Confused style icons: minimalist AND maximalist?

mica

For years and years and years, Sofia Coppola has been one of my style icons. I always sighed and gravitated toward her style. I think I have a minimalist streak. Yet as much as I love(d) her style, I was never able to pull it off. I bought high quality tailored pieces I loved. But instead of looking chic, I just looked drab and plain.

Yet I've also been fascinated by Aya Kanai for the longest time as well. I'm not exactly sure what her style is called, but she always looks so *cool*. Her style feels like a burst of energetic artistic expression. I'm not sure if anyone would describe it as minimalist.

For the longest time I've assumed I needed to contract and edit my wardrobe more and more (a la "ten item wardrobe"). But now I wonder if I've been taking the wrong approach this whole time. What if I really should be gathering more pieces to mix and match exuberantly like Aya?

Does anyone else have multiple seemingly starkly different style icons?

8 years ago

Inspiration

10 replies

Latest reply was from Sally

Sal

Veteran

Hi Mica

I do know what you mean - I loved Carolyn Besette's style for a long time (that simple rich girl North American look, but slightly undone) but then I am also drawn to Mad Men stylings as well (retro, slightly body-con, and very polished)...

I think accumulating is okay if you are going to wear pieces and love them a long time. To do this I think you foresake the too trendy and the too classic to get a unique mix.

Do you have some pieces to experiment with now, to see how you feel adopting a more eclectic style?

8 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am this way too. I admire and am drawn too both minimal and maximal styles and icons. I admire Yasmin Sewell and Tilda Swinton. I think they have starkly different styles but are both original and distinctive and that is how it makes sense to me. In a confused sort of way :-).

8 years ago

mica

Active Member

Thanks for the thoughtful replies!

@Kiwigal/Sally For the past few weeks I've been buying some very cheap pieces on ebay to play around with. So far I think it's working, and I'm really enjoying putting together outfit combinations on Polyvore. (even of pieces I haven't bought) I feel this sense of freedom that I didn't feel before when I was trying so hard to make sure each piece I bought was "right".

I'm finding that Aya's formulas (e.g., feminine soft dress + tougher element like a moto vest or biker jacket) work well for me.

@shevia
Yasmin and Tilda both have wonderful style! I can see what you mean about their differences, but I can also see a relationship between their styles (at least from the few pics I just saw on google). It's hard to put a finger on it though -- something long, clean, and strong about them. Really like both.

I think part of what connects Sofia and Aya for me is a femininity combined with tomboyishness.

8 years ago

Vix

Veteran

Hi Mica --

I'm also drawn to different, somewhat opposing, stylistic directions yet like to keep my closet on the smaller side. [Not "10 pieces" small, though!]

I agree it can be a challenge for both purchasing and creating outfits.

You're on the right track in looking for the commonalities --"I think part of what connects Sofia and Aya for me is a femininity combined with tomboyishness." So see if they're more connections you can make between their styles -- if there's a "base" from which you can build. And think about how *you* define feminine and tomboy so you can combine/shop for those pieces.

I'd also continue thinking about what feels wrong when you copy your icons too closely -- as you said about SC looks "instead of looking chic, I just looked drab and plain."

In case it helps you....

In my case, I'm drawn to very tailored, streamlined styles and very exuberant boho ones. A lot of the Modern Classic looks I see feel too prep/Americana or just plain "meh" for me, but yet I have a closet full of sheath dresses and pencil skirts!?

I'm not ashamed to say that after navel-gazing, I settled on 3 style personas several years ago: Minimalist Magpie and Contrarian Classicist, plus their love child: Persnickety Bohemian.

I got there because too much classic feels wrong to me, too much boho feels wrong to me, and too much "muchness" feels wrong to me. Basically I like to mix classic with boho, classic with shiny things, and classic with color.

By shopping with and/or combining items with personas + a certain color palette in mind, a lot of my pieces end up working together and I get the most bang for my budget and style expression.

8 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I see a lot of cohesion between your two icons - but that Aya uses some big colour. They both use very clean lines in general to my way of seeing it. As for myself, I'm intrigued by everything I see. I'm totally out of control!

8 years ago

Anonymous

I like Vix's summary.

I think it's normal to be confused about what your style is. I think most people take bits and pieces from many different styles and mix them together, and the proportion of it determines your own personal style. It does seem like you've got to think and experiment a lot to get to the point where you know what proportion of styles you like best. It seems like you can't get there just looking at pictures of other people. You have to try things out on yourself.

8 years ago

Roxanna

Veteran

Mica - I find this such an interesting discussion, and as one who is also drawn to a number of different styles, this so rings true for me. I always am lusting after high-quality, tailored items (which i do love) - but you're right, if i don't combine them in a way that feels 'me,' then I come out looking drab and plain. And then there's the maximalism that I used to be drawn to and sometimes still am...to Vix's point, I think this is fine as long as you identify the underlying theme that brings it all together for you.

8 years ago

Helena

Veteran

What an interesting question ... I wonder if you might find the styles appropriate to different areas of your life ... For example, more minimal for work wear, but maximal for a night on the town. It could be the commonalities become your base and the differences the "spice" for different looks.

Personally I like Kate Middleton ("even my hoodie is more polished than your blazer "), Jennifer aniston (" I rolled off the beach and onto the red carpet ", and Eva longoria (" minimalist basics but pile on the bling and heels") ... The core is similar but the details work for different occasions.

8 years ago

kkards

Veteran

TG--fab descriptions of your icons styles!

Mica, like rachylou, i don't see dramatic differences in the style between Sofia Coppola and Ay Kanai...to me, they both look like they wear clean, simple styles, with a fair about of tailored pieces....but there is a huge difference in the color palette

8 years ago

Sally

Veteran

I think it is common to like to wear different styles....as others said they may have common threads to them and they might suit different areas of your life. I didn't know who Aya Kanai was until I looked her up but used to love Sofia Coppola's little black dresses inspirational. At one point I tried to just wear little black dresses.

I like both that simple minimalistic look (hence just black dresses) but I like tomboyish clothes too and rock chic looks. As one person suggested you could build small capsules around different looks. As you have already done, you can use ebay or thrift shops to play with looks. I often buy stuff from thrift shops just so I don't feel too committed to a look.

8 years ago

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