Personal Style vs Closet Style

Hm, I'm wondering now if this has already been covered... I know there's been mucho debate about the meaning of minimalist and maximist in the past.

Anyway, I was reading this month's InStyle (which has replaced Lucky as my monthly guilty pleasure, much meatier even if you skip the celebrity stuff) and of course there's a section on Determining Your Style. And per their definitions, my style is Minimalist. I do have a very distinct uniform/aesthetic , am loyal to certain brands that get me, buy in a limited palette, and can mix and match almost anything in my closet.

So I was thinking, if I'm a minimalist, why do I own so many clothes?! Isn't that a contradiction? Maybe... my closet is maximalist, but I am minimalist.

While a quick scan reveals I own 7 identical gray tops, to me, they might as well be in technicolor they are so different - cuts, textures, fabrics, layerability. Same with my jeans. Jeans are not all alike! Again cuts, textures, fabrics, low and high rise, length. So to the outside eye, my style is pretty basic. But anyone visiting my closet probably thinks I am insane.

Does this make sense to anyone but me?

12 years ago

doubleh

Veteran

Absolutely. I am much like you; the style I attempt to express is simple, effortless and decidedly minimal. However, I feel like I need a lot of options to select from to make it appear effortless. So, closet maximalist, here. It's much the same in the interiors I do. It's a lot harder to design a clean-lined minimalist space, than it is one with a lot of color, pattern, accessories, etc. If the eye only has a few elements to focus on, they better be good ones!

Susie

I liked that article (a nice thick InStyle was great for our looooong drive to FL last week) and I too identify as a minimalist, style wise. While I regularly purge from my closet so I do wear almost everything I have, I will never be truly minimal in terms of number of pieces. Though I have reduced the overall count from what I've had before.

deb

I also identified as a minimalist according to the magazine. I think they are using a different definition of minimalist than we have used before here on YLF.

Anonymous

Hmmm, I'll have to see if I can scare up a copy of that article. It sounds interesting.

I've been called a minimalist because I'm working with a 10-item wardrobe, but I don't think my style is minimalist. I use lots of prints, patterns, (mixing them sometimes). I have sequins, jeweled sandals and belts with studs. That doesn't seem minimal to me. OTH, I like clothing with clean lines and I wear very minimal jewelry these days. And like you, I have a very defined uniform/aesthetic, buy in a limited palette (very similar to yours) and can mix and match almost everything in my closet.

I think you can still have a minimalist style even if you own a lot of clothes--as long as you don't wear them all piled on at one time!

rabbit

This sounds very familiar (I also have about that number of gray tops). But my palette is minimal, the number of different formulas/silhouettes I wear is minimal, and there are very few accessories if any.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Sounds like they mean minimalist in an aesthetic sense - limited color palette, simple straightforward cuts, etc. rather than how many items you own or how many different outfits you could wear. I am on that end of things too, although I think my color palette is more wide ranging than yours.

Claire is definitely one of the people I think of that has a more visually busy style, but has a very small wardrobe. Kind of a maximalist aesthetic style with a minimal sized wardrobe!

Suz

What Claire said. And what Laura said. Although I don't think Claire's aesthetic is "maximalist," exactly.

Maybe even aesthetic minimalism is on a continuum.

I think I am moving ever closer to this. I would like to refine my colour palette even further. But I don't think I will be cutting down on the number of things in the closet. Which isn't a "maximal" sized wardrobe by YLF standards, but is hardly a 10 item closet, either.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

There is a big difference between minimalist style and a minimalist closet.

And what Claire and Suz said.

We have covered this topic in great detail before - where is that thread?

Helena

That is very interesting - I will have to check out the edition (is it the March one?). I have noticed something similar but different - my clothes are simple, neat and polished for the most part - my house, not so much (I do try, it's clean, but often messy). I often think people would be surprised at the dichotomy.

gryffin

Totally agree with Angie, minimalist style has nothing to do with "minimalism" perse. I have a black and gray palate. I do not wear prints. I Iike texture, hardware, my style is clean, simple, unfussy although some of the pieces have a lot of tailoring,texture etc. That does not relate to the number of pieces just the style aesthetic. Although some minimalists might be both, I don't think you need to be. Great question IK. Looking forward to the responses!

rachylou

Definitely, a minimalist piece of clothing is different from living minimally.

I am, btw, a "Trendy Fashionista." Lol. And pretty consistently on the decor front, am a Traditionalist of some sort ("new," "playful," etc.)

unfrumped

I can relate in the sense of having at least 6 gray sweaters-- more if you count T-type tops-- and thinking each is different. For me it's my poison eye for certain proportions. So in fact my stuff does not all go with everything interchangeably because to only this or that gray top looks good with this skirt or whatever. It seems hard to get the universal top or bottom. Working on that more this year as to what properties make something more versatile and not just flattering and to increase my filter for versatility . Not trying to have the 5- piece wardrobe, but do want to be more focused.

Joyce B

At least you can mix and match easily, that is very practical.
I am following your topic with interest.

TG -- there's a dichotomy for me, as well. My clothes are becoming ever sleeker and simpler and more modern (I hope).

My house, not so much!! It IS quite tidy, but it's also full of stuff. Mainly books, but also art, decorative objects, and lots of sentimental objects from trips, etc.

Some of this is Mr. Suz's tendencies. But some if my own.

The colour scheme is also completely different.

I can definitely see myself moving toward a more modern decorative style -- but I would never part with my Quebec pine antiques. Or my books, for that matter. And I would never decorate primarily in the blues, berries, and fuchsia that I wear. Strange.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Gotta say, I'm glad I'm not the only one who prefers InStyle to Lucky these days. The current Lucky iteration just seems like a vehicle to try to make the editor in chief into a fashion 'it' girl.

Adelfa

I think I aim for a minimalist closet. My style--not so sure.

Lisa

I think one can be minimal in style and maximal in wardrobe size. Or minimal for both, or maximal for both. It took me a while to realize minimal could be in number, or design, when referring to wardrobes.

Jaime

Agree the two things do not relate. Certainly not with me.

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