The minimalist wardrobe : Support/progress thread

[doni]

Funny because I have a completely different concept about the 90s.

90s minimalism was about austerity in cuts, shapes and patterns (or lack thereof). Carolyn Basette Kennedy was about the most fashionable and trendiest woman on the planet at the time. I mean, she got married in Narciso Rodriguez, one of my favorite wedding looks of all time. And whatever happened to Narciso Rodriguez btw?
I loved high end minimalism of the time (Jil Sander) but grew so tired of so many of those times trends from bias cut dresses (no, they do not flatter everyone) to ill fitted shirts and twin sets...

But in terms of our wardrobes, the late 90s and early 00s is when the big change of fast fashion happened and fully consolidated, meaning that we could fill up our closets with tons and tons of clothes with new afordable items arriving to the stores every week in a constant tempting supply. I think we have forgotten, how it was before that...

So, to me, an 80s wardrobe, where you had an outlandish colorful big shoulder pad jacket that you wore day in day out until it fell into pieces was, in essence, much more minimal than a late 90s closet, full to the brim with white vests, shift dresses and black pants...

 

[Etriers]

Many many actresses with great styles, I need to think about it.
For the other ones its funny I tend to think of youtubers, not famous people, who with access to everything, don´t come to mind in minimalism let´s see...Avant garde could be the bold choices of Iris Van Apfel or Alexa Chung.
The traditionalist would be french actress like Charlotte Gainsbourg who literally has had the same wardrobe since the 80s lol...Same with her mother Jane Birkin.
The brand Rouje is entirely inspired by Jane Birkin the style icon. Very much part of our french culture. The reason why speaking french with a british accent is soooo sexy, also the ultimate tiny boobs icon
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BTW I absolutely love Carolyn Bessette´s style. I was researhing all I could find already back in 2008, when the 90s minimalists were definitely not in!
I remember back in 1997, being like (from across the pond) who is this Carolyn Bessette magazines keep mentioning? I have a profound nostalgia for that time, for the late 90s minimalism with Prada shows...I was living in Paris for the first time and being a poor student I only had like 2-3 key outfits & 3 pairs of shoes...but got access to see my first fashion show which was Carven.

I'm not sure about a style icon for essentialism, but I could pretty much live in Donna Karan's "7 easy pieces"... https://www.notorious-mag.com/article/the-90s-giorgio-armani-and-donna-karan-style-is-totally-now

I remember that ad campaign - a woman president seemed so possible... 28 years ago

Along similar lines, a closet with a dozen Diane von Furstenburg's wrap dresses would be pretty complete.

While not high style, in my head Martha Stewart wears the same chambray or blue-white-stripe blouse + jeans every day of the year and looks perfectly high-WASP at all times.

Love. Will be thinking about all this today.

 

[Etriers]

Funny because I have a completely different concept about the 90s.

90s minimalism was about austerity in cuts, shapes and patterns (or lack thereof). Carolyn Basette Kennedy was about the most fashionable and trendiest woman on the planet at the time. I mean, she got married in Narciso Rodriguez, one of my favorite wedding looks of all time. And whatever happened to Narciso Rodriguez btw?
I loved high end minimalism of the time (Jil Sander) but grew so tired of so many of those times trends from bias cut dresses (no, they do not flatter everyone) to ill fitted shirts and twin sets...

But in terms of our wardrobes, the late 90s and early 00s is when the big change of fast fashion happened and fully consolidated, meaning that we could fill up our closets with tons and tons of clothes with new afordable items arriving to the stores every week in a constant tempting supply. I think we have forgotten, how it was before that...

So, to me, an 80s wardrobe, where you had an outlandish colorful big shoulder pad jacket that you wore day in day out until it fell into pieces was, in essence, much more minimal than a late 90s closet, full to the brim with white vests, shift dresses and black pants...

So interesting! Love these thoughts....so, Yeah, but in terms of the minimalist categories of this You-tuber they are talking about I’m thinking CBK fits the anti-fashion category. Lol! Not that Comme de Garçons is somehow outside the realm of fashion but I think I understand what she’s getting at. CBK was trendy because everyone made her so but even her choice of a NR slip dress for a wedding dress and that crazy (at the time) anti-veil she wore—The photos with bare feet—all that was pretty outrageous and anti. Plus who knew who the h Narciso was until she wore that dress. He was still a wild (however talented) party boy at that time. It’s only when everyone said, “Oh that’s so cool“ that it became copied incessantly and trendy. And in a total weird moment, designers started copying her anti-fashion use of fashion which made it fashion. I mean I’ll grant that she carried a Birkin, but it was a 35 and what, I think black or gold? And she carried it like a shopping bag, not precious in the crook of her arm like today’s fashionistas. I always had the feeling she bought it because it was a useful bag that suited her, not the other way around, ie., because she wanted to be seen with a Birkin.

 

[doni]

So interesting! Love these thoughts....so, Yeah, but in terms of the minimalist categories of this You-tuber they are talking about I’m thinking CBK fits the anti-fashion category. Lol! Not that Comme de Garçons is somehow outside the realm of fashion but I think I understand what she’s getting at. CBK was trendy because everyone made her so but even her choice of a NR slip dress for a wedding dress and that crazy (at the time) anti-veil she wore—The photos with bare feet—all that was pretty outrageous and anti. Plus who knew who the h Narciso was until she wore that dress. He was still a wild (however talented) party boy at that time. It’s only when everyone said, “Oh that’s so cool“ that it became copied incessantly and trendy. And in a total weird moment, designers started copying her anti-fashion use of fashion which made it fashion. I mean I’ll grant that she carried a Birkin, but it was a 35 and what, I think black or gold? And she carried it like a shopping bag, not precious in the crook of her arm like today’s fashionistas. I always had the feeling she bought it because it was a useful bag that suited her, not the other way around, ie., because she wanted to be seen with a Birkin.

Black I believe. But then, everybody carried the Birkin like a useful shopping bag at the time, Ms Birkin included! When did they start even making it in a 25 I wonder?

 

[Etriers]

Black I believe. But then, everybody carried the Birkin like a useful shopping bag at the time, Ms Birkin included! When did they start even making it in a 25 I wonder?

View attachment 4838392

How do you even get to be that cool is what I wonder. Is there even anyone like that nowadays? The celebrities and ”influencers” are so aware of themselves and self conscious and trying so hard—not cool. The heiresses are so insecure. It helps to be beautiful and to be married to JFK Jr., certainly. I always thought Kelly Klein was cool in that way and had great minimalist style in the manner of Calvin Klein back in the day.

 

[Etriers]

As I think of it, minimalism itself is a very cool concept. It has a certain devil-may-care-ness about it. Like, I know who I am. I don’t need clothes to define me. Take it or leave it.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

I always had the feeling she bought it because it was a useful bag that suited her, not the other way around, ie., because she wanted to be seen with a Birkin.

And this I think is the essence of great style -- choosing the clothes, the bag, the apparel that suits you. When you pick the apparel that suits you, that looks good on you, and that you enjoy wearing, it comes through in the way you carry yourself. There is this confidence in one's choices, and this applies both to minimalist and non-minimalist wardrobes.

 

[mellecyn]

Funny because I have a completely different concept about the 90s.

90s minimalism was about austerity in cuts, shapes and patterns (or lack thereof). Carolyn Basette Kennedy was about the most fashionable and trendiest woman on the planet at the time. I mean, she got married in Narciso Rodriguez, one of my favorite wedding looks of all time. And whatever happened to Narciso Rodriguez btw?
I loved high end minimalism of the time (Jil Sander) but grew so tired of so many of those times trends from bias cut dresses (no, they do not flatter everyone) to ill fitted shirts and twin sets...

But in terms of our wardrobes, the late 90s and early 00s is when the big change of fast fashion happened and fully consolidated, meaning that we could fill up our closets with tons and tons of clothes with new afordable items arriving to the stores every week in a constant tempting supply. I think we have forgotten, how it was before that...

So, to me, an 80s wardrobe, where you had an outlandish colorful big shoulder pad jacket that you wore day in day out until it fell into pieces was, in essence, much more minimal than a late 90s closet, full to the brim with white vests, shift dresses and black pants...

Interesting. And yes minimalism as an aesthetic but I´ve been considering it mainly as quantity of items owned.
Now thinking back on it yes there was a drastic change of style from 1999 to 2001....Y2K I guess. Suddenly we got the disco 70s influence, the tiny triangle tops, and jeans back in as low hanging cowboy style (think Madonna´s video Music), glitter, shine, colors, pointy shoes w stilleto heels vs the square toe / block heel. Stripes in hair...it became bling overnight!
As for fast fashion yes...when Zara first opened in my city, the items were expensive I remember paying 60€ for trousers in 1999. A couple of years later all prices were purely fast fashion....Then H&M followed. We had had low priced french chains stores, but they had a style, a cheap style that we didnt want to be associated with. When Zara and H&M arrived it was basically copies of the high fashion runway styles.

 

[880]

There is a lot of blue in my wardrobe and my pants, skirts and blazers mostly tend to be solids in neutral colors. However, I love to weave a little bit of color and pattern into my wardrobe and usually do that with my tops, more so in summer, and also with my summer dresses.

A simple, uniform style of dressing helps as well. In fall/winter, it's mostly pants or jeans with a top, and a blazer, jacket or coat. When it comes to coats and blazers, most of them are neutral, and the few that are in different colors pair easily with a monochromatic outfit. In summer, I have summer dresses, two to three denim skirts and shorts, and A-line skirts in neutral colors, topped with T-shirts and blouses.

This is helpful as I have similar taste and have just gotten rid of Chunky sweaters, RTW, jeans, pants and leggings not in my preferred three styles, etc. Shoes that don’t quite fit Or boots that hit my calf the wrong way. I’m also sadly getting rid of anichini high thread count sheets as percale is cooler (cough as I get older). My cleaning woman takes all of it for her extended family. Here’s one of the latest closet purges. . .

 

[papertiger]

Funny because I have a completely different concept about the 90s.

90s minimalism was about austerity in cuts, shapes and patterns (or lack thereof). Carolyn Basette Kennedy was about the most fashionable and trendiest woman on the planet at the time. I mean, she got married in Narciso Rodriguez, one of my favorite wedding looks of all time. And whatever happened to Narciso Rodriguez btw?
I loved high end minimalism of the time (Jil Sander) but grew so tired of so many of those times trends from bias cut dresses (no, they do not flatter everyone) to ill fitted shirts and twin sets...

But in terms of our wardrobes, the late 90s and early 00s is when the big change of fast fashion happened and fully consolidated, meaning that we could fill up our closets with tons and tons of clothes with new afordable items arriving to the stores every week in a constant tempting supply. I think we have forgotten, how it was before that...

So, to me, an 80s wardrobe, where you had an outlandish colorful big shoulder pad jacket that you wore day in day out until it fell into pieces was, in essence, much more minimal than a late 90s closet, full to the brim with white vests, shift dresses and black pants...

It's weird how people remember things differently.

Happily I still have my twice years fashion show bibles from those times stolen from my great aunt.

Late '90s high fashion seemed to be focused on:

Utility
Plain monotone colours in an outfit or clashing brights.
No jewellery if not very dainty and minimal.
Embellishment (probably to make-up from the lack of jewellery)
High neck lines, thin straps or strapless (no sweetheart) side slits, lack of volume, bootcut trousers, shell tops
Phenomena fabrics (e.g. iridescent/metallic/shiny etc)
Cropped tops with long bell sleeves
Cardigans
Edging
Sheerness
zips, no buttons


We shouldn't confuse minimalist style and minimalist wardrobes though

 

[mellecyn]

This is helpful as I have similar taste and have just gotten rid of Chunky sweaters, RTW, jeans, pants and leggings not in my preferred three styles, etc. Shoes that don’t quite fit Or boots that hit my calf the wrong way. I’m also sadly getting rid of anichini high thread count sheets as percale is cooler (cough as I get older). My cleaning woman takes all of it for her extended family. Here’s one of the latest closet purges. . .
View attachment 4840936

Oh it’s so nice that someone you know can make good use of it! They must be so happy!

 

[mellecyn]

It's weird how people remember things differently.

Happily I still have my twice years fashion show bibles from those times stolen from my great aunt.

Late '90s high fashion seemed to be focused on:

Utility
Plain monotone colours in an outfit or clashing brights.
No jewellery if not very dainty and minimal.
Embellishment (probably to make-up from the lack of jewellery)
High neck lines, thin straps or strapless (no sweetheart) side slits, lack of volume, bootcut trousers, shell tops
Phenomena fabrics (e.g. iridescent/metallic/shiny etc)
Cropped tops with long bell sleeves
Cardigans
Edging
Sheerness
zips, no buttons


We shouldn't confuse minimalist style and minimalist wardrobes though

No, exactly. I get very nostalgic of that era so off I went! Just opened a magazine from February 2001 tonight. Honestly apart from the ads for Diesel, and a couple more similar brands, and thin eyebrows lol, the rest is surprisingly still relevant today.
I’m still in the process of curating and I have a list but honestly who thought it would prove so hard to find a classic loose V-neck camel cashmere pullover?? No V-necks

 

[papertiger]

No, exactly. I get very nostalgic of that era so off I went! Just opened a magazine from February 2001 tonight. Honestly apart from the ads for Diesel, and a couple more similar brands, and thin eyebrows lol, the rest is surprisingly still relevant today.
I’m still in the process of curating and I have a list but honestly who thought it would prove so hard to find a classic loose V-neck camel cashmere pullover?? No V-necks

That's the problem with fashion, particularly for women. I think camel has been replaced by light grey in a lot of women's wardrobes.

Look for men's xs or s at premium brands or even M&S. Men always have their (conventional) needs met .

Light V in light brown https://www.marksandspencer.com/pur...?color=LIGHTBROWN#intid=prodColourId-60455732 It's not the right colour but I'm sure you have conventional men's stores you know better.

Brora's cashmere is pretty good but I could only find you a pink https://www.brora.co.uk/cashmere-modern-classic-v-neck-jumper-shell-cwqj90e4433

Sometimes they're not on their own sites Joseph on NA_P https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/joseph/cashmere-sweater/1188958

 

[Love Of My Life]

How do you even get to be that cool is what I wonder. Is there even anyone like that nowadays? The celebrities and ”influencers” are so aware of themselves and self conscious and trying so hard—not cool. The heiresses are so insecure. It helps to be beautiful and to be married to JFK Jr., certainly. I always thought Kelly Klein was cool in that way and had great minimalist style in the manner of Calvin Klein back in the day.

CBK was the epitome of what chic, style,taste, sophistication & class is about. This was inherently who she was
She didn't have to try hard.. it came naturally to her & that was one of many reasons she stood out.
IMO, there is no one in the league of CBK today..
Only talk of how much their designer outfits cost whether they look well in them or not...
Followers of fashion not leaders in individual sense of "style"

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

This is helpful as I have similar taste and have just gotten rid of Chunky sweaters, RTW, jeans, pants and leggings not in my preferred three styles, etc. Shoes that don’t quite fit Or boots that hit my calf the wrong way. I’m also sadly getting rid of anichini high thread count sheets as percale is cooler (cough as I get older). My cleaning woman takes all of it for her extended family. Here’s one of the latest closet purges. . .
View attachment 4840936

Looks like you purged quite a bit! Finding the right boot length can be tricky, especially if you're on the petite side, like I am. I don't have any footwear to purge since my collection is small, but I recently realized I do need to get rid of some cropped blazers. I just really prefer the look of a slightly longer blazer and the few cropped blazers I have are actually quite hard to style.

I guess I am already thinking about fall even though it's still warm. Usually, I so look forward to fall fashion, but this year, the same level of interest is just not there, given that I am not going out much.