I'm with Jaime, with caveat that I believe it's possible for many body types to do minimalism, but it takes much more careful choices and thought and attention. Very careful attention to dressing your type and choosing pieces that really go the distance. I'm thinking, some body types can wear almost any T, jeans and flats and look "stunningly minimal". Sure, they might actually pick those carefully but hey, just look at clothing ads to see how some people can make anything look good!
But then the right T, the right color, the right jeans, the right shoes could work for a lot of people. Add a jacket and handbag, watch, different shoes, it's still pretty minimal and starts to work for more people.

Been thinking about this since you posted it Jenn. Found the responses very interesting! A narrower view of "minimal" than I expected. I really resonate with what Rachy wrote:

Things pared down to their most essential, including that which makes something simply pleasing.
...
I feel it's also different from simplicity. It can take a lot of complex engineering techniques to cut things down to the essential...it's not necessarily economical in the making.

To me it is primarily about an intelligent distillation of the desired style, whatever that may be; and of course execution and confidence are important components as well.

There seem to be two types of minimalism to me, 'arty minimalism' which is all about architectectural shapes and mainly black/white (that's what I get when I search Pinterest) and simplicity minimalism, which is about unadorned simple elements such as jeans and white tee.

I feel that both types need a striking element whether it's the shoes, an item of clothing, haircut, bag or perhaps attitude.

I think there are lots of different types of minimalism.

There's the Jennifer Anniston natural type who wears jeans & a tee & looks wonderful, Audrey Hepburn with her crisp top, capris & ballet flats. The arty minimalist who references some 1980s Japanese designers to Angie who has (when she decides to dress that way) modern unfussy minimalism down pat.

I guess what I'm saying is, for me, it has to do with the personality of the wearer - it's never just about the clothes. One persons minimal may be my frumpy in the same way another persons maximal may be my get me out of these clothes please

I think we can toss the just thrown on nonsense right away because being able to quickly identify and assemble the right pieces usually comes from instruction, environment, or conscious observation. It seems natural because it's been practiced.

I'd say what makes minimal work is maximal attention to details. The t shirt with just the right cut and fabric in just the right shade of just the right color, etc.

I agree with Isabel that attention to detail is necessary to make minimalism work. The fit, the drape, the fabric, etc., all become extremely important because there is nothing to distract the eye. I also think that extreme neatness in grooming is required.

As I've been thinking about this and reading all your responses, something occurred to me.

Quality matters.
Styling matters.

If both those things are true, then those with a smaller wardrobe are at a distinct advantage for this type of dressing. For those of us who don't have a stylist on our staff, having fewer, higher-quality items not only means owning pieces that fit and lay better, but having more practice styling each item we own. When we're adding an endless stream of new pieces, we're constantly reinventing the wheel, aren't we? Rather than learning the ins and outs of a small number of wardrobe items, we're fiddling with endless combinations and, possibly, never perfecting any of them.

Maybe those who "just throw something on" and look fabulous are able to do so because they've worn that exact combination thirty times before and know exactly the right way to tuck the top and cuff the hems and scrunch the sleeves for best effect. No experimenting necessary because it's already been done.

Interesting Jenn!!

I'm certainly on the smaller end of the wardrobe size for YLF, and often tend to wear the same tried and true combos, and am certainly not ALGo, but don't really aspire to or think I acheive the minimalist look. ( I think perhaps I don't have the grooming down, or perhaps enough quality in the items I get)

Jenn, I definitely agree with your quality matters and styling matters.

But I wonder if the styling that really matters is making the decision about which garment to purchase. I suspect people who have that easily minimal look worked to get the right clothing item into their closet in the first place. If the item has the right cut, drape, fit, and quality, then maybe whether it's tucked or semi-tucked or scrunched or cuffed just right doesn't matter as much.

Oh My, Do I enjoy this thread. I have wondered what made a minimalist lifestyle and how I could achieve such a thing. I realized that that was not how I wanted to live.

I also liked Gaylen's response."
Great question, but I'd have had to word it "What makes maximalism
work?" Every day, I see stylish women boldly mixing colors, patterns
and accessories--and looking fabulous. I, on the other hand, try to
imitate them and end up looking like a homeless vagrant."

Because I am a true maximal and not ashamed to admit it. I love high drama in fashion only. I wonder why that is. I never flow in the space in-between. I've tried several times and its like fitting a square peg in a round hole.

Ledonna, I can't do either minimalism or maximalism, so I'm somewhere in between the two extremes. It goes along with my "moderation in all things" lifestyle, I suppose.

BC I can fully understand. I think that maximal applies to my life in general. Oh that is a great topic. Where do we fall in that scale. My wardrobe reflects my life and my life is maximal. lol how ironic.

Quality, fit and grooming.

Love your last comment, Jenn: "Maybe those who "just throw something on" and look fabulous are able to do so because they've worn that exact combination thirty times before and know exactly the right way to tuck the top and cuff the hems and scrunch the sleeves for best effect. No experimenting necessary because it's already been done."

Very insightful.

I'm also chuckling at Gaylene because I am as puzzled over minimalism as she is maximalism. I think I really fall somewhere in between, but I have never managed minimalism at all. Of course, a small, high-quality wardrobe must work perfectly -- no room for mistakes -- and that scares me off and sends me back to Kohls for a striped top and some Levis!