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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Do you agree with this assessment?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

"Most fashion and style bloggers have a maximal sense of style. More is more".

This is not a trick question, nor is it a criticism. At all! It's merely an observation, and maximal style has its levels. I am interested in your perspectives and respectful thoughts.

Dressing

56 replies

Latest reply was from Ornella

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. Interesting. I don't follow enough bloggers to comment on this intelligently, but I can say that the ones I visit mostly *do* seem to display a somewhat maximal style. And I think perhaps there would be a certain pressure to do so. Since many will of necessity be sporting the same silhouettes and even in some cases the same articles of clothing, it's in the layering of the elements that they can express their individuality.

I don't think all are like this, however. I also think that creativity is more than possible with a minimalist style. At least I hope so. And it certainly is in your case, Angie.

Claudia

Veteran

I do agree.

Maybe it's because of all the things they are "gifted" and "c/o" from companies that they have to fulfill an obligation to wear it so often, that they can't help but overload the product into their style photo shoots.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, this is a quick reaction on my part, but most of the ones that come to my mind immediately (which means theyre probably the more high profile ones) do have a more maximal style. Even if they're wearing an outfit of only a minimal number of pieces, the pieces are generally high-impact. I certainly can't claim to have exhaustive knowledge of the style blogosphere, but I'm having a hard time coming up with an example of someone whose style tends to be more minimal...except you, Angie!

Oh, I thought of one example of a minimal style blogger. Stephanie of Style Odyssey (www.odysseyhome.com).

Teresa M.

Member

Actually, my sense from the many style blogs I read is that the trendy thing right now is capsule wardrobes and minimizing the size of your wardrobes. This is something that I find interesting on an intellectual level but leaves me cold emotionally.

After having struggled with my weight for years and having a limited wardrobe I have finally found a way to maintain a healthy weight and am really enjoying having so many options when I get dressed in the morning. When I was losing weight so quickly I discovered the amazing things to be found at thrift stores and have quickly built up a wardrobe that I have so much fun playing with. It would make me very sad to have to limit my choices at this point in time, but from what I am reading, many people are making that choice.

I should add that most of the blogs I follow are written by real women whose career is not in fashion or blogging, but who have an interest in developing their own style.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Also...even the ones who don't *look* maximal in any particular outfit seem to have HUGELY maximal wardrobes, by my standards. For example, I really like a blogger that Isabel alerted us to: http://www.beverlylikehills.com (the former Style Underdog).

Many of her daily outfits are not particularly maximal.

But her closet must be ENORMOUS because you rarely see her wearing the same items more than a few times. There is always something new.

I wonder if seeing the "always something new" on bloggers contributes to the pressure that some women feel to wear completely different outfits every day, to not be seen in the same thing more than once, etc. Until I did stop in on some bloggers, I had never recognized that this was an issue. I cheerfully wore the same clothes again and again and never stopped to think that people might consider me unfashionable for doing so.

Now, keep in mind that I WAS unfashionable and probably totally out of it. But still....I can't help but think this endless array of new things (whether gifted, bought at full price, or thrifted) contributes to this sense that we must always try new combinations, even if we've found a combination that we personally love.

Anonymous

My initial reaction is yes, although I only occasionally follow links to other bloggers. I wonder if really simple outfits always translate into good photographs. You (and Greg) certainly do a fantastic job showcasing your minimal style, but sometimes the most beautiful thing about an item, the drape and hand of the fabric or it's sheen is difficult to capture on film. I started a thread once about "would you rather look good close-up or from a distance?" and in a way, this is what I was getting at. A more maximal look is eye catching from across the street, but a minimal look is sometimes better to appreciate over coffee.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great thoughts! All of you

Suz, you mention an important point: you can have a HUGE wardrobe but a minimal sense of style, in the same way that you can have a small wardrobe and dress in a maximal way. Teresa M, I hope that makes sense. The size of your wardrobe does not necessarily dictate a minimal or maximal style.

I think that maximal style is on trend, so we are bound to see many, many fashion bloggers sporting maximal style. There is a HUGE fashionable emphasis on accessories, make-up, colour and pattern at the moment, that it is hard to not be drawn into these trends when you are in the fashion business or interested in fashion. Sport this all at once and bam - you have maximal style.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Possibly yes, but thankfully there's still enough of the minority (non-maximal, simpler, even classic minimalists) to go around, because I certainly do follow more of those!

I agree with Suz, though --- even those with a simpler, more pared down style often have maximal wardrobes, if not maximal style.

Claudia

Veteran

And on that note of being walking advertisements for product, maybe there is a thought process that being maximal will bring the blogger more personal profit. Something along the lines of "if I am usually seen wearing sunglasses, all kings of accessories including but not limited to lots of jewelry, belts, scarves, layers of clothing, etc. I am open to helping companies market all kinds of wares. Contact me."

cobaltblue

Veteran

My gut reaction is that this statement has a lot of truth to it. I find it so hard to pare down the looks I see on other blogs in order to translate them into something I would actually wear. That's probably why I spend so much time here reading your posts, Angie! I'm definitely on teams Minimal and Small Wardrobe, though I adore seeing posts from others with a more Maximal style.

Becky

rae

(website)

Veteran

I think I agree, though I don't follow tons of other bloggers regularly. In a way I think it may also be about the fact that bloggers have to take interesting, eye-catching photographs. I think it is much harder to communicate the interest of a simple outfit sometimes - it's easier to add interest via color and layers and a bit harder to capture beautiful drape and fabrication.

I also think that there is a bit of a thought that runs through the blogosphere that you aren't really "styling" your clothes or doing anything special to them that makes a fashion blog worth reading if you simply put on one or two pieces and call it a day. The artful piling on of things seems to be a way of calling attention to the blogger rather than just the pieces.

Anonymous

Hmmm, after further ponderance (is that even a word?) I would have to revise my statement and say that you, Angie, create looks that are very eye-catching using contrast, color and silhouette even though you have a minimal style. And of course if would be lovely to sit down to coffee/tea with as well! It's making me realize what a skill and gift you have for styling, because I doubt it's easy to do. And have I told you how much I appreciate the fact that you don't drape yourself with free product willy-nilly, just to make a buck? You are the real deal!

jenanded

Veteran

Yes probably maximal but who wants to go public in tshirts and shorts? Therese m you are right its interesting when at the same time its about capsules etc. it "worries" me that there is this consumer/marketing tension. And many of these maximal style blogs leave you feeling inadequate in terms of a real wardrobe. Love the community here though!

jenanded

Veteran

Here here Claire! To you Angie

Diana

Veteran

I do think that this is probably true (although there are exceptions of course). Especially if you have a "daily outfit" sort of blog, it's just easier and more interesting to have maximal or at least non-repeating outfits.

Also, I think fashion bloggers in general are more maximal than the non-blogging world at large. For example, I don't really know anyone IRL who dresses like I do, but I can think of several bloggers with similar style.

ETA: I don't know if it's just because I myself am of the large closet/maximal style persuasion, but I tend to find the 30 for 30 type challenges really boring to see/read about on blogs, although it is an interesting idea.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YLF accepts absolutely no freebies. NONE. I am thrilled that I do not have that type of stress hanging over my style. Thanks for bringing that up, Claire. And thanks for your kind words too

Claudia, another interesting point from a marketing point of view.

Rae, great assessment and one that I am sure holds true.

Thanks, Becky

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I really don't follow many blogs, I would like to but don't always have the time.

The ones which I do take a peak at now and then don't necessarily have maximal style but they do take maximal photographs. Rumi from Fashiontoast is a prime example http://www.fashiontoast.com/ her style can be grungy and bohemian but I do not find her look particularly maximal.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

More great thoughts from, Diana. Certainly food for thought.

Jules, I agree with your assessment of fashion toast.

I also think that Iris Apfel's exceptionally maximal style has influenced blogging style.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

The ones I regularly visit, yes. But I'm a maximal dresser, so I don't get inspiration from the minimalists.

Jamie

Veteran

Honestly, I don't follow too many other fashion blogs except for YLF. But from what I have seen, I would have to agree with that statement. To me, though, being current and up-to-date does not mean that you must adopt a maximal style just because it is "of the moment." I prefer to pick and choose what I like and make it work with my miminalist style preference.

rachylou

Veteran

Interesting question! I don't look at blogs much in reality (although I have spurts of intense interest) and don't know how the term maximal is actually used... so I am probably off base. I say this because I don't feel most bloggers are maximalists. The bloggers I've seen seem highly edited to me.

However, I do think they are mostly all intense - to the point, perhaps, of being clownish if you were to see them IRL on the street. How to put it, I feel I see a lot of outfits that have no appropriate context.

Gaylene

Veteran

I agree with many of the comments that have already been made, but I wanted to throw in age as a factor in the maximal vs. minimal look. Although there are notable exceptions such as Iris Apfel, most style blogging is done by younger women who seem to place a high emphasis on creative, unique, eye-catching, and innovative styling. Those qualities are probably easier to achieve with maximal style. Maybe a minimalist style requires a different set of priorities?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Well, you certainly don't, Angie. Have a maximal sense of style, I mean. And I only follow three fashion bloggers regularly, so I probably shouldn't really comment. (Of the other two, one is a minimalist like yourself, so that makes two-thirds of my "fashion blogger" experience a minimalist one).

But what you say is probably true. I've glanced at other blogs, clicked on a lot of links, and many of the fashion-y gals out there -- the ones inspired to write about it and post pictures of themselves, that is -- certainly seem to be wearing a lot of, for lack of a better word, stuff. Some of them are doing it well, too.

Lisa

Veteran

I do think many fashion blogs have maximal style. And very trendy outfits. And don't repeat clothing often. Now this could just be my experience with a small number of fashion blogs. After all I can hardly read all of them and compare each one. So this is just my general perception. I always find the blogs that focus on other features besides just the blog writers outfits more interesting. I do like the outfit inspiration but I also enjoy learning how to apply looks to myself and my shape. And I also really enjoy remixing outfits.

cciele

Veteran

Do you think many people out in the blogosphere equate high fashion with maximal, of-the-moment style? If so, then they might consider minimal style more utilitarian, or for us "normal folks."

I'm reminded of Emmanuelle Alt's style and how that contradicts what many people think a fashion editor should dress like.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Maybe that all depends on what the definition of "maximal" means...maximal number of items worn in an oufit? maximal number of colours in an outfit? maximal number of patterns in an outfit? maximal dollars spent on an outfit?

I don't follow too many fashion bloggers but from what I've seen in the cyber world it seems that the majority do showcase outfits that tend towards the "over the top" mentality. I don't say that as a negative, just as an observation. But there's a lot of competition in the fashion blogging world and let's face, not many people are going to pop onto a site to see a person in t-shirt and jeans.

I also think by pure numbers, there are more maximal bloggers on the web and this could be skewing people's impressions.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Shannon, I think all of the above. To me, "maximal" equals "busy". Often this means pattern mixing, or having a lot of items on -- layers, accessories, colours, etc. Doing it with style takes some effort, and a good eye.

Anonymous

It depends on who you follow, Angie. I think there is a bit of everything in the blogosphere.

I just counted by blog list. I have about 25 bloggers on my blogroll and 3 or 4 whom I check daily. I do follow plenty of the "everyday blogger" variety, just because I like to see stuff that I can apply to my own outfits.

I find that the more "maximal" to my eye, are the ones who are out of context, much along the lines of what Rachylou wrote.

Anonymous

This is the only fashion blog I follow. I have clicked on links to other blogs here, but seldom see one that inspires me enough to spend any time there. Often the blogger's body type or style is so different from my own that it's difficult to find inspiration. Most of the blogs for older women that I've seen seem to be into trying to look and dress young rather than embrace the age and work with it. I'd agree that most are maximal. YLF stands out as uplifting and having inspiration for any age or body type and any style...a rare and wonderful thing.

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