Here at Who What Wear UK, we're all about delivering the latest and greatest shopping edits, as approved by our team. That's why we've created a new shopping column, The Joy of Shopping, which will see me, Joy Montgomery, heading to all your favourite stores to test out new-in pieces IRL. From summer dresses to the brands you might've forgotten about, prepare for changing room selfies aplenty. Is there something you'd like me to cover? Make sure to tweet or Instagram me your requests!
It's true that 2018 was the year of fashion fads (we're looking at you, ugly shoes and naked dresses), but there are certain styles that over the years have managed to operate separately from the melee of the mainstream. Minimalism is one of those trends. Broad-sweeping and multifaceted, minimalism is an aesthetic that can be applied to everything from fine art and music to interior design, and, of course, fashion.
There are certain moments in fashion history that can be perceived as minimalist, whether it's Coco Chanel's sporty separates or Calvin Klein's '90s greyscale colour palette. But in general, minimalism has pottered along, occasionally making its presence felt but mostly keeping to itself.
However, it seems as though 2019 is ushering in yet another minimalist revival. If you look at the street style trends from fashion week, you'll notice that many influencers have forgone their usual peaco*cking pieces and instead opted for muted tones and pared-back silhouettes. We've lost count of the number of times we've spotted an austere, head-to-toe beige ensemble. So what does this year's iteration of minimalism look like?
To answer these questions, I decided to visit three high-street stores that are renowned for their minimalistic design credentials: COS, Arket and Weekday. All Scandi, they perhaps unsurprisingly embrace a clean-lined aesthetic, yet each one offers a different approach to minimalist style.
This is what I learnt: COS should be your go-to for dramatic cuts and trend-led, colour-blocking separates. Arket, meanwhile, is great for layering pieces and luxe basics, such as tailored trousers and expensive-looking knitwear. Weekday, on the other hand, has a more utilitarian spirit, with unisex staples and plenty of non-stretch denim.
So what is the key to creating a successful minimalistic outfit now? In my opinion, it lies embracing contrasting textures to compensate for the lack of prints, creating unexpected colour pairings and balancing fitted pieces with oversized silhouettes. The saying "less is more" has never felt so relevant.
Scroll down to see my favourite minimalistic pieces from COS, Arket and Weekday.
