Minimalist magic
We have all heard of the phrase, less is more (coined by Robert Browning in his poem Andre del Sarto). That best describes and sums up ‘minimalist cool’. It is more about class and style, dahling and less about embellishment. More about charisma and less about the gaudiness of the garment, it’s more about clever editing than overloading.
Chloe has done it for years. They have come out with collection after collection of monochromatic dresses, camel, baby pink, black, grey. No crystal embellishments. No frills and feathers. Just a simple, very well cut garment, which does wonders to a woman’s figure. Lanvin’s flatteringly draped frocks with a hint of shimmer, a couple of pleats around the waist or the neckline. That’s it. You’re set for the evening.
The wow factor comes from the fact that it is minimal. Gucci’s plain black pant suits. Prada’s little black dress. Stella McCartney’s grey toned silk python hue dress. Celine’s block colour half sand half off-white shift dress. They have a sense of edgy urban glamour. You could be anywhere, New York, Bombay, London, and you would make a statement. Observing Victoria Beckham over the years, she is one woman who can carry off the minimalist look very gracefully. I have never ever, ever seen her looking like an over-the-top Christmas tree or trying to wear her entire wardrobe in one ensemble. Skin tone dress with patent skin shoes. No earrings. No bracelet. Just a floodlight sized solitaire. Heaps of mascara and loads of personality.
A plain simple minimalist dress is an investment. A friend recently tried on a black cold shoulder short dress at DKNY and liked it so much that she bought two of the same dress. She said she would wear it all the time, this sort of ‘find’ is season-resistant and trend-resistant. In winter you wear it with a lace body within and a leather jacket over. In summer just the way it is. With a belt for a business meeting and with patterned tights for a dinner to Cipriani. It is versatile and timeless.
Somehow when the high street does the minimal look, they just don’t seem to get it right. The reason I feel is because to pull off this look successfully, the garment needs to be made in superlative fabric which cannot done in a budget. Felicity Brown available at Browns in London and Barneys in New York takes minimalism to an eclectic level. Ruffles and ombre so musically put together that indeed it is sheer poetry. The name going the rounds in the fashion circle is that Turkish designer Hakaan Yildirim who introduced a small collection at Harvey Nicolas — plain white cocktail dress with pleats, nude cocktail shift dress and layered cashmere coat. Effective.
The writer owns a fashion brand based in Europe. She can be reached on info@amishi.eu
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