly make a bland outfit into a very cool one, and render your look more edgy with its structural features.
A Good Plain Shirt
Plain white shirts are key to clean and sleek looks. Your top can be a simple and cotton loose-fit t-shirt, but dressier shirts can also be adapted to everyday looks, and they are definitely favoured by many minimalist bloggers looking to add more sophistication to their style. The important part is finding out what kind of shirts you like. You should be considering things like the neckline, length and fit, and of course, the fabric. My go-to plain shirts have mostly been from Zara and Banana Republic, and my friends are still in awe with the variety of my white shirt collection.
The Little Black Dress
One is never overdressed or underdressed with a little black dress. Karl Lagerfeld, anyone? One little black dress can take you from a casual date night when paired with sneakers, to a sophisticated bar date when paired with heels and some make-up.
A Good Pair of Jeans
When deciding on which jeans to buy, it's a smart move to find a brand, style and size that suits you, and sticking to that particular fit. Dedicating a day to jeans-shopping usually does the trick. For a good pair of jeans and a good amount of variety, I'd recommend JBrand, Topshop, Madewell and Levi's. Jeans you feel comfortable in and can wear confidently on any given day are sure to be worth your money, so consider your priorities when you're in the changing room, and choose wisely.
White Sneakers
These shoes are bound to match any neutral-colour outfit, and are essential during the spring and summer time. Thank God for the 21st century. Adidas, Puma or Balenciaga, pick one and make sure to wipe them clean every now and then.
All images are taken from the following three minimalistic Instagram feeds:
@andicsinger, @harperandharley and @josefinehj
Feature image via
