Tips for casual minimalists (inspired by Viva) - YouLookFab Forum

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Tips for casual minimalists (inspired by Viva)

Helena

Veteran

Inspired by Viva's thread, what are your tips for casual minimalist outfits - I'm talking jeans and tee, MOTG level of dressiness.

I believe I am a minimalist at heart, but so much of the minimalist styles I see rely on a dressier, very structured or dramatic look that doesn't play as well for day-to-day (esp. casual day-to-day) - I will be looking through Viva's brand find with interest as they seemed to have a few great piece, such as the bright maxi dress she linked to.

Here's her link:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....inimalists

Love to hear thoughts and tips!

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from em

Astrid

Veteran

Do you know the blog INTO MIND? It's all about building a minimal wardrobe. There are a lot of interesting things on there, although I've never tried to implement her suggestions myself. Her own style is casual, so her examples are rather casual too.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, not sure I can reconcile the almost Norweigan minimalistic image Viva's link puts in my mind with jeans and a tee MOTG wear. Will have to think on it. I consider my style more minimal than maximal, and it certainly skews casual.

rachylou

Veteran

My tip is to follow the architects. Read Dwell magazine. Visit Houzz.com Architects find the sharpest yet plainest stuff and come up with formulas for dressing that involve minimal ingredients. Yes, I'd pay a lot of attention to line and colour. *Pointedly tranquil* would be my mantra.

But I work from the inside out and I guess that's very vague... hmm.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

One word: Uniform.

It might involve high contrast, e.g. navy and white or black and white.

Or low to no contrast, e.g. denim plus blue grey top. All grey. All white or taupe.

Or...for summer, colour blocking. Could use vivid colours or one neutral with colour.

The items need to be in simple shapes. Could be shorts or pants, a simple tee-like top (either in tee material or silk, or linen, or some other fabrication).

Very simple but dramatic sandals. A cuff (perhaps).

Helena

Veteran

Thanks everyone! Astrid, that blog is terrific, thanks! Mo, you articulated the dilemma perfectly. Rachylou, you both confused and intrigued me - do you mean look at architects' clothing choices, or how to design homes? And what do you mean you work from the inside out? Suz, terrific workable suggestions, which I actually often do, but perhaps need to do with more intention. I sometimes think you know my style better than I do - don't suppose you're for hire??

So - my follow up question then - I found the outfit below on Viva's site - this is a total "me" outfit and would be perfect for my lifestyle. What makes is "minimalist" vs. "boring and unfinished", would you say? Or is it just a matter of owning the style rather than being concerned about looking unfinished?

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annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I think to do minimalist right you have to perfect fit, good fabric etc.

Classic

http://fashionone.s3.amazonaws.....irts-3.jpg

Versus

Avant Garde

http://www.lagarconne.com/stor.....emian.html

Lyn D.

Veteran

Fit and fabric is part of my style Mantra- I figure if the few items are great quality they will speak for themselves.

ETA. We cross-posted Anna- love your examples !

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Whereas this, even with all the fancy brands. Well I find completely uninspiring:

http://totokaelo.com/look/feat.....ncel-tee-1

Astrid

Veteran

Anna, that comparison is so interesting!

Helena

Veteran

Thanks Anna and Lyn! Fit and fabric shall be my mantra too then, esp. fit since I prefer a tailored look anyhow. I love the example on Taylor Swift especially (classic being my style preference) and agree that the last example is pretty blah ... although I don't know that I could articulate why ...

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, I kind of liked the totokaelo! Hehe.

Re. following architects - Actually I sorta meant both. It's all about "developing the eye." Looking at outlines, the bones of a thing, texture, etc. In some ways, the word 'minimalism' can be replaced with 'essentialism.'

Re. working from the inside out - Well, it occurs to me that walking around telling myself "pointedly tranquil" might not help anyone else visually identify an item of clothing (or a house) with good bone structure. Minimalism well done gives me a certain feeling and that's how I recognise it. I don't actually think much about the sight of things (which explains any number of my outfits, hehe).

Helena

Veteran

Rachylou, thank you - I love all those thoughts and will be pondering - I LOVE the word "essentialism" ... I think that that actually describes what I am going for more the "minimalism" does - doing the necessary well, and then skipping the un-necessary altogether ... it reminds me of this quote from the queen of simplicity, Audrey Hepburn (passage is from HuffPo):

"Boil it all down to what counts the most: What is the essence of what you are trying to do? What's the most important thing?" she would tell her sons. "Things only get complicated when you are trying to address too many issues." It was this simplicity that helped fashion her classic iconic "look," which was based on hers and Hubert de Givenchy's values of "less is more."

Susie

Veteran

I also love Into Mind; she shows nice examples and provides detailed instructions.

I love Anna's examples; very interesting.

In your example of jeans and tee, well fitting jeans in a modern cut, paired with a simply shaped top in a great fabric and fab shoes would look put together. Minimal yet more deliberate than just jeans and a tee.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Anna great examples. Agree that the uninspiring outfit was just that. I am most drawn to the La Garconne example. Minimalism is the most interesting category of fashion for me, although I don't think I always get it.

jackiec

Veteran

Ooh food for thought - the question plus all of the responses. I have to admit that I never really analyzed style and fashion until I arrived here and read all the varied and deep insights. I am totally going to check out that blog - it looks fascinating. Rachylou's first architectural comment struck a chord with me right away, like she hit the nail on the spot, but for me it just struck a gut feeling. I do believe fit and fabrication really make a difference, especially in a silhouette like the Taylor Swift outfit. So really I have no answer but appreciate the question and will keep an eye on this as I progress in my own style journey. Thanks for bringing this up.

Anonymous

Anna -- thanks for your posts. I adore Fashion, but didn't have time to comment on your earlier thread. I will watch for your insights into Fashion whenever you post.

Gigi

Veteran

TG, regarding the picture you posted (black skinnies plus tan top), I think what makes it minimal is what Anna was getting at: nice fabric, perfect fit, polished look. Everything has been carefully thought out. I think that if you want to pull off a minimal look, you will also have to be more careful about well-groomed hair, nails, etc.

It's kind of funny...you would think that a minimal look would be easier, but it sounds like it may not be, if a person needs to invest more time in grooming and perfect fit. Interesting...

viva

Veteran

It's so interesting that even one style -- minimal -- has two such different interpretations (thanks for making that so clear, Anna). I am definitely drawn to the classic expression of minimalism. I think this is where both personal taste and body type come in. As a rectangle, I really don't do arty layers, so avant garde fashions don't usually appeal to me for my own use, although they are fun to look at.

I love the picture you posted from Trademark, Torontogirl, as well as Anna's classic picture. I am so attracted to the crisp clean lines of the outfits. Those are much more of what I personally would wear, but again -- it's my taste and my body shape coming into play.

em

Taylor Swift's outfit is "finished." Her clothes fit--the pants are cropped at the right length and the shirt is fitted. Her hair is shiny, she's wearing earrings, and a bold red lip.

The last photo (toko), the model's hair isn't styled, she's wearing no makeup, and her clothes are just hanging.