I am not a minimalist. No one could ever have accused me of being one, but if you had any doubt, you can come over and see my exploding closet as evidence. There always seems to be just one more thing that will complete my wardrobe or my outfit on a given day. The more I read about capsule wardrobes and travelling to Europe with only a carry on bag, – which, by the way, would be totally impossible for me; when we flew home from Paris, my suitcase weighed in at a hefty forty-two pounds – the more I see the words simple and minimal being used as synonyms. And that makes me think minimalism seems appealing, but all of my attempts at paring down end in failure. It’s because minimalism isn’t the same as simplicity, especially in fashion. A sartorial minimalist, as I imagine them, because I have absolutely no experience being one, has a small wardrobe of pieces they are happy wearing again and again. Those pieces might be simple – but they could also be neon, sequinned and rife with floral prints. Minimalists don’t always dress simply. And, although I am by no means a minimalist – I almost never wear the same outfit twice – I do crave simple styles. Classic black, crisp white and soft grey are my go-to colours. The only patterned clothes I own are striped and leopard. Most of my pieces can be described as basics – silk blouses, skinny jeans, turtleneck sweaters and ankle boots. But I love to mix them up – and this is where I totally go off the minimalism rails – with different accessories. Of course, I do have some favourites; I carried my new Angel Reinares handbag with me almost every day in Paris, and my Acne scarf almost never left my neck, even when it was actually too warm to wear it. Where do you stand, style-wise – do you consider yourself a wardrobe minimalist? And if not, have you ever experimented with minimalism?
