Minimalist Fashion: 7 Things to Know for Dressing Simply
This publication is also available in: 
Français 
English (UK) 
Deutsch 
Italiano 
Español
Have you heard of minimalist style? Or better yet, have you seen your fashion icons elegantly wearing clothes that, taken separately, are oh so basic? In short, dressing in a minimalist style is catching your eye, but you don’t know how to go about it or where to start? Well, you’re in luck, because in this article, we are taking a look at a trendy style movement: less is more or the art of wearing basics while looking stylish. Colors, cuts, pieces to shop, organizing your wardrobe… Discover 7 things to know about minimalist fashion.
- 1. 1 – Soft shades and muted colors: essentials for dressing in a minimalist way
- 2. 2 – Simplicity and elegance: the key words of minimalist style
- 3. 3 – A minimalist outfit is composed of basics
- 4. 4- A certain coherence must be respected to create a minimal outfit
- 5. 5- With minimalist fashion, we focus on quality rather than quantity
- 6. 6- Adding depth to your outfit through cut choice
- 7. 7 – Creating a capsule wardrobe is clever for achieving a minimalist style
1 – Soft shades and muted colors: essentials for dressing in a minimalist way
Unlike the Color Block trend that emphasizes a mix & match of vibrant colors, minimalist fashion is decidedly sober. Out with flashy prints and colors, and all kinds of embellishments; we focus on soft and muted colors. Featured are cream, white, gray, black, pastel colors, shades of blue, etc. In essence, everything that aligns with the image of pure and natural.
But beware, minimalist style is far from dull or boring. It’s actually quite the opposite; it offers nearly infinite styling possibilities. For instance, you can dare to go for a total monochrome look or have fun playing with the color palette by varying shades of the same color. It’s the volume, clean cuts, and the play of materials that will bring depth to the outfit, but we’ll talk about that later in the article!
2 – Simplicity and elegance: the key words of minimalist style
Simple, basic, and clean are words that aptly characterize minimalist fashion.
Dressing in a minimalist style means striving for “less is more,” literally translated as “the less, the better.” Just like in the minimalist movement, we aim for a return to essentials. We shed what weighs us down, the superfluous, to focus on what matters most. In terms of fashion, minimalist style resembles the effortless look: the art and way of being stylish with very little.
Wearing simple pieces that still have style is the best way to achieve a polished look and a minimalist aesthetic, reminiscent of the Scandinavians and the famous “Lagom,” this life philosophy that seeks balance: never too much, but just enough.
3 – A minimalist outfit is composed of basics
The third thing to know to perfect your minimalist look: the choice of pieces.
And good news, is that on this front, all you need to do is open the doors of your wardrobe to create your minimal outfit, as a white shirt, an oversized jacket, and good old denim are must-haves in a minimalist wardrobe. No need to rush to stores or online shopping sites to dress simply; you likely have everything at your fingertips. Because once again, the idea with this trendy style is to opt for timeless, durable pieces that are easy to mix and match and reuse.
However, you can treat yourself to the purchase of a luxury piece or two to upgrade your minimal outfit and give it that sought-after touch of elegance. Fashion influencers love this combo: basics + high-end accessories.
4- A certain coherence must be respected to create a minimal outfit
Even though simplicity is key in minimalist style, composing your outfit is not as simple as it seems. So, let us reassure you, it is within everyone’s reach, but to showcase a perfect minimalist outfit, it’s about subtlety.
And when it comes to subtlety, there are some golden rules to follow:
- the outfit must be coherent,
- you need to know how to balance: balance colors, balance layering of clothes, balance the assembly of cuts… It’s all about finding the right equilibrium. And it’s precisely by seeking this middle ground that you’ll make a difference with your outfit. How to do this? Experiment in front of your mirror and get inspired by the trendy girls!
- the choice of materials is important.
5- With minimalist fashion, we focus on quality rather than quantity
Few pieces, many possibilities: this is the magic of minimalist fashion! By targeting your basics, your timeless pieces, those that pair well with almost everything and are easy to assemble, you grant yourself the freedom to create your outfit as you wish. This is also an excellent way to unleash your creativity.
Moreover, a basic piece is not necessarily a budget item; it can be a high-end piece, but one that will certainly accompany many of your outfits over time.
Finally, quality also comes from the choice of materials: silk, cashmere, linen… These are fabrics that are particularly well-suited to minimalist fashion. They add a natural and elegant touch to the outfit.
6- Adding depth to your outfit through cut choice
This brings us to point number 6 of things to know about minimalist fashion: the choice of clothing cuts. The emphasis on neutral colors should be balanced with something that will give character to the outfit, to avoid it from being overlooked. And that something is volume.
For this, oversized pieces are favored, such as a trench coat, a chunky knit sweater, or cigarette pants. Playing with proportions will allow you to achieve contrast and add dimension to the outfit. Layering materials is also a great way to bring contrast to your minimalist outfit.
7 – Creating a capsule wardrobe is clever for achieving a minimalist style
What if it was simply a matter of organizing your wardrobe well to dress in a minimalist way? This is somewhat what the capsule wardrobe promises.
In a nutshell, a capsule wardrobe consists of around 10 timeless fashion pieces that you can interchange throughout the year to create looks that are, in fact, minimalist. This concept is based on the spirit of combination: from one piece, you create an outfit with its own style. For example: the key piece is the cigarette pants. Pair it with a turtleneck knit sweater, a blazer, and a pair of heels, and you have the ultimate effortless chic look.
Time-saving, cost-effective, creative, varying styles, appreciation for clothing… The benefits of a capsule wardrobe are definitely numerous.
You’ve reached the end of this article. So, do you think you can dress simply with minimalist fashion? One thing is for sure, adopting a minimalist style is within everyone’s reach. It just takes a few basic rules: knowing the choice of colors, pieces, the harmony of the outfit, and last but not least, having fun!
➡️ And if despite your attempts, this clothing style doesn’t suit you, take a look at maximalism, the other trendy style we dissect in our article.
