Going Minimal: An Introductory and How-To Guide.

The minimal movement in fashion a lot like its' namesake in art, and architecture is a beautiful interplay between simple, non-emotive designs, and a departure from the popular culture surrounding fashion.  Before I get into how to get a more minimal style and wardrobe, let's get into the pros and the cons of this current fashion trend.

Pros

1. It's cheaper. The less you buy, the less you spend. When you boil your style down to it's bare essentials and invest only in pieces that contribute to that style, you save in the long run.


2. It saves time. We all know the struggle of waking up late and having to rummage through piles of clothing (..a lot of which we don't really wear) to find something to wear for the day.


3. It allows you to hone in on your personal style and develop a look for yourself. Stripping down your closet to the bare essentials forces you to ask yourself a simple yet complex question, "What do I like to wear?' and cutting down on your unwanteds and celebrating pieces that strongly resonate with who you allow for discovery and showcasing of your personal style.


4. It leaves room for mindful accessorizing. I tend to forego intricate accessorizing because my outfits can be quite loud and attention-getting, therefore having more minimal and simple outfits will allow for really fun accessorizing. Throw on some funky boots that would usually clash with half of your look, finally wear those massive gaudy earrings you've been hoarding all these years, accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! 

Cons

1. A minimalist wardrobe can seem boring and "basic". Having a minimal style is for people with style...people that know how to and can put pieces together. If you lack a style identity, being minimal may be quite hard because you may just end up looking like that person that's always in the boring t-shirt and jeans.


2. A minimalist wardrobe can give way to a lack of individuality and predictability. Once again, if you don't have a definitive sense of style, you may fall into wearing a "uniform". You are not a cartoon character. There is no reason to wear the same thing on the daily just because you're showcasing a minimalist style.

With that being said, the pros definitely outweigh the cons and do not be afraid of taking a dip into this fashion revolution. Just stick with me and I'll show you how to jump right into it.

I follow some minimalist fashion bloggers and style gurus and I'll showcase a few in order to show the different facets of the minimalist fashion movement.

1. Ivania Carpio of Love-aesthetics

Ivania is basically what is generally expected when bloggers with minimalist styles are brought up.  Her style is very simple and minimal, and she sticks to neutral, solid colors while showcasing every aspect of her look. I've been following her style for years because she is truly inspiring because she taught me that less can be more.




2. Sarah Nicole Francois

Sarah, a lifestyle blogger and fashion designer, is also very minimalist and her style is actually quite opposite to Ivania. Sarah dresses mostly in black, gravitating towards the darker spectrum of colors rather than the lighter. Also, as a fellow black woman, I love to see such a representation for woman of color in minimalist fashion. Sarah also has a fashion line, 000sportswear, and a Youtube channel where she gives thoughtful insight into her style, life etc.



3. Latonya Yvette

I added Latonya, who is a style and creative consultant,  to the mix because I find her sense of style to be a realistic form of minimalism that the average person can draw inspiration from. She incorporates color and patterns beautiful without appearing loud. She  shows that you don't have to give up colors to have a minimalist sense of style.

She doesn't consider herself to have a minimalist style but this is from my perspective and point of view and while she may not be the head-honcho of minimalist fashion, she definitely exemplifies mainstream minimalism and elegance.

SO, I bet you're all warmed up and ready to take the plunge in minimalism?

Here are 5 ways to trim down the wardrobe and jump into a more minimal style:

1. Ditch the clutter. Go through your wardrobe and find any pieces you haven't worn in about a year. Put all the unused pieces together, and slowly throw-out, donate and/or give-away these items. You don't wear them. You don't need them. Let them go.


2. Pick your essentials. Pick basic pieces that you can't live without. Pick an outfit that typically represents what you wear to work, school, gym, the club etc. These are the foundations of your style profile. A big part of this step is understanding your personal style so don't rush it. While typing this, I'm realizing I'm going to have to a series on picking essentials and building a style profile, haha. I got y'all.


3. Pick your fancy-wear. Pick five to ten pieces that can be completely outside of your style profile for fancy/formal/party occasions. I put this in a separate category because sometimes, our party wear can be a huge deviation from our personal style mainly because it's a time for us to have fun, try something different and showcase a different side of ourselves. Therefore, it only makes sense to allow some space for that.


4. Do not introduce any new items to your wardrobe. Stop shopping and if you really can't help yourself, limit yourself to one or two new pieces a month. A  major benefit of being more minimal is spending less and therefore, shopping like you were before is simply not going to benefit you. If you're going to make a purchase, make sure it's a piece that you really want and one that will be a great addition to your wardrobe and style profile. I know retail therapy is fun, but try to employ a bit more strategy to your shopping trips.


5. Stick to one focal piece per outfit. Examine your outfit as a whole and make sure you have one focal point. The other components of the outfit are complimentary to that focal piece, allowing it to shine brighter. Let's say, you bought a pair of red boots and you want to show them off. Your outfit should be designed to compliment the piece you want to show off, the red boots. Do not pair the red boots with other attention-grabbing pieces that may clash. This is one of the most important elements of minimal style, being able to draw attention to certain pieces, and this is a skill that can be honed with time and practice.

I'm hoping I inspired a few people to take the plunge into minimalist fashion or at the very least, consider their fashion choices a bit more critically. All in all, never forget that the key to style is self-confidence.

Love what you wear and wear what you love.

Love & Light,

Rachel.